Town Council - Regular Meeting

Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. N. Heat.

Hey. Hey. clock. I'd like to call the Oakidge Town Council meeting to order. Um the first uh first things on the agenda is would be the invocation. We don't have anyone that will give it tonight. So I'll ask everyone to stand if as you can if you can and uh uh you know we'll have a moment of silent prayers. I will ask you, we have two of our council members who were out of the country and of course these are strange times. So, uh, if you can say a little extra prayer for them while they travel, hopefully they'll be back in the next two weeks. Okay, we'll have a moment of silent prayer. Okay, if you'll join join me, uh we'll pledge make our pledge of allegiance to the our flag of the United States. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the

republic for it stands one nation under God indivisible with liberty and justice for all. Thank you. The next thing on the agenda is the approval of the agenda. May I have a motion to approve the agenda? Make a motion that we approve the agenda. Second. Okay. All in favor? I I

All right. The next thing is the approval of the minutes from our February 3rd special called meeting that's in front of us. Uh may I have a motion to approve those minutes? I make a motion we approve the minutes. Second. All in favor? I I

Okay, we're now to uh are there proclamations? I have a proclamation that we've been asked to uh do as a town. The proclamation is uh to celebrate uh our 250th year of history. So whereas in the year 1776 the Continental Congress adopted the declaration of independence asserting the right of self-govern governance and freedom from British rule to the 13 American colonies laying the foundation for a new nation built on the principles of liberty, democracy, and justice. And whereas the citizens of the town of Oakidge played a part in the efforts for our nation's independence, most notably in the March 15, 1781 Battle of Guilford Courthouse, which took place less than 10 miles away and in which the British won the battle, but as a result of heavy casualties and and uh in incurred there, ultimately lost the war. And whereas the old mill of Guilford located in the town of Oakidge repo reportedly was seized by British soldiers and made to grind grain to feed the troops leading up to the battle of Guilford Courthouse. And whereas the skirmish on February 11th, 1781 involving James Gillis, an unarmed American bugler boy serving in the Continental Army under Lieutenant Colonel Lighor Harry Lee took place on Oakidge Road just outside the Oakidge town limits. And whereas Oakidge Military Academy has educated generations of cadetses who went on to serve this nation in various branches of the armed forces. And whereas citizens of the town of Oak Ridge continue to exemplify the ideal of service over self in their various walks of life. And

whereas this year the United States will commemorate its 250th anniversary, offering an opportunity to reflect on the nation's journey, celebrate its achievement, and envision its future. Now therefore, be it proclaimed that as mayor of the town of Oakidge, I hereby recognize the 250th anniversary of our nation's independence and honor the contributions, sacrifices by those who have who have demonstrated strength, resilience, and determination. Be it further proclaimed that this proclamation will serve as a powerful reminder of this town and our nation's enduring spirit and a call to action for future generations. signed this fifth day of March 2026. Okay, there no more uh proclamations. It's now time on our agenda for uh a report from Guilford County Sheriff's Office. Is there anyone from the Sheriff's Office here? It does not look like it. For those uh in the in the building on the back table, there is a report uh from the sheriff's office that's available to you. Okay. Um it's now time for the report from the fire department. Uh Sam, I don't see anyone from the fire department. Will you pitch it? Sam Anders, 1829 Oakidge Road, Assistant Chief, Oakidge Fire and Rescue. Uh, fire department for this month. We had a rather busy month with the weather and everything. Um, oddly enough, not a whole lot of activity during the snow. Uh, it was before and just after. Uh, but right as the storms were starting, we had u variety of things with rain,

the mud, uh, people sliding. Uh we just ask that when there is inclement weather, when there is a uh incident that you know people please pay attention, slow down, especially slow down. Um for the weather, it is now warmed up. We did have a warm spell a week and a half or so ago. When it does get pretty out, please remember if it's windy and you start a fire, it can get away. And the it may look like, you know, it rained yesterday, but the top of the grass is dry and we can have some running fires. We had one about uh two weeks ago that burned well over an acre before they could get it contained. Um as part of that though, I do have good news. Uh the department due to COVID had been delayed in getting some trucks replaced. We do have a replacement for the brush truck that has uh came in as of last Friday. and the uh old pickup that's been running in medical calls replacement for it also showed up. Uh manufacturers set new records for getting those two trucks manufactured. We're very pleased. Um the other good news is the long awaited replacement for the engine uh is in North Carolina getting things mounted. So, these long-term capital projects have been stretched out for almost three years and uh they're coming to futation and uh we want to invite everybody in the near future to please come by and see them. We'll be making announcements. Um but we are working to uh get everything better. And uh on behalf of the fire department, I would like to say thank you. There's not water coming out of it yet, but I never thought I would live to see a fire hydrant in front of our fire station. And um I was so excited when I found out it was there. I left the office at 11:00, drove down and turned around just to look at it. But, uh, we do appreciate it and we do look forward to getting the water. It will greatly greatly help us and excitement

is is at 10 for everyone at the fire department. Thank you so much.

Thank you. Thank you, Sam. And just a comment, uh, everyone knows we have this water project going on, but a big part of the development of that was to make sure that we improve the ability for fire suppression because over the years we've lost a lot of our farm ponds that were historically sources of water for putting out fires. Many of those have uh gone by the wayside with uh development. But uh by the end of the year, probably even sooner, we should have a good supply of water coming from Winston Salem and there'll be fire hydrants every 800 ft. Okay. Uh thank you, Sam. That was the fire department. You'll hear more from Sam about the financial update later. Uh we're at a we're at a point in our agenda where public comments can be uh can be made from community organization or comments from the p public. Is there anyone from the community uh organizations that would like to speak? This is organization. Okay. Is it individual or or you're representing organization?

Organization. Okay. and comefort, please, and state your name and your address.

My name is Sarah Lark. I'm from Lincolnington, North Carolina. I am Dr. Edward Haynes. I'm also a retired Army Colonel. We appreciate y'all allowing us the time to speak for this. and Chief Gibson was the one that suggested that we come up here and speak in front of y'all. Okay. Please. I'll let her struggle. I can use that.

Okay. So, we have a company called Skybell. We have safety stickers that are being used by the people here in your community and they are now being fully supported by your local fire department and your chief. So, we're here to make sure you guys know about it. These safety stickers, as you can see as a picture on the back of this packet, are a fully reflective sticker that helps to protect people with disabilities and seniors and pets. And we created these with firefighters because we've learned that a lot of times they'll show up at calls and not know that there is life inside unless dispatch tells them or unless they know the person. So, they will see this as soon as they arrive at a property. It goes on a front door or window and on the outside bedroom window where this person sleeps and the outside window where a pet is created or kept communicating directly to first responders that there are lives that are vulnerable that need help inside in case of a houseire or any other emergency. We're very proud of this. In the last year, we have sold over six and a half million of these stickers. They are fully supported by firefighters across the country. We have traveled to over 28 states and visited now over 850 individual fire stations, training them on our stickers where our customers have purchased them, ensuring the the safety and training of ability for our stickers to provide protection for their loved ones. And Dr. Haynes can add to this too. We've driven over last year Sarah and I drove over 55,000 miles because every second counts when firefighters get there. This year in North Carolina in the first two months, 157 people have lost their lives in house fires. 63% of those who died, the firefighters

said they didn't even know they were in there. 500,000 pets die every year. So, we go around and we find these fire departments all over the country to make sure that they know what they are looking at when they drive up. Why? Because the customers send us emails asking that the fire department where they live knows about them. We've also donated pet respirators back to over a 100 fire departments across the country. Our number one goal is to help every firefighter across this country achieve their number one goal. That is to save every life inside of a structure. Secondly, we have started the Skybell Foundation. After learning how short the nation is in firefighters and even shorter in EMTs, we started this foundation that any firefighter, volunteer firefighter that will become an EMT, which would then give every fire station in every community a dual emergency responder. Because depending on where you at, getting that ambulance there is critical. But by having a certified EMT there, it may provide the adequate time that is needed to sustain that life or to save that life. And by doing so, if you're a firefighter and you go on to become an EMT, you're asking that the chiefs visit our website, sign that individual up. Once they receive that certification, the chief will update that individual's record with us. We will verify that certification

and then two years from that day, that firefighter must stay with that fire department. They must stay active. And if they do so, we're coming to find that firefighter and present them with a check for $2500 that will strengthen that fire department and the community provide emergency care that is desperately needed because 55,000 miles. We've heard all the stories and horror stories about not having that. And we know that if a firefighter, God love them, they want to save them lives. But if they administer some kind of medical care that they're not certified to do, a lawsuit can happen. That's how important that EMT or paramedic is in there. So, we want to help. We visit visited with Chief Gibson and he asked us to come here. He's in full support of both programs in there uh to strengthen all firefighters across the country. Is there any questions that anybody has? Um, one question is you you have the skybell foundation.org so donations can be made through that website. I'm start I'm taking a million dollars of my own money to start this foundation.

Okay.

After that, yes, anybody that chooses to donate would be appreciated, but I want to immediately start this. We can't wait. lives are dependent on it and it takes four months to become an EMT and there's funding out there and grants out there that can get them that money in there. But the sooner this program starts, which will it will launch August, I mean April the 2nd, four months from there, we can have firefighters and EMTs out there during the hot summers, the cold winters in there. And so at a million dollars, I can sign up 400. That's 400 more dual emergency responders. And of course, donations will be coming in once uh we've already sent out uh press releases about this from where we're at, which I know will only travel across the country and grow bigger and bigger as it does. We are trying to partner also with tunnel uh tunnels towers to tunnels

tunnels to tunnels

tunnels to towers uh in there. I am a veteran. I support all veterans. This product is 100% Americanmade by veterans in here and it's very close to my heart. I've done a lot of things all my life, but now on this mission across America with my Lord to give a voice to those who need another voice and a voice to those who don't have one. That is our mission. And we have driven almost 1,700 miles of this week. In November, we drove 2,000 miles through Florida. 100% customer driven. They sent us an email said, "Hey, does the fire department where we live know about them. That's what brought us here to Oakidge, our customers." Well, we thank you for coming here. If you've spoken with Chief Gibson, my my assumption because uh you I'm mayor, but I'm also on the board of the fire department. And so, I assume that he will cover all of this with the fire department board next Tuesday night. And we thank you for being here. You're welcome.

Thank you for having us. No further questions. Thank you. I get to go home. Thank you. Yeah. Thank you. Boy, it's 1:00 this morning. All righty. Thank you very much. Anybody else for public comments? All right. Uh the town manager report. Bill, you'll lead us through and then Thank you, Mr. Mayor. In the uh uh interest of expediency, I'm going to go ahead and uh just briefly um uh summarize each of my uh approval requests and then council can choose to address each one individually or or all together at once.

Um in my report this evening, I'm asking for approval to reappoint Patrick Furantino to the planning and zoning board and the board of adjustment. consider appointment of Brad Wentz as a full member of the planning. Could we uh have our meeting, sir? Sir, we're having a meeting. Thanks. Thank you. Okay, Bill.

Uh, also in your packets is the Guilford County Emergency Management Hazard Mitigation Plan Update. Staff's requesting approval of this document. Uh this is a prerequisite for any jurisdiction that is seeking federal aid in the event of an emergency. Um Guilford County is the lead agency in preparing this document. They their board of commissioners uh approved at their last meeting and they're asking jurisdictions within Guilford County uh to approve as well. Um, we're also requesting approval of the deer urban archery season for January 9th through February 14th of 2027. This is a program that the North Carolina Wildlife Resources uh Commission offers uh uh to control uh deer populations in urban areas. Uh it is a limited period of time in which uh simply um uh archery um crossbows and and um and bows and arrows can be used uh for deer hunting only on private property and only with the property owner's consent. And of course all uh state and federal and local rules uh regarding um hunting would apply. Um, also asking to uh make a slight change to the uh 2026 meeting schedule uh to change the time that the special events committee will be meeting. Uh they've chosen to meet during the day. Um Thursday, make sure I have the right date. um they are choosing to meet the third Thursday of each month at 10:00 a.m. Um so we're requesting that the uh official meeting schedule be revised to accommodate this request. Um lastly, there is a change order to the elevated tank um contract. Uh during discussions of design, the town had intended uh to have a town of Oakidge

logo on both sides of the tank, one facing Lynville Road and one to the rear that would face Heritage Farm Park and have visibility from 150 uh at certain times of the year. Uh when the project was bid, there was only one logo as part of the bid package. Um so we've asked the contractor to um uh propose a change order for uh adding the second logo. Uh the total change order request is $17,390. Um and that would reduce our budgeted contingency fund on this contract from 135,000 to 117,000. And that's all I have. I'm happy to answer any questions about those individual items. Just for the people in the in the uh room here, um all of us have been have reviewed this uh previously. So uh we're very familiar with what bill is presented. So therefore, Mr. Gre make a motion that we approve uh A B C D E.

Okay. Is there a second? Second. All in favor? I Okay, Sam, you're back up. I hope you're I hope you're as quick as we are. Yeah, last uh you were so kind to do it in three minutes last last month. Yeah, before this week,

we'll do it quick and y'all can tell I drugg the meeting out for two more Howardons or whatever. Um, everyone should have gotten a copy of the finance officer's report. Um um main thing is um on the financials you'll see we're maintaining as normal strong balance sheet position uh the detail on all the expenses revenue streams and all of the depository banks the assets and the loan on the land. Um, we received an a wire transfer remitting 12,25143 from February and motor vehicle taxes of 1168808 from Guilford County. Um, I said it was from February. It was on in February. Uh, the total be received is 23,93951. These were all the collections through February the 28th. Monthly we had the sales tax, property tax dispersement, interest, solid waste tax distribution, HPC donations, town special events, and park revenues. Uh the investments in our depository banks were monitoring, still watching for better rates. Uh during the month, we supported the staff with grant compliance. Uh the ARPA grant and uh ARPA reports are being done, the CIP process. We're working on the water system. Uh we also um participated in the CIP meeting with town council. Um the uh other item is we uh received uh after 51 days I believe it was uh the state finally verified that they had received our audit. They had a couple of technical things. They questioned the auditors on the auditors made the change and all that was accepted. Once that was accepted, the annual aphir report has been completed and uh acknowledged by the state as being received. So all of that compliance work is called up and done. Uh there will be updated final drafts of the audit. Uh they have been

produced but they logistically they could not get them delivered out to us. So I will have those we'll get them down here so that everybody can access one of them before the next meeting. Uh makes them invigorating reading uh if you need to go to sleep at night. Um but anyway, all that's underway. Um right now, that's pretty much where we're at. Uh we are working with the county. I'm monitoring uh information for the budget process and um overall everything's fairly stable and normal for this time of year. Thank you, Sam. Thank you, sir. All right, we have time for committee reports. We'll we'll ask uh so somebody approve on

Oh, sorry. Thank you. Would you like to make a motion to approve the financial report? Make a motion that we approve the financial report. Second. All in favor? I I

Thank you. Thank you, uh, Mr. Thomas. Now, the committee reports. Um, I don't know about conservation easement. I believe there's somebody from special events or maybe a couple of people from special events. Welcome, sir. Uh Brent Caracall 5809 Bison Drive special events committee we met on February 26th and at that meeting as Bill spoke we offered or an opportunity to move our meetings to the we got the fourth I don't know I'll have to get with Patty Ford or you said the third I thought meeting of each week at 10:00 a.m. But we can verify that uh our veteran honors green, we uh approved a procedure for the uh annual paver request. So that we're going to be doing starting on March 1st only one pave paver order a year and we hope to get those delivered before and installed before Veterans Day of each year. our panels that we want to install on the boardwalk at the Veterans Honor Green. We have uh taken suggestions and trying to get more veterans suggestions and how we go about that process and we will continue to get the input on the panels and we'll present them to you all on the council. the 911 memorial. Work continues for a plaque at the site for the memorial and this year is the 25th anniversary of the 911 event and we are working on obtaining a special speaker for that event. on a a big one for us, the light up the night. We have decided and Ashley and

Brock have so graciously decided that our parks and rec staff will do the uh decorations, put the luminaries up and the three Oakidge signs that when you enter Oakidge, they will Your wife knows about that, I believe. Yeah. That means blink blinky lights might go higher than 5T. What now? I said the blinky lights might go higher than 5T. They may obtain higher higher reach. Yes. Yeah.

Uh the date for the light up tonight also has been changed. We wanted to try to avoid some of the other local towns and events that were going on and hopefully we could draw a bigger crowd for our event. So, that event has been changed and it will be on Saturday, November 21st. And as I said, this was due to many of the other Christmas events that were happening in the area. Our proposed budget was discussed and and sent to Mr. Bill Bruce for approval. And that's all I have. Any questions? We're going to do 911 on 911. I hope. I sure. Yeah.

Okay. In years past, well, last year we did it on 911. It was earlier in some years. I think we try to do it on a weekday if if 911 doesn't occur on a weekday if I remember. We've always done it on a weekday. Okay. I'd like to see it on the day of 9 or 911, but it's up to y'all. 911's 911. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Uh the tree board

Jim Kimman 8502 Halo Court. We met today. We had a very productive meeting. Uh a local resident, Rick Morris, has a a deep horicultural background. He's uh agreed to attend some of our meetings and he talks we took a walk uh in the uh original town park to take a look at the trees along Lynville Road. One of the things we're exploring is expanding our memorial tree program. So that helps actually help us replace trees that are in the wrong place. I think most people understand that the trees along Lynville Road are in the wrong place. they're encroaching on the power lines and also starting to damage the sidewalk. So, one of the things we're looking to do is to expand the memorial tree program, which isn't we we really haven't advertised that much, but that we would basically uh plant eight trees and have PE and find eight sponsors of those trees. So, that basically ideally it would be basically a net zero cost for us to replace these trees. So, we're working through the details and like I said, the other thing that Rick Morris brings is a a wealth of information that that like as I mentioned, we we suffer from dedication syndrome where we overplant when we want to make basically want something look beautiful on day one. And what happens is later on you have to basically pull stuff out or uh uh prune them aggressively. We're looking at the uh plantings around the water tower because we think we still have a little bit of a overplanting in that area. And so we're looking to see whether or not we can whether or not we have the ability to modify that plan and see whether or not we can because long term it'll save staff time too because Rick Martyr says if you plant something properly you shouldn't have to prune it that often. So some of the things we're looking at. We'll have more information for you soon though. Thanks.

Thanks. Thanks Jim.

Uh is anyone from parks and wreck here? Oh, there you go. Barbara Barbara Angel, 8524 Rosedale Drive, Oakidge. The parks and wreck advisory board met on February 19th in person and by Zoom. Uh we approved a request by the Northwest Guilford Kowanas Club to place a lending library at Heritage Farm Park. The small structure is 20 in wide, 16 in tall. The Kuanas Club mission is helping children, so we thought this would be an excellent addition. And it's for children's books, not adult books. and I think it's being placed near the playground.

Uh we approved Kona Ice to be our frozen treat uh vendor at the parks. We are excited at both the music in the park continuing and music on the lawn starting. Music in the park six fantastic bands are booked and still working on sponsors. First MITP Music in the Park is scheduled for Saturday, April 11th. Look for more information in the spring edition of Connect to Northwest Guilford. May 31st, oops, excuse me, Music on the Lawn to be held at the Farmhouse Community Center. May 31st, the open house for the Farmhouse Community Center with music will uh be from 2 to 5 and then uh another music on the lawn will be June 28th 2 to 4.

Okay, any questions? Okay, thank you.

Thank Thank you, Barbara. Uh the finance committee did meet. Um, is there any report from the finance committee? Um, just just to comment, I I was there. Lindsay was there as well. Uh, the finance committee operates on a process. It generally takes about four meetings, sometimes five, depending on the complexities that the town is dealing with. Um the first meeting was to review the current budget and where and identify areas where there there serious variances from the budget but there wasn't anything of great um great issue there. So uh in two weeks from this past Monday there'll be the second meeting and we'll be looking uh the finance committee itself will be looking at u uh the budget for next year. any anything you'd want to add to that bill? Okay, John, anything that you would want to add? Okay, the water advisory committee also met. Uh Spencer was going to be here, but he had some kind of uh um medical issue that he had to deal with. So, he he sent a report to town council. Bill, if you want to help me with uh uh the things that were going on, but there's a lot of work going on by the finance, excuse me, by the water committee as it has to do with once once uh the water line is established from Winston Salem, Foresight County up into town, how do we how do we move forward in moving it into um the neighborhoods that that are

connected to Highway 150 or Oakidge Road. So, there's been work doing that. You want to take it from there? Another um immediate um uh task for the water committee is to prepare to accept signups for this current phase of the water line which has if you've uh driven down Limville Road or made the turn on to 150 uh you'll see that works underway installing that water line. Um so um we're having meetings with our operator Envirlink uh to be prepared to accept uh signups uh from folks along 150 um to become customers of the new water system.

Yeah. The committee also has decided to set into two working groups or subcommittees. One focused on marketing and trying to increase the customer base, the other on policies and procedures. And the this is really serious work that needs to be done particularly to get into uh the neighborhoods. So a lot of work uh and and a lot of thought still is required. Uh the only thing that I think that I would add uh you can see the water towers coming along pretty well. There's progress that'll be made over the next four to five six months on the water line itself. Uh the only other thing is uh the water committee has prepared and been approved by council uh requests for funding uh from the state and from the county commissioners or uh so uh those letters have been prepared and sent out uh one to the state the previous week and end of last week to the county commissioners. Um, I think that's that's pretty much it.

Okay. Uh, historic uh historic preservation commission. Barbara, you doing double duty? Yes.

Barbara Angel, 8524 Rosedale Drive, Oakidge. Okay. Uh the Historic Preservation Commission met for its regularly scheduled meeting in February. We approved two COA requests for commercial signage to replace existing signage at Allen Tate Realtors and our local urgent care facility. We elected a chair and a vice chair, Debbie Shafeld and Barbara Angel. We also reviewed and incorporated changes to our proposed budget for fiscal year 2627. We've sold 400 books but still have a hundred remaining. They are for sale here at town hall and are $25 each if anyone is interested. And uh Courtney and I have started to change out the display case in the lobby. And uh if anybody has any suggestions that would be great and we haven't marked things yet. I was playing in the garden today. I'm sorry I didn't get around to it. So

good day for it. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

Uh planning and zoning board. U you have anything to add, Bill? And also for board of adjustment. uh planning and zoning board met and reviewed the proposed fee schedule uh for next year. Um and the board of adjustment met um to elect uh officers. Okay. Thank you. And saving the best for last, the Mountains to the Sea Trail Committee. Probably my earliest report ever. Good evening. Ann Steel, 8927 Grove Park Drive, Oakidge. Uh, our committee met on February 24th here at town hall. At that time, we approved our minutes from our meetings in November and January. Um, we also did elections. since I was elected for the chair for 2026 and Stephanie Frell is going to take over as vice chair. Um we have a boy scout who's been working on a potential Eagle Scout project that he should be completing this month. Um he's going to be having a work day on excuse me March 7th and then hopefully do the installation on the trail on March 22nd. There was some maintenance done a couple of weeks ago on the headarters trail to repair damage that had been done by beavers. So, it's looking a lot better over there. Um there will be signs posted reminding people that dogs must be on um leashes when they're out and about and also reminding um people where to park, where our trail heads are, and if they do need

to park on the street to make sure that their tires stay off of people's lawns or out of the grass. Um this Saturday we're holding a work day. Um it will be on the carriage trace loop where we'll be clearing growth and removing leaves. Um and access to that area will be the at the end of Gray Fox Drive. Um there was a report about the MST current membership is 248 members and last year there were about 41,000 volunteer hours reported and the annual gathering will be held April 9th through 12th in Asheville this year. I'm attending and I'm really looking forward to that. Um, in 2027 we will be celebrating the 50th anniversary of the MST. So we'll be looking to do some events and maybe some volunteer recognition um kind of party or gathering. Today um myself and three other committee members as well as our town manager attended the Piedmont Legacy Trail Summit at Salem Lake Marina Center. So that was really interesting. good um community outreach and um Mr. Mayor, thank you for attending our last meeting and that's it. Any questions?

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. All right. Thanks. Okay, that was the last of the committee reports. We have another period for public comments, we'll ask that you those that want to limit their comments to three minutes. Okay, there are no one coming forward. Okay, so now we have time for council comments and uh the this these should be uh shorter than normal because two of our council members are away. Uh Lindsay, do you have comments that you would like to make?

Yes, I do. Um so I'll have flyers out in the lobby uh about Cub Scout Pack 600 is having a all you can eat pancake breakfast. This is uh not this coming Saturday, but next Saturday, March 14th, from 7 to 11:00 a.m. Tickets are $7. It's at Oakidge Presbyterian Church, and all proceeds benefit the Pathway House of Greensboro Urban Ministries. So, if you like pancakes and breakfast, I hope to see you there. And scouts, are the scouts cooking? Uh, yes. Yeah, for the preparing, serving, and Okay, good. Good.

Well, I do have a short comment. It'll be very short. I just want to thank Mr. Anders. We're going to move the Anders off of our uh measuring chart because he has done really well. We were left with a Howon and a Harton. So that's it. We got, you know, we got a six hour and five minute Harton. So Sam, you're you're clear now. Okay. We have removed you from the list.

Yeah, we we just routed back to six hours. So there would be 30 Howardons in a Harton, which is our own internal measuring system. So, uh, my my comments are are twofold. One, um, I want to thank all of our committees that do such extraordinarily work for this town. Um, especially the last time, uh, the last meeting went actually 6 hours and 12 minutes. Uh, it was a long night. The reason it was long was because we had two public hearings. One, uh, a, uh, quasi judicial hearing that went four hours and a public hear another public hearing that went for about an hour and a half. Uh um so when you start with that uh to go 6 hours and 12 minutes uh meant the meeting itself wasn't that long. It was just the other things in in involved with it. Um we were here I think the meeting ended about 12 minutes after 1. Uh, and uh, at least that night I didn't get home until 1 1:30 and probably didn't go to bed until about 5:30 cuz you get pretty well I I was on a second wind. So, uh, uh, the last thing I would uh, so many thanks to the committees and those that made it through the full Harton meeting. Uh I would just like to to comment um we have a wonderful town and there's a lot going on. Uh we we have DOT working on the the intersection and the two roundabouts. Most people seem to be adjusting to that pretty well and I think they've done a pretty good job of keeping uh the lanes safe. Uh so that's going and then we're adding to that the uh the fact that

we're now in the streets from the commons up and down Lynville Road to the fire department and and will eventually be heading down toward uh the county line where we will hook into the that work will go on for at least four, five, six, six more months. So there's a lot of work going on in Oakidge. just slow down, be safe. You know, there'll be stop lightss and just be patient. We'll get through this um um we'll get through this together and hopefully we'll be through it hopefully by the fall, certainly way a we think way ahead of schedule. The last thing I'll just ask you is while you're dealing with that, um I I would request that uh we we have a lot of people that seem to like to share their trash. Uh I know Mr. Wall Raven has issues with that. I I wouldn't complain so much if they would just throw uh like full bottles out uh in in my ditch, but you know, it's really aggravating. and we once a week to go out pick up everybody else's trash and and that's all it is. So, uh I just ask for people and if you see it, say something. Sometimes people just aren't thinking when they throw something out of their car window. But, uh it is aggravating. I I I have a pretty long amount of of frontage for property. Mr. Wal Raven has the same. And it's aggravating to go out there once a week and pick up other people's trash. So, if you see it, call them. call them on it. Uh that's my comments for the night. I would ask if anybody would like to make a motion to adjurnn.

I'll make a motion to adjourn. All right. Second. All in favor? I I I we are