City Council - Regular Meeting

Welcome to the Regular meeting Boon City Council, April 6, 2026. I would like to We have no comments, public comments tonight. And if you'll all please rise, I'll ask Butch McWain if the pledge of allegiance. I know the words. I pledge allegiance 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.

Like to call on the Reverend Doug Go forth, Asheville Street Baptist Church to lead us in an invocation. Pastor Goforth, thank you for being here. Let's pray. Father, thank you for the day that you have given us. We are blessed beyond measure. We thank you for the blessed Easter season we have to give praise and worship to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Father, I pray for wisdom for all that's to be done here in this session that each person would have the ability to make the decisions based on what they know to do. Lord, we pray that all that's done will be done to help the city of Morington. Lord, we thank you for the opportunity to come and be part of this in Christ's name. Amen.

Amen. Amen. Thank you, Pastor. Go forth.

Like to introduce city council to my far right, Wendy Kato, mayor pro Tim. Next is Chris Jernigan, city council. I'm Ronnie Thompson, your mayor. Sally Sandy, city manager. Butch McWain, city council. Molly McCay, city council. Renee Carwell is our our clerk to the board and interpreting for the death Ernest Williams and Danette Steel Bridgemond. So our first order of business is National Lineman Appreciation Day and I'd like to read that proclamation please. Whereas on April 15, 2015, the North Carolina General Assembly ratified House Bill 140, which designate the second Monday in April of each year as line worker appreciation day in North Carolina. And whereas the city council of Morgan celebrates the profession of electric line workers and wishes to honor its electric department personnel for their exemplary service to the city of Morington and its citizens. And whereas electric utilities employ a special class of employees, electric line workers responsible for building and maintaining the distribution lines that bring electricity to cities and businesses constantly devoting themselves to their duty. And whereas this profession demands passion, dedication, and ongoing training and requires line workers to maintain the lines around the clock, ensuring they can provide safe, reliable energy to the community. And whereas line workers are often first responders during storms, working to repair broken and damaged electric lines under hazardous conditions to make the area safe for other public safety heroes. And whereas line workers play a vital role in the lives of our citizens by maintaining and growing our electric infrastructure, putting their lives on the line every day by working with the many dangers of

high voltage. And whereas the line workers of Morton's utility, electric utility, and their example of service above self are deserving the respect, admiration, and appreciation of all the citizens of Morington. Now therefore, be it proclaimed that the city of Morganington, North Carolina, joins with all North Carolina public power communities in these celebrations of line worker appreciation day on April 13th, 2026. Proclaim this sixth day of April 2026, Ronnie Thompson, Mayor Sally Sandy, manager. At this time, I'd like for Chris. Chris, did I give those to you? Chris Jones. Okay,

Molly. Molly, I think Molly call on Molly McCay to present that to uh several people from our electric department who are here. We have an and a great opportunity to for Tom introduce himself to the community. Any other line workers with you, Tom? Bart and Porky are back. Well, they're not shy. Come on. Congratulations and we certainly appreciate all the hard work of your employees in the department. It keeps us keeps the lights on so we all know we've got good power when we need it. Thank you. Thank you very much.

Tom, would you give us some information? Congratulations on being in charge of our electric department. People don't know you. Could you tell us a little about yourself? Yeah. So, Tom McKe, it's always great to uh have your first city council meeting where you're accepting uh some type of proclamation and appreciation for the line workers. Uh certainly appreciate that. And I've been here a very short time, just a few weeks, but I can tell you that city of Morgan is blessed with a great set of uh of line workers here in in the city. Uh and to echo the mayor's sentiments there, uh just very dedicated, a lot of a lot of long hours in some very difficult and dangerous conditions. and and certainly uh I stand with all of you and and just show my appreciation for them uh not just today but I think every day uh as we go forward we all we all need power all the time every year. So appreciate that uh appreciate the opportunity to be here.

Thanks Tom. Thank you. Thank you guys.

Next we have a proclamation of the local news day April 9th 2026. Whereas local news and information is an important and trusted source of news. Whereas local journalism is a foundational element of a functioning and healthy democracy. And whereas local journalism equips communities for civic engagement and action. And whereas communities across the state of North Carolina are joining together to recognize and celebrate the importance of local news on April 9th. Whereas the citizens of the city of Morington rely on trusted local news for reliable vetted information both in daily living and in moments of crisis. And whereas the city of Morington is home to several news outlets. And whereas the city of Morgan recognize the critical importance of local news in many forms. Now therefore I Ronnie Thompson mayor Morgan do hereby proclaim April 9th 2026 as local news day in the city of Morganington North Carolina. Proclaim this 6th day of April, 2026. Ronnie Thompson, mayor. Renee Carzel, city clerk. I'll ask Councilman Chris Jernigum if you'll make these presentations to the news herald and to the paper, please. All right, ladies. On behalf of the council and the mayor and city employees and actually all the citizens, we want to say thank you for the work that you do to keep us informed and help us all better understand more about our community. So, I appreciate I think paper.

Thank you. And the news herald put that way that way. There you go. Thank you so much. Thank you. Okay. Next on our agenda is going to be a status on our software update. I'll ask finance officer uh Jesse Parish if she'll give us a status report please.

Thank you. Um yeah, so we are in week three of our go live with our software. Um really just we're working in it. We're still working on some part of our processes of billing and collecting and our old software. Um that was kind of to be expected like we were kind of told you know go live is not a switch on switch off right especially in a system we had processes built for us right over 20 year time frame. So um we just appreciate patience um really want to thank Jenny McNeely and our business office staff. They have worked very hard the last couple weeks. At one point they were taking payments in three different ways and handwriting receipts for a week. And um we have a very active amount of people that come here. So we appreciate the public's patience and everyone's patience. We are hoping those patches will be finished. I mean really in a short period of time and that's really on c on our side less on what customer sees. And then most excitingly we'll be ready to roll out our new online portal that we've talked about a lot. Um that's kind of our final step and push. It's ready to go when we finish these last little processes to come over. Um, we'll work with Janelle. She's going to have a lot of information on how to sign up. We're going to set up in our offices. We don't use so much outside in the front. We're going to have an an area for people they can sign up here on site and have information on how to do that and just really be as available as possible, but we're hoping that will be like third week of April, give or take. Um, and we'll have it all pushed out and everyone will have plenty of notice. So, just appreciate the patience and it's been a process. It's going to be very good. I saw the portal um like full demo and with our information and new bill look like and it looks really great. So I think we're going to be happy with it.

Any questions from council? I know it's a long process. So thanks for all. Thank you.

Okay. Next on our agenda, some upcoming events. Art in the hall. April and May of 2026 is going to be Joanne Pippen and the theme is going to be love our parks. This exhibition continues on the theme of America 250 for art in the hall. This year, 46 watercolor paintings on display represent Joanne Pipkins travels and volunteering in America's national parks and public lands. We're asking the public to come meet Joanne on the third Thursday art crawl, April 16th from 5 to 7. Uh we also have our popup farmers market on Saturday, April the 11th. Uh from 9:00 to 11:00 a.m. at 111 North Green Street. Again, the art crawl is going to be April 16th from 5 to 7 on North Green Street. Uh and uh East Union Street at least. Our TGIF, people are asking when that's going to start. It's going to be Friday, May 1st from 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. on the courthouse lawn under Parks and Recreation. Baseball softball opening week is April 13th through the 17th. The first pitch is at 6:00 at Shuy Park each night except Wednesday. The Bethl Park grand opening is going to be Tuesday, April the 28th at 2 PM. Under public safety, we have coffee with a cop at the grind. Thursday, April 16th, uh, from 8:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. and at Kama at our performing arts center. Friday, April 17th at 7:30, the Jazz Legacy, uh, The Project that presents Billy Holiday. And on Saturday, April 25th at 7:30, Alfredo sings Tina. So, those are our events in town for this month. I'll ask Sally about the municipal power agency. Any news?

Nothing to report at this time. We have, I believe, 10 items on our consent agenda. If you'll cover those, please.

We do and would ask that the council consider approving those in a single motion unless someone would like something removed and discussed separately. And for those of you viewing at home, uh we have minutes from the special called uh workshop on February 27th, our winter workshop, and then minutes from the regular meeting held on March the 2nd. We have uh appointment of Randy Smith to the Kataba Watery Water Management Group and appointment of Tom McKe to the um board of commissioners for the North Carolina Municipal Power Agency. Number one, we have approval of an audit contract for 2627 and that is to Thompson Price Scott Adams and Company and that is in the amount of $44,250. And actually that's for 2526, isn't it? That's this year, this fiscal year. Sorry guys. That's 2526. and then consideration of approval of the art crawl event and a temporary closure of certain roads for the April 16th event. And that'll be from 3:30 to 7:30 p.m. We have approval of a budget amendment accepting uh grant funding. So, you have already allowed us to apply and we had received notice we had received the grant. Now, we're actually getting funding in place. And this is for the budget amendment in the amount of $374,000. And that is for the NC great trails state grant program. Has a very hard to say name. And this is for the extension of the greenway um around from Rocky Ford area heading toward Vulcom properties and also for some bridge work at the mountain bike trail. And then we

also are receiving $10,000 from the North Carolina Amateur Sports Grant Program and that is going to be used for the repair and upgrade of basketball goals at Mountain View Gym. Then we have um an amendment to the city attorney's employment contract dealing with leave accumulation. We have an ordinance that is amending provisions in our Morgan Code of Ordinances changing terminology dealing with solicitation and public safety. Just updating that language to be today's language. And then finally, approving revisions to the city of Morganington water line and sewer line standards and specifications.

Do any members of council wish to have any items removed from the agenda? None. I'll entertain a motion to move. I have a motion to have a second. Second. Any discussion? All in favor say I. I. Motion passes. Next on our agenda is a public hearing in order to receive input in the development of the CDBG DR applications. Sally. Yes. And we have with us tonight Ben Willis from the COG who is here to take us through this public hearing. The public hearing is now open. Ben, welcome. Thank you for being here.

Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Thank you, council, for having me. Um, in your in your approved minutes there, you saw some grant money. Well, hopefully we can get some more to as we go through this uh disaster recovery method. So, first I'm going to read the public hearing word for word so we can have that for the record and then then I'll explain and then we can open it up for anybody that would like to say.

Thank you. Uh the city of Morg Morgington is holding a public hearing in order to receive citizen input and the development of community development block grant CDBG applications for the coming year. These application these applications are to be submitted to the North Carolina Department of Commerce. CDBG funds may be used for a variety of different activities including neighborhood revitalization, NR, economic development, ED, infrastructure, community housing, demolition of publiclyowned dilapidated buildings in order to create reusable industrial sites and disaster recovery, DR, including support to help communities deal with recovery from Hurricane Helen. All projects projects must be predominantly benefit must predominantly benefit low and moderate income persons. So that is the public hearing and if there's if you would you like for me to

explain and we we are trying to to see if through the CDBGDR program right for for some continued disaster rebuilding and and some of the projects that that we still have ongoing that we haven't received funding for that we're trying to do um as we go through this part of the process once a specific project and application. You correct me when I'm wrong. Um for monies, there will be a second public hearing, correct? That will be required as a part of this process really just to address that application and that specific project funding.

Correct. And to piggyback off that, I you required the two this one this one public hearing is will encompass all future projects. So every disaster recovery CDBG grant we go for will will be project specific and but all projects require two public hearings but this first one will account for the first one for all future projects. So I read multiple neighborhood revitalization infrastructure disaster recovery. This allows us to use this first public hearing for all these different categories including disaster recovery. And some of those monies actually open today in uh commercial district revitalization. And so we're working with staff to be able to come up with some ideas as we continue. This is a marathon. Um we know this is the monies that's out there is not enough, but um the goal is to go through the processes and get as much of of these disaster recovery funds into uh Burke County into Morganington and into the region as we recover from Hurricane Helen.

And infrastructure, I believe, doesn't open until the summer. That's correct. and and and we're really taking a hard look at that one with with some of our uh water and sewer infrastructure needs.

Right. Commercial revitalization is more gears toward downtown or commercial exactly what it says more commercial district revitalization. Think not only about what's happening here, but all up and down hurricane related um communities that were their downtowns were completely wiped out. Um but that doesn't mean we can't take advantage of that. You there's there's ways that we can take advantage of the commercial revitalization. those uh infrastructure grants are coming out. There's also multif family uh monies coming out through disaster recovery that multif family um um and nonprofits can apply for that's separate from um from what municipalities can apply for. So there's lots of different funding that's coming through um and we just want to make sure that uh the city is positioned to be able to take advantage of every every sin available.

So this is a public hearing. Would anyone like to give comments at this time? Tom. Uh, Ben, I'd like to ask it does include dilapidated buildings if we had dilapidated buildings.

Yes. Yes, sir. This we um at at Western Pedmont Council of Governments, we administer several CDBG projects, but we're all new to this disaster recovery world. So, there's a lot more that you can do with disaster recovery funds. So, yeah, dilapidated buildings is one of those. Um, they're they're encouraging mixed use. They're encouraging um multif family. They're incor they're encouraging lots of different projects, ideas. I think as long as we can meet that low and moderate income threshold in some way, shape, or form, it could be with jobs, it could be with housing, um um we we'll figure out a way to be able to assist um uh in any way that we can. So, this is our first hearing. There will be a second, correct?

Yes, sir. And the second one, as multiple seconds specific. Yeah, there will be there will be multiple seconds and it'll be project specific. Okay. So, one could be dilapidated buildings, one disaster relief, one Sure. Yeah. Yep. It could it could be whatever. Um, but your dilapidated buildings, I want to say because we're to not set an expectation that we can go out, apply for this money, and start taking down buildings that that we know are derelct. They're going to have to meet requirements in the CDBG program. That's correct. To be able to do that. Yes, ma'am.

So, that doesn't necessarily mean that they will meet these requirements. I think now the devil's in the details and here's the challenge in trying to find the projects that can compete. This is competitive money. The projects that compete and meet the requirements to be funded. Any further comments from the public or council? If not, public hearing is now closed. Ben, thanks for all you do. Thank you. Appreciate you. Thank you. Good luck. Next on our agenda is consideration of approving an amended development agreement with 400 Meeting Street LLC. Sally, could you bring us up to date?

I I can. So, I think this is exciting news. So, as you know, um we've been working for several years with the developers on the property at 400 Meeting Street and they also own the property on Church Street, but we're just talking about Meeting Street with this. Um, in November of 2023, we approved a development agreement with 400 Meeting Street LLC in connection with the city-owned property across the street. In November of 2024, we closed on that property and they purchased it. Um, that's when and and they're looking to develop, construct, and develop market rate residential property on on the the four acres. um looking at that the developers have encountered challenges as they've been going through their design phases, as they've been pricing the project, as they've gone after financing and all of those things to do a project of this size. Um they have made great progress in that, have been keeping us up to date, but our development agreement has old dates in it and we need to consider changing that. Um I think the good news is is that what they have now given us and they're far enough along in looking at the development in pricing it in looking at at ways to get private financing. So they are putting money in themselves the group of investors and then also private financing commercial financing. They are looking to do 81 units and that is up from the original 70. 65 rental units and 16 town homes is is the breakdown of that. Um they are looking to obtain all necessary plans and permits by December 31st of 2026. So the end of this calendar year and they would commence

construction four within four months thereafter. And so those are really the changes to the agreement. The number of units, the schedule is the change. We still have prior to the project starting. If for any reason they didn't get financing, it's it's not going forward, we have the right to purchase the property back. Uh what's the wish of council? Motion to approve the amended development agreement with 400 Meeting Street LLC and Haven Capital Partners LLC and to authorize the mayor and city manager to execute the agreement and make any necessary technical or editorial amendments. Thank you, Wendy. I have a motion to have a second.

Second. Thank you. Thank you, Butch. Any discussion, Sally? Are the town house homes going to be for sale or is everything for rental? I think that that is still up for final decision. They are looking at costing them in a way that they would construct them so that even if they rent at first, they could later be sold, which deals with fire separation and those things. Um and and just for perspective, um this is about a $16 million project. Okay. We need housing. It's substantial. We do. and and Butch and I um were on a Zoom call with the partners and um felt

far more comfortable with the changes in the dates and and the changes that they've made. The success is you can see the success there. Yeah, I would just urge that people who have commented through the years about the delay to think about the cost and the investment that these people are making and they have spent lots of money already. So, I know they're serious. Uh, and it was refreshing to get to meet them and I feel real good about moving along with the changes. I have a motion. I have a second. All in favor say I. I.

I. Motion passes. Next is consideration of a resolution to adopt revisions to the single family housing stimulus program. Sally.

Yes. So, carrying on with our theme of housing and needing housing. Um, you will recall that this single family housing stimulus program was something we created long time ago back in the 90s when we were trying to develop subdivisions. Then we re-energized it again in 2021 after a period really of inactivity for for some new housing developments and and and looking at that in that revision. Um, and one of the original requirements of the policy was that, and what it does, it allows, as you'll recall, the city uh to put up some infrastructure money toward the water and sewer and street development at the beginning of the project to encourage the housing, taking leans on the property, and then ultimately once they construct it, they have the ability, if they follow through with all the requirements, to have half of this money become a grant. again a grant for the public infrastructure serving the property. um it only allowed owner occupied housing. And since then we have found that the market conditions in the situation are that housing is housing and that if we can create new housing that is rental that could later be sold. And again, we're talking about the type of housing, not an apartment complex. Again, town homes, single family homes, again that by description are single family homes. um even if they're rented, this policy still works. We're still creating infrastructure to support housing that our community really needs. So, these amendments take into account allowing rental property, not just single family owner occupied. And it also reduces the maximum number per project from 30 units

to 25. And it sets up the repayment plan. um still with security and all that for if the property is rental, they would start paying back their share of this, but not when a lot is sold, which is how the owner occupied is set up, but when they rent the property and in year three, four, five, six, and then seven, the balloon payment would pay it all off. Uh what's the wish of council? I'll make a motion to adopt a resolution approving revisions to the single family housing stimulus program and authorizing implementation of the updated policy. Thank you, Chris. I have a motion to have a second. Second.

Thank you, Molly. Any discussion? This is a policy we really need. It really is really smart idea. Okay. Uh all in favor, please say I. I. Motion passes. I need a second motion, please. I'll make a motion to approve the 2026 amended and updated single family housing stimulus program policy. Thank you, Butch. I have a motion to have a second. Second. Thank you, Chris. Any discussion? All in favor say I. I. Motion passes. Next on our agenda is consideration of an amendment to the city of Morington Main Street loan program. Sally.

So, so the next two items are similar and the first one is dealing with the Main Street loan program and the next one is dealing with our CDBG entitlement fund and the small business loan program that is a part of that um funding source. So, I'd like to say first of all that here to four and and still this program has generated great development and opportunity in our community. Both of these have to support small business development and restaurant development in downtown and a variety of things over the years. And we have historically had a very low default rate with this program which is also great. Um, we have tried to update the default requirements for both of these loans and they're the same with both of them and we're changing a couple of things we'll talk about in the next one separately. How this loan has always been set up is that if you stay in business for 5 years, then half of your loan gets forgiven. It gets treated as a grant. Historically, if a business makes it five years, they're over the hump and we've got a good chance of them being a successful business in your community. Um, we are setting up two levels, if you will. Um, for the repayment in the case of a default, if the business defaults in the first three years of the loan, the business will be notified. They will be given a 30-day period to pay the remaining loan balance in full with no additional interest. Or they have the option to agree to a 12-month loan repayment plan for the remaining loan balance because at this point they don't get the grant and at the acred interest rate stated at the time they signed the loan closing. Currently that's 4%. But that changes

with the economy. If they default during year three, three years in one day and five years where they would earn the full grant, they get a pr-rated grant benefit. Basically, same rules. They would be given a 30-day period to to pay a prrated amount at zero interest or have the option to sign the 12month repayment plan at the stated interest rate. And currently that's 4%. So and the loans the loans advertised over like nine years makes it

nine years. So that at the end of five they've been in business, right? They've paid back all that they owe us and the rest gets forgiven. Right. What's the wish of council? We'll make a motion to approve amendments to the Main Street loan program as submitted. Thank you, Chris. I have a motion to have a second. Second. Thank you, Wendy. Any discussion? All in favor of the motion say I. I. Motion passes. Next is consideration for approval of amendments to the city of Morgan CDBG entitlement small business loan program. Sally,

so everything I just said for default on this applies in in years 0ero through three and then three years, one day and 5 years. The other change to the CDBG program is CDBG has changed the amount that they allow you to loan per job and we would like our program to match that because we're administering it under their rules. And and so currently any loans between 5,000 and 30,000 you must create one new full-time job or two part-times, hold them for a year. Any loan over 30,000, you have to create 10 or five or 20 part-times. And that those are the rules that we set up. And we set those up at the time that their numbers were different. What we would like to propose is what CDBG allows between 5,000 and $35,000 loan. One full-time job, two part-times is what they require. between 35001 and 50,000 that's two full-time positions or four part-time equivalents and then 50,000 and $1 to 75 which is our maximum and we're not proposing to change that. That is three full-time jobs and six part-time equivalent realistic.

So those are the new rules, correct? is that's what we are proposing that you would consider and then all the repayment terms are the exactly the same that we just talked about. What's the wish for council? Motion to approve amendments to the CDBG entitlement small business loan program as submitted. Thank you, Wendy. I have a motion to have a second. Second. Thank you, Chris. Any discussion? I think that those employee um numbers are much more realistic and um fit where we're sending our loans. Yeah, most definitely. Nollie.

Yes. And I have a question. Under the um guidelines that were attached to this on page two, it references uh with the city long-term planning goals identified through the adopted mission 2030 plan. We've now adopted the 2040 plan. Should that reference the 2040 plan instead of the 2030 plan? It probably should, although I don't know that this was a direct goal in the 2040. It's kind of like a carryover plan. That's an interesting question. I think maybe we should say both plans. What do you think? be because it was literally a a an outcome

a bulleted point and and and one that we voted on in 2030. But I don't think we've in the 2040 comp plan for this we did not do this 2030 plan mission 2030 was done with an economic development arm and so everything in it that came out was tied in some way to economic development. It was not just

not just it was it was not typical land use plan I think is what I would say with that. Um I'm talking like I'm a planner and I'm really not. Uh but I don't see anything wrong with why we couldn't refer to both of those things. I would think that might be prudent just so as to clarify that we recognize we did the 2040 plan and updated it may have some impact in in how this is administered. Wendy, you made that motion. Would you accept that amendment? Yes, I do. And the second? I do. Okay. All in favor of the motion as amended, please say I. I. Motion passes. Thank you, Molly.

Thank you.

Okay. Next is consideration of award of a contract for Kataba Meta's park maintenance building project and approval of associated budget amendments. I'll call on our assistant manager Rob Winkler to bring us all the good details. Rob, thank you. Thank you, Mayor Council. Uh yes, good details. So, uh excited about this project. I know Brian and Andrew are excited to uh have a place to convene and uh and store maintenance equipment for uh for our guys and ladies. So, um as you know, um two buildings sustained um incredible damage through a hurricane. Uh one was pretty much obliviated and half of it down. The other sustained um um damage over on the river. So we have decided to um consolidate those two buildings into one. Um so in um let's see September of 25 we sent out an RFQ and an RFP for architecture and engineering services. Um we uh signed an agreement with Domer Associates who was the lowest responsive responsible bidder and we've been working through with them through the year of design. Um so as of March the 26th um we had um Mar call conducted um our u our bid process and we had seven contractors show up which was absolutely great. Uh seven very competitive bids in this process. Um the lowest responsive responsible bidder was Stuart McKe, General Contractors of Morgan. Um with a 5% contingency um that totaled that contract to $2,929,329.90.

Um so um if you look at uh the bid tabs, you will see how close and how competitive that bid was. Uh I will I will speak on that in part of the city's uh design uh um department um recreation staff um engineering firm everyone putting together good valuable information that was clear and concise so that the biders uh could come in accurately with not a lot of speculation. So, um, we we feel really honored about this and, uh, feel that it's going to be a great project for the city moving forward. It's going to be something that this department can utilize for the next 30, 40, 50 years. We've actually decided to relocate this from the two existing facilities where they were up closer to the road. Uh, as you know, we had a flood in 2004 and 2024, and this area did not ever flood or receive high water. So, we feel good about relocating to this area as well to be fiscally responsible for our community. So, we ask that u that you will consider approving this u this item for tonight.

And this one's in the FEMA process, the same process that we're going through with everything else. Um, this is one that's a little different, however, though. So, FEMA has done all of their 10,000 reviews. Um, and they have approved the what it would cost to restore both buildings where they were and then translated that into consolidating it again into one single building. So they have obligated for us a total of $4.5 million for this and because we accepted this as a 428 project prior to our bids because we did a lot of homework as Rob talked about and felt good about our bids. 428 means that we accepted this dollar amount no matter what our bids came up to. So, if they had come in at $5 million, we were willing to take that chance. Because of that, we get to keep all $4.5 million and the remainder of that can go to support some of the other projects in the park that we're working on.

Excellent, Rob. Thanks. What's the wish of council? I'll make a motion to award a contract to V Stewart McKe General Contractors of Morgan, North Carolina in an amount not to exceed 2,929,329.90 which includes a contingency of $139,491.90 for the Kataba Meadows Park maintenance building replacement project and to allow the mayor and city manager to execute all agreements regarding this contract. Thank you, Molly. I have a motion to have a second. Second. Thank you, Wendy. Any discussion? Rob, a lot of hard work and looks like a a good plan.

A lot of hard work done by a lot of people. Uh, all in favor of the motion, please say I. I. Motion passes. I need a second motion. Oh, I want to make this one. Everybody knowing you, buddy. I make a motion to approve a budget amendments to accept FEMA proceeds into the Helen Capital Projects Fund of $4,514,671 and to transfer funds to the Helen Special Revenue Fund in the same amount. Thank you, Munch. I have a motion to have a second.

Second. Thank you, Chris. Any discussion? Uh, Rob, it hit me while you were over there, but is this the softball field at the intersection still going to be there, isn't it? It was hard to tell with the trees down the south side. Okay, great. Thank you. Not that that changes my idea of accepting that money, but any further questions or discussion? And and I will say that that yes, they have approved all this, but it works like every other FEMA project. So, this is a reimbursement. So, they're not gonna, even though they've obligated the whole amount, they're not going to send us a check. You It never works the way that you your common sense mind could say. I might be able to accept to to make the motion to accept it in in the future.

Well, we're accepting it all now and we'll get it as we spend it. So, again, this is where the cash flow loan and things like that really matter because we're spending this money before we get it back. Any further discussion? All the motion say I. I

motion passes. Next on our agenda are 30-day notice for vacancies on boards and commissions. Uh we're going may have some vacancies on the following boards. Human Relations Commission. They're expiring terms. Jennifer Mulla, Dwan Monroe, Charlotte Mendoza, and Lieutenant Taylor Alexander. Terms expire May the 3rd, 2026. on the human relations commission. We're going to have we have vacancies for an NCSD representative and BUCM representative. Uh next on our agenda is consideration of an appointment for boards and commission. This is for the cable TV commission. Sally,

yeah, and this is a city council appointment. Um Josh Barry with Western Pedmont Community College has um filled out his application and expressed his interest in serving on the cable TV commission. and we would love to have you consider to appoint him to a three-year term. What's the wish of council? Motion to appoint Josh Barry to the Western Pedmont Community College appointment on the cable television commission for a three-year term to expire on June 1st, 2029. I have a motion to have a second. Second. Any discussion? All those in favor say I. I.

Motion passes. Um, I'll ask Sally if she will make an announcement about a person we have lost this in this community. Sally?

Yes. Um, express deep condolences and and gratitude. Um Steve Gregory passed away uh today and has served this community in many ways, this city in many ways and um many many years, many decades actually on our ABC board, our local ABC board, and we certainly want to express our concern to to his family and keep them in our prayers. Anything else to come before city council? If not, we are journed.