Board of Commissioners - Regular Meeting

Welcome to the regular meeting of the Craven County Board of Commissioners for Monday, March 2nd. Madame Clerk, would you please call the role? Yes, sir. Commissioner Mitchell here. Commissioner Smith here. Commissioner Howard here. Commissioner Hunt here. Commissioner Mason here. Vice Chairman Jones here. Chairman Ber here. If you would stand with me for the prayer from our attorney, Mr. Grady and then the pledge of allegiance to follow.

Almighty God, we thank you for all who serve on this board of county commissioners and for their willingness to offer themselves in service and leadership to our county. Continue to grace them with discerning minds, humble hearts, and composed spirits as they work together for the good of the people of Craven County. Sustain them in their service and bless their families, and keep our nation and county under your watchful care. Amen. Amen. 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.

If you would, would you please all make sure your cell phones are on silent so as not to uh interrupt the meeting. Item number one on our agenda tonight is well first of all we want to approve the agenda. Uh commissioners you've all had a chance to look at it. Are there any changes or additions? Move to we to approve the agenda as written. Okay. Second. We have a motion and a second to approve the agenda. Would you please call the role? Ma'am. Commissioner Mitchell? Yes. Commissioner Smith? Yes. Commissioner Howard? Yes. Commissioner Hunt? Yes. Yes. Commissioner Mason, yes. Vice Chairman Jones, yes.

Chairman Booker, yes. Number one item is a public hearing and uh Jason Frederick, our assistant planning director, and Kate Finger, Insight Consulting Group are here for that particular item.

Thank you. Good evening, Chairman Booker, members of the board. Thank you again for having me to talk a little bit about our CDBG programs. Uh last time I was here, we had a bunch of public hearings for our CDBG for the uh CV, our NR, which is for neighborhood revitalization. And if you remember during that meeting, we were going to have the second public hearing for a few of those items. And we would come back at a later date for the last one, which is the CDBGED, which is the economic development aspect for job creation with this um grant. Um, between then and now, we were in development of our engineering um, cost estimates and our site improvement maps. So, we wanted to have those buttoned up before we went through the public hearing. So, when we would submit that application, we'd be ready. So, tonight I have Kate Finger here. She's the program manager with Inside Consulting Services to help with the public hearing.

Okay. Good evening. Nice to see you all again. Um, I'm like a frequent flyer here now. I need to get myself a card to stamp.

Um, so as Jason said, I would like to ask for the board to open a public hearing for the community economic development block grant economic development program application. Um, this grant would be for propo the proposed activities for the grant are up to $2.5 million which would fund activities that are associated with the development of the site at 1140 Clarks. It would be for the expansion of the HDP because they have the company has outgrown their existing site on the industrial drive location. And so this would be all of the site prep and development to get that site ready for HDPE's expansion. The I goal would be for 30 jobs to be created with this grant application. And Jason and I talked this morning a little bit about how it's kind of twofold because additionally this grant would also loop around the Clark's Road. So it would make it a true circle and that would also open some additional sites for other development in the future uh in terms of economic development and job creation. So I'd like to open a public hearing in

Okay. Are there any questions for Kate before we uh open the public hearing? I move that we open the public hearing. Have a motion to open the public hearing. Second. All in favor? I oppose. Public hearing is open. Is there anyone wants to speak at the public hearing? Hearing none. Do I have a motion to close the public? Motion to close the public hearing. Second. Motion in a second. All in favor? I. I. Thank you. Thank you. Item number two, Craraven County Board of Education request for approval of repair and renovations. Jerome Williams Jr. Mr. Williams. Good evening. Good evening.

Good evening, Mr. Chair, fellow commissioners. Um, I'm Jerome Williams on behalf of Craraven County Board of Education requesting approval for repair and renovation projects in the amount of 256,000 $371. Funding will be utilized to cover the cost of Bridgen Elementary HVAC controls upgrade in the amount of $8,612. West Craven Middle School HBAC control upgrades in the amount of $8,612. West Craven High School HVAC control upgrades in the amount of $8,612. WJ Garganis five is going to install a 5-tonon HVAC unit in the amount of $113,74 and Roger Bell Academy a 25 ton HVAC unit replacement in the amount of 117,461. Funding for these projects are through the North Carolina lottery repair and renovations fund and I have attached the uh winning bids.

Okay. Any questions for Mr. Williams? Has the board of education voted on all these projects? Not yet. There we're waiting for you all to approve it and then we're going to have it'll be on our next agenda. Okay. The other question is some of these bids are are beyond the date on the bids that they said. For example, one says it's 30 days and it's been more than 30 days since the bid. Is there a problem with you think? No, sir. We reached out to the contractor to make sure his price was still good and he said he can hold his number. Yes, sir. Any other questions? Okay. Hearing none. Do I have a motion? I move that we accept. A motion. Second. And a second. Madam clerk, would you please call the role? Commissioner Mitchell? Yes. Commissioner Smith? Yes. Commissioner Howard? Yes. Commissioner Hunt?

Yes. Commissioner Mason? Yes. Vice Chairman Jones? Yes. Chairman Booker? Yes. Thank you, sir. Thank you. Appreciate it. That was easy.

Okay. Next item is petition of citizens on agenda topics. There are no uh no one has signed up to do that. So, we'll go to number four, our consent agenda. There are a few items on there. We're going to approve the m minutes of January 20th regular session. The minutes of February 16th special section session tax releases and refunds economic development request to subset public hearing for project enterprise under solid waste maintenance and repair building is in grounds budget amendment and F is a military service person of the quarter resolution. Are there any additions or deletions? Hearing none. Do I have a motion?

Motion to approve the consent agenda. Second. Have a motion and a second. Madam clerk, would you call the role, please? Commissioner Mitchell, yes. Commissioner Smith, yes. Commissioner Howard, yes. Commissioner Hunt, yes. Commissioner Mason, yes. Vice Chairman Jones, yes. Chairman Booker, yes. Item number five, departmental man matters under planning commun community development block grant economic development resolution. Kate's back at the mic.

Yes. For this application, we would like to request that the board approve a resolution allowing for the county to submit an application to the CDBG program and authorizing the county manager all authority to submit that application. Okay, any questions? Some move. Got a motion. Second. A motion, a second. All in favor? Opposed? The eyes have it. Thank you so much. Thank you. Item number six, finance school capital outlay funding category. Craig Warren.

Good evening board. I have one item on the agenda for you tonight and that is a request for a budget amendment for the school capital funding for category 1 projects over 100,000. Um in last fiscal year, the board of commissioners approved two capital projects for local schools under category 1 that each exceeded $100,000. Uh those these projects included a HVAC improvements at Vanc Farm Life which was budgeted at $110,000 and a boiler boiler replacement at Havlac High School budgeted at $157,557. Uh funding for these category 1 projects is held by the county in a separate fund until the school system uh requests uh the payments. Uh both projects were not completed at the end of last fiscal year and were carried over into the new fiscal year. Um the HVAC project for farm life was complete was completed under budget at $99,975 uh resulting in savings of $10,025. Uh in contrast, the boiler replacement at Havlock High exceeded its budget by 14,000 excuse me $593. Uh bringing the total cost to $172,150. Uh the school system has requested that the $10,25 in savings from the farm life uh project be used to help offset uh the offset the budget overage for the Hadlock high school project. I'm sorry from the Vance to the to the Hadlock. Sorry about that.

Okay. We're being requested to approve a budget amendment in amount of 267557 which includes the rollover and reallocation of funds. Do I have a motion? Some move. Motion and a second. Sorry. Madame clerk, would you please call the role? Commissioner Mitchell? Yes. Commissioner Smith? Yes. Commissioner Howard? Yes. Commissioner Hunt? Yes. Commissioner Mason? Yes. Vice Chair Jones? Yes. Chairman Ber? Yes.

Item number seven is appointments. Thank you, Craig. Under pending, we got the Craraven Aging Planning Board, Craraven County Clean Sweep Committee, and the Juvenile Crime Pro prevention council. Under current, we just have one. U Shane Digan uh seeks to be appointed to the local emergency planning committee. Do I have someone who would like to nominate Mr. I nominate Mr. Digen, please?

Okay. Do we have any other nominations? Hearing none, Mr. Digan will be appointed by acclamation. Item number eight. The county attorney is coming with many items tonight.

Yes, sir. Mr. Chairman and commissioners, courtesy of the city of Newber, might I add. So, it's a good problem to have. I do have um approx or exactly six surplus properties uh before you. Um the first is an initial offer to purchase for property located at 927 Samson Street within the city of Newburn with a parcel ID number of 806324. Uh the offer amount is $3,200. The original past due taxes and cost of foreclosure were $3,86.78 and the tax value of the property is $6,000. The city of Newurn has already given its initial approval. I would uh suggest that the board do likewise so we can get it out for upset bids.

Okay. Board, we need to adopt a resolution uh authorizing the upset bid process. Motion to approve. Second. All in favor? I opposed. Okay.

The next item is another initial offer to purchase for property located at 14 1427 Lincoln Street. also within the city of Newburn with a parcel ID number of 801377. The amount of the offer is 4,250. The past due taxes and the cost of foreclosure together were $4,23368. The tax value on this parcel is $8,500. Uh the city of Newburn has already approved the initial offer and I would ask that the board do likewise so we can get it into the upset bid process.

Okay. Again, we're being asked to authorize an upset bid for 81 801307. Do I have a motion? So moved. Second. Motion and a second. All in favor? Opposed?

No oppos. So that one carries also. Uh, Mr. Chairman and commissioners, the next parcel is located at 1016 Main Street, also in the city of Newurn with a parcel ID number of 806 302. This is an approval after the expiration of the upset bid uh process. The original offer amount was $2,700. Uh, there were no uh upset bids. So, that is your final purchase price. The original past due taxes and cost of foreclosure together were $1,783. The tax value in the property is $5,400. Um, the city of Newurn has already granted its final approval and I would ask that the board do likewise so we can get it back on the tax rolls.

Okay. Commissioners, we are being asked to adopt a resolution approving conveyance after the exploration of the upset bid for 8006302. Do I have a motion? Motion to approve. Second. Got a motion or a second. Madame Clerk, call the role, please. Commissioner Mitchell, yes. Commissioner Smith, yes. Commissioner Howard, yes. Commissioner Hunt, yes. Commissioner Mason, yes. Vice Chairman Jones, yes. Chairman Booker, yes. Item D,

commissioners, this is also uh another approval of a conveyance after the expiration of the upset bid period. The property is located at 1039 Main Street within the city of Newburn with a parcel ID number of 8007070. The offer amount is $2,700. The original um taxes and cost of foreclosure together were $9,83012. The tax value of the property is $5,400. There were no upset bids received. So your final purchase price is $2,700. The city of Uber has already given its final approval and I would ask the board to do likewise so we can get uh this property back on the tax roles. Okay, we're being adapt asked to adopt a resolution after expiration of upset bid for parcel 8007070. Do I have a motion?

So move a motion and a second. Madam clerk, please call the role. Commissioner Mitchell, yes. Commissioner Smith, yes. Commissioner Howard, yes. Commissioner Hunt, yes. Commissioner Mason, yes. Vice Chairman Jones, yes. Chairman Booker, yes. Item number E.

This is also a final approval after the expiration of the upset bid period for property located at 1041 Main Street within the city of Newurn with a parcel ID number of 807069. The uh offer amount is $2,400. There were no upset bids received. So this is your final purchase price. Um the original cost of foreclosure and past two taxes together were $26,25464 and the tax value of the property is $4,800. The city of Newurn is given its final approval and uh I would suggest the board do likewise so we can get the property back on the tax rolls.

Okay. Adopt a resolution. We're as being asked to adopt a resolution approving conveyance after expiration of upset bid parcel 8007069. Mr. Chairman, I have two questions, please. My first question is why was the previous parcel in this parcel foreclosure cost so high? My second question is do we share that with the city of Newurn or do we bear the entire expense? You mean the actual legal fees or the total amount of the the total amount so taxes and costs are significantly higher than normal?

They are. And I believe this involved one of the city of Newurn demolition leans that we see from from time to time. Uh so that is not a you know cost that we have out of pocket. It's just uh on the tax rolls. What what will happen is the $2,400 will be split prattly based on that number. So there is a loss if you will to the county based based on that um percentage wise. I have a question as well. We probably answered this before but the purchase price Yes ma'am. Those funds do that they go to the county or the city or do you split them?

They they are split and they are split based on the prata amount of the taxes. When I give you for instance the $26,25464 number, we go in and determine what percentage is the city and what percentage is the county. And that's how the proceeds are split. Okay. Um sometimes it, you know, the purchase price is less than that number. So we have a loss proratively. Occasionally it's more than that number. So we will have a gain proratively. Fair. It's fair to say in this one particular the city bore all the co cost of demolishing the structure was on the property. That that is absolutely

that we didn't have any part in that. Simply ours was the legal fees for the foreclosure process once that lean was already in place. Correct. Thank you. I appreciate that clarification. We're definitely not out of pocket. We don't participate in the city's abatement process. That's completely funded by the city. So that that's not money out of our pocket up front. Thank you. This would also be um when we collect 96% of our taxes, this would be part of the 4% what's owed on this parcel would be part of that. Correct.

Yes, sir. And that would it would run the length of time before foreclosure took place. It could be multiple taxation years. Uh in instances like this, I haven't looked yet, but I mean we've had ownership for some time. So, sorry, tablet's moving slow, but you kind of sometimes you can tell the story of how long it was in that process. We acquired this one in 2024. Okay. Okay. I don't remember. Do we have a motion? Motion to approve. We have a motion and a second. Madame clerk, please call the role. Commissioner Mitchell, yes. Commissioner Smith, yes. Commissioner Howard, yes. Commissioner Hunt, yes. Commissioner Mason, yes. Vice Chairman Jones, yes. Chairman Booker, yes. Item F.

The final item, commissioners, is a final approval after the expiration of the upset bid period. The property is located at 2204 Hartford Avenue within the city of Newurn. The parcel ID number is 8 039086. The offer amount is $2,500. There were no upset bids received, so that is your final uh purchase price. The original uh cost of foreclosure and pass through taxes together were $4,04843. The tax value of the parcel was $5,000. As with the others, the city of Newurn has given its approval. And I would ask that this board do likewise so we can get the property back on the tax roles.

Okay. We're asked to adopt a resolution approving conveyance after expiration of upset bid for parcel 8039086. Do I have a motion? Motion to approve. Second. Second. A motion and a second. Madame clerk, would you please call the role? Commissioner Mitchell? Yes. Commissioner Smith? Yes. Commissioner Howard? Yes. Commissioner Hunt? Yes. Commissioner Mason? Yes. Vice Chairman Jones? Yes. Chairman Ber? Yes. That concludes my report. Thank you. Thank you, sir. Item number nine, petition of citizens.

Mr. Chairman, we have uh one citizen signed up this evening. Uh Mr. David French, could y'all get the timer repaired so that the peak speakers will know how much time we have because we we don't have eyes in the back of our we don't have an eye in the back of our head. We can look to your left.

I know, but we're here. That was working. Would you please get it repaired? I'm David French, 104 Johnson Street. Is this on? Why am I here yet again? For my dear cousin, Maryanne Duffy Williams. Because all she said for the four years that she lived after Hurricane Florence, "When am I going home?" After every doctor's appointment that I took her to, she wanted to go by her home and sit and look at her home that she could not go into. I am here for my fellow hurricane flood survivors like my friend Tammy down in Columbus County who is in a uh in a bad situation and Rebuild lied to her. My friend Louise here in Craraven County been in the program since 2019. rebuild kicked her out because she could not find a place to rent in Craraven County so they could do her home. My friend Denise uh over in Dupin County, she got her rebuilt home. Guess what? It's falling apart. She is a disabled uh honored vet and she cannot get any help. And also there's a lady here on Madam Moore Lane, 93 years old, has lived in a travel trailer going on 8 years. No help for her. And the over 8,000 of us who are still homeless. Whose fault is this? Most definitely Roy Cooper, the criminal Roy Cooper. And I invite uh former Governor Roy Cooper to sue me. Josh Stein, the attorney general. Eight years as attorney general, he never investigated rebuild. Eddie Buffalo,

Laura Hogs Head, Matthew Arland, Prior Gibson, and their cohorts, as well as the impotent and feckless Republican controlled legislature. In the words of Bob Brinson, I said, "You need to use the media and fight for us. We don't do it like that." Well, you know what? It ain't a working. What is Craven County's responsibility? As Craven County planner Chad uh Sean once said, paraphrase, "Rebuild NC was a train wreck waiting to happen." News flash, it happened and there are mass casualties. Craraven County must demand that the disaster recovery is brought back to the county level where it worked wonderfully for over 40 years. Craraven County and other counties must sue the state of North Carolina to make it happen. This past weekend was a 250th anniversary of the Battle of Morris Creek Bridge down in Pender County. Not a lot of people know about this, but this was a a pivotal battle in the war for our independence from the tyrant George III. My ancestor, Captain Joseph French Jr. fought at the battle. He and my other American revolutionary uh ancestors Walter I would ask for uh time to finish this walk the streets of New and the road to BNC. What would he say about what's happened here? How is it that we can find billions to prop up an illegal foreign regime and make war, but we cannot find the time nor taxpayer money to help the hurricane disaster survivors of ENC and WNC to get back home. Some waiting going on 10 years. French, your time is up.

What are you all going to do to fulfill your sacred oath of office to help us? What are you going to do? I'm asking each one of you. What are you going to do? Your time is up, sir. Sir, you gave you spent about 10 minutes talking about uh property that was near your home because you chose to. You chose to because you had an interest in it. You're selfdeing. We all know what you did with the Dun building. We all know what you hid behind uh Delaware LLC and then we open the front page and find who who bought it. Who bought it? Your time is No, you know you're violating your oath of office. Your picture up here, sir.

Y'all should have This is Maryanne Dusty Williams who never got to go home. Never. Well, you don't understand. Uh can I move in with you? Can I move in you with Etsy Mitchell? You're both multi-millionaire. Your time is up. Please unhand me, sir. Unpend corrupt, Mr. County Manager.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman, Commissioner. It's pleasure to be with you tonight. Uh, one month from tonight, uh, in April will be county government month. I learned about it last week. I I think about it every year, but I just wanted to recognize it and hopefully uh we can have some resolution or something at your agenda that night to represent recognize, excuse me, all the uh county employees out there that work in all our different divisions and departments to do so much for our citizens here in the county. A couple updates for you. U later this week, we'll host the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina board. They're coming to Craraven County uh for their monthly meeting. We're going to host them. They'll have uh some touring of our industries on Wednesday and then they'll have their board meeting Thursday morning uh here at the Double Tree. So, we're excited to have them on board, show off all the hard work that Jeff Wood's been after for the last few years and talk about a lot of the industries, including the military and our airport and things that make Craraven County special. So, we're really excited about that. Uh last week I was also able to attend an ABC board meeting. Uh continue to look at the trends in sales which are trending downwards. Obviously there's a lot of big factors, macro factors out there in that but the board is certainly addressing and looking at ways uh to cut costs as we deal with that. Also last week I was able to attend the NO conference. Um great opportunity to coales there with some of our federal partners. got to spend time with the VA, the National Park Service, uh the EPA, you name it. We had um the industries there to talk with. We also got to visit um with our legislative uh delegation there, Congressman Murphy. We met with Senator Tillis, his staff, and also other congressmen that are really important like folks who are working on the farm bill and federal transportation bills out there along with um some folks from the president's staff that were able to meet with us and talk about some of the initiatives are going on. Big themes I heard uh across the board are

data centers, right? Uh the good and the bad across the country. They're a thing. We're going to have to deal with it. We're all going to deal with it at some point because technology is driving that way. uh property taxes. Every state's looking at how property taxes are uh authored amongst counties and cities. This is a big topic. Um when we had one of the breakout sessions with the county administrators and county managers, this was certainly number one on the list and and lots of other things out there. Um particularly, and I just talked with Commissioner Howard today about roads, right? Across the country, roads are a big expense for counties. In North Carolina, we have no responsibility for roads, but people believe that we do. So, we become sort of this third party facilitator in trying to balance between DOT and then private uh citizens who may not know that they're not on a state road, right? So, it's a big challenge. I know Commissioner Smith, Hunt, Howard have all and Jones have all dealt with that issue. So, interesting to see how other uh counties are doing that across the country. Uh with that said, that's my report. Sir, you do have a close session at the end of the meeting and Mr. Grady will give you the citations for that unless you have any questions for me.

Questions for the county manager. Thank you so much for your time. Thank you. Commissioner's report. Who would like to go first?

I do have one Denny if you I will say uh I attended the NO legislative conference with our with our county manager. It was good to have the county manager and our his assistant with us um on a lot of priorities and issues that we discussed. Um I attended the annual legislative conference hosted by the National Association of County Commissioners in Washington DC. This conference provides county officials direct engagement with members of Congress during one of the most consequential periods of the federal legislative session. This year's conference focused on federal appropriations, AI governance, cyber security, infrastructure implementation, workforce development, property taxes, and the pending farm bill reauthorization. Uh, all of which have significant downstream impact on counties. Um, I do think they're trying to separate the farm bill out from the SNAP program to some degree. So, that may hasten that from passing hasten the passing of that bill. importance of the federal legislative session. Um the federal uh February legislative window is especially important because Congress is actively negotiating federal appropriation levels, re reauthorization of major legislation, infrastructure implementation guidance, uh Medicaid and public funding, cyber security investment, rural development programs. Um one of those budget items could impact our budget by over $900,000. something we discussed with our um our legislative legislators um which you know if you think about it could be a half half cent tax increase. So it's a mandate that's still passed down to the county but they're taking away some of that funding. Um obviously we're we're hoping that doesn't happen. Emergency services and public safety. Um broadband expansion so on and so forth. Um, I won't get into the specifics of

the farm bill, but we did we did get to hear chairman GT Thompson speak, which was interesting. He is from Pennsylvania, chairman of the agricultural committee. Not only did did we get to hear him speak, uh, but in the congressional office building, uh, he was going to the bathroom and we were able to corner him for a few seconds and have a conversation with him. I know you take your opportunities. It was not in the bathroom. He was not in the bathroom. He was coming back from it. He was clarify clarify that.

No. Yes. to clarify, uh, he did 150 list listen list listen list listen list listen list listen list listen list listen list listen list listen list listen list listen list listen list listen list listen list listen list listen list listen list listen list listen list listen listing sessions across the country we complimented his speech and we we pretty much invited him to Craven County to do another listening session um which he said you know follow to follow up with him uh so hopefully maybe that'll happen um you know Craven County farmers have a lot to say about the farm bill obviously and we have a pretty significant agricultural u footprint in this county and this state um I won't go over rural development grants school nutrition snap kind of covered that um if you want to see my report individually I can share it with the public but um just in the for for time reasons in our closed session I won't go into all the rest of it but thank you

um with it we have American service personnel in harm's way again in the Middle East again everybody knows there's two carrier battle groups um in the Indian Ocean may not be aware that there are military personnel from all over North Carolina that are involved in the conflict over there. Please keep them and their families in your prayers. Yes.

I just want to remind everybody that tomorrow is the primary election day. Uh so far turnout has been very slow. I would like to encourage everybody to encourage everybody to get out to vote tomorrow. It's your last chance. Many of the races in this primary will determine who the actual uh uh person filling the position will be. Um just want to remind everybody. Thanks, Commissioner Hunt.

I would just echo whatever Commissioner Howard said. We all enjoyed attending the conference in Washington DC. It was um a lot of work, but it's needed to get out there and find out what's happening across the nation and hopefully we can get ahead of some of these issues that are that will be in front of us probably in 2026. Um and I wanted to mention the voting as well. Please get out and vote. Um, a lot of the not a lot, there's a couple of members on your ballot. This vote will determine who sits in that seat in December. So, please go out and vote. Nothing tonight. I encourage everyone to vote as well. Okay.

I I don't have

uh just a couple things. Number one, um, Commissioner Mitchell mentioned the conflict in the Middle East. It's, u whether you agree with it or don't agree with the president's action, I encourage you all to be in prayer for our servicemen and for our leaders as they make the decisions that have to be made going forward. It's a scary time. Um, when countries have nuclear capabilities, um, anything can happen. So, keep them in your prayers. And last comment, I was also in Washington DC, but I don't have anything to report. Uh, Commissioner Howard

gave my report. No. And the only thing I would say is we did have a very interesting uh, speech from Robert F. Kennedy talking about making America healthy again. And that was of all the things we did for three days, that may not have been the most meaningful thing to us, but it was the most interesting to me. Uh he he did a great job of uh explaining his motives and what he's got in mind for this country. So that was good. Yeah. Commissioner, anybody have anything else, Dad? Commissioner Hunt literally ran outside to try to catch him and invite him to Craven County. She missed him by this much. I did. So, his US marshals caught me though.

Okay. Last but not least, we are going to go into close session. If you would give me the numbers, please, Mr. Attorney. Yes, sir. Mr. Chairman, we got two reasons to go into close session. The first is under uh NC general statute 143 318 11185 to discuss the potential acquisition of rural property. The second uh reason is under um NC general statute 143 3181 111A3 uh under the attorney client privilege to discuss the pending litigation of Craraven County versus William and Margaret Bow. Thank you, sir. Do I have a motion? Some moved.

Second. A motion and a second to go in close session. All in favor? I opposed. We're in close session. Five minutes.