Board of Aldermen - Regular Meeting

like to call the April 1st, no joke, uh meeting of the uh board of alderman of North Thompson Beach to order. Um I would like for mayor prom honey. All right, if you stand please.

I'm sorry. And also remember to silence your phone since I didn't bless this town and may it remain a beautiful and friendly place to live. We pray that this board makes fair and informed decisions this morning. We also pray that our police officers, firefighters, and members of our armed services here and around the world remain safe as they risk so much for our security. We also pray that our town be spared the ravages of hurricanes and other natural disasters and that everyone associated with the town remains safe and secure. Amen. Amen. Laura, would you lead us to the pledge, please?

I aliance 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. Thank you. So, I'd like to call for an approval of the agenda. Um, with one notation, uh, Laura, we talked about this add under continuing business, the beach grass. Correct. I'll make a motion to approve the agenda with the addition of the beach grass um, contract in continuing business. Do I hear a second? Second. All in favor? I

I Thank you. All right, moving on. Manager's report. Alice, thank you, mayor. Good morning, everyone.

Morning. Uh first we'll start on beach operations potential uh tropical cyclone number eight, the FEMA storm that we've been working through. Uh reported at the March Board of Alderman meeting that PTC8 sand work had been completed and wrapped up which was on February 18th. In total 61,000 cubic yards of sand had been placed as part of this emergency burn project. We discussed the next phase of this project being the dune plantings that is expected to take place this spring. Um that is what engineer Fran Wei was talking about um at the last meeting as well. So that's what has just now been added so that the board can consider the contract award ordinance at this meeting. Uh the proposal that was submitted um it concludes includes planning 182,250 sea oats um and that total cost is $353,565 and as I mentioned is included with contract award ordinance 2026-26.48 which has been prepared for your consideration in today's meeting under continuing business. I also reported in March that FEMA has approved the project and obligated the funds which is great news. So our total eligible amount is $4,330,561. Engineer Fran Wei discussed the opportunity for the board to consider a small future project in the next environmental window. We will be submitting an extension request to uh December 31st, 2026 to FEMA. Um and that will allow the board to consider a small 13,376 cubic yard uh project um in the future and this will be submitted by the end of this week. Beach Vitex, it's anticipated the contractor treating Beach Vitex will start treatments again. Uh we're anticipating the end of April. It hasn't

been confirmed, but that's what we're anticipating at this point. The exact date will depend on weather and leaf of the plants as well. We'll be posting an announcement I anticipate next week. We have a list of locations that we will be reviewing to confirm easements before they start. Wonder why. Yes. Yes. That was a little bit of a challenge last go around. So, we want to make sure that we're

You might want to let the the new board members understand why we found that humorous in terms of what happened last time with Bitex. They um they jumped ahead with a schedule um with a map that didn't that had the dashboard surveys, the original dashboard surveys, but not necessarily the list that they had um that had the pre-check on it for where we had the easement secured. So 2026 27 budget calendar. Uh we have our next scheduled budget meeting April 8th and April 9th. Uh Mr. Doug Carter with the Carter and Associates is scheduled to be in attendance at these meetings. Vegetative debris pickup. April 20th is the next scheduled day for pickup. Please place all your vegetation in the rightway um before April 20th if possible. Um you can check our website out for all the details on what you can and cannot place by the roadside memorial service. There will be a uh service for Gan Beasley on Saturday, April 11th, 2026 at 10:00 a.m. on the lawn at the Karen Beasley Sea Turtle Rescue and Rehabilitation Center. and they will also host an open house uh with a reception to follow until 1:00 p.m. If anyone from the board plans on attending, you can uh let us let me know and um we will pass that information along. That concludes my report.

Lexi, do we have anybody signed up to speak? I do not have any signups. Okay. And then uh just for the purposes of today, Larry, you want to stand up? Larry Fisen is the uh wrong Larry. Well, the real Larry stand up. Um we have uh engaged him as the interim town manager that will be here during the transition with um with Alice as she moves on to uh her new opportunity. So, uh welcome. He started Monday, so he's been on board since then. And uh we are going we are continuing to look for a permanent one. And Larry has assumed he is not interested in the permanent one. So, but we expect you to stay at least during the inter room, Larry. So, welcome. Do you want to say anything or

Happy to be here. It's been delightful thus far and uh I expect that to continue getting to know the staff and some of the processes and procedures and you know the environment and the culture of the the organization and the community and uh I'm just really glad to be here. Thank you. All right, let's move on to um item 7A, Coastal Engineering Monthly Report, Fran.

Hello, Mayor. Does Can everyone hear me? Yes, sir.

Okay, great. as uh thank you for the introduction and uh I will be there I will be in person at the next meeting. I do want to take a look at the beach uh prior to the planting effort and we'll just get into uh my uh the monthly update and I will pull share my screen. Sorry about that. So, here we are, April 2026. Uh, here's the just an overview of the shoreline, the North Topsel Beach shoreline. We we've got phase one up near New River Inlet down to phase five near the Surf City town limit. As you can see, the town has, you know, the town is up actively working on all um all the shoreline. Uh there are obvious some areas that have a little bit of higher erosion rates particularly near New River inlet that you know obviously needs you know a little more attention but it also gets more attention but you know all the all the phases you know need work and we are going to work on them and I will go through all these projects here individually and uh this is the the core navigation uh project that they usually every other year they put anywhere between 70,000 or you know 70,000 and 150,000 cubic yards material on the beach on the north end. uh there the the the quarterly shallow draft inlet meeting will be uh coming up here this spring and the announcement will be out for this and I will update the board probably in the next meeting about where their plans are and what they plan to do. This project will you know occur this coming up uh uh winter and so we

we'll stay tuned for that. The Army Corps of Engineers also kind of just goes out there and looks at the New River inlet uh condition analysis quarterly. I can also give you an update on that. Uh there there hasn't been anything particularly, you know, significant in terms of the the the quarter the New River inlet Channel surveys and then sometimes they do bring the Murden in to do that, but that material is usually just uh well not the Murdan but the merit the side caster. Uh, so that really doesn't help the beach much at all. I'm sorry, just and maybe I missed this. Are you saying they are doing a dredging project this in the next 12 months?

Yeah, it it should happen about Yes, it should happen in the spring of 2027 and then we will get details. they they will issue the the uh the bid package this around in around July July to August and I mean with the shutdown maybe it will be August but it will have the they'll have you know the seven different projects up and down the coast. It's all kind of inlet and inter coastal waterway related dredging that the core does pretty much every other year and actually some areas they they do it every single year. Uh and then with that shallow draft inlet, they they do rely a little bit on that shallow the state shallow draft inlet funding to help them to help the core because the core, you know, can be underfunded in some of that, but not recently. So hopefully we get a good healthy project coming up here. Here's the uh the phase five nourishment. This has been a few years ago, but the the beach is holding up well. Uh the dune has established. Uh these are some more recent photos. Uh those are just some construction photos from, you know, several a few years ago. Here's the phase four. This is at State Grant. Uh this this beach also, you know, still looking really well. Here's here's an image down here of the beach. And just just recently, uh you can see kind of the the the dune planting. You can kind of tell what is has been planted by, you know, the vegetation crew because it is al it's usually in a little more the the the lines are kind of uh it looks more like crop planting which is you know just the way it is and it is growing in well though

here's the disposal area one Fran if there were areas where the previous plantings didn't take well has anyone surveyed that for the new plantings things.

We we uh we could talk with uh yeah, we could talk with uh uh you know, coastal transplants because they can do some spotty stuff here or there and usually and even a lot of times when they're doing their beach vitex uh inspections, they could also probably call out little bare spots or things like that. And so, you know, yeah, they they could definitely try to wrap that in where they say, "Okay, there's no beach vitex here, but you know, this there's a this area that is a little bare that could probably take some some, you know, that that could take some some sea vegetations." So, yeah, I I will uh I will I will discuss that with coastal transplant.

Okay. And when they do plant the seagrasses, are there any like I mean guarantees that I mean do we get any warranty that the plants are going to live or No,

no, no. It's it's more it the the survival rate is usually maybe around 80%. So no, there is there's definitely kind of a mortality rate. the the coastal transplants usually does go out and put a little bit of nitrogen out there and then even they they even water it a little bit and that helps as well. But you I don't know if you recall but a few years ago they need to work with anasa to get access to come to those water meters. It was it as soon as that the town came through and helped coastal transplants get that access, it did work a lot better. But uh yeah, no, there it's not, you know, 100% success rate.

Okay. All right. Thank you. Good question.

Here's that disposal area 143. Uh this is at the beneficial reuse of that disposal area. So when they take that material out, there will be, you know, additional capacity for putting dredge material that's not beach compatible in there. Over the years there has been a mix mostly of compatible and incompatible and that is you know another reason why the agencies are you know just really scrutinizing this project even though it is a good project and it's been suggested for you know over 15 years as as a good alternative to to uh getting beach sand on the beach. Uh it is, you know, somewhere between, you know, two and two and a half million cubic yards materials. That that would be the largest nourishment on North Topsel Beach ever. Uh you know, funding wise, that could that can be we we can kind of uh we we are flexible. We could downsize that a little bit if we run into funding limitations, but obviously I do think it is, you know, good to really try to go for that max and then, you know, see what comes out. there's still, you know, the the uh the mayor and the board are working on the funding research and coordination with Alice and town manager. Uh and then obviously TI Coastal is working with this on the easement coordination and this this kind of continues. Uh and we might get an update from the BISAC here later. This is PTC8 potential tropical cyclone 8 that uh Al's already mentioned. U it it did take a while to get this one through. It does seem like FEMA is in general a little more. They they they feel like it's it's a little more they definitely scrutinized our, you know, submitts a lot more. We did have to, you know, do more requests for additional information. It did all work out. Obviously, uh we do

we do have that material and we did get that that material, you know, 61,000 cubic yards of material on the beach. Included in that 60,000 was that 8,000 we did in the critical dune restoration last year where we did have a few gaps that we needed to be filled because we did not want, you know, high tide events, king tide, water level events, you know, flooding New River Inlet Road and that have those those dunes have held up pretty well. And then obviously the other 53,000 that was placed in January and February this uh you know just just a couple months ago. Uh and then I have 12,000 here but Als is correct. It's it's 13,300 cubic yards of additional material. And we only found out about that uh let me see here uh the end of February where the FEMA officially obligated it and unfortunately FEMA is uh is non-essential and they are under the Department of Homeland Security. So they have kind of been on a skeleton crew here in the processing. Uh, but it does seem like hopefully that is is easing up and and the processing will kind of return.

Uh, before you leave that real quick, so Wooten is still under contract for that additional amount, right? So, we don't have to put that back out again. That's that's embedded in their contract, correct? Uh, we we had that isn't that's the contract has the ability. It it's a it's yes that's a a indefinite quantities contract where basically the engineer obvious we have a set amount will have to approve that.

Yes. the board will have to and then it's also a an interesting thing because FEMA will say you can put you know 73,000 cubic yards of material on the beach and we put when it's more like and then more like 74,000 and we put 61,000 and so you know FEMA doesn't they they give us we have an estimated cost but going over that cost is is not a is it's not a huge deal for FEMA but we also are working for you know the state uh NCM the emergency management group and they are much more into that that that hard debt that hard number of the estimated cost so we've had to deal with that before we can deal with it FEMA is you know a little more flexible on that but yes we we do have that uh that we can just extend that contract but obviously we need board approval and we'll we will have to coordinate and I've already let SD No,

that comes back to the board. The the unit rate per cubic yard is captured in the current contract. Um, but they'll have to come back with a proposal that reflects that and then the board would have to consider that for approval. And thank you. Yes.

And just here's an overview of the of the project and uh you know down pretty much as soon as you get onto the island. Not quite, but there there were no structures down there, but as soon as the structures the beachfront structures started, we started and we got up all the way to the the Topsel Reef uh condos. There were a few spots and and I know Alice and this is this is this is kind of what it looks like. And these are this this place these will get really good uh really good candidates for for vegetation planting. Really try to establish that vegetation. This was, as I spoke with Alice before, this is not my call. And this is the the KMA wildlife resources uh uh commission and US Fish and Wildlife Service. And this is FEMA funded. Down here is Goldsboro and this we did not put sand on here. And as you can see that if there's if the dune face the dune vegetation is healthy, we are not allowed to bury that dune vegetation sand. This is and this is not our call. This is the regulatory agency's call. They said we could not put sand here. Uh we work with them and and the the the dune does look good. It could be higher though and I agree and you know Alice, we all agree this could be higher. It's just really difficult to try to make a dune higher that has so much you know significant vegetation on it. Uh I I'm not really sure what we can and then obviously we still need the blessing of the agencies to do anything like that and we do not have the blessing of the agencies to do that. Uh so there were a couple se there was two sections of beach that that this you know and that on the other hand that is good that this dune is in good shape. There's no scarping and there's lots of established

vegetation. Here are some other issue. Uh just some photos. The dozer operators did really well working around the the accesses and the decks and especially up here near Porpus Place. And then obviously you can see right here there I mean there's a little bit of scarping already up there. We knew that was going to happen and uh the beach is really narrow up there. We are going to try to plant some of this area but but you know the the area kind of from the St. Reges north is going to be more difficult to establish vegetation a significant amount of vegetation and then that's why I will be up there you know uh in a couple weeks before the the planting and really look at it with the just to get an idea of the pre-RO planting conditions. Uh here's kind of just an overview. Uh the new river inlet management master plan EIS uh the the core obviously the core contacted the town uh you know and they have some reservations about you know how slowly the project's been going and I've been trying to get updates from D cordy and what I heard from Dial Cordy and then that I got an email from Dial Cord and then a day later we got that the letter from the Army Corps of Engineers that and the the The email I got from Donald Cordy did not really agree with the email that we got from the core. Uh, and that that is something the town is going to follow up on. The town does not the the core actively said, "We don't want Fran or your coastal engineer in in these discussions. They really want to talk directly with you." Uh I would love to be in that if you want but uh and I think I could help but they you know

specifically requested me not be in it. Uh PTC8 you know that is completed except for that you know that 13,000 that we are probably we will do plan on doing for next season and then the planting effort obviously will happen here probably late May possibly a little bit into June. uh DA 143 we kind of we are going into that's still you know ongoing and that is kind of you know the next you know huge nourishment event that will really stabilize the North Topsel Beach shoreline. Uh and then we already did the discuss the critical dune restoration a year ago and then the state grant nourishment and then we'll just continue to work with the the North Topsel Beach staff regarding kind of the funing funding accounting like reimbursement but a lot of the the FEMA and NCM projects you know they require a a lot of closeout forms and things and so I'm working with the the town on that and then we're just you know pering coordinating on all the projects as necessary. And that is my update.

Just real quick on the EIS thing, um we've got a call on the ninth with the Army Corps that uh yes, you myself and Connie will be participate. Now, we don't have a quorum that way. We'll be participating with them um to try to find out what's going on on this because it kind of came out of the blue from the Army Corps. Um and also, we've been funding D cordi for a long time. So, I don't know what the gap is there. Do you want to comment on that?

Yeah, it's scheduled for it's been confirmed um as of this morning for uh April 9th, which is one of our scheduled budget workshop days, but we'll have to um end our pause. Either the workshop can continue without um without us present or it can be cut off at for three o'clock for that meeting. And we anticipate it'll be a two-hour meeting. And I I would advise that um Fran participate. I agree. You'll make yourself available, right? Uh of course. Yes, I can. And I do think I would help. And I don't know why Emily said not to include me.

No, Brandon, we want you there. I mean, you've done a terrific job for us and it makes sense for you to be there. You have the background. Y

any other questions for Fran before he signs off? Thank you, Fran. All right. Um, next thing is going to be u under the consent agenda. Do I hear a motion to approve the consent agenda? So move. Do I hear a second? Second. All right. Before we vote on this, I have some questions for staff that are here. Um, anybody else does as well, but I'd like to start with Wayne and then anybody else that needs all the rest of the staff is here for whatever questions we have.

Okay. So just point of order, are we pulling this the department reports off of the agenda? No. Or we decided this two meetings ago that the way discussion where it's a discussion around something in the consent agenda. We approved we agreed on two two meetings ago. Thank you. Yeah. It's no different than how we've done in the past where someone I just want to make sure we're doing the right thing and then we're just doing discussion. We approved it two meetings ago. So, so when I'm and just so you know when I'm looking at at the financial report, um, couple of clarifying items on this, which financial report?

His final report that he just filed with us. So, everybody, if you want to pull that up in your packet, you can. So, the one for this meeting?

Yes, for the one the April 1 meeting. So, and just you know, if you can't answer them, if you can get back to us. Okay. Um, when I'm looking at um on page three, fund 30. Okay. Um, when you look, this is going to be about cash and stuff, Wayne, just so you know, for the most part. Okay. When I'm looking at cash report all funds, fund 31's got 30, 805 in it. I went back and looked at that. If you look at the cash at the end of your report, it's 37 million 799431. Um, two questions. I'm assuming the other funds when I looked at where you're invested at, I think those totals, so they must be sitting at other fund balances, not because the cash is everything together and not segregated. Correct. The stuff that we're we're investing with the state just sits in one fund.

Yes. Okay. Yeah. All right. So, um, my question on that though is how much of that is restricted because you you you targeted um the money that's out there for the phase four stuff to go back um which you said is the 2.8 million, right? Right. Right. So, that's money and are we got when are we going to pay that back? Do we know? Um, we still have questioned them as to allowable charges and to my knowledge, uh, DEEQ has not responded. Same issue with them. They haven't done anything and I and I last followed up with them. It was been a a week ago now.

Yeah, it's been about a week. So, you know, saying conveying to them that I really want to get this closed up and the the money back to them so it can get wired and it can be closed out. Um, but they still have not given a response yet on if they're willing to consider those administrative um charges um that we had with GWI for reimbursement. But for our purposes, it's a net net anyway. We only we're only going to give them back what we earned on that stuff, right? The interest you're speaking. Yes. In principle, it is what it is. Yeah. But if we're looking at this, we're not incurring expenses associated with we'll only give them back what we got. No, you're just acrewing more interest as time goes on.

Right. we're getting some and we're going to have to pay them some as long as the interest rates are the same. Yeah. From from the point of view of interest, the the impact of the additional administrative charges would be the amount of um unspent funds. If if we can charge more administrative expenses, obviously that would be So my question is when I'm looking at the 37, you got to take that money out. Yes. Because the 37 is just all the cash in the bank, right? And then what's left is let's call it 34. Okay. How much of that is restricted funds that are not available when Mr. Carter does our forecast? Um, if you don't know, you can you can you can

I would have to go through the the different categories of what we have when you look uh at the cash report, cash balance report at the end. Uh, especially in bank three, you can see the different categories of where a large amount of that money sits. So, I could pull a detail as to what just if you just have for the budget mean that's fine. Yes. What I'm trying to figure out is if and Alice had said we're modeling this thing out and a lot of the stuff is there's cash and there's available cash and they're not necessarily the same thing if we got restrictions. Exactly.

And then just real quick on on both sales tax and accommodation tax, what you said is that we're consistent with what's happened in the past. My rough and dirty on sales tax is um we're going to overcolct by600700,000 if my math is correct. If you could let us know and on accommodation tax I'm looking now I know sales tax is in a rears. Okay. So we've got 1.7 million so far but that's two months because the way they're collected right. Right. So if you assume that's right that puts us at about three four and then you got to add the 600,000 in. Um on top of that uh that that sits in shoreline.

Okay. So if you can for the budget purposes uh we had talked about getting an idea of act what our actual stuff is in those areas because I as I understand the forecast that we've got right now it's just assuming the same revenue stream that we had in last year's budget. Correct. Roughly. Yeah. Correct. Same thing on the accommodation tax. What I'm what I'm looking at is we've built up a pretty good reserve and I think for budget purposes um and you and I talked about at the end of the budget meeting is give us an idea of what this looks like against actuals. Okay. Not just budget amounts. Correct. Okay. Because we've got a tough year of taking a look at property taxes and I just want to make sure that we're consistent in terms of what kind of revenue that we think we're going to have. Sure.

Okay. And then real two other quick ones. Um Enslow County the 150. You show we haven't gotten it yet. Have you talked to them to find out? I'm going to see them on Monday. Um, and I can talk to the chairman about that again. They committed to do it. I know we've already filed for it, right? 150,000. It's a beach money they send us every year. Yeah, it was filed for. Yeah, it's been filed for a while though, right? So, and every time I ask their finance guy about it, he says it's on his desk. So, when I see him on Monday, I'll see if I can move it off their desk. Okay. In the way. Okay. If I just do one more thing and then you can have the floor. And on FEMA, your FEMA numbers don't tie to Deborah Max. So

yeah, there there was um at the time I ran this and started pulling this together for the report, then there were some adjustments that she was still making. So my point to my only question for you is I'm assuming her numbers are the right numbers. Yes. Yeah, they would be more clear because she made some adjustments to hear because the numbers her number's bigger than yours. We like bigger, not smaller. Yeah, I agree. That's money we're owed, by the way, people, not money we're paying. So, Laura, go ahead. While I appreciate your meeting with the county on Monday, I would like you to send an email and CC council to see where our 150 is. And it doesn't work that way. They have to make a budget adjustment.

I know. I understand that. But we're not getting response from other government agencies. Same thing, Alice, with who at the state is not responding to you. You know, I mean, if we have to start ceasing council to get response. I'd like to do that.

Okay. Ju just so we're clear on the 150. We didn't send it in in time to get into their budget. There's they are doing this as a favor to us because I asked them if they could include it. It got missed in their budget. It's not in their budget right now. They have to actually make a budget amendment for us to get this money. So, for us to demand that they do something that is not in their budget is not going to work. Okay. I've got a commitment from the chairman and two of the other board members that we will get the money. They just got to cut us a check. I have no idea why this is getting held up in finance because the the board is telling me it's approved. So, I just want to make sure we don't have it before I race came with those guys.

The issue with the state agency response is this is a very unique response to them. It was because we used uh a contractor uh you know helping with financial services which is a different scenario. We could have closed everything out by now, but myself along with GWI thought it was in the town's best interest to say we don't know until we ask, can we ask to, you know, have this money have some of these funds put in for to use so that we don't have to wire such a large large amount back. Um, so they have and I've seen where they've copied, you know, multiple people within their agency and they have been considering a lot of people have been involved in that process and the review. So, um, it wasn't just one person. It was probably about six people within their agency actively reviewing that.

Just just to give some context, remind us of how long it took them to get back as to whether we had to return the money. Months and months and months, right? Remember we we had we asked them you sent them an email. Do we have to give the money back? Do we have to give interest back? And they sat on that for six months, right? It took some time. Yes. Right. That's just they don't move that fast. So that's a good point about trying to push them. But this is only I don't want to go into a new budget year with some of these things unresolved. So Well, my intention is to get it completely closed out before I walk out the door. Okay. Great. Thank you. Thank you, Al. Y. Um, so you're not leaving. Any other questions for So you're not leaving.

Any other questions? Any other questions for the staff? I've got a question. It may be Wayne. It may be the fire chief. Um, the I want to discuss the uh fire truck and discuss the and we can do it the 8th and 9th. Uh, one, I didn't know if maybe chief wanted to that'll be in the budget. Yeah. I didn't know if he wanted to expound on anything since he wasn't here when we did the budget thing. That's correct. But uh um I don't know that we saw a number for when we do sell the existing fire truck what you know a 30-year-old firet truck that's still in good shape would bring back to put back into the coffers.

I think it's a good question and and the chief can come up and at least tell if he doesn't have the answer he should have it by next week because we we didn't go over the fact that we still have an asset that we will go probably sell on gov deals correct or something. I don't know what the going rate is there. Um, so we just sold the old 2405, which the new one just replaced the engine. Um, and it went for $10,000. So, so not the number we were looking for. It's not a large market for used fire trucks, especially when 30 years of age. Basically, the company's going to buy they're going to refurb it and ship it to another country.

All right. Was there anything else since you up here that you wanted to cover with the Good job for letting the deputy chief step up and uh be there the budget? We appreciate you. Yeah, we can wait until the 8th. That's fine. Okay. Budget the budget. That way this keeps going forward if you want. Okay. Thank you. All right. So, we've got a motion in the second. Uh the only other question I had and I could have brought up at the manager's report was uh still getting hammered for the where's KMA app with the pier behind the fire station. Any idea? That's still pending. The permits are still pending. Okay. All right. All right. Six months. I know. All in favor of approving. I'm sorry. I didn't hear Mark's last comment.

I said I know that that's something I brought up in December when I first sat down. I don't know how long it had been on the list prior to that. So, it's rebuilding that and we agreed to rebuild it, but now we're waiting on the permits to be able to rebuild it. So, we can't really do anything until we Any idea though on camera? We're just at the mercy of Kla. That's KMA. Okay. With season coming on us. Thank you. Thanks. I have a motion in the second. All in favor? I.

All opposed. All right. Continuing business. This is we approved uh going out and hiring the interim and doing all that kind of stuff. This is just crossing tees and dotting eyes. Um Alexi Lexi told me I have to make sure that we get this thing approved uh at the board specifically. So, I would like a motion to approve the town manager, the interim town manager contract and contract authorization. Do I hear a motion? Motion to approve. Second. Second. Second. Any discussion?

Actually, yeah, a couple things. Um, in the document on page one, it's an agreement for employment of interim city manager. That should be corrected to town. Um I I think clearly the intent is there. So I think it should probably be corrected. The attorney can correct me if I'm wrong. Um also um the just to let you know that has already been signed Kip. So if you want to make an if you want to try to amend the contract then we have to we have to basically get rid of the contract resubmit it next time and and do it. If if council tells us these are administrative things they can do that's fine but the contract has been signed because I had the approval of the board and all we're right now and that has been signed off by by council. So go ahead

and but the statutes um especially 168 refer to cities and towns interchangeably and I just figured since our charter refers to us as a town I just wanted to make sure that there wasn't going to be a problem. And the same thing goes for uh I believe there's a mention in there of council town council as opposed to the boulder board of alderman. So I just don't want there to be any sort of issue with the language that's in there. So if there are no issues then I have no problem. I just wanted to make sure I bring those items up when I there are no issues. Thank you sir. Okay. All in favor I all opposed. Thank you. New Sorry. I'm sorry. We have Oh, I'm sorry. We have one

the contract authorization 2026. You want to make a You want to make a motion on this? Yes. What are the numbers I need to say, Lexi? Um, so if you would like, you can make a motion to approve the contract authorization 2026-26.48 as presented by staff. I'm going to make a motion, what Lexi said, to approve the beachgrass uh 2026-26.48. 48 for the planting of the beach grasses. Do I hear a second? Second. All in favor? I'm sorry. Any discussion? We're all in favor of grass. All in favor? All opposed?

New business. Uh, is Deborah going to be available to us? Thank you. That's a good picture. Deborah, Deborah, are you there? I am. Can you hear me? Yeah, we don't have your picture. All we have is your GWI FEMA project update. Okay. I sent in a PowerPoint uh just to go over some key points if that's okay. Yep. Turn.

All right. Yeah. Can you can you turn up your volume a little bit? Um Rick, is it possible for her to put her picture up while she's is that she's got to do that? She can share her power the same way. You want Can you do that? Deborah, can you share your PowerPoint like like Fran does? When I turn it up, I'm getting some feedback. Okay. How about I share my screen

and then if you can share your screen and Ricky can walk you through it since Ricky, what is she what does she need to click to share the screen? Oh, up in the right hand there it is. I'm not sure what you're seeing because what I'm seeing on my computer is very different. Can you see me and uh

No, all we can see is you and us actually. So on that share screen button that should be allow you to share your content. There it is.

Ricky, can you see what she's doing and walk her through it? Okay. If you go up in the right hand corner where it says share. There you go. Perfect. She's got it. Am I echoing to you all or is it just happen? That's good enough. And and

all right. So just just as an opening comment, Deborah, thank you very much. I I almost understand this now. She provided this before. This is a summary of and and Deborah, as you know, is under contract for us to figure out all the money we're owed by FEMA, which is close to $15 million. And so, she's put together this slide presentation for us to explain where we are, what money we're owed, and the processes and stuff uh to get a handle around this. And this is critical to our future planning because right now we are owed, I guess, Deborah, almost $15 million. Correct. Um, and right and so, um, I'm going to turn it over to you, but like I said, I very much appreciate you putting this together for us. Thank you.

Very welcome, Mayor and Board of Alderman. It's a pleasure to be here this morning. Um, and I'll just get right to it. Uh, I'm doing a cursory overview just so highlight some points here. We originally had 23 uh recovery projects that needed closed out. Right now there's only five left. All of Hurricane Matthew and Dorian are closed and we're in and I'm talking specifically about FEMA exclusive of PTC-8, right? Because that just got funded. Uh but we're clo everything's closing out and we're in the reimbursement phase for uh all the way through Dorian Florence. Uh so right here we've got Matthews. Uh they're all closed. Uh Dorian's closed and we're waiting for final payment. Florence, uh CATG and Z are still outstanding. And of course PTC-8. And uh the storm water project. Uh I brought that into this report 12 uh just to give you an update on what's happening with it. Uh the

By the way, real quick, I would encourage anybody that's here or watching this to take a look at this when you get home and spend more time on it because she goes into a lot of detail in terms of the money we've got, uh the money we're owed, uh what's been submitted, and uh it's been quite an effort, Deborah, to to put this together. So, thank you.

You're very welcome. Uh it's been a pleasure assisting the town to recover this vital money that I know you need u so you can continue to do projects. So uh on Florence, that's the largest one outstanding right now. We were able to get uh uh an additional 11.48 million. We uh asked them to reimburse the town. It had not been previously submitted. So the original award was like 13.7 million and they have amended it to the full 21.76 which is a huge relief. We fought hard for months. I've got to thank Allison Fran both because a lot of letters as they mentioned earlier there's a lot of going back and forth with FEMA to justify why uh it costs more and right now when you go out on the website they have increased that authorization to 21.76. Um, uh, Dorian, uh, all the projects were closed and there was just some final payments that needed to come in from them that, uh, one is in and we're tied up in FEMA processing because of the shutdown. PTC-8, you've already heard some stuff today. right now the doom crossover one uh it's a small project but FEMA in January decided to add uh uh requirements that you know you had to meet stuff that just uh got approved and became part of requirements in January and that project was finished last June. We've argued uh all that additional permitting uh would not have been applicable to a project that was completed last June. Uh so now we're just waiting for the scope and cost. Uh they've removed that and we're just waiting for the scope and cost be

approved by the town logging in. So I can't do those parts in the portal. Um, as Alice and Fran previously mentioned, we finally were awarded in February the full amount, the 4.3 million. And, uh, the cat Z, we can't even get that. They gave me an estimate, and that's administrative cost you you can recover based on the work we do and anything brand does respond to RFIs, that kind of thing. Um, but we don't even have a project code for that yet because it's all being held up over that $23,000 project, unfortunately. Um, and as uh, excuse me, as uh, Fran mentioned earlier, we've got some doom plannings and additional sand. So, we do have a request in for an extension to 123126 so you can maximize the entire award they gave you. So, the DRMG project, your storm water project that just went out to bid. Uh the total bid came in $64,124 over uh your entire grant award. You know, it's not significant, but it's more than the grant. And so, uh, I believe, um, the engineer for that particular one, Aduro, is looking at can they alter the specs a little bit or we'll just the town would need to pay that we just need to transfer that over to keep that project on track. So really for council's focus for or even the citizens for that much, we had 23 open projects last October. Uh we closed 18. We only have five outstanding. Um and the maximum reimbursement, as um Mayor Grant mentioned, it's 14.9. You might as well

say $15 million. The largest one is Florence that we fought hard for for you to get reimbursed and 11.48 is tied up in that particular project. And right now there's not anything we can do because FEMA is closed. So, uh, everything is on hold as far as getting money. And I guess the best news

would you go, uh, would Deborah, would you go back to that slide real quick? Um, because you answered this questions for me on our call, but I think we need to get clarity on it. When she says it is closed, that means everything that we have has been submitted to them. It does not mean we have the money back. And the 15 million is both state and federal money. Right. So, she's using FEMA to include state reimbursement and federal reimbursement. Is that correct? That is correct. Yes. That's the total.

That's the one I got confused on because I didn't know what clo closed doesn't mean we've gotten the money back. Closed means we've submitted everything. and and like uh FEMA will lots of times send us an email and say this project's closed. Well, then you're continuing to go on through uh you know it's got to go through payment processing and you know uh the Dorian set there what we closed at last August. We didn't even get the money for that until what December something like that. It takes a long time to get through finance processing um once they get to that phase. But really to put everyone at ease here from my perspective and everything I've looked, I haven't checked again last night. There is nothing pending for the town to respond to other than we got to approve some scoping cost on the small PTC uh the uh marina way doom crossover. Uh but your position to recover all that eligible FEMA funding right now. I I haven't seen anything come back with a challenge. Uh the remaining work pretty much is me administratively reimbursement processing. If something pops up, I I usually email Fran, ask him, "Hey, do we need to do an extension?" Something like that. There is no outstanding eligibility or compliance that I'm aware of right now. So, uh that's the good news. you the the only um downside to what's going on right now is because uh FEMA is closed and we can't get funding.

Thank you. I'll open up it for questions. And I think the reason, and I appreciate you doing this, the reason that I had concerns about laying this out is there's always been confusion about when we do a project, whether it's FEMA or state or whatever, they're always reimbursement projects. And this is showing the lag in terms of those funds. And when Doug Carter's doing the forecast for us, you know, $15 million is a huge number for this town to have hanging out there, but it's also indicative if we have a storm. I think Mark, you've talked about that before. If that hword happens, u our beach engineers got to tell us how much of a reserve we've got. Um because one of the reasons it took us a long time, Deborah, to do this is because we didn't have the cash to do these projects up front, right? And so you have to position yourself to be able to fix the beaches to get the money back. and and that's what we've tried to do, Alice, what over the last four or five years is to make sure we've got that insurance out there that we can actually do these projects after a storm. So, thanks again. And then questions, Mark, anyone?

Interesting. You got it. Exactly. Anything? Thank you, Deborah. That was excellent. And like I said, I I you know, it's a it's a thing of first impression and I did wear you out in our phone call the other day on this, but very much appreciate what you've done on this and we you know, we really like to get the cash in as fast as we can. So, thank you very much. Um, next up is Chris Gibson. Thanks to her.

Good luck. I didn't realize it was on yet. It was red. We better not see that on your bill.

Um, good morning. I I'm going to tell you I'm a little unprepared because I I wasn't actually wasn't expecting to speak today until I looked at the agenda this morning uh and realized I was on it. Um so uh you know our pl our role in everything right now is obviously geared toward the DA 143 project and where we are with that. Um, as everyone knows, I believe it was the last council meeting, we told everyone that we were having some push back from North Carolina Wildlife Resources on using the island because they're managing that. And so the the state land office had uh at that time denied um an easement for use of the land. Um, and I'm going to forget whether it was after the BISAC meeting or the alderman's meeting, but we actually had a a a meeting scheduled with the core of engineers to discuss with them. um the potential of using the core of engineers and their easement um since they already have one in place to do this. Um that that meeting went very very well. Uh the core was actually when they realized what they were getting out of the project and that we weren't actually asking for $40 million from them, but rather trying to give it to them to do the work. Um they uh were very appreciative uh very appreciative of the capacity. They did say point blank they are out of space at the New River Crossroads and have been dodging doing some work in the channel to Jacksonville which services both the shrimp fleet as well as camp lune uh because they don't have any place to put the material. So this is very important for them. Um and internally they are looking at ways if we have to go that route um to accept the the funds. That's their biggest hold up. The state MOA that we thought we could use um that currently stands in place for for giving navigation money to the core uh is

capped at $15 million annually. So we're over and above that. Um so they have to look at doing a sep if we're going to do something with them with the town it would be a separate memorandum of agreement. Um I have been working on a letter to the land office uh as I've communicated with um Larry who's head of the um BISAC committee as well as uh Mayor Grant. I've been trying to write this and I've written it multiple times. Unfortunately, my emotions tend to get in the way and I get halfway through the letter and realize that no, this is not politically correct and I should not hit send. Um, so I've backed off and tried to rewrite it to make sure that we are putting things correct, that we have backing for everything that we are doing in order to uh advise the land office that it is in the best interest of not only the town's beach, the inter coastal waterway, the people of the state of North Carolina, and the state's commitment to the to the core of engineers to provide uh areas for dredg disposal of the Atlantic inter coastal waterway and the associated federal channels. That is an agreement that the state made in 1927 uh and is obligated to do it as long as the inter coastal waterway is operational. So, we're trying to remind them very politely of all of those obligations and the fact and one of the hard facts in this is that wildlife resources uh the agency that has been given management over this um has two two pieces that they look at. They look at endangered species and birds. Uh as an engineer we have to look at um all of the pieces both uh endangered species, birds, fisheries, beaches, human development costs, all of those. What what would alternatives mean to environmental impacts such as going offshore? What

does that mean off of there? We have to put all of those in together. Whereas wildlife resources doesn't necessarily have to look at that whole picture. uh kind of like looking at Mona Lisa's eyes and not looking at her lips and nose and what's in the background. You know, most people don't don't even know what's in the background of the Mona Lisa. But that's what we have to do when we're doing these projects is look at the totality of the situation and come up with the the best plan and we are trying to do that moving forward. Um, one of the things I I got something really interesting and I usually don't do pat on the backs especially to myself and these things, but I got something this morning that I really would like to share with you guys about what we're doing and um what this these type of projects mean on a national level. Uh, as you know, we did something similar with DA 189 and DA 205 in Topsel Beach back in 2012. Uh this morning I got a note from uh the recently retired chief of navigation for the Galveistston District Corps of Engineers. Um hey Chris, hope you're hope you're doing well in NC. Wanted to reach out to you and share something you inspired me to do. Remember that project you coordinated at Topppsel where you pumped out the waterway disposal area in Topppsel Beach. Well, we were able to replicate a similar project here in Galveston where we pumped out an upland site and restored a Gulf inter coastal waterway barrier island in West Galveston Bay. It literally took me 14 years to plan, study, get it funded and finally go to contract, but we completed it last summer and we are set to plant the island next week. You never know how you're going to influence something or someone. That's what we're trying to do and it has become a national thing. South Carolina recently did two islands last year and sent it to the beach the same way to restore um uh uh capacity within their islands. Obviously, this is happening in Texas and has been long planning. This is something on a

national level that has been deemed appropriate and best practice and we very much intend to use that and to uh let the state know uh that that's the case. Chris has also stepped forward and said if he need if we need a letter from him in any way talking about the advantages that Galveastston District got out of doing this project he would be more than willing to write that to the state land office for us. So um again we're we're trying to move forward with this. We're trying to be politically correct. I feel like we've only got one shot to do it right without ticking everybody off and we're trying to do that the best we can. So

okay just a quick comment then I'll open it up. Um, we probably need to when he gets ready to send that, we need to set something up with Lazar to go meet with him because I think anything we do with them, it would be great to have him sign on and he's already committed uh Alice when we talk to him about supporting the project and stuff, too. So, now we're past the the primaries and all that kind of stuff. Um, Alice, you know, you and I will reach out to him. We'll figure out something to get a hold of him and try to set something up with Lazara, but that's going to be time when you're ready to go with that as well. I I think that's an excellent an excellent path to take. I also think that it should be this because we are looking at potentially working with the core. I think it should be something that's on our TISPC agenda when we go to DC in three weeks at least to mention to Congressman Rouseer and also when we're having our meetings that we normally have at at headquarters with the core to keep them posted of there there is this potential of something other than just the surf city beach project that's on the agenda.

All right. I think Mark Thank you for all your hard work, Kip. Trying to do my best. Thank you for the opportunity. Pro Tim, thank you. Pro Tim, thank you very much. You're welcome. Laura, all good. Thanks, Chris.

Larry one. The what everybody needs to know too that this this was this was a a a glitch that came into play after the fact and we we thought we were home free and headed headed in the right direction and everything was going to roll out just like we planned. uh we don't know exactly yet until we know when we can make make a deal uh what it's going to do to us timewise, but it's surely going to slow us down and but because this was this was totally out of the realm of what we expected that we were going to run into. So, I think that that this this wasn't something that we could have known because there's been some changes that took place with wildlife and various other things that have affected it. And and we the reason he's having some problems uh how to how to write the letter without saying what he really wants to say is that uh when wildlife uh when wildlife uh said that they weren't going to approve it, they gave us no reasoning. They gave us no uh

no meetings. They gave us nothing. They just said, I don't know exactly how they said it, but it was real lipid slipp flippant that uh you know, they just weren't going to approve it. And so we're uh that that's where some of our some some of our bugaboos coming from. And we're we're just hoping that core is going to come to bat for us because it'd be a lot easier if they do. Although we really would prefer to go the other route.

Yes. So, we we'll keep everybody informed, but we're we're working on this daily. It's not just something that we talk about every every month when we do this, but it's just I'm again, I'm just completely blown away by how long it takes to get things done when you're involved too. Just just to add to what he said, understand the board is committed to a beach project. We're just trying to figure out how big, how much, okay, and how to get it done.

Two quick things before I step down. one um part of one of the reasons why this was not uh an expected situation in 2016 as part of the overall beach plan there was a supple supplemental EIS done by the town um in order to incorporate DA 143 as a um as a potential borrow area. Now, y'all had some changes in engineers in the fall of 2016, so that was probably not followed through on. And there was not a to my knowledge, I've not been able to find a record of decision by the core. Uh, but the fact that it made it through three years from the public notice that that was filed in 2013 up through a supplemental EIS that was written in 2016. Everybody had a chance to comment on this. Nothing. There was no blowback before. So this was this was the other thing was a separate matter. Uh Miss Laura, I believe you asked about the plant um the guarantees on those. Uh this contract is being run through TI Coastal. We are working directly with uh Coastal Transplants. There is a one-year guarantee of an 80% survival rate. If there is anything uh if there is more than 80% or more than 20% lost, those will be replanted at no cost. Um as far as the spot checks, uh we fly aerial photography once a year. Uh very high resolution. You can see if somebody's wearing sunglasses or not in in in that resolution. uh we can certainly go back very easily and scan over the plantings that have occurred um and look at that and if there are bare spots we can look to incorporate those when we do the other plantings.

Thanks Chris. Yes ma'am. Uh we'll be glad to be glad to do that and take care of it very very thank you very much. Thanks Chris. U moving on Kip this is your item.

Good afternoon. Um, so I'm bringing forward a proposal today to formally establish an auxiliary police function uh within our town's police department. So in a town where so many have uh invested their lives to find a sense of quiet security, public safety isn't just a budget item. It's a primary service we owe to every resident who calls this beach home. Our current uh officers do an incredible job, but we all know that during the summer uh surge and when a storm is brewing out in the Atlantic, our small force is stretched to the max. By enacting uh this code under North Carolina General Statute 168A-282, we aren't uh adding staff. We're creating uh a way for highly trained, certified professionals uh many of whom have already spent decades of service or in service to volunteer their time and expertise protecting their community. Uh so on the our town uh has a unique mandate. Our permanent base is small, but the pressure on our officers during peak season is immense. We're a tourist destination, but also a resilient community that must be prepared for storms. So, this is this isn't more about tickets. It's about ensuring our core service of safety and peace are never compromised by the size of the population or the size of a storm. Next slide, please. So, it's vital that we define our terms. Uh, this proposal doesn't create a new employment position. It creates a volunteer pool under North Carolina law. These auxiliaries report to the chief of police or at this point the interim chief of police um and must maintain the same high professional standards and certification or belet basic law enforcement training as our full-time force.

Um so the difference between this and the reserves that we currently have which I served at before I uh was elected as alderman is reserves are paid uh an auxiliary force would be a volunteer. Next slide please sir. So, operational uh benefits, and you can read these. I I won't read it to you other than to say that during a storm, every bridge or access point must be secured. A single auxiliary officer manning a checkpoint frees up a full-time officer for life-saving rescue or essential patrols. It turns a vulnerable situation into a secure one. Um so obviously it provides boots on the ground uh for whatever the needs may be for the police department. It enhances visibility by increasing um the number of officers, uniformed officers on the island. Uh training and uh you know it strengthens our mutual aid agreement. I think a lot of what we do in response as a police department is respond out to back up Sneeeds Ferry or back up Bonzo County and Sneeds Ferry or uh Surf City in in the event of a major incident. And during my patrol time um I have done both. I have gone out to Sneeeds Ferry to back up On Enslo County on uh domestic or violent domestic situations and responded down to Surf City when they had that double shooting. uh couple summer two summers ago. So, let's look at the businessman's approach to this. Um, we scale up during our peak season. This is a government version of scaling. Adding a full-time officer is a serious investment. Adding auxiliary officers is

an operational efficiency. It's a high return on our investment. It's a public safety tool for North Carolina. We're not looking at paying any salary or any pension. Basically, what we're looking at is providing officers um that are already stretched during the peak season with an opportunity to have more backup, more time off, sick time, whatever it may be, training time. Uh and then a lot of times like special secure or private security can cost anywhere to $30 to $50 an hour. So, and they have no law enforcement authority. Essentially auxiliary officer would have full law enforcement authority um but would be uh would be free. Next slide. So let's talk about managing the real cost and liability um and specific financial concerns. Yes. Uh you have to insure these volunteers. However, we anticipate the cost to cover auxiliary officers under workers comp to be less than the cost of a single set of tires for any of our patrol vehicles. By formalizing this with an ordinance, we aren't creating new risk. We're formalizing uh the mitigation of it. So, this is all just some information uh that basically breaks down what additional cost this would create with the creation of a volunteer police force. And then lastly, let's talk about transparency. As many of you know, I I joined the department and I bring brought to the department 30 years of law enforcement experience. You know, I want to put back on that uniform. I want to serve you, my neighbors. This ordinance would allow me and other dedicated professionals who live on this beach to do exactly that. Next, please. So then uh proposed next

step. I I have created and distributed a motion to adopt the ordinance. Um I do not know if legal counsel has had an opportunity to inspect that or has any recommendations on that. But uh what I would propose is making a motion to adopt the ordinance. uh directing the chief of police and town manager to coordinate with the insurance carrier or uh for necessary policy endorsements and uh implementing the appropriate standard operating procedures or SOPs for recruiting, vetting, and supervision. So, you're asking for a motion to approve? I I'm making that recommendation. I don't know if council's had an opportunity to inspect the the wording or has feedback.

Uh I have not. Um but procedurally, um Mr. Mayor. So, under 16875, I would first start by advising you that you need to recuse yourself because you've got a vested interest in this ordinance's passage. But in that same section, uh an ordinance cannot be finally adopted on the date in which it was introduced, first introduced. Um you this matter was put on the agenda under the rules of procedure rule four subsection A. So as a result of that, in order for it to be put on future agendas, the board needs to by majority vote allow it to do that. So I think that's the first uh vote that the board should consider is whether or not they want to proceed with this issue.

Um if I may, additionally, if we're changing ordinances, we would also have to issue a public notice for a public hearing. um since it's changing ordinances. But I think what he's asking today maybe I can simplify this. If what you're asking is if the consensus is the board to not do this, then it's dead. Yes. Okay. So, we don't need a motion on that. We do it by consensus or we do a motion. Well, again, under the rules, I think you should do a vote uh to whether or not this will be placed on a future agenda.

You can motion to table. You can motion to have it on a future agenda. I mean, there are a bunch of motions. Okay. Do you want to make a motion, Laura? Or Larry, do you want to make a motion? I I think what I heard council say is we could take a vote today. So, if if Alexa can When you say a vote, which in what manner are you voting? A vote to whether we're going to consider this at a future issue on a future agenda. Yes, you can. Absolutely. Okay. So, I would like to ask for a vote and we'll go around for those that are eligible to vote.

And if I may ask council, uh, since I am not currently serving as an officer and you're saying that because I would benefit how to be a volunteer, just out of curiosity. Um, so you have certain uh certifications, certain licenses, correct, that you need to adhere to and this would help you by doing that here as opposed to having to go somewhere else in another town to do that. In which case, you would probably save money at least, you know, from having to go over and drive over to other towns. It's it's a real interest. If you if you disagree, we can ask the ethics commission. Um, but that's my opinion.

Well, I think why don't we do this? Let's just vote as to what she's asked for a vote and I think it's yes, we want this in a future agenda. No, we don't. Right. I don't think we Let's go around and then we can I I I wanted to understand exactly why I'm uh why I would want to recuse myself from it and I don't find it to be a valid reason. I think stop. If the answer is no, Mr. Mayor, I have the floor. Please go ahead. If if there isn't a reasonable recusal, if we're talking about the the saving of mileage for driving to a different jurisdiction, if you can provide a different benefit that I'm going to get from this, I How about this? Um I've done this for a decade

and I've never seen an alderman put forward an ordinance that would directly benefit that alderman. And I've been a police officer for 30 plus years and I don't see what the problem is. Now, if if somebody has a problem with starting a volunteer police force and let's just say another alderman did present it, I would like to hear what the argument is against it other than the fact that I'm presenting it. If the argument is that I'm presenting it and that's why you're against it, then I think you're doing a disservice to our citizens and to our police department and our police officers. We we do not have a permanent chief yet. And I'm not willing to consider this issue until we have a permanent chief and a permanent town manager. You had the floor.

I think we're we're having we're having too much conversation. I vote no. I I don't think we've moved to a vote yet. I I don't believe that that was second consensus right now on I I do have a motion on the floor. I am still waiting for a second of that motion. Do I have a second, Larry? No. No. No. Second to vote on her. I'm sorry. Yeah. It's a mot to which is to vote on it. As a reminder, yes is to go forward this. No is not to go forward with this. So the motion on the floor as of right now is a motion to not consider the item as um on the on our future agenda. That is the current. Is that that Laura? That's what you said. Yes.

So if you vote yes, you're saying don't go forward with it. If you say I, you are affirm you are affirming her motion. Yes. Which is we do not go forward with it. There would be no going forward. All right. Call. Okay. Can we have discussion? Was there a second? Larry seconded. Now second. Are we open for discussion? He called the questions. Point of order. I haven't had a chance to discuss. Um. Yes, you have. You've got to recuse yourself. You just called it by council. I can still discuss my concerns. Is that not correct? If I may. Um, not after the question's been called. Right. So, if you've had before we've had a chance to thoroughly debate it,

I don't think there has to be any debate. We don't want it on the floor. That's what That's what she's saying. If I may, um, with the motion currently on the floor, what you're saying with it being seconded with you having already spoken during his call to question will trump your ability to speak on the item again. I do apologize. All right. So once again, the motion is if you vote I, it is not to consider this in the future. Correct. If you vote in the affirmative, it is to not hear it again. If you vote in the um negative, it is to consider the you are opposed to not hearing it. Okay. Again, my my votes I Okay. I

I I All right, let's move on. Um this will be a quick one. In the budget presentation we had, we were talking about compensation issues and I think Alice, correct me if I'm wrong, the last time we did a compensation study was a number of years ago. Yes. Um, as I understand this from talking to you and to Lexi that this is not something they can do in a week. No. Or it could be months. And I think Larry, the other Larry too said the same thing. These things What's that? Larry.

I'll call you. He wants to be called Lars. All right. So, with that then all I was doing is if there's a consensus for them trying to figure out what this is and how much it's going to cost and present it at the next board meeting. Um because I I don't have any numbers as what it costs or whatever. I didn't know if we could do something quickly, but I think there's enough compensation issues that we're talking about in the budget um as to whether we can include it in this year's budget or not. I think it's something we ought to think about going forward. And I think it's also about structure and stuff like that too. Um, anybody have any Mark any thoughts? So Kip, this is just a discussion. I'm not bringing anything before the board.

So what we're looking at is whether we're bringing an outside firm in to look at our pay scales and look at our staffing and look at what we might want to be paying people and how that compares in the region. That's what we're talking about,

right? And but also I think it would be things like um when I talked to Lars about this, he was talking about a larger police force. I'm gonna use that as an example. Lars, it was 100 people that you were looking at this, but also one of the things was brought up in the budget discussion was about having steps that people could take within the organization that they could get promoted because I think the captain, the chief, I'm going to call him the chief made a good point about having some flexibility and that kind of stuff. I don't have enough. Um I think that's something we need to bring an expert in because we don't have a large staff. But I think clearly we need to figure out a way to create opportunities within the organization. And I would just and and like I said, if they come back and they tell us it's a million dollars, we're not doing it. I just have no idea.

So are we directing staff to see if there is a firm that could do a compensation study? But I I'm looking at this not just around compensation. You're looking at it from a standpoint of structure positions at the town along with compensation. The mean you you've dealt with this. Doesn't that make sense? If you just do a comp study, it doesn't really do anything. The comp study doesn't make any sense. What we need to look at it is how are we structured? How many people do we have in our departments? You know, is there a step in grade increase system there?

Yes. Do we have the ability to have promotions and increases based not just on seniority, but are there places for people to move in the town system? So that when did we do this last Alice? Rough roughly roughly five years ago. And and the firm that we the maps group um do we remember how much that cost us then? Just remember inflation Alice. Well, let me ask this. Was that was done prior to me? So, no, I don't have that. Do we still have that report? Yes. Can that be provided to the board? Sure. Yeah.

So, I'd like to see what was suggested before and see whether we implemented any of that. And then certainly I know the department heads have ideas about you know chief does um you know how things go in police departments in fire departments. I'm also very concerned about the other staff. So um it's townwide is what you're saying. Yes. So if we get a company that may I'd like to see what we did before where we are now and then if we're going to look at a outside study as far as the entire structure of town employees

you know we'd have to see whether this that company or anyone else could give us an estimate of what that might cost us. And and all I'm looking for Laura is get some idea of what we're talking about. It could be everything from this is going to take two years to do it. I'm making that up. This could be a million dollars. It could be whatever. What I'm hoping is they'll come back to the board with options. Okay. So, we're talking we've got discussion approximately 50 employees right now. 47. 47. Okay. So, that would give somebody a number and certainly maybe a firm that deals with towns and cities, right? Okay. So, maybe the North Carolina um

Board of Municipalities has a recommendation. Okay. as to who we might use for this. Yeah, that's fine. I I just want to I'm asking people. So, we're not spending any money yet. We're just directing. This is likely This is likely investigate, right? That's all we're looking for. Mark, Kip, you guys okay with that to figure this thing out, Connie? Okay. So, direct. We're not asking for any direct or not any money or anything. Just we're just asking staff to investigate what it might cost us to do a staffing and compensation study. Okay. Okay. And how does that factor into this budget cycle? We're probably not going to get it in time. That's the problem. Right. That's I thought we could do something quickly.

We we did have money budgeted this time around for this type of study, but the the board determined at that point that they didn't want to go forward with it. So that's why we haven't to this point. So this could be helpful for maybe we could get the study done before next budget cycle. Okay, that's fine. All right. Connie had a comment. Yeah. So we are under that 50 50 employee correct um limit. Um not that it's a limitation but once you get to 50 or more we do have to there are certain caveats that we will have to adhere to um that we typically don't uh such as FMLA. Uh currently the town does offer though its own version of FMLA.

Um so hopefully that wouldn't be too bad of an adjustment um for the town once we surpass 50. But I think that's got to be part of the study too that comes back and says, you know, maybe you're at 45 and you're contracting out. I mean, all I'm saying is I think at this point, and again, I don't want to beat this to death. I think the consensus is let's just figure out what's out there and leave it to you guys to find it out. Yeah. Does that make sense? Is this being directed? No, we just got a consensus for the No, I understand that. It's for town management. Okay. Thank you. Open forum. Do we have anybody else signed up? I did not have any signups for the second one as well. Nobody's got their hand up.

Yeah, I don't see no hands. There are no hands in the audience.

Jeff Meyer, uh, 2224 New River, Inlet Road, unit 138. I'm really confused with Kip's proposal. Is what the board saying is that they do not want to even look into the auxiliary police? That sounds like what you guys are saying. Uh my understanding was to get a vote as to whether we wanted to put it on a future agenda. And by I I'm confused on yays or nays on this, but if you're opposed to a future agenda, I I don't understand that when it seems to me it's something that could be very good for our community and I just don't understand the board saying we don't even want to look into it. That's all I've got. Thank you.

No, we're not going to address it. Um, attorney's report. Nothing. Chris, did you have anything? You dropped your phone. Did you want to make Did you want to come in and comment? Teasing you. Uh, nothing today, Mr. Mayor. Um,

Larry,

real briefly, uh, report on Cobra. There is basically no report on Cobra. We're still in the same basic place we were last time in that the, uh, Murphy's office is still meeting with the Department of Wildlife in order to get the the proper wordage and everything to send it over to to committee so it can get before Congress. So we we're you know once again we're moving like snails. But anyway, so that that's the status. It is still moving forward, but we're waiting for that. Chris made it the beach reourishment speech and so you know where we stand on that. The only other thing I want to to tell you is that on April the 14th, on April the 14th in at Surf City Town Hall, uh, from 1:00 until 3:30, there's going to be a shellfish aquaculture listening session where they're going to talk about the shellfish leases. And we're still we're still trying to get some moratoriums and some stuff on some of the leases. And we we know that the the the moratorum in in New Hover County is is is soon to be lifted and we're trying to get them to give us if nothing else a temporary moratorum until we can get some facts. Uh we are we are having u what's the name of Carrie Allen's outfit?

The Coastal Federation.

Coastal Federation. Thank you. Coastal Federation is they they agreed to do some some surveying for us to let us know how many leases that that we have in in relation to what New Handover has or what Craven different counties have. So that the very least thing that we can do, we feel like that we're getting bombarded with additional leases only because north and south of us they've got moratoriums. We can't get a moratorum. We've been trying our dangness to do that. But so we are and this this is through test pack is tops of shoreline protection commission is the entity that's kind of spearheading this thing. But if you if you do have a chance to attend that we we'd love to load up their conference building uh with as many people as we can because there's nobody except for people in the shellfish business that are pro continuing to increase the number that we have around in this area. So, I just want to make you aware of that. And it's April the 14th, Surf City Town Hall, 1:00 to 3:30. Uh, and anybody can be there. You don't have to sign up to go.

Thank you, Laura.

14th, Larry said. And on the 15th from 5 to 7 p.m. um saved the south end for those of us that really love walking the south end of Topsel Island and you know the history of what's gone on there and Chris like 30 years ago there were 30foot dunes down there. Um but you know we managed to save the south end. There is a celebration Wednesday, April 15th, 5 to7 PM at 804 South Anderson Boulevard. I encourage everybody to show up and $10 suggested donation per person just to help out with costs of having the celebration, but um it's an important thing that we save that South End from a lot of development. So, I would encourage everybody to attend that. Um thank you. Okay, let's let's go to market. First and foremost, thank the public for coming out. I'd like to welcome Larry on to this interim manager. Uh I'd also like to say thank you Lars.

I'd also like to say thank you to Alice. Appreciate all your hard work while you've been here. Thank you very much. And then I just wish everybody a happy Easter and uh thank God for warmer weather. Thank you,

Mr. Myers. Thank you for bringing up exactly what my point was going to be. The only opposition to my proposed legislation was the fact that I hold a conflict of interest, which I'll be asking our attorney to verify with the ethics committee because I don't want to be uh there to be a conflict of interest. I did not see one, which is why I proposed it. The only other reason why it was shot down is because we don't have a current town manager. We don't have a current full-time chief of police. We have a fully able-bodied interim chief back there with years of experience that could have spoken on this, but the board did not choose to hear him. We have two town managers that have decades of experience who could have answered any questions as to whether or not they were concerned about my proposed legislation. Yet, this board chose not to ask them. I was cut out because I was deemed to have a conflict of interest. If you think it is a conflict of interest to serve as a volunteer police officer or a volunteer firefighter in your community, I think we have our priorities a little mixed up. So before we adjourn, I'd like to provide a brief report on the activities that I've been representing the town over the past month. March has been an exceptionally busy and productive period for our board. On March 12th, I joined uh Alderman Barefoot at the Jumpo Transportation Advisory Committee to ensure Topsel North Topsel Beach remains a priority in regional infrastructure uh planning. That same evening, I attended the planning board meeting to stay aligned with our long-term land use goals. On March 17th, I participated in the BISAC meeting followed by the Topsel Island Shoreline Protection Commission meeting on March 26th. As this board knows, coastal resilience and be beach nourishment are the lifeline for our community and these meetings are vital

for coordinating those efforts with our neighboring towns. In addition to these external boards, uh this body has spent significant time in budget workshops and special meetings. We've been working diligently to ensure a physically responsible path forward to for 2026 while sim simultaneously managing the transition and pending departure of our town manager Alice Dariion after her nearly four and a half years of dedicated service to our town. And again, I thank you as we all have. I want to thank my fellow alderman and town staff for their professionalism during this important and administrative period. Looking ahead, I'm going to steal Conniey's thunder here. We have a significant milestone for our beach environment because on May 1st, the uh sea turtle patrols officially begin. Our dedicated volunteers will be out up and down our beaches every morning, rain or shine, to ensure our nesting mothers and their future hatchlings are protected. Uh before those patrols begin, as was as was mentioned by the town manager, we have a very special opportunity to honor the women uh the woman who started it. So on April 11th, again at 10 a.m. the Karen Beasley Turtle Rescue and Rehabilitation Center and Surf City will host a celebration of life for Gan Beasley. Gan was more than a conser conservationist. She was the heart of Topppsel Island's environmental mission for over 50 years. She took her daughter's Karen took her daughter's Karen's dying wish and turned it into a worldrenowned hospital that has saved thousands of sea turtles. Whether you knew her personally or simply enjoyed the beach, I encourage you to join the community on the 11th to honor her incredible legacy. We have a fantastic spring arriving. April 5th, we have Easter Sunday. So, I'm wishing all of our residents a safe holiday weekend. April 11th is the Sledgehammer Beach Run here in North Topsel Beach honoring our

combat veterans. April 25th is the Holly Ridge Bee Festival and Art in the Park in Hamstead. May 1st through the 3rd is the spring uh surf fishing challenge and oceanfest in Surf City. So, it's an honor to serve this community. I look forward to seeing everybody here back at our next session on May 13th.

Now, I have a much shorter comment. Um, I want to welcome Lars and I want to thank Alice for everything you've been doing and continue to do for us. Um, I and I'm happy with the staff and with Wayne um for all their work on the budget. If you did not watch our if you were not here or did not watch our budget session, um, it is online. Please take a look. You can skip through the boring parts. Um and we will have another budget session on the 8th and if it is uh it could continue into the 9th. Um as you know property taxes uh property values have been assessed and they went up in our town nearly 40%. Um I for one and I think I speak for maybe I speak for some of my board fellow board members. I would like to see our tax rate go down about by that percentage so that we could uh not put a burden on our on our residents and our taxpayers. Um and of course the sea turtles turn off your your uh beachfront lights or purchase some beachfront lighting. Um the amber bulbs work really well. We've got a real nice um example in the back on how it all works. And we will see you on May 13th. Thank you.

Let's not forget May 8th is the next budget meeting if people want to attend. April 8th. April 8th. That's what I said. Okay. Sorry. April 8th and 9th. Alice, did you want to add anything? No.

Okay. Um thank you. Thanks everybody for coming. um on the revals that have gone out. I mean, everybody's been hit. Um remember, you can appeal those. Um and from talking to people in the north end, u I think that it's probably something they should do. Those are not fixed. Um and also remember, uh to Conniey's point u we do have to present whether we accept it or not a revenue neutral uh analysis uh which would show how that's handled. Our tax base has gone from 1.7 to 2.4 four mill billion dollars in the last four years. Um up a lot um and so I want to thank everybody for coming and just so we're clear on um while I respect um Alderman Malcolm for some of his comments. I don't think it's appropriate to come up with why other people might be opposed to this. I would have voted against it as well. Um we have a reserve force right there. The police chief has told us he's fully staffed. Um, and so I think that we have to be careful about passing things that that um benefit a a small group of people that may not add value. So with that, motion to adjurnn.

Are we going into close session? I don't anybody got anything for close session? All right. Motion to adjurnn. Do I hear a motion to adjurnn? Motion to adjurnn. I hear a second.