Council - Regular Meeting

At this time, I'd like to call the uh Nashville Town Council meeting to order for March 18th uh 2026. Would you please stand for the pledge? I pledge algiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Let us pray. Heavenly Father, we just thank you so much for leading and guiding this meeting, giving us your wisdom to make the right decisions for all the citizens of Nashville. Amen.

At this time, I'd like to receive a motion to continue the um items on our agenda, the shipping container and also our close session. So move. Is there a second? Um there's a second. So all those in favor say I. I. So motion carries. So we'll do that. We do have two council members out today and um and so but we're going to carry on. Uh the um first item on our agenda is approval of the minutes. Oh, there was no minutes. There was no minutes. That's right. I thought I forgot something. I remembered I went on

I should have deleted that item. So we'll move on to the uh public comments. And first of all, I have Christopher Sandy.

Christopher Sandy, 720 South Body Street, Buildr Right Supply. Um, I know we've continued the thing on the shipping of containers and I got 50,000 things I wanted to say, but uh, what I'm going to say is that, you know, this put a lot of stress on everybody needlessly and this is u obviously bigger than any of us. I've taken it to prayer and put it in God's hands because you know the stress gave me a stroke in um January and it's just not worth that. And so I just ask that you guys do the right thing back up. Get rid of the evil that's involved in this and um let businesses do what businesses need to do to make a living here and keep this community. I brought shipping containers to this area because there's a need. There's a nonprofit organization. I can't mention their name. They'll leave in Nashville. So, they need to expand. They need a shipping container. They're not going to be able to get one. So, they're moving to Rocky Mountain. Um the fire departments that I've helped and it goes on and on. Um the cost to us has been been in the hundreds of thousands of dollars. um the attorney's fees, all this is just is just needless. Please sit back and reflect on this and think about the big picture of what it's going to take to keep this community whole. Um this ordinance that'll be coming that's been rescheduled now to a Monday night that nobody knows about other they see it in the paper maybe. Um it's uh it's been rewritten. If you look at the records from January when the planning board, what they requested and what they received in February was not the same thing. It's been misguided and misdirected and planning board yes

endorsed it. But I asked why two of the key people wasn't were not available at that meeting that night and the ones were there say we're just tired of messing with it. We're pushing it off to cancel because they're going to keep coming back until they get what they want. So, I don't know why it is the way it is. Makes no sense. But if anybody would like to talk one-on-one with me, I'd be glad. I want this thing to peace be peaceibly handled and uh do the right thing for this community because what's happening with this ordinance in highest county is not the right thing. Thank you. Thank you, Chris. The next person is Jack uh

Majeski. Majeski. Thank you, Jack.

Good morning. My name is Jack Majeski. Live at 214 Simland Drive. Um, this little life here, I want to give you some background about myself. Um, I retired from the army in 1989 and my father worked in the army for 22 years. I was in the army for 21. And I thought it was normal for everybody to move every two or three years. So my wife and I moved to Florida when I retired and then in 2015 we moved up here to be in Nashville. My wife and I have been married for 59 years. And um on March 6, um I checked my blood pressure at night and it was like 235 over 100 and it was high. So I didn't know if it was my machine or not. So the next morning, my wife and I are going to go uh shopping in Rocky Mount. And I said, "Let's go to the fire department, check, make sure it's my machine or what's going on." So I got there and the fire chief checked my blood pressure and it was 235 over 95 at that point. And he frowned on me. He told me I wasn't going anywhere. He said I look like a stroke going to happen. So he called 911 and they come there. check for blood pressure. They had police officers, more fire people there and I thought I did something wrong. So uh they took me over to Nest uh hospital over there in Rocky Mount on that Friday. They put me on blood thinners right away. Then Monday morning they uh put a stent in my heart and put a balloon in there and got the plaque out. So if I didn't go to the fire station and they have someone there, I don't think I'd be here today. Well, we're glad you are and we thank you for sharing that information with us. We appreciate it.

Thank you, sir. Thank you, sir.

The first item on our agenda is the CDBG neighborhood revitalization project. So, mayor and council, as you know, we've uh the the town has had the good fortune of being awarded a $950,000 community development neighborhood revitalization uh grant to help us uh replace the lapidated housing for at least five, maybe seven, uh low to moderate income here in Nashville. And to begin that uh process now that it's been awarded, we have before us today execution of the grant agreement and a couple other things. We have uh Ben Jones with us here this morning. He is the consultant that helped write the grant and submit the grant. And Ben, if you wouldn't mind. Yeah, thanks for having me uh again back in your board meetings. Um yeah, so just like um Randy said this morning, um there's not really a lot on the agenda. Um that'll kind of ramp up here soon now that we've got the grant agreement and the funding approval um for the town to sign. I believe the other thing on the agenda for today was the signatory card. Is that right, Randy?

Yeah. Okay. And so that signatory card should be in your file. And that's essentially what that is is it's uh four people who are on record with CDBG to sign requisitions. So, you know, us as a consultant, we can do pretty much everything except sign checks. And so, um, that's what that signatory card is important for. Um,

and the other thing is is I believe the you mayor, you're on there as one of the people and um that being said, that's why there's a resolution to accompany it because the mayor is one of the signators and the ma because you're uh one of the signators, you're not going to be able to sign the signatory card. So that's why we had to pass that resolution. So um that should be pretty much everything for today. Um but then just moving forward um pretty much our next steps are is we'll do um admin procurement. So we'll officially uh get administration procured to to work on the grant and then um from there we'll kind of hit the ground running with all the startup stuff. And so there's several um startup documents and plans that this the town has to adopt and have on file um for the grant as well as we'll have to perform in environmental review. It'll be a pretty extensive document we have to put together just essentially um certifying that you know the work that we're doing in Nashville tearing down homes rebuilding homes is not going to negatively impact uh the environment in any way. And so then once uh the state agrees with our environmental assessment, then they will uh allow us to start spending money. So they'll essentially uh give us what they call a release of funds. So

well, thank you so much. This is exciting and I'm excited about seeing it implemented. I really am. Thank you so much. Thank you guys. Do you all have any questions for him? Thank you so much. Thank you. So at this time, do I hear um Randy? Did you have anything else you wanted to say?

No, the the four documents there, you just need to act on them, get approval on them, and and uh Lou has the uh the actual signature cards. Uh that resolution 2609, which is on page 18, it authorizes uh designated the signers for this grant to be the mayor, uh the mayor pro Tim, Larry Taylor, myself, and uh the town clerk. So everything that we do with this I have to have those four signatures on it. One more thing please

and just just to be aware so like say um the mayor pro Tim or somebody just if elections change and somebody gets um it's no longer commissioner and we have to change that to inventory part we'll just have to do this over again. Okay. And um and and I mean we can operate with two. We have to have two signatures, but it's nice to just have that full four because that way if you're on vacation, mayor, or if Mr. Ry's out of town, then the other two can sign. Okay. Thank you.

Thank you. So, if there are no other questions, do I hear um um a motion to approve this $950,000 CDBG neighborhood revitalation um grant agreement between the town of Nashville and the North Carolina Department of uh Commerce for the replacement of dilapidated housing units in Nashville owned occupied by low to moderate income owners and the CDBG- NRF finding approval and um resolution 2006-9 designating and authorizing purpose to sign grant dispersement request. I make that motion. Is there a second? Second.

All those in favor, let it be known by saying I. I.

The next item on our agenda is the um economic development agreement. Uh, mayor and council. Um, as as as you know, Brazwell Family Farms has purchased the Shell building in the Nashville Business Center, 111 Commerce Street. And that that building was a was a partnership between the town and Nash County. We had the land, they put the building on it, um made it for sale as a shell building. Brazwell has bought it. They are in the process. Brazwell is of upfitting it uh for their use. Um as they were doing that, uh they began constructing additional truck docks in the rear of the building on the north side. It came was built with They added four more, so they have six. And then also on the north side of the building, they're building um they're building a place where they can park semi-trailers in a in a big circle. And as they began constructing that, uh, they realized that because of the way the topography of the lot, uh, is, they needed additional land in order to build that facility that let me pull it up here quick. In in the agreement, there's this uh, page that has has the drawing on it. It's exhibit exhibit one, I believe.

There's no map. There's no map. It's It's in the one that was handed out. At the time we got the agreement, we didn't have that particular exhibit. So, we we have the exhibit now. So, the yellow area on that shows the additional area they need in order to finish constructing that truck parking facility. Where's the yellow area? Because ours is not shaded.

Where the loop is. Okay. Yeah, it's shaded on yours. Uh, yeah. Just Well, the agreement was in there, but the attachment I just got that pages. Oh, we didn't have the agreement, did we? It's not in. So, yeah. Yeah, we didn't have So, what's in yellow is the additional land that they need. Um, I apologize if this feels somewhat rush. It does. It does very much.

Um, they're nearly finished constructing it and I really I I really wanted to get this to council so you had an opportunity. Um, Raz read this. Raz drafted it. Okay. Okay. So, um can you pull up um just the property on a map so we can see exactly what it looks like aerial

wise? And is this property that is subject to um any like funding that we've received as far as recreation and keeping it wetlands and all of that?

It it is it's it's lot seven of the Nashville Business Center that we pledged for funding for enhancements to the Stony Creek Environmental Park. And when Coy and I uh first looked at this, we thought there would be an opportunity maybe to trade half an acre of the Brasswell property at 111 Industry Court in exchange for this. But the way the the land all lies and lays out, there is not that opportunity. Um they pretty much everything that they have on that 5 acre lot, they're already using in some way, shape, or form with their project. Um, let me pull up. Uh,

this day is in Brazil. They is in Brazil. Yes. So, I I think there's a few questions here. Um, are we allowed to convey this with what we have as far as requirements for keeping wetlands and all of that? Um, do we still have access where we need access as far as like retention pond and all of those things? Um, and does that mess with our other industry property?

So, what they need here for land is separate from where they are where we've agreed to allow them to build their storm water retention on the on the water tower lot. And we we still have access through Brazwell's property, well through our own property to get to that. Now, Coy and I have talked about talking with Trey to get better easement access to that, which Trey is not objected to at all. Um, he suggested, let's build the storm water retention so I can walk out there and see what you're talking about. Um, I had Nash County GIS already pulled up, but for some reason, it's not cooperating with me.

So, this attached map we're looking at with this big horseshoe on it, is that the front, the back, the side? Where's the culde-sac? I mean, this is very I can't even see scale. Pulled up because I can't visualize where this is or what this is going to look like. Sure. So, right right here is the building. The the culde-sac to get to it is on Hold on. Where's the building? This is the building here. I don't see your cursor. I'm sorry. Isn't it moving? So, this is the 40,000 square foot building. This is the culde-sac. Atlantic Dentra Foods is over here

here. And then this is there were two truck docks here. They they added four or more so they have a total of six. And these represent semi-trailers that are going to be parked in a semiircle. They they have an opening here so they can get around for fire lane. And then this is going to be kind of like their own culde-sac built back there that the semi-trailers are parked around. And as they were as they were moving dirt to construct this, uh, James Strickland, the surveyor, pointed out to them, well, you know, the property line is here. And their engineer was not aware of that. So, uh, called in somewhat of a panic and said, "Look, is there any way we can get this in yellow from the town so we can complete this as as they were planning on doing?" So, um to answer your question, Kate, no, we have not reached out to the um the funding sources and and made them aware of this. We weren't quite sure. It's half an acre. One of the things that Trey had represented to us that um again, let let me see quick here if I can pull up Nash County GIS because it's going to make this a whole lot easier to talk about. There it goes. Finally.

is slow this morning. Okay, here we go. So this this here is the property we're talking about right there. And the the shell building sits here. Again, this is an old aerial photo, so it doesn't show the building on, but uh in essence, what what they need is that area there for for the additional five acres. So, and like I said, they're they're under construction with it already, which is one of the reasons why we we needed to get to the council. But, uh, to answer your question, Kate, no, we we hadn't reached out to the funding sources to ask about the five acres. We wanted to see what I'm sorry halfacre wanted to make sure council was on board with trying to pursue this uh in order to help out Brazwell with their project here. So

I suppose it does affect that. Well, what they would most likely require us to do is find a half an acre somewhere else to add to it. Is there a half an acre we find there? There is property uh in and around the Stony Creek Environmental Park. Um, you know that uh I forget how much we got from Elaine uh Robertson and uh Paty Paty Smith was around that I think right

I guess if it affects it then what is it the town's responsibility to go out and purchase property? Is it Brazwell's responsibility to facilitate that conveyance? The the property that we we got from U Paty and and Elaine is point deed acres is 46. Okay. So, it's very comparable.

As long as it as long as we have the authority to do so without jeopardizing funding, I'm completely fine with it. But if it if if it becomes an issue, I'd like to know then what? Okay. Well, if if you want uh go ahead,

um mayor, members of council, I'm just going to suggest um this of course is an agreement that contemplates ultimately closing on the purchase of the property. It's not the closing on the purchase of the property. What I would just suggest is that if if it's the will of council to approve the agreement that you add to that agreement a provision along these lines. This agreement is expressly subject to verification by the town that conveyance of the.5 acres is not inconsistent with state grant conditions relating to Stony Creek Environmental Park. Something to that effect. He gives the town an out, keeps it moving along toward a closing, but the town is not on the hook should this be discovered to be a problem. And where does that lead to a closing? I think that covers the basis.

Okay, that sounds good. Anything else, Randy? On that matter, no. So, uh, at this time, do we need to hold a, um, public hearing on the economic development agreement? I think we do between the town of Nashville and Bradzel Farm. Do I hear a motion that we go into, um, a public hearing? Second. All those in favor?

Motion carries. Is there anyone in the audience that would like to speak to this item on our agenda? Westbreak National Graphic. I have a bunch of questions. Um, if if this additional area to be added to the Brazwell Family Farms parcel is for truck parking. I'm guessing that would be an imperous surface. So if that is true, how close is that imperous surface going to be to any environmentally sensitive areas is my first question. Second question, would this not require some sort of environmental review to be done prior to construction? Um, and could the town potentially get into legal trouble if it went ahead and did this without that being in place? I know there's a lot of questions at once. And then you want to deal with those and then I have two more because of the size. It doesn't need it does not need an environmental review. Now having said that the impervious surface that is being created with this it storm water is all going to be channeled to the storm water pond or facility that the council has agreed to give Brazwell and build labs an easement on the west water tower lot to construct and maintain.

Can you show where the um where the storm water pond is going to be built relative to the new area? It's It's right. Can you see my cursor there, Nancy? This area here. This is the water. Oh, yeah. Yeah. The water tower lot is number five. Mhm. And the area that it's going to be built on is right there, right alongside the building. So, you're saying that that area is going to drain towards that away from the creek area and down to the to the storm water retention.

It's it's storm water. Yes. Now, the the side slope that they have built, uh, that's going to continue to drain down to the creek, but everything that the semi trailers are parked around, all of the storm water that falls on that is going to be channeled gravity-wise to this retention basin. Well, it would seem as though if there is a grade there towards the creek, what's to keep anything from going that way?

Fill an elevation there. They're going to add about approximately 12 ft of fill to this area here for the uh truck circle, truck parking lot that's being built to elevate it. And uh that's they're going to use the dirt from where they're creating the So they're going to kind of elevate it like this would that Okay. So anything would go that way, right? Is this they're going to capture that storm water and put it in. That's what the engineer tells us. Okay. Okay. I question him on that. Okay, next questions. What is the property? Oh, shoot. What's property to the right in the room here? What?

Times up. I got the question in though. Okay. Um, thank you, Mayor. If I may, I don't I don't think the time limit would is generally construed to apply to legally required public hearings. Okay. as opposed to your public comment occasion for anyone to speak about anything. Go ahead, Miss.

Yay. Okay. Um, last question. What is the property to the right and to the rear of that parcel? Is that like something else in the industrial park or is that something else? Well, well, to the right is this property here. Um, that was given to the town by the Smith family a number of years back and that has been incorporated into the Stony Creek Environmental Park. Okay. Wait, what is the overall acreage of the park now? 113 113 acres altogether. Okay. So that's the chunk to the right and also to the rear

to to the rear is property uh that's on the north side of Stony Creek and that's owned by the Pace family. Okay. So that's private property. Okay. That's it. Thank you. Okay. Thank you. Any other um person that would like to speak? Is that Chris Sandy? Is that well um that the retention pond is going to be beside is that in use? I'm not aware. The tower. Oh, the water tower. Yes. Yeah. So, is the water coming from that area into that tower? There's not a well out there. Okay.

It's just a storage elevated storage tower. Our nearest our nearest well to that is uh out here by Purdue Farms where the new storage buildings are being built. Well, number seven is there. I I was just worried about that retention pond leeching into the drinking water. That's all. Thank you. Anyone else? If not, do I hear a motion for us to come out of the public hearing? Second. All in favor, let it be known by saying I. I. Okay. Yes.

Mayor, if I'm if I may, just appo to the comments that were raised. Uh the agreement draft we got for you includes in part three section two a statement that all the facilities and improvements to be constructed on the property shall be in accord with all applicable federal state and local regulation statutes and requirements for plan approval permit and so forth. So that's that's that's one layer or several layers of regulation concerning uh anything that's would be is an environmentally sensitive area. Which section was that last? I don't see that.

Part three, paragraph two, part Roman numeral part. Other obligations and companies part. Thank you. So last sentence. Uhhuh. So, we'll move on to our next item on our agenda, and that is the interlocal uh agreement.

Did you guys take action on on approving the development agreement? Oh, no. We sure didn't. Do I hear a motion with the um language that Brad had suggested saying that it's subject to um any state or federal grant requirements that we may have? make a motion. Second. So, I'm going to make sure I understand what we're voting on since we didn't get this information. So, we're voting on what

the um it's a development agreement with Brazwell Family Farms to receive that half acre of land in in exchange for their $7.5 million of private investment and the creation of I forget the number of jobs that are are going with that. Okay. And so it sounds like they're constructing it. So we construct it and then we find out we don't have this grant's not going to work and we got to do something different. It's already constructed and now where we where we at? I mean we got we got another problem.

Are we confident that the solution would be that they would look for additional acreage? Well, that that's what Coin I believe. If either of the two grant funding sources that we pledge this land to said, "Oh, well, you you you know, you're shy of half an acre." Uh we're pretty certain that they're going to say, "We'll just find something else adjoining to the park that is equal or comparable in size and we'll just add that in exchange for for what is now no longer." Cy, do you do you want to speak on that? Is that your question?

There's a lot of whatifs in this thing. It really is. I mean, it's um I know it's a situation that we don't want to be in, but it's a lot of what?

Good. Good morning. Um so, yeah, very similar to what um Randy said, and there's in my opinion two issues here. one is what the grant will allow. And I do feel confident that um they would allow us to if we could acquire property that is contiguous with the rest of it along Standing Creek, it would still fit our requirements for those grants. Um um I think we should pursue doing that anyway just because even if the grant requirements do not require it um you know it's directly impacting what we are trying to do down there and it's a little bit of a blemish on the town of Nashville and NC Warf and personally me for what we said we were going to do with that property. Um, but I think if we can replace that property somewhere else, it's um it's a non-issue. Um,

but but that may not that they may not be free, but that right. So that's why this agreement is subject to what our requirements are because if they come back and say you do have to acquire more land, this agreement is no longer. we have to come to some sort of um understanding as to who is going to be responsible.

I think that's correct. I mean the intention was this language that's subjective to is expressly the language that I articulated a minute ago was that um the agreement including the mandate to close that is the directive that this real estate transaction take place is expressly subject to verification that um that that the conveyance of the property is not inconsistent with state grand grant conditions rel relating to stomach creek wetlands. Um so in other words that language I think says this problem has to be resolved before this real estate closing occurs.

So so and I presume that the construction can't happen until they own the property. So chain of events would be this problem. This problem is enter into the agreement sets events in motion so that Randy and Poy will have the right conversations with state officials and either see that there is not a problem. The state is not concerned or a a land swap will have to happen or an agreement to have a land swap to happen will occur. the problem will be solved and no closing will take place

until that that and that would probably mean if you got a landslop it's going to come back before you to you know to to make that transaction and I guess to Bill's point we'd like to make it clear that the town is not anticipating spending money on any sort of land swap or purchase of property that the developer

well those things can't happen and I'm not trying to you know accelerate you're comfortable with have you take action you're not comfortable with. But but if if if in fact it's determined that some kind of land exchange does have to happen legally that cannot happen without the approval of the council. So we will come back before you to address that contingency um before the sale of this town property. I think we need to include in the language and return the property to um original condition because it sounds like it's not in original condition. Now

I don't I don't know. So I mean if we don't need to spend money putting it back to original if we're going to need to get a grant that we lost because of this. Again I'm trying to support the rousles because they're important to our town, but this is this is a lot lot of variables in this thing. So, you're saying if the grants were jeopardized and they said no, no land swap, you just have to keep it as is. Then they just go back the way it is was. I mean, that's important to include that.

Well, I guess it's required right now anyway because they're building on land that's not theirs. So um I don't know how to state we need the tab protected. I mean that's you know whatever way whatever happens to we just need to be um but this is a huge grant we applied for already um for a lot of a lot of things we're trying to do to that property. It is. Yeah. I mean it's 1.25 million grant. Yeah. So, so nothing needs to jeopardize that.

We have whatever the wording needs to be so it's not jeopardized in any way and and not on us to take care of.

Right. Well, after after this meeting, you know, Coy and I will get with the funding sources, explain what's happened and what is happening. And you know, they bring up the fact, well, we we got to find another half acre somewhere else. We we we have the Smith and Robertson property that was given to us that we can offer that. And u as Ky pointed out, he's pretty confident that they would accept that and we could all move forward just fine. Can you call back up because he brought up the point of acquiring additional property and I just want to make sure that he's Cory, could you please go back up

because that point four is on the other side of the creek. So that might make a difference. You know, I don't know. The grants are all real specific. So this this property is on the other side of the creek too. Yeah. From Stony Creek Park. Okay. So Koi, what you had mentioned earlier is that you think that we should be pursuing additional acreage anyway because of just the perception of what is going on here, what we've been trying to do um putting a blemish on NC Warf on you. So are you comfortable with using the 46 acres or were you talking about even more property to fully do what we were intended to do?

Um either either way. Yes. I just think we do need to replace it. And again, I'm um two issues there. The the grants that we've currently been awarded, we need to verify it. But then any future grants we apply for with the same funding sources, I just think it it shows good faith on the town to to do what we said we were going to do. Okay. Well, we're going to meet in a week, aren't we? Can't we can't we meeting next Monday, aren't we not? Yes. Yes. Can we not get more information and wait till then to vote? I mean, is it sensitive for 5 days? No, Bill, you're right. I mean, if you guys want the table and I just got this information, you know, 30 minutes ago,

and I vet this out further and bring it back next Monday or or on the 30th. We can certainly do that. It's not going to hold up the project. Doesn't sound like it. So, what is your desire? I I would Well, there's a motion. So, you got you got to do something with the motion. Either either go through the motion or Well, I can withdraw the motion. Um, and I think we'd all feel a lot more comfortable if we just had the answer from our funding sources as to whether this would be okay or not. So, you postpone, right? Yes. I'll make a motion to postpone our decision until Monday.

Second. All those in favor? Okay, the next item,

mayor, I'm sorry. Excuse me for interrupting you, but um just on this on this topic, I don't know if I'll be here at the next meeting or not, but and I will discuss this with Randy and put something in writing, but I would just suggest one way of protecting the town. um because things happen and even though we hear you sometimes getting the state to take action on grant um contingencies and what kind of a workout would be acceptable to them takes a little bit of time. One thing I would suggest that in addition to the language I suggested otherwise um that you add in the event the closing does not occur on the sale on on the conveyance of the the property the the town property be be restored um to the na to its natural condition existing prior to construction of any project improvements on the property. And that just that gives you one additional level. So that you know you understand that I I didn't realize that the contractor jumped the gun but um that would put one more um obligation you know there on the table so that um it it it covers the town um during this kind of workout period if if you will um to to to to have the closing take place. So I'll we'll put that in right in case I'm not here for the meeting. I'll I'll put that to make it happen for you.

Thank you. We did vote on postponement, right? Okay, let's move on to our next item is the interlocal agreement. Um the next one, Randy,

uh mayor and council, the next item on the agenda is an interlocal agreement between the uh town of Nashville, Nash County, and the city of Rocky Mount regarding Project Patriot. Um, Project Patriot. I guess it's no secret anymore. Is Freedom Industries, which is just uh east of town. It lies between the city of Rocky Mount and Nashville. Uh, it is in Rocky Mount service territory for water and sewer. Uh, Rocky Mount does not have available sewer service in the area. Freedom Industries is looking at a rather large building expansion and additional jobs. and uh they're in the process of buying 30 additional acres that adjoins their property right now. Um they need the town sewer. the town sewer is fairly close and per this agreement, Nash County uh has applied for funding from the North Carolina Department of Commerce and was awarded I think it was $280,000 to help extend the sanitary sewer uh the town sanitary sewer uh a little to the east and then down Camlar Road and from there then Freedom Industries would connect to it. But um both the city of Rocky Mount and the town of Nashville have a policy that we don't allow anybody to connect to our water and sewer systems without annexation. So what this agreement does is say that uh for this one particular instance um the city of Rocky now will not require annexation by Freedom Industries in exchange for being able to connect to the city of Rocky Mountain's water. which is right on Old East Springh Hope Road in front of Freedom Industries and the town of Nashville will allow them to connect to our sewer without requiring

annexation and that Nash County's part in this is they will apply for and receive the funding to help extend the sewer. That in a nutshell is is what the interlocal agreement uh says. So attached to that uh is uh an attachment that shows the property that Freedom is is purchasing from the Edgars just to the north of it. And Bill, you had a question about that. It it had an exception on it. Exempt. Exempt. And Raz, would you mind on that subdivision exemption?

Sure. Uh it's an ex simp subdivision because it's 30 plus acres and state statuto definition of subdivision. Uh it's 10 acres. Your charter may have varied that to a smaller size. I'm not sure. I don't recall exactly because charter rem that topic of common place, but regardless it's exempt because of its size. It's just simply not subject to subdivision regulation. So that's that's the reference to that term subdivision. And and I believe Kate, you had a question regarding the uh term or the time frame of the agreement.

Um well, I have two questions. Um one, I know we've um said that the maps are all different for the service areas. Does everybody's map for the service area of this say that Rocky Mount is the the utility server or is it like between Rocky Mount and the county? We're not in that, right? We're we are definitely not the service area for that. We we are definitely not and all maps, Rocky Mounts, the towns, Nash counties, they all show this area clearly being Rocky Mount service territory. And then I guess just the term of it, I wanted to know what happens at the expiration of the 5-year term, but um Raz, if you want to speak to that,

mayor, members of the council, Miss Burns, we and I discussed this um with Randy before the meeting. the the state statute authorizing interlocal agreements requires a fixed termination date and my suspicion is five years was just picked just because there needs to be a number and it was a figure folks were comfortable with um regarding what happens after the termination date with respect to the utility services once services are connected and commence between the customer and the provider ider any disconnection is a really really big deal. There are statutory and constitutional rights involved and I think from a practical standpoint even though five years has passed there is no practical way that water and sewer would or could legally be disconnected to the property owners

in order to require annexation. So annexation would have to be voluntary.

Correct. and annexation fundamentally is voluntaril voluntary now in the state of North Carolina for all intents purposes. So um just the scenario where utility service and the threat of utility service disconnection would be used as leverage to at that time require annexation. I just don't think that legally or practically can or will happen. I have one more question. So the balance of the money for the run the sewer from us our current ending point to Freedom is paid by Freedom. Is that my

It is. Yeah. In the agreement that Freedom is responsible for whatever cost the sewer extension will be above and beyond what Nash County got in a grant award and they agreed to pay that. And they're paying out of area for the sewer. They they will pay out of town sewer rates and I assume they'll do the same for Rocky Mountain for water.

Any other questions? Well, I'm glad they're prospering and can expand. That's um good to hear that during these times. Um any other comments or questions? If not, do I hear a motion to approve an interlocal agreement between the town of town Nash County and the city of Rocky Mount for Freedom Industries Project Patriot Expansion Project at 400 East Old Spring Road. So, second. Second. All those in favor, let it be known by saying I. I.

And I think that covers all the items on our agenda. So, um, any anybody have any comments? May I have I have have one. I I don't want to be a jerk, but but we've had this conversation privately. I want to make sure it's public. We have to have our information before a meeting and enough time to have a proper meeting. Um we're all busy. We have families. We have we have church. We have businesses. Um one of us is a pastor. Um we we can't wait till the last minute to get information. And and I know we've had this conversation, but I want to make sure it's clear that I think it's a serious situation that we cannot have. We don't look good. The town doesn't look good. and we need we don't need to have anymore.

Understood. Heard and understood. And going forward that that's going to be the priority. I think too if we can getting paperwork on, you know, Friday before a weekend or Tuesdays are meeting is a tough situation. If we could up that to the beginning of the week or even a week in advance, it would be a lot more helpful. So Monday for a Tuesday meeting or the previous I I know what you mean. Yes. Yes. The more time the better. Especially if you go out of town for the weekend, you come back and you're like, "Right, there's been times where I leave on a on a Friday or I leave on a Thursday." So, I don't even get the information until I get back on that Monday. And then it's a hustle to get it. A lot of the stuff we put in the packet we have beforehand and we could easily get to you beforehand,

especially if it's thicker, bigger information that needs a lot of time to consume. Well, give it to us and then it doesn't change is also Oh, yes. I mean, that's been happening a lot lately, too. And I know it has it's a software thing as well and things are left out but yes getting additional information day before day of is very difficult

between reading studying and phone calls this this is hours I mean this you know to plan for a normal meeting is eight plus hours for me anyways and then then to get something at the last minute I've already studied for eight hours it's a problem I'll just I'll just add this to the conversation Um, Randy sent me an email a number of weeks ago indicating that this agreement was coming on the March 18 agenda and he sent a couple of reminders of the agreement, but I didn't relate back to March 18 as a super critical date. Um, he left a message for me on Friday. I worked on on the weekend, worked on it late Monday night. thought I had put it in the mail Monday at 1:00 am because that's when I finished it and I finished it, saved it and didn't email it. So that's I I'll take the blame for the agreement draft not getting to you.

There's more things than that. Some of it I understand that and I I didn't know the whole picture either, but but there's some communication between Randy and myself and I'll take the blame for that and not having the draft done until one day. Any other comments? If not, do I hear a motion to adjurnn? So moved. Second. All in favor that it be known by saying I. I. Motion is meeting is adjourned.