County Commissioners - Regular Meeting

Let's all rise. Pledge allegiance, please. 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. May be seated. this time. No, no changes in the agenda. No changes. No changes. Need a motion to approve. So move. Second. Are we going into Are we going into close session after this?

We are. I got to get through public comment before we do that. Okay. All 13 to one. Need a motion to approve the minutes from 46. I'll make a motion approve. Second. Any discussion? All in favor? 48. This time we open the floor for public comment. Anyone has anything to talk about on the agenda, please come forward. On the agenda or not? You talk about what's on the agenda. Got three minutes. All right.

Yes, sir.

Good afternoon. My name is Joseph Nells and I'm a resident here in Alageney County. I'm here to talk about something that most people don't believe it's true, but it's not. In North Carolina, the age of consent is 16. Most parents, most citizens assumes it's 18, and it's not. And that gap between what people believe and what the law actually allows creates a real risk for children. Right now, a fully grown adult can legally engage in a sexual relationship with a 16 or 17 year old. And at the same time, if they take a picture, it's a crime. That's not inconsistent. It's confusing. I want to be clear about something because it matters. The effort is not about criminalizing teenagers. Closing age protections must be part of the solution. Teenagers and relationships, which is is with each other, is not the issue. The issue is adults. There was a bill that was introduced in 2023 to raise the age of consent from 18 or 16 to 18. With those protections in place, it had sponsors. It had a path and it quietly died in committee. And here is why Alageney County really matters. Our state legisl senator sits in a position of real power. He has influence including being involved in the rules committee where it died. That means that this county is not on the sidelines. This county has a voice that carries weight along with passion and what he gets. With local leadership speaking out, it gives our representation something that they can take with them into the community. If the expectations in our home is that children should be protected, then the law should reflect that standard clearly. Right now, it doesn't. So, I'm asking for something simple. I'm asking that the board publicly support raging the age of consent in North Carolina from 16th to 18th with appropriate close in age exemptions. I'm asking you to communicate that support to our state

representatives and to consider placing this as an issue on future agenda agenda so it doesn't disappear. I'm not here to just point a problem. I'm organizing, building awareness, creating an organization, and working with others across the state to close this gap. Because at the end of the day, this comes down to something really simple. Strong roots create safe children. Right now, there's a gap in those roots. And I'm asking y'all to close it. Thank you.

Thank you, sir. Anyone else have anything to say? Seeing no movement for close public comment section. Moving on down to close session. We've been asked to have a close session. General statute 143-3181 attorney consultation. That being said, need a motion to I got a question here. Are we going to be in there by ourselves or is the Glick Fireman going to be with us? We're going to ask the board director to take those two reput

I'll make a motion for us to discuss it oursel then talk with them

I'll make a motion for you know commissioner to have it with April then we get from D. Got a motion on the floor. I hear a second motion. Okay. Tony and Wes and April will be invited into the meeting and everybody else step out for a few minutes. Correct. Do we do we need a motion? We need we need a motion to as first a

second discussion. All in favor 31. We ain't time for close session yet, is it? Y it is right now.

Where'd Bill go? I guess better talk to him. We can probably do

All in favor? Thank y'all. So, we back in the regular meeting. We'll call it back to order. Uh, no action was taken in close session. Moving on down the presentation of the board. David Spicer, Senior Project Operation Man.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman, board. Um, so we've had a few things go on. Um, if you've noticed upstairs, uh, the girls have been, um, waxing the floors. So, Don Rihanna has, um, worked on those things and made the floors look a lot better upstairs. Uh, 90 South Main, the front steps, um, those have been repaired. So, all those is back in order. Um, at the courthouse, we had a little bit of an issue with the air conditioning. um the one of the chiller motors um has went out and so we're in the process now of getting that fixed. That should be here hopefully on Thursday and we'll have it fixed by the first of next week. So, um with that then uh we'll have all of things back up and going like it's supposed to. We are going to uh waterproof the outside of the courthouse. It's been about 7 years since that was done. So, that's going to be uh taking place pretty soon so that people are aware that there'll be a lift running around the courthouse and they're going to spray all that waterproofing sealing up on the courthouse. At transfer facility, we had one load of co-mingle at 3.06 tons, one load of cardboard at 4.17 tons, had three loads of scrap metal at 12.630 tons, which yielded the county $2,482.30. 30 cents. Lock lane. Um they're the ones that gave us the price on fixing the earthquake damage and the earthquake damage uh is going to be partly covered at least most of it except for I think a deductible um by the insurance company. So that should start. They've got the metal ordered. So hopefully within the next two to three weeks that we'll get that underway. It'll take a total of three days. So we'll be down at the tip

and floor for three days. But we will have the uh temporary tiff and floor open. Uh we'll also have dumpsters set out for folks to put the residential trash in. Um so we've got one loader that's down. Wiring harness is bad on it. Uh the old loader, the new loader, uh it went down, but Cat came and fixed it. Uh it was an O-ring problem on a hydraulic line that was um installed incorrectly when it was built. So that should come back under warranty. So all that should be fine. Um for animal control, uh this time around we had one when we assisted the sheriff's department, we had three well checks. We had 12 uh dogs andor cats picked up. Had nine running at large. We had two attacks, four that was quarantined. Um we trapped two cats or dogs. had 105 hours, 23 calls, 543 miles traveled. Um, other than that, that's all of that's all I have. If you have any questions, I'll be um willing to answer those.

Any questions? We appreciate you, baby. Have a good report. Thank you.

Next up is April Ham, chief finance officer. So just prior to the meeting I passed out the finance report for this month yearto date revenue 201817,77.92 expenditures 19,74,69.32 and then the approved budget is $23,912,466. The revenue is 84% of the approved budget and expenditures are 82% of the approved budget for the current fiscal year. The bank balance as of today 6,571,3020 in the checking account, $7,117,2654 in the savings account. The town of Sparta grant savings account 13,176,81364. the investment for the transfer facility, the one and a half million, we have gained $26,2115 of interest and the North Carolina capital management with the $5 million of investment, we have gained $87,37020. Total funds held by the county as of today 33,486,69063 with our net financials for this fiscal year at $412,798.60. Uh the local option sales tax at the bottom of your report July through February um collection has been 1 million49,6767

and that is an increase from the same time last year of $75,39.91 and that's represented in green on the report. uh the quarter cent option July through February the collection is $291,93856 and that is $21,04949 more than the same time last year and again it's represented in green on your report. Um the second page of the report is just where each department and special allocations are for the year. You have your adopted budget, anything that's been amended with that budget, year to date expended, the percent used, and then the balance that's left for this fiscal year.

Can I answer any questions? Questions or comments, y'all? How are we looking for the year? How we looking for the year? Well, most of the adorn property tax has been collected. So here to the end of June is going to be mostly the vehicle tax and sales tax will be most of our revenue between now. You're doing a good job. Thank we appreciate April. Yep. All right. Thank you. Thank you. Moving on down general business for some information. Lisa Ashley, clerk of the board.

Yes. I would like to uh introduce the resolution for sheriff, former sheriff Brian Mains to congratulate him in his retirement and to honor him. It's in your packet. Okay. Anybody have any questions? It'll be voted on next meeting. Yeah. Vote at the next meeting. We appreciate that. He'll be here at the next meeting hopefully. Well, there's there's a process. You guys have to approve it and then I'll I'll get it framed. So, it'll be sometime in in May. Okay. Yeah. Okay. Moving on down the consent agenda. Rita Miller, tax administrator.

Good afternoon. I'll be glad to answer any questions you may have on any items on the consent agenda. I move to accept the consent agenda as presented. Second. Got a motion to second. Any further questions? All in favor? 40. Thank you.

Thank you, Rita. Uh, next up is National Library Proclamation. I want to read this version right here. Today, we recognize the vital role our library plays in Alageney County. Libraries are more than just buildings filled with books. They are places where creativity is sparked, curiosity is encouraged, and lifelong learning begins. They serve a community hub. They serve as a community hub, connecting our citizens with knowledge, technology, and opportunities that strengthen both individuals and our county as a whole. from supporting our children through literacy and esteemed program to help job seekers and entrepreneur entrepreneurs succeed. Our library truly touches every stage of life. On behalf of the Alageney County Board of Commissioners, we are proud to proclaim April 19th through 25th of 2026 as National Library Week. And we encourage all residents to visit and support their local library and the dedicated staff who makes their services possible. Good crowd of people over at the library. They do a great job. Do we need a motion on that? We just We do, don't we?

I need a motion on the recognizing the library week. I make a motion that we approve the National Library Week proclamation. Second. Motion second. Any discussion? All in favor? Four. Okay, moving on down general business. This is for action. I'll take the first one here. It's the naming of three roads that was present presented to us last meeting. First road is turning point lane. Second one is Heihaw Lane and the third one is Posen Trop Lane. I'll make a motion to approve. Got a motion here. A second.

Second. Motion and a second. Any discussion? All in favor? Okay. Mr. Heather Klein. So, at the last meeting um we you all voted uh in regards to approving uh Alageney County being part of an additional settlement with six new defendants. Um after that, I received the resolution that needed to be approved. So, you've already approved us joining. However, this is the actual resolution that does need to be approved and voted on by the board. Now, what resolution are you talking about here? We approved. Oh. Oh, hang on. I'm sorry. Yeah, that was the I mean I'm skipped one.

Yeah,

sorry. Okay, so the first one that I need to talk about. Okay, that's the water easement. Um so after the meeting um we we discussed it uh and I actually called David back and got a little bit more information. Um so one of the and David had actually talked to the town to get some more information there. So overall, the the owner of the property um from our understanding did go to the town and did say I want to have town water uh because their well was an artisian well and somebody else is using it the water down the line or somehow and it's caused a problem with their water. Um so instead of drilling further down they just said let's be on town water. Well, the town said, "No problem. We will add you to our system, but you need to be annexed into the town and pay town taxes." And they declined to do so. So then they came to the county and said, "Hey, county, can I hook up to your water system?" And unfortunately, um, I can't recommend approving this because we have no mechanism for being able to collect on water bills. We don't we don't have a way to meter. Um, and if there was damage that was done by uh let's say something at the house where uh renters were were using the home and let's say that there's a big spill of water or something. the county is on the hook for that and there's no way really to say, oh well that was the problem of this individual house because of their line or their meter or something and that could cause a lot of problems for the county and we're just not in the business of water. So and I think the issue is you know once you say you're going to provide water for one individual to hook up to our line how many are you going to have for a utility that we don't maintain? That's something for the town. I think the most

appropriate for an individual who wants to be on town water is to go to the town because they're in the ETJ um and be annexed into the town and then become part of the town water system. That's the most appropriate not to come through the county to hook up to the county's own line for its own building. So, I I can't recommend to you that you approve this. Obviously, it's it's your decision to vote on. I'll make a motion not to approve. I second. Any any further discussion? Not all in favor? 40.

All right. Now, back to the one about the opioid. Sorry. But you've heard about that one now. You've already voted on it. I just realized after the fact that they had sent additional information, which now includes the actual resolution to be voted on, which is required in the litigation. I'll make a motion to approve. Do we need the second? Do we music? Come on, Lisa. You got a motion. I'll talk. Got a second. Got a motion. Got a second. Second. Yeah. Do you need to read this thing or is it any changes in the other one? Okay. Got a ding going on.

Got a motion in a second. All in favor? Four of them. Thank you, Heather. Thanks, Lisa, for the music. We needed that right there. Uh, next up, Rita Miller, North Carolina certified tax assessor. In your packet, if the minutes from the two board of equalization review hearings that were held, I just need approval on those minutes. I'll make a motion to approve late one day. I second that motion. Any further discussion? All in favor for row. Thank you. Thank you, Rita. Okay, next up, April Ham, CFO.

I just got a couple of things from finance to uh one. The first one is actually a line item transfer for DSS. This is just transferring $2,500, 2,000 out of continuing education and travel, 500 out of advertising to equipment rental for DSS. Make a motion to approve. Second. Motion to second. Any further discussion? All in favor? 40. Go right ahead.

Okay. The next one is actually for finance. Uh we have some additional fees that's been taken on with transferring money in and out of checking and savings, upfronting the bills. With the high school project, we're having to rotate money quite a bit. So, we have $9,000 additional due to the NAPCO project not being completed. We had actually budgeted $9,000 to go to the COG this year to take care of all of that paperwork, but since that project did not get completed, um I requested with Mr. Mr. Sheffley if I could use that for the additional fees. So that's most of what I'm asking for and to and to u there's a few little extra things in professional fees with the audit also with the additional.

I'll make a motion to approve. Second. Any further discussion? All in favor for one more time. I'm sorry I'm bad a little bit. Uh the third one is actually a budget amendment for law enforcement for uh additional run for a clause fundraiser. U their golf tournament that they have supporting that run for a clause through Christmas program that uh Sheriff Glenn is actually going to continue that Sheriff M started and some additional non-restricted and restricted donations. Okay. I make a motion that we approve the budget amendment for law enforcement. Second

motion, second and discussion. They do a great job of doing that. All in favor? Four. Thank you. Thank you. Okay, moving on down the county manager's comments. Yes, Mr. Chairman. Um,

thank you. Um, I'd like to We've been asked by the u uh the president of the North Carolina Association of uh uh county commissioners to show a short video. It's about a minute long uh giving us an update on a proposal that has gone before the uh the Senate here and the House in regarding taxes on real estate.

Hello everyone. Thank you for joining us for the NC County's care forum on rural healthcare. Oh, I'm sorry. On March the 22nd, we are grateful that you took the time to be a part of such an important conversation for our communities. Throughout the afternoon, we heard valuable insights from North Carolina health care leaders from the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, ECU Health, representatives from a local health department, as well as our partner from Carolina Demography, Dr. Nathan Dollar. Together, these voices helped highlight both the challenges and the opportunities facing rural health care in our state. Whether during the panel or small group discussions, the attendees perspectives and experiences are what make these forms meaningful and impactful. This kind of engagement is how we move ideas into action. We hope you'll continue the conversation with us at the next forum in this presidential series on May the 20th in Bowford County. there. We'll take a closer look at health care and jails, another critical issue affecting counties across North Carolina. Be on the lookout for the registration information. Now, I want to mention something very important to all commissioners across the state. I highly encourage you to stay engaged on key policy discussions happening at the general assembly, especially the house and senate committees on property tax. These conversations will have significant impacts for our counties as well as the people that we serve. So, please plan to join us in the state capital for county advocacy days on June the 9th and 10th. An important opportunity for us to connect directly

with our legislators and ensure that county voices are heard. Thank you again for your leadership, your collaboration, and your commitment to strengthening the health of our communities. We look forward to seeing you again soon.

So, they are um the governor's office has sent us a detailed description of what is being proposed. And to just get to the bottom line of it, what's being proposed is the for the state to take away the county's uh authority to determine taxes on real estate. They want that to be capped. And so there the uh NC, the North Carolina Association of County Commissioners is asking for the counties to sign a resolution asking for them not to do that and to allow the counties to continue to have the freedom to decide what the uh tax rate should be for real estate in their own specific counties. And uh Reed has been very involved. I've sent her copies of everything that you just there's been a lot of stuff happening in this particular area. This I didn't ask you ahead of time about this, but you want to chime in or

there's a tax reform that's been there for right now. The property tax path seems to be the most popular, but it's not one that the tax administrators association supports. We support expanding on our current homestead exemption program and not putting a cap on taxes, which limits um what you as a board do. So, I do support the resolution and we can bring that at the next meeting. Let Let me ask this. Why don't you support them putting a cap on property tax?

It restricts how you can you can spend the money. We've already got a tax cap. Yeah. You know, you can't do that. You can't go above and all your combined, but it puts more restrictions on how counties and municipalities can um charge and spend that money. The e the better thing to do for the problem for those struggling to pay the property taxes is to expand our current homestead exemption which currently have to be 65 or older permanently disabled. The income I think it's 39,000. They need to increase that to pull in more of the people who really need this. So how do we go about getting that done?

It it's it's a bill that's also out there. So, um, my association, the North Carolina Association of Assistant Officers and Tax Collector also has folks working, um, trying to put our support behind that particular. So, in one more year, I can get that took care of. So, on June the 9th and 10th, like he mentioned, there is legislative day and days in Raleigh, and I'm going to that. And one of the things I want to do with the board is make sure that I have a list of the things that we want to emphasize to them that we support or we oppose. Um so that we can our voice can be heard. Only thing I want to do is take care of the senior citizens in the county.

Sure. And I'm almost there and Bobby's already there. So and Bill. So that's what we want to take care of. That's all he could. The other thing that uh the go the governor's office has asked if I would be willing to be a member of the uh rural health committee in uh North Carolina and I asked about how much time they thought this would take and they said it's really like an hour and a half meeting once a month through the um the internet. Unless you all have any objections to that, I would like to represent us on that. That's good. Long as you take care of Alagany County. I know you live in Grace. That's what I'm there for.

Yeah.

Um the other thing I So that's that part of it. But the the thing that I'm really excited to tell you about is um you the board was uh let me go through kind of an experiment on on hiring the uh grant writer and I appreciate that. And are we going to be able to can we get her on? So we got some big news to announce. Um, and this is Rael Bizark. So, we want to see her in case she's not got her video on

15 to five. She done checked out for the evening. She's a hard worker. So, I would doubt that. Well, hi. There she is. Okay, we're trying to Oh, I can't put her on the screen. Okay, whatever reason, but there she is. There's Rael. So,

so, hey, Raal. So, we uh we were, you know, obviously we're we're trying to raise the money to fix the transfer station, take care of the transfer station. That's the the highest priority for us right now. And so, I I formed a committee made up of Rael, April, David, and Sam Evans are the intern. And in order to get this grant through, they had to I mean, they had to work like crazy. They had to work their whatevers off for for uh many days getting lots and lots of data and putting it together to be able to apply for this grant because the deadline was coming up on us very quickly. And so I'm going to read to you what

to cool. So, we can see her now. Well, she's there. But that's interesting. Is there any way to get rid of my echo? Yeah. What if I turn this off? I turn this on.

Yeah. This is above me. This is above me. Okay, there we go. Now we can see her a little bit better. If you back up a little bit, Rael, I think we'd be able to see you. Uh, there we go. Yeah, we got you. Okay. Hello. So, hi everyone again. Hello.

So, we we uh received this grant from the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality. Let me read to you um some of the the uh information that they sent to us. We are pleased to announce our decision to preliminarily award your Helen Recovery Recycling infrastructure grant proposal for a total of $2.8 million in funding. The grant review committee selected the following components of your project for grant funding. Construction of a new transfer station, including site preparation, paving and drainage improvements. Conversion of the existing transfer station, including retaining walls, slope stabilization, and structural rehabilitation. Modern uh expansion of the recycling modernization and expansion of the recycling center including material collection bins, material handling areas, a waste oil tank, a spent refrigerator tank, a pallet drop off area, a shingle collection area, and a skid steer. um engineering and architectural services including design, permitting, inspections, and construction ad construction administration. Um, one of the things I'm really excited about on this is that we had to do this. This had to be done. This is an it's not flashy or exciting, but it has to be done.

We would have had to charge each household in the county $1,145 uh to do what we just what I just described to you. So now we will not have to charge you anything extra due to this $2.8 million grant. We have to find a little bit more money before we can move the whole project forward, but uh we've greatly reduced uh the money that we need and um we are close to achieving what we need in order to make this happen. And I really want to uh thank Rael and April and David and Sam for the hard work that they they did in putting this together and very exciting moment for the people of this county.

Thank you all. Thank you all. Yeah, that's great news. $2.8 million, no repay. Yes, that's great news. Yeah. Thank you, Rael. Rael, thank you a bunch. Thanks. So, our landfill or transfer tax ain't going to go up this year. Uh, we're still we are still looking at that that part. So, it's possible it could. Still may go up a little bit. It still may have to. You know, it's been many years since we we put 1.5 million with it. She got 2.7. Yeah. 2.8.

Going to cost 4.2 million more. Well, we've got we've got uh we have applied for a uh interest free loan of 1.5 1.3. So, uh we've taken 1.5 from our our our general fund. So, we're over $5 million. Yeah. On what's probably a six to7 million project total. So, we're almost there. We about as much as school is. And this will take Go ahead. Go ahead,

Rael. I have started started to draft that would also cover cover this project um as well. Um and hopefully one is large enough we're looking to also add to include in in that proposal an expansion center. Um, so yeah, those two have been identified and we're working on good job. Thank you team. We appreciate it. And thank you.

And thank and Rael's got some other grants that for in other areas like for the ball fields, you know, that that we are waiting to hear some information on. So there hopefully there'll be more to to come in the future. That's all I've got, Mr. Chairman. Thank you. Thank you. That's a good body good report. You could do that once a month, man. We just Yeah. All righty. Moving on down. I'm lost here. Commissioner comments. Greg, take off with you, I guess. Everybody stay warm in the morning. I do appreciate the grant you got for us. Yeah, boy.

And I hope fire departments want to turn it up, but that's all I got. Good. Good evening. Um, yeah, a couple things. We are within a day of finishing our long day budgets, correct? Yeah.

Until we So, we're getting closer on that. Um, which I'm excited to get to the end. um that and also I just wanted to say I work with I do um I do a I sit on the board with the DSS and I see constant um changes through that board every month and I wanted to send out a shout out to all the the ladies there that does all this work that nobody really knows much about. don't see it here of it, but they do a lot of good work. They put in a lot of time. They sacrifice a lot of things to do the things that they need to do for for people, young people, old people. And I just wanted to say thank you to them. And uh also to again, you know, we have this constant, we have a small county, we have small county government, but we do have constant things going on every single day. like heard from David and when I see Rita every once in a while it's it's um I appreciate everything everybody does. Um I'm glad that you guys are here for the people of Alagany because I've become to learn a lot about our county and I've also learned that we have some really top-notch people working for our county and that that makes us proud. you know, you know, we are a small county, but we still have a lot of things that was taken care of. And I want to say thank you guys for all that. Um, look forward to things I really look forward to getting further on this transfer station. I look forward to having getting another month closer to the end of our school project, which we don't talk a lot about, but our office, our our our um finance department, they do a

lot of work on that. That's that I said when we got the when we did get that grant at the beginning that the county is going to have to be involved a lot and I know was not talked about much but that money runs through our county. we have to front that monies and you know we are a big part of that project and we really appreciate that office doing all that work for that and I think I really I think we have of course I won't be able to be here but we do have the potluck with the board of education this week right and I think they're going to do a probably a tour of the school but it is getting closer and I'm looking forward to seeing the end of that someday. But other than that, that's all I had.

Okay. Thank you, Timmy. Bobby,

yeah, just a few quick things. We had a a good rain over the weekend, but uh there's still a burning ban on and uh so everybody needs to be careful. Uh I hope uh during the finance uh meetings they're discussing putting in God we trust up on 90 South Main up top where everybody can see it. Um, I don't know about our county ordinance that deal with protest, but I've read in the paper where the uh where the town of Sparta has uh they're looking at different ordinances. I think we need to uh possibly look at that on government property. um a recent event I noticed they were all over the uh the yard at the courthouse and we're just trying to get the grass growing and trying to get it back in shape and uh all that traffic sure sure didn't help it. So something we might consider for the future. I'd rather be proactive than reactive. And uh the message we just heard a minute ago, some of it was about the health department. And uh you know, every county in the state has to be involved with the health department. whether you do it separately or you do it with other counties. And as small as Alagany is, I think we're fortunate to be in be in uh company with Waga and Nash County. That helps us keep down our our cost. But like everything else, costs are going

up. And uh I hope the finance department is looking at that. uh as uh the request that's been made by the health department uh is vital. Uh if we had to have our own health department, I don't know how many millions of dollars that would take to be our own health department. Um but that's something I hope that we're going to discuss in the in the budget process. And I think these grants that we're getting with the grant writer, with the everybody else that gets involved is is certainly saving the county taxpayers a lot of money. So I I congratulate our tax our grant writer and everybody that gets involved in those uh in those grants. That's all.

Thank you, Bobby. I don't have much to add to that. I do appreciate like everybody else all the work that the grant writers and everybody involved with that has done. I know everybody here and has done a great job. A lot of work went into it, but it takes a lot of work to get good results a lot of times and we really appreciate that. And at the fairgrounds, uh, fiberfest is coming up. Also, the fried apple pie festival that's right around the corner both. And maybe we'll have some good weather and have big crowds and have a good time. Uh, that's all I have. I think the agriculture committee having a tractor pull out there may too. So,

yeah, that's right. That's right. Tractor pull coming up out there. I forgot. Anybody got anything else, Heather? So, I'm not sure there might be uh information that everybody's seen on our state magazine and the fact that this month for May um there is a massive spread um in the magazine on the town of Sparta um in the county. So, it's got local restaurants, different activities and information about Sparta in a really nice laidout spread. Um, and I'd like to say thank you to Larry who was uh instrumental in writing to our state to get them to focus on Sparta. And it's a huge part of this May edition for our state magazine. So, um, I would highly recommend if you don't have a subscription to it to go to the grocery store um, or somewhere where you can buy magazines locally and pick up this edition.

I go ahead. You want to come up and speak to that, Larry? Comment? Yes, sir. We appreciate what you do up there, chamber. Yeah, I actually didn't write to them. I went and met with them and that seems to be pretty effective. I just met with them again and People magazine and a few others trying to get them to come again. So, we'll see how that that plays out. A lot of times when you get a a spread like that, some of the other magazines start to show interest. So, we're looking forward to it. I did get a text out of Saltberry this weekend said talking about Sparta. I seen it in there. So I got the same thing in Solbury anyway.

Yeah. Now you can buy single issues on our state's website. Um if you can't find one around the area where can you where can you buy them? You can buy them on ourstate uh.com. Okay. You can get a single issue. You can get a trial subscription for three months for $5 which is cheaper than but I don't know which issues they said yet. So that's a little bit but if you like Walmart has magazine area and things like that I thought that was kind of funny. I'm up here and somebody with Solberry text me said you seen our state magazine spart is in it. So that was good good advertising.

While I'm up there I do want to invite you all to come to the Heritage Museum is going to have an open house on Thursday from 4:30 to 6:30. There'll be refreshments and door prizes and you all invited to that as well. That's a neat little gym here in the community. You can't tell from the outside, then you go in, it is amazing. And they've got a a really wonderful display on the 250 celebration for America there. Good. Hey, Larry, can you tell me about the Duke students doing the uh

documentary? Uh Duke University sent a group of graduate students up here and they are making between five and six short films, probably 10 to 12 minutes long. Um, and they've already done a lot of their shooting, photo, photography part of it, and they do a lot of interviews with community folks from people who have been here their whole life to people that are new to the area and get different perspectives. Um, I know a couple of the focuses have been on the restaurants in town and how it came to be and uh, and then there's been some emphasis on just Sparta, old and new, and things like that. So, um, it'll be interesting to see those come out, but we will have a a screening of all those films on May 15th at the Spark Auditorium. We felt like even though there needs to be some work on the auditorium, it should be fine in the middle of May unless we have a heat wave or what do they call a polar vortex May that would devastate the community.

Expand expand on PBS and the fire. So, um I I was talking to Aaron Ray and they they reached back out to uh PBS to see if they would come back. And as far as I know, nobody that's never happened before for two years in a row little roadster tour went to the same uh venue. But they they really enjoyed their time up here and uh so a couple of letters had to be sent out in support things like that. But the main thing was to get the Alagany Library on board and Jen Marlo and she is going to run it for PBS. So, it'll have the same materials and the same promotional uh output, you know, where they spent thousands of dollars to promote our fair because of their participation in it. But our local Jim Marlo is going to put together a team of volunteers to run it.

Good for her. That was a huge success. Yeah. With the kids and parents also. That was a that was a huge success. Lot going on in this community association of county commissioners. also making a documentary. Don Adams think probably know him contacted me to say that Alageney County was going to be one of the counties they're going to do this on. So Lisa is setting up a time for the person to come and and interview a couple of us. One day you want to speak there.

Oh, and throw that out. Um, Freeborns is now has a community Wi-Fi and it's free to anybody whether you're going into the restaurant or not. You can sit in the parking lot, use it like fill out job applications or or do your homework online or anything like that. And it's already up and functioning um in their parking lot and inside the building. But um we're going to have an open house for that on Friday um from 11 to 1. And there's even going to be three or four laptops given away. That's all part of that grant that u something about the digital divide really just trying to bring uh access internet access to remote areas. Where's that at? Freeborns. That's going to be at Freeborn. I'm going to try some wings one night up there.

Yeah. Well, they do it. And then the next one that's going to come up pretty soon will be at the Glade Creek Fire Department. They're going to have an area also set aside for community life. And then I think the last one will be in Pine Creek area. What' you say? Glade Creek. Mhm. Y'all need to put that in the budget. Well, there's no cost to any actually. It saves them money because the grant pays for the internet access for that facility that's willing to do that. Somebody got to pay your light bill right there. So, Skyline up the fiber and there ain't a lot of money for three periods. That's right. A lot of good things going on. A lot of good things happening. Thank you, Larry. Thank you. Anything else? Need a motion to adjurnn. I'll make a motion.

Second that. Second. Motion. All in favor? Thank y'all. Did you ever find that anybody pressure wash? How?