City Council - Regular Meeting

time. The Spencer Board of Alderman regular meeting is taking place 6 PM February 10th and we'll have Alderwoman Sledge to give the invocation at this time.

Thank you, Mr. Mayor Pro Tim. During February, we acknowledge many events and holidays. Black History Month, American Heart Month, Valentine's Day, President's Day, and many more, including random act of kindness day. In recognition of the walk of peace by the venerable Buddhist monks who passed through Spencer and arrived today in Washington DC, I offer this prayer. Lord, make me an instrument of your peace. Where there is hatred, let me so love. Where there is injury, pardon. Where there is doubt, faith. Where there is despair, hope. Where there is darkness, light. Where there is sadness, joy. Oh divine master Brent, that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console. To be understood as to understand, to be loved as to love. For it is in giving that we receive. It is in pardoning that we are pardoned. And it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. Let us pray. Lord, give us wisdom as leaders and guide us as we serve the citizens of our community. May we find peace within ourselves and share it with others to make a difference in our world. Amen.

All right. Thank you, Alder Woman Sledge. We'll go ahead and do the pledge of allegiance. We get everyone to rise at this time for that 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.

Right. Far as additions and deletions and adoptions of the agenda, is there any additions or deletions that need to take place on the agenda at this time? Board I move to accept I move to accept the agenda as as presented. Is there a second? Second. All those in favor? Raise of hand.

Those opposed? I guess that's unanimous. Okay, at this time we're going to go into the recognitions. We're going to first of all do a proclamation for heart awareness month 2026 proclamation the office of mayor prompor whereas the American Heart Association Rowan County Public Health and the Rowan Public Library System and the Town of Spencer Library have partnered to make heart health more accessible by transforming libraries into community hubs for education and blood pressure monitoring. And whereas this initiative provides free access to blood pressure kiosk and loaner kits for a home monitoring, empowering individuals with educational materials, tracking logs, and clinic referrals, thereby helping people take control of their health. And whereas nearly half of US adults have high blood pressure and many are unaware of it. Hypertension often called the silent killer has no obvious symptoms and is a leading risk factor for heart disease which remains the leading cause of death in Rowan County and across the United States. And whereas normal blood pressure is below 120 over 80 and accurate measurement is essential for diagnosis and prevention. Community blood pressure stations provide kiosk, education,

educational resources in English and Spanish, tracking logs and QR linking, QR code linking to instructional videos along with a loaner program or monitors. And whereas these stations connect individuals to their blood pressure numbers, help confirm or rule out hypertension and support better health decisions in partnership with health care providers. And whereas libraries play a vital role by creating know your numbers spaces promoting stations through signage and wellness challenges and assisting visitors with accurate measurement guidance and device checkout. Now therefore, I Rashid Muhammad, Mayor Prompora of the town of Spencer, do hereby proclaim February 2026 as heart awareness month in Rowan County and encourage all residents to take advantage of the resources of these monitors and their blood pressure, and prioritize their health. and witness whereof I here unto set my hand and cause the seal of Spencer, North Carolina to be affixed this 10th day of February, 2026. ALEROMAN, thank you all. Thank you. Alderwoman Moody, you are you prepared for your recognition at this time? Go ahead.

Thank you. Yes, ma'am. Mr. Taylor, can I just embarrass you and have you come up to the lect room, please? Listen, I love to sing. I wish we were still in high school and you could stand on a desk somewhere while I did this. Did anyone else have to do that?

I thought it was fun. It is my pleasure this evening to recognize our director of public works, Mr. Joel Taylor and the entire public works department with I would like to add only seven full-time staff, one part-time employee, and two part-time mechanics. Um, they work hard, but that's not a lot of people to run this community on. Uh, this team handles, as we know, our trash, yard waste, our recycling center. They maintain our streets, sidewalks, storm drainage, parks, public buildings, fleet of vehicles, and equipment. They support special events and they are always stepping up to help residents and other departments. Um, we see you doing a lot of mechanical work out back for the police department which I know they're appreciative of and so are we.

Through a very busy holiday season this year, as in previous years, and challenging winter weather, public works also completed the installation of our historic district street sign toppers, which is a project three years in the making for our historic preservation committee. Their seasonal work has truly made our town look like it belongs in a Hallmark movie. On behalf of the Historic Preservation Committee, this board, and the town of Spencer, thank you to our public works department for consistently going above and beyond for our residents and our visitors.

They sometimes get a battery for you if you for need help. Yes. See, one example. and and and jump batteries off too when they're needed in the community. Trees when they see them down. Okay. The woman seest at this time. Are you Yes. Your recognition? Yes, ma'am. Mayor Prom, if I if I may. Uh I don't know if we want to maybe hold off on the next one because the fire department appears to be at a call. That's fine. Sure. Well, we we'll we'll use that for the next meeting due to the circumstances. Well, I suspect they'll be back. Hopefully, later on in the meeting and maybe at a different point we can take that up.

That sounds fair. All right. Is there any other recognitions that need to be done at this time for? Okay. Then know there are no others at this moment. We'll go ahead and move into public comment. I have one here that's written and printed. Um, madame clerk, is there any that were received online? Any public comment? No, sir.

Okay. Thank you. So, at this time, we'll get ready to prepare for public comment. All persons who wish to speak, of course, signed up. Um, public comment information. All speakers are limited to three minutes of time. So, You know what? They actually find me on the wall. Oh, yeah.

They wish they didn't. Hi. Um, my name is Leslie Talbet. I live at 308 Morals Avenue. I'm the chair of the Historic Preservation Commission. And yes, wholeheartedly, my thanks to Erin for adding us to the acknowledgement for Joel because without him, we'd still be screwing signs up one sign a week until my death. Um, the other thing I'd like to say is, uh, we've had, um, a lot of interest in, we have a potential new member, um, that we're hoping to present next month, but I would like to put a call out to our town to say we still have a vacancy and we would really appreciate some new um, ideas and some new and different input if you're interested in preserving Spencer's history and moving forward at the same time, which we can do if we work together. So that's my speech and I've got only a minute.

Yes, ma'am. Thank you, Miss Thank you, Miss Talbert. We appreciate you come up and give your comments and add it on at this time. Is there anyone else that would wish to come forward and speak for public comment at this time? Okay, seeing that there are no more speakers board, I'll call for motion at this time. So move. Is there a second? Second. All those in favor? I have it. Sorry.

Okay. Public comment is closed. On to the consent agenda. Is there any board any board members that wish to remove any items from this consent agenda for further discussion?

Mr. Mayor Pam, I move that we accept the consent agenda as approved earlier. Okay. Is there a second? Second. Okay. It's been voted on and properly. Second. Um, all those in favor? Now for the approval of the minutes.

All right. So, at this time, we're going to consider adopting the ordinance 26-01 granting a franchise to Duke Energy Carolina's LLC. Mr. Franis.

Yes. Thank you, Mayor Proam, and members of the board. Uh, we have an item before you tonight that by state law will actually be considered for two readings this month and then again next month. Uh, this is a franchise agreement for Duke Energy. Uh we currently have an agreement that was adopted 60 years ago in May of 1966 that grants Duke Energy, of course, at the time it was granted Duke Power, uh permission to construct and maintain its lines for transmission of electricity along, over and under town property. Uh that includes of course all the street and sidewalk infrastructure, but other public places as well. Since this is expiring, Duke Energy has uh drafted a new ordinance for our consideration proposing the same essentially for another 60 years. So that would take it to 2086 and I will hopefully be retired by then. Um the city attorneys reviewed this draft ordinance for consistency with state law and uh Duke is presenting this kind of in a standard form among all municipalities. Um, it grants permission for uh them to work on on their equipment and lines, you know, on town property and provides assurances to continue with improvements to their facilities and and the grid. Uh, as well as provides for how they would make repairs to street, sidewalks, etc. should that be damaged in the course of them doing their work. uh state statute uh again mentions that franchises are granted through an ordinance that are considered and passed at two regular meetings. So we would do this for a a second time in March. Uh we have with us tonight Joe Crabster. He's the government and community relations

manager for Duke Energy in our area and I'd invite him to uh share any comments he may have about this with you.

Thank you, Peter. And uh thank you Mayor Pro Muhammad and the board. Um I think Peter has described everything as far as the renewal of the franchise agreement. It was 60 years ago or at least it will be come May of of this year. Um it would pretty much do would maintain things as hopefully you've seen across the town of Spencer. Um, I would say probably the greatest thing, and it's not just a reliability. I mean, you see projects going on around the county, whether it be here in the town of Spencer or beyond, but that would be Duke's commitment as we go forward. But I know there's a lot right here in the Spencer area, whether you go across 85 with the Buck plant, but we just appreciate the uh partnership with the town of Spencer and I appreciate your consideration for the renewal of the franchise agreement with the town of Spencer.

Does anyone have any questions at this time for Mr. K? Do we actually reading of this actual the question is does it does the whole ordinance have to be read? I don't think so. It just has to be considered two separate meetings. Okay. Okay. Thanks. Thanks. Okay. So, thank you. We appreciate you, Mr. President. Yeah. Thank you. And I appreciate the way that Duke Energy um maintains services. You know, I was fully expecting to lose power storm and did not. So, I thank you for preparation you guys do in advance.

Thank you, Alman Sledge. Um, I mean, it's been a we we've been kind of lucky these last two or three weeks between the ice and the and the snow. But, you can be assured Duke Energy um will be ready with whatever comes to the northern part of Rowan County and beyond. So just appreciate the support of Duke Energy like I said both here in the town and you know with the plant nearby. So thank you. Thank you sir.

So we're going to move on to considering adopting ordinance budget ordinance 25-11.010 police 2025 Toyota Tacoma. At this time, Miss Khan, can you come up and chief Al present the request to the board? Good evening, board. Good evening.

Before you is a um budget ordinance that um for the purchase of a Toyota Tacoma for the police department um and where we will get those funds from. Um, and I'll let all that please talk about that. Yes, ma'am. Thank you. Good evening. Good evening.

A little under the weather. So, if you'll bear with me in my voice tonight. Um, as you know, we have a comprehensive vehicle replacement plan. Unfortunately, in this year's budget, we were not able to fund the two recommended vehicles um that would have been for replacements this year. We know what happens when we don't do that. It kind of rolls everything into future years having excessively high purchases. Um I was able to negotiate a purchase of a uh vehicle. Um it was a 2025 that was still on the lot. We're actually getting it for under state contract price. Um and we were able to utilize some funds from uh some of our openings that we have currently where we have lost a few employees. Um, so it made good sense to go and try to make that purchase and that would help us not have uh so many vehicles in a single year in the future. Um, so this will be replacing a vehicle that's passed its uh its standard replacement time that we had to keep running for an additional years.

Okay. Now, with that vehicle, replacing your vehicle, that vehicle, are we we're going to be getting rid of that particular vehicle that we're replacing? Correct. Correct. Well, what we'll do, we typically move them down. So, we'll move one from a full-time status to part-time status, and then we'll sell the part-time vehicle. Okay. This is This is a new vehicle. It is. It was It was It was the last one in the state of North Carolina that was new old stock. So we we were new old stock and black which is what we needed to match the fleet. So that was the la last one that we had the opportunity to get. And does it have a warranty with it?

It does. It's brand new. So it'll it'll be the same uh standard warranty. And we're you know we're trying out a Toyota. Um it would not be something we can move to for all of our fleet because they don't make uh certain options for them that we would need um as far as prisoner cages and whatnot. But uh for some of our supervisors and SRO's and code enforcement, we might be able to utilize those. So everybody knows we've had that uh long time issue with the Dodge Durango. So we're trying to look and see what some other options may be that may have a little more durability for us.

Okay. Um board, any other question? Okay. At this time, call for a motion. Um I I move that um we approve the budget ordinance uh 2511.010 for the police department to purchase the uh 2025 Toyota Tacoma. Okay. Motion has been made. Is there a second? Second.

Okay. Motion and properly second at this time. Um all those in favor show hands. That's unanimous. unanimous. Okay. So, thank you so much, Chief. Thank you, Heather. I appreciate that. So, at this time, we're going to go ahead and go into the departmental reports. So, at this time, Mr. Blunt, thank you so much. I'm already up there. Yes, sir. I heard the manager saying he was trying to get out of here early, so rush. I was I was talking about Joe.

Interesting. Interesting. In addition to the uh written report that you have in your package, which I'll certainly be glad to answer any questions on, if Mike will bring up my PowerPoint presentation, I had a few visuals. I wanted to give you some updates. And while I can hold them up, it's a little hard for you guys to see them from there. So, I went ahead and made your first PowerPoint. uh sale to South Tower update. The attorney and I will meet uh Thursday morning to discuss the details of the contract. Hope they will come up with something that's a little better than what they submitted and we will send it back to them for their comments. Um, we asked them to give us an idea of how much this would improve the signal strength of cell phones in the community and they sent me a slide package and we're going to actually have a presentation from them at some point. But I want to go ahead and give you this update and uh to put it in simple terms what what you'll see next, think of red as bad and green as good. So that's how simplistic I am on these kind of things. I don't get into radio frequency things. The one on the left is our current coverage map. And you see the red, the red and the orange. We don't have very good coverage in the town of Spencer. The one on the right is what they predict the improvement will be with the new tower. So that's a very simple visual of what they anticipate. We'll try to ask some more detailed questions when they make the presentation to staff. North Carolina Finishing Company. Again, I was going to hold up this paper and tell you that obviously you can't see it from there, but up there we have received or the the

applicant who is our contractor Sam Construction has received what's called the letter of eligibility. And what you're seeing up there, it's a little hard to see at this distance is their flowchart showing the process that they go through to get the brownfield agreements approved. So we're about a third of the way through what they consider about an 18month process. So probably to get to the end of the process will be something like a year from now. But just wanted to let you know this is a real milestone moment to get this letter. Uh if you follow that chart, there's a lot of yes, no questions. If you reach that point and they don't give you the letter of eligibility, they kick out and you don't get the project. So, we're happy to be there. The uh PCA building closed down and I told you to be optimistic. I met with the owner last week and he was very impressive in his efforts to put together a package to sell that building. And that's front page of their sales brochure. That's a second page where it shows the floor plan. This is the one I wanted to show you though. There's 13.6 acres to the north of the existing plant that they hope to split off and market as a separate plant location. So in addition to getting the PCA building back in operation, you may see a new facility out there serving somebody else. And then to wrap it up, I was putting in a lot of permits into my spreadsheet today and I did a quick count and realized that here we are the 10th of February and this year we've already done 27 permits of various types. And I look back and we did six in 2025, 10 in 2024, nine in 2023 at the same point of the year. So if this holds up, we're

going to have a record year for the number of permits we will be issuing this year. of various types. But in this year, what we've already issued is six for town homes out at Hawkins Meadows. So, construction's getting ready to start out there. Three duplexes and three single family homes in addition to some subdivisions and things of that nature. That adds up to 15 new families moving into new homes in your town in the first two months of the year. So, think what that could mean for the rest of the year. With that, I'll be glad to answer any questions.

I'd like to make a comment. I love seeing uh new families coming in because not only is that going to help our community in a large number of economic ways, but it's also going to help our schools because we really have room for more students. We've got top-notch schools and getting those students will assure that we maybe get what we need for the schools. Absolutely. So, Thank you, sir. Yes, sir. So, at this time, Mr. Mr. Black, what's the Spencer success story? I'm sorry. What's the Spencer success story?

Um, it's basically the brownfield development of the North Carolina Finishing Company property. Uh, Peter and I have been asked to star in a movie about our town. the uh we went to a meeting last year and made a presentation about our process that we went through to help redevelop the North Carolina Finishing Company property. uh some of their professional staff that were at that meeting were impressed with the story of what we've accomplished in Spencer and they are actually going to come and record us and take a site visit and do some recordings around the town and put together a video that will be on their website calling it the Spencer Success School. And and just so we don't think this is a Hollywood production, it's the the the New Jersey Institute of Technology are they have consultants that work with the EPA doing this uh brownfield work and it's their team at New Jersey Institute of Technology. They're the ones that supported uh the event at Central that we attended probably about a year ago or so. And uh so they're putting this film together. Uh it'll probably be more of like an informational, you know, documentary type, you know, piece. Uh so we won't have any stunt doubles or

I just heard that we're going to have a premiere, right? I don't know. We can do it out in our new building a big screen. Show it out there. Movies in the park. As long as people promise not to throw tomatoes. No, they'll be fine. I noticed too down at PCA plant he's put up fencing. Looks really nice. Yeah. Thank you, Mr. Blunt. Um, at this time we'll have Chief File come up for code enforcement.

Good evening again. I have uh provided the uh customary monthly code enforcement report. I'm going to try not to talk a whole lot tonight, so I'll take any questions you may have. We had 26 cases this month for code enforcement. Everything's going well.

Jumping to the police.

Oh, right. police uh police department report for the month. Uh we had 2175 activities. We still have uh one individual that's in field training and we are pro uh processing currently a applicant for one of our openings. He's a lateral from South Carolina. So um we're hoping about mid-March he'll be coming aboard with us. Um I did want to point out very briefly, we had a pretty uh pretty good fentinel uh bus this month. uh about 30 grams, which is about $6,000 street value. Um so we'll and that'll be about $8,200 in drug tax. So if we're able to collect on that, that'll be some funds coming back to our community to help combat uh these illegal drugs. So obviously, uh 30 grams is a pretty good bust. That was from your age team this month. So I definitely wanted to point that out. Um that was a a pretty good bust. Fentanyl is no uh nothing to mess with if you know about it. It's about 100 times the strength of morphine. So, it only takes uh takes a little spec to overdose on it. So,

but I can uh try to answer any questions you may have about the police department report. We appreciate that, Chief F. And I'm thankful for the lives that have been saved with that fent being recovered off the street. Right. Thank you. fire department at this time. Welcome back. Right. So, before you give your report, I believe we're going to backtrack and there's some recognitions that that need to be presented at this time until you all have to disperse for a brief moment. So, you want

Yeah, I if the rest of you all can come up that would be great. those of you are here. Thank you for all for being here tonight. Thank you.

When we have extreme weather conditions of cold, ice, and snow like we've had this winter, 2026, it affects all of us. Now, I'm going to be 77 in March, and I've never seen weather like we've had in Spencer in my lifetime. And I've talked to people older than me that said that, too. So, that's probably pretty accurate. For some, our disabled and senior citizens, it literally cuts off many from the resources and help they need for basic survival. I had several calls from these citiz from some citizens over the snow end and I assured them that we would find a way to help out and our town stepped up during their this winter event. Now one of them when she called me she said well what do you do? You're a senior citizen. I said, "Well, I stay in." And uh but I did assure them uh that they could contact your departments or the police department if they needed it and they could get some help. One of the persons that needed help goes to my church, Stacy Wallace. She has no family here and she needed assistance several times to get in and out of her house for appointments or to come home from where she had been staying. Uh, our fire department and EMS showed up and she wanted me to recognize them. She called and asked that I do this tonight. Of course, I was planning on it anyway, but I really appreciate her emphasizing it. Thank you, Chi, for getting your men there. And a special shout out to Dakota Anderson. Dakota. That's what I thought. Okay. Billy Parish. Okay. And Arturo

Garcia. Now, Stacy said there may have been some others that helped, but she remembered these three gentlemen, and she said you were so kind and so nice, and you were just a huge help to her. So, we show that we're not only do we have top-notch employees, we are good neighbors. We are the little town with a big heart and we are blessed with all our staff and employees. And I want to give all of you a round of applause along with the public works and the police DEPARTMENT and citizens are greatly appreciative. And I'm amazed when I talk to people from from other towns and they complain about services in their town. They said, "Do y'all have this problem?" I said, "Oh, no." And then I tell them everything extra that we do. And they cannot believe it. And their taxes are a whole lot higher than ours. That's what really. But anyway, uh just very very proud of all of you. Thank you very much. Good evening.

Good evening, sir. Ladies and gentlemen of the board pro Tim manager all folks. Likewise. So obviously I'm not the face that you're most familiar with. Michael Lang's taking care of some personal business and I'll leave his uh his steep tonight. The monthly report for the Spencer Fire Department, we had roughly 67 fire calls, medical response of 57, totaling about 124 responses from the Spencer Fire Department. Our apparatus, they are on our reserve outside right now. It's been repaired. It's back in service. The 2024 Pierce is out of service presently with some other things in need of repair. The good news is we don't have to send it down the road to Charlotte. They can fix it in house. So whenever they get done, it'll be a great turnaround and be back in service.

Internally, we had a posting for a vacant fire engineer position and fortunately and uh we're privileged that we've been in a special place that after having so many vacancies, we are hopefully this week we will be officially at full staffing this week. Yes, we're great. as uh as Madame Alderman over there spoke a minute ago that during the the colder colder season that we've had the day before all of the heavy snowfall and everything fell half of the heating in the station went out and we have been without any heat and half of the building since then it is due for repair and there's supposed to be by the station to look at it get it fixed this week and be back up running hopefully by Friday if not on the first of next week and I am more than willing and more than happy to oblige any questions that the board house.

Is it the half of the building where everyone sleeps that? Yes, it is. Of course. Yes, it is. We're getting by with space heaters for the time being. And thanks to Amazon, we are we are making do. Okay. Any other questions? That's it. Y'all gentlemen, stay warm and thank you all for the service you're providing for this town and surrounding area. Thank you, Mr. Teller. Public works. M mayor proton members. Uh just a note on the fire department heat will be fixed tomorrow. The gas valve finally got here. So with all the weather and shipping and that's what was wrong with my steel. So it's a gas valve.

Gas valve. Yeah. The lady called me several hours ago and said we have a technician on the way tomorrow to fix the heat. It will be taken care of. Thank you. That was 70 degrees, right? Yeah, now there

don't make the rules for sure. Um, so our regular services are back on schedule this week after being scrambled for the last two. Uh, garbage is running on schedule. So, um, the we have scheduled the spring mulch giveaway. We're going to do it on March the 21st. We normally do it the first weekend of April, but that is Easter this year. So, we're going to back it up and do it a little earlier. So, it'll be on March 21st. As Steve was saying a little bit ago with the amount of permits he's issued and that kind of stuff, our sanitation numbers were up by about 34 tons this year,

which amounts to about three truckloads if you put it into terms. We usually carry about 10 tons a truck. So, I foresee with the permits that he's issuing and things that are going on, it's going to continue to do this. It's going to increase this amount or more. Um, we kind of got out of the stagnant from the pandemic and then we came down. Now, we're headed back up and I think that's where it's going to stay uh for the next foreseeable future as long as building keeps up, you know, when that happens. So, um, we did spend a great deal of time this month, uh, playing in the white stuff. So, it's, uh, it's been a chore with one right after the other. So, but thank y'all for y'all's kind words and support for for my guys and what they do because it's it's nerve-wracking at some point. Um, we did get the crate myrtle trim downtown and we're starting to clean the dead stuff out of the side on the transportation museum side. We got one area done today as traffic allows. We're going to be able to do a little bit in a little bit. So, we'll get that taken care of this spring. And an update from the seat gap. Yeah, the comedy of errors here. So, we ordered the live stakes. I think I reported that that we were going to order them. So, we ordered them right before the snowstorm. So, they were supposed to be in on Friday and then I would water them the first of the week and then we would plant them on Wednesday. They just showed up less than an hour ago.

So, we're going to water them for the next two days and probably I'm going to try to see if the if the engineers are available. We're going to try to get that planted on Friday and then get this taken care of and be done. But, we do have the live stakes. They're here now. Um, we'll just have to get them kind of pet back up a little bit before we plant them and then we'll we'll get them in the ground. So, I'll be happy to take any questions if you have any. Well, all right. That being said, thank you, Mr. Taylor. We appreciate you. Okay. Finance Heather. Huh? Cam, I'm sorry. Good evening again.

Good evening.

So, I gave you my reports um finance reports and I had to update them today. Um finally got our bank reconciliation done. So, the the new reports look better than the other ones. Um I made notes on on each fund as far as on the old ones of what needed to be done. For example, some deposits needed to be entered into the ledger. So, our general fund is in the um is updated. Now, there are some issues with conversion on the on fund 32, the storm water grant fund. Um it should be page five if you're looking through. So if you'll if you'll notice um under the expenditure side there's it says streets and then storm water. Um in prior years we have funded this this this grant has been housed in the general fund and when we converted we moved that over to to a different fund so that we could keep all expenses and revenues together for that. And in the conversion they the Black Mountain software entered in the budget under the storm water line and we don't use that line. We use the street line. So that 360 $376,591 is not supposed to be there. That is actually from FY25. So that that that's does not need to be there. I'm in the we are checking on that and getting that corrected. So that's one of the reasons why that has a large um the difference there, the variance there.

Um I'm also working with Black Mountain and Anna Edward at the league for fund 48. Um fund 48 is our miscellaneous grants. Those are grants that are um or projects that are under $100,000 and they were housed in the general fund. Again, we're moving those to a separate fund. So, it's easier to track it by project and not so I don't have to pull things out and sort them. I can run a report and say this is the project that of the information that I want and it's there in that report. So, once we get that corrected, I will let you guys know and show you how that is. Those are my two major things for my finance reports. Do you have any questions on those? Um the the amount that is not supposed to be there in in the uh storm water.

Yes. Um backing that 376 out that's going to affect your total expense line. Correct. It is going to affect my total expense line. But the thing about I don't know how to explain it. Um, when we first got that grant, it was it's not necessarily that we had a budgeted line item for that because it was we use we would the town would use the funds and then we would get reimbursed from it and that line it just shouldn't be there at all. So, it it will be it would be taken out of the budget line and the variance line

and it also come out of the uh the revenue line. It would not come out of the revenue line. Yes, it will because it's up there under under that one. Yes, it'll come out of both lines. I'm sorry. But I have one line highlighted, not the other. Sorry.

So, um on our on my actual report, you'll notice that we have submitted our audit. Um the LGC has reviewed our audit and come back with two items. The first item that come back was our fund balance available as an expenditure to a percentage of expenditures. If you'll remember last year, we had a financial performance indicator um and we had to send them a a statement back as to why it was that way. And we did that because last year it was at 27.92%. And this year it is at 24.23%. And in that I found in our report I can basically tell you that um our general fund I'm sorry our fund balance has been going down. We've been using that um the bud to um balance our budget and that's one of the indicators that we need to we one of the reasons why that is there. Um, we also had some expenditures where we were waiting on um reimbursements from the part of grant um the $450,000 there which that that plays a part in that. So whenever the if the LGC comes back and asks us to respond back to that, we'll have we'll cover that. Then the second item that come up on our audit is that the bond for the finance for the finance officer kind of explained that there and Peter sent out an email to explain a little bit of that as well.

So it will be noted in the in the report but it won't be in our actual audit. So it it's just noted that that was there the statutory um I don't remember the word they use my compliance. And I want to let you know that um all W2s and 1099s were sent out on time. Um and then our sales and use tax update is there that we're still sitting at about 3.4% there as do you have any questions? any questions for it?

If you're looking through your reports that I've printed and I've sent you an email as well, if you're looking through there and you have any questions, please feel free to contact me. Okay, ma'am. Thank you so much. Thank you. We appreciate you. At this time, active living award.

Good evening, Mayor Pert and board members. Um so this month we ended up because of the poor weather not having a quorum for the parks and advisory board meeting. Um so we gave them a brief uh update and then the next uh meeting will be on March 4th. Um there is anou memorandum of understanding for the 8th street ballpark that is being worked on. Um and there the grant projects are progressing um which uh Joe will come up and elaborate on um in a moment. Um and then some recent events uh the libraries with heart um that kicked off last Friday and um uh Mayor Pertam Muhammad as well as alder women Pat and Sledge and Pam Stanley were all there. Um and uh it was a really good kickoff. Uh and then yesterday, yes, yesterday was Monday. Yesterday um we received the machine for the library. So that is now um set up as well. Um and uh there was uh librarian McCra had an event yesterday for Black History Month um that uh was very well attended. I I arrived to help set up the machine as everybody was leaving. Um but uh yes, and Joe, I guess if you want to give your updates and then we'll any questions?

And I I wanted to briefly mention to the board a quick update on the projects. Um I think at the last board meeting I mentioned that we are in the due diligence phase on our trail grant and our blueway grant. Uh we have received um uh comments from US Fish and Wildlife and they've identified that there are no adverse impacts from our project. Uh we've received comments from the state historic preservation office and they have indicated that there are no impacts on cultural resources. We did have a suggestion from uh the Army Corps of Engineers to seek a um uh wetland delineation uh for some areas that are along Grants Creek that will be part of uh the per medium process through the uh the flood plane. the administrator. Uh we got a determination from uh NC Parks that we can uh pay for those services for the wetland delineation from the grant budget. And so that will be at no cost to the taxpayers of the town residents, town taxpayers. Uh so we proceeded with that. We've issued a purchase order uh to an environmental engineer who will document the wetlands for us. So, all of those things are proceeding. Um I wanted to also uh provide and introduce something to the board tonight uh as that relates to Town Park. Um when we were doing the initial value in engineering on Town Park, there were a couple things we left out. Uh, one of those was we had planned to have some sculptural elements in the park and some

artwork and we were not able to do that within the budget that we ended up with and so they were not included in the plan. Um, a few weeks ago, uh, Dr. Tommy Carlton approached me, gave me a call, and said, "I'm really interested in doing something to sort of augment the water feature that his family had contributed funds to sponsor." And he didn't name give me a price or anything like that. He just said, "Think about it, and I'm interested in something that uh would perhaps be interesting to children that might be interactive, some sort of a small play structure or something. I don't have any real ideas. You think about it. Let me know what you think. And so I spent some time thinking about that. And I've been looking in cataloges for various things that might fit in. Really couldn't find anything. Um, a few days ago I reached out to a friend of mine, a woman by the name of Colleen Daniel, who is a horiculturist and designer and a general contractor, and she does children's playgrounds and has done the one that is St. John's Lutheran Church, the child development center that's over there. So, she has experience with that. She also has a long resume of other projects that she has done in Charlotte and Mark Hill and other places around and she uh mentioned that she had an opportunity. She was actually buying a truck in High Point and said I can meet you in Spencer on Saturday and so we met together and looked at the site and she has given me several ideas. Um, fast forwarding just a bit, uh, there is a Robertson Foundation, uh, Robertson Family Foundation grant cycle, uh, where applications are due on February 20th. I followed up with my conversation with

Dr. Carlton and today he confirmed that he is willing to give $10,000 toward this project. I also followed up with uh Jason Waler of the Robertson Foundation and asked if they would be willing to consider a type of matching grant uh for a children's interactive playground. He said of course and so what I would like to make you aware of and perhaps receive uh some level of consensus from you is a permission for me to apply for this grant on February February 20th. Uh at this moment, um I'm looking at a budget of a a project that would be about $25,000. Uh 10,000 of it coming from uh Dr. Carlton and his wife Mimi and then perhaps a grant from the Robertson Foundation. There is no design for this. We've been looking at pictures, looking at ideas. We would do a public input uh session. We would address uh things like accessessibility for people of various abilities. We would look at potentially a um pollinator garden, some sort of interact interactive play, uh decorative features, maybe picnic. We don't know. We is this is moving so quickly that we don't have the plan at this point. But the what I'm trying to spit out is that this process will involve public input. It will involve the parks and recreation advisory board. It will involve the board of all. And so if if uh this is something that you're willing to uh give the staff some leeway, a little permission, a little grace, we could pursue this and perhaps add something to the park that would really uh really improve it, I think. So I'd be happy to answer any questions about it.

Do we need a formal vote on that? I think we do. Yeah. I said this time. Yeah. Do you want to make the motion, Erin, or do you want me to do it? You go right ahead. I move to authorize our special U projects manager the ability to pursue grants for um an um for an enhancement to our park centered toward childhood activities.

Write that down. Motion's been made by all the women sewing sledge and second by all the woman moody. So at this time um those that are in favor unanimous again. I'm always in favor of appreciate your support and again this this is a testament to the generosity of this community and people that are interested in helping Spencer succeed. And this is something that I think we we'll be really proud of if we can put it all together. Thank you. Thanks again. Thank you. Go Joe. Should make a t-shirt that says that. Town manager report. Mr. Frenzies.

Thank you very much, Mayor Pro Tim and members of the board. So, uh, two things I want to mention tonight. Uh the first is that we are preparing to uh launch our second year of our community engagement opportunities, our talk of the town and neighborhood walks um that we started last year and we alternate months with them in the in the spring and the fall u and roughly between February and November with a break in the summer. Uh our plan is to host our next talk of the town event a week from tonight. Uh that would be February 17th and and focus on police and code enforcement and uh and then in March would be our first neighborhood walk of the year and we've been working with our friends at the North Carolina Transportation Museum to host it there actually and do a historic walk around the Spencer Shops historic site. So those are our initial plans and we're going to get our u publicity going around that uh in the next day. Uh but we wanted to announce that tonight. And um then the other thing I wanted to mention and we've talked a little bit tonight about all the all the efforts uh in the last month or so from our staff and you know it it has been a wild uh a wild three plus weeks but because we had we had of course two weather events. But before that, we had an event that was kind of like a weather event in that it was coming and you really couldn't do a whole lot about it other than be ready and and deal with it as best you can. and our team uh stepped up to the plate u to welcome to to to welcome the uh the walk for peace participants that were here in February, I'm sorry, in January uh in a way that provided safety to them

as they as they spent time here and and interacted with people at the North Carolina Transportation Museum. certainly appreciate, you know, it was just the beginning of what would be several weeks of many extra hours, long hours. Um, and so that's certainly not uh unnoticed and and certainly appreciated. And and what really was special about it was all the teamwork among all the various organizations. It really was a multi- agency effort, you know, within the county that started many days in advance. uh a lot of coordination and a lot of effort went into trying to uh get this thing as well coordinated as we could even though it really there were a lot of factors that were hard to pinpoint or control. We just had to be ready and but and certainly thank our neighbors at the North Carolina Transportation Museum for opening their site on a day that would have been a typical day of operations. Uh it it kind of took over the site. it took over the town. Uh we know it was a lot, but we also hope it was meaningful for folks for this sort of opportunity and u but again certainly want to thank our staff for the role they played in uh making it possible.

Thank you, Mr. Francis. Um board, do you have any questions at this time, please? Thank you, sir. All right. At this time, we're going to go into requests and comments by the board. So, um, start with you, honor the woman, Moody.

Thank you. Well, once again, I just want to wish everyone a very happy Black History Month. Um, we are a unique and special community here, and I always love opportunities to um, celebrate our diversity because everyone brings so much to the table. and Spencer. Um I also just wanted to point out that um early voting is now open in Rowan County and we will hope that um everyone who is able will cast their votes by election day which is March 3rd for our primary elections. And other than that I just hope everyone has a good evening is doing well and thanks so much to all the efforts from everyone involved in everything. 2026 has been very exciting so far.

Thank you. I don't want and all the woman's family.

Okay. Um I I want to take this moment just to thank everyone who was involved in the tumultous uh winter that we had. Um, I want to thank those who were non-essential, who went above and beyond to make sure that we were taken care of like male parents. I think that's what I um all those non-essential people. I want to thank them. I want to say happy uh black history month and to echo all the woman. We are very diverse and we do come together to make such an effective community that I am so proud to be of. Um but happy Valentine's Day to you in the near future. Continue to share warmth as well as love.

Thank you ma'am. Okay woman slates.

Oh it's my turn. Um, I too appreciate all all the work that u and the flexibility of our staff and and our um people of Spencer with the with the uh welcoming of the monks for the walk of peace. I have continued to follow them as they go along their way uh looking at their live stream. So, I'm spending a lot of time with my lover, as he calls it, which is my cell phone, and I don't always uh turn it off an hour before I go to bed, and I don't always wait an hour after I get up to turn it back on because that's when they're doing things. But, um, I I was proud of the way that it was done here. And I have thank the transportation museum. I've had an opportunity to see some of those folks and and it was indeed um you know an act of um selflessness that they opened their facility to this group. Um, I believe I might be mistaken, but I believe the monks actually crossed the walking bridge down at the Yaden River because they went um they they went up through instead of walking straight up by the uh park

that uh is over on the Davidson County side, they went behind the park and came out on Sour um I think it's Sour Road uh near the near the campground because there was somebody who was disappointed they didn't see them come by the the park area. So, I think they actually walked the um the the walking bridge, the Wilcox Bridge. Um I wanted to say thank you too for all those people who came out um on Friday. First of all to the to the library um the library event. Uh the heart health is really important and something we all need to be aware of. And then secondly to those who came for the uh grand opening and ribbon cutting at the Mexic Mexicassa Latin market. And if you haven't had a chance to go there um they have some really interesting things. They have uh some things you won't find in other markets um in this area. And they have the biggest selection of spices I think I've seen anywhere.

Yeah. So um you know take a look at what they have. I have purchased some of their hot food there as well and it's it's been good. It's been delicious. So, take a look at that market. It's um wonderful to have them there. And uh tomorrow I will be at the central line for um council for their first meeting of the year where we will caucus um is by county to talk about who's what what we feel like we need to do in in each area. Um, and then there's something else. What else am I doing? Let me see. I can't remember. I've got I can believe

stuff on my calendar. But anyway, but thank you all for the opportunity to uh be a representative for the town of Spencer where I am able to participate on u historic preservation. I've attended the historic preservation meeting. So, so I'm I'm trying to take my assignments to heart and and be there. Thank you. Oh, and um table 10 table 10 was excellent last night. If you didn't have a chance to do that, put it on your calendar for the second second Monday of each month down at uh Fleming Street.

That's all. Thank God.

Okay. Um I just wanted to mention that I'm very proud of the of the diversity in our town and I'm thrilled that the library is working with Essie Fox School in Black History Month. That's something that I tried to do when I was teaching uh at North Middle and we worked through all kinds of things and I and I made sure my students remembered that Black History Month was not just for black students. it was for all students. It's an important part of our history. So, I'm real pleased about that. And I was glad to see that table 10, you know, prepared a supper uh for that. And I'm really proud to see Miss Annie Bates here tonight because

we have living black history right here in Spencer. Annie and I go back Lord, how many years, Annie? 50. Don't do that.

Oh, it's Well, she she runs circles around me, but I had the pleasure of teaching all of her children, most of her grandchildren, and I'm telling you one thing, I have never met a bait that I didn't love. And I'll never forget one time I called Miss Annie for a parent conference to come over because one of her uh children or grandchildren was acting up just a little bit just trying to entertain the class and quite frankly he was entertaining. And not only did Annie come, the whole family came. Boy, and I never had a problem with uh that young man after that. And he has he says that was a turning point in his life. And he is now be very successful as are all the Bates. But the Bates are a beloved comm family in this community and I am so glad that you are still here in Spencer.

Thank you. Thank you. I deserve. Let's give her a round of applause. And you will see her at the polls cuz she is one of our judges and she's been there ever since I started voting, I guess. So, it's a long time. You're too. Yeah. Yeah. Well, with that being said, I'm good.

Okay. All right. So you boy, you pretty much summed it up. You know, yes, the diversity is great. You know, it is um Black History Month and we do have Black History present in the room. Absolutely. And um I'm going to say again, thank you for all the hard work and dedication of public works because I I I I was out in the snow a little bit myself and I I seen Mr. Taylor on a Sunday, some of his staff, and I was like, "Hey, y'all? Y'all need something to eat? Y'all good? So, we appreciate all the hard work and dedication and the updates as well, Mr. Frankies, in reference to the the work that's being done because, you know, I was thinking, okay, well, I might have to wait until Monday to get out here, but some of the roads were clear. We're able to move around, you know, safely. But um I also want to say um I appreciate all the hard work and dedication of all the staff of the town and the residents that are present here and those that are watching. Um, one thing I do want to say is that, you know, right here in this town of Spencer and around Rowan County, make sure that you secure your belongings as far as locking your car doors in the evenings, locking your house doors as well because I I understand, you know, there there are some people that not are too nice. But I just wanted to make sure I reiterate that the importance of making sure that you secure your belongings and valuables. And with that being said, I thoroughly enjoyed the heart, you know, awareness um at the library this past week. And you know, it's amazing that we're going to have, you know, all these stations, you know, around the Rowan County area, but especially right here in our very own Spencer Library. So, you know, health is wealth and it's very important that we

try to put a damper on the silent killer, you know, with this, you know, heart health and heart health awareness because it's very important. And with that being said, you know, again, I'm excited about the new Mexicasa market that we have right here in the plaza. hope that they thrive and do well here. And hopefully on February 17th, we have some residents present for the talk of the town and people get involved. Would love to see more residents here present at the meetings and looking online. And if you do have concerns and you're not available to be present at the meeting, you can always send emails and we will respond accordingly to those. With that being said, is there a need for us to go into executive session this evening?

Seeing none. We call for a motion to make a motion to Is there a second? Second. It has been moved and properly second. Is there Is there a vote of yes? Eyes have it. Looks unanimous. This meetings have been adjourned.