Board of Commissioners - Regular Meeting

agendas on this job. Okay. Thank you.

Congratulations. [clears throat] Okay, I know.

I'll give you all a few more seconds to get adjusted. That's a good problem when we're building out more chairs for our board meeting. So before we begin, before I call the meeting to order, um I would like to have a moment of silence for um a Town of Spring Lake employee who we lost um to due to a car crash, Miss Asia Callaway. She was she served town of Spring Lake for about a year and a half in the water department. Uh she was recently transferred to the front desk as program assistant. She was pursuing a pathway to um work with building and permitting and zoning and planning. Um and she made a dam cheesecake. She was just a joy and a pleasure to be around and I know um the loss is greatly felt by all here and on staff um and especially by another employee uh Chuck that's his sister and so please keep their family lifted up in prayer and if we can just a moment of silence for each Thank you. I'll now call the meeting to order at 6:01 p.m. Um, I do ask that if you have cell phones, please silence your cell phones um and keep all five conversations to the absolute minimum. Um, I would also like to welcome our new [clears throat] board of commissioners. This is the first meeting with our newly installed board, Mayor Pro Tim

Frederrica Sutherland, Commissioner Jackie Jackson, and Commissioner Tony Burgon. Uh, welcoming them to our team. So, I would like to ask Pastor Kenneth Heel to approach the podium lead in our pledge of allegiance and invitation. That's for you. That's you also call your name. Thank you. Please stand and join us if you choose to.

Our heavenly father Lord we come thanking you for this day for another year that you have blessed us. And Lord we thank you heavenly father for this meeting on tonight. Ask God that you be in each one, heavenly father. And Lord, that you be in the midst of everything that's going to be discussed tonight in the name of Jesus. Ask your blessings, Lord, upon our police and fire, fires, God, in the name of Jesus, our mayor, may therefore all heavenly father, town manager, our governor. We just thank you, Lord, for all of these things, heavenly father. And Lord, I ask God that you keep us safe in our communities in the name of Jesus. I thank you and I praise you in Jesus name. Amen.

Amen. I pledge algiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands one nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all. Thank you so much. She's already now entertain any additions or deletions to the agenda. Commissioner Jackson,

I move that the board go into court sessions pursuant to North Carolina DS 143-31816 to discuss personnel matters.

And that will um that session will be agenda item number two. I like to remove 9D. I can only assume um I want to add for discussion. Would you make that agenda for discussion. So make that. So we're going to take off the discussion result regarding compensation and change it to to a discussion about prior agenda. Prior agenda discussion on the on the previous agenda prior future agenda. Prior discussion. Okay. Got you. So we're going to have a discussion on h how the agenda is prepared

for future for future ref because that was a removal due to mer protein conversation went to another board member that's why I'm requesting to move that that's fine and it was stated that uh the prior mayor protein we'll discuss it on the agenda so this way yes ma'am

thank you so we'll change agenda item D from discussion regarding board compensation. We will remove Commissioner Jackson from that and add a discussion on how the agendas are prepared. Are there any other additions to the agenda? All right. I will now entertain a motion to approve the agenda. Commissioner Cooper move. Commissioner Johnson second. Any discussion?

All in favor?

The motion carries. I will now entertain a motion to approve our consent items which are the draft minutes of the December 8th, 2025 organizational meeting. A budget amendment DA9 for FY 2026, board leaison assignments to town committee and our community appearances sustainability committee applications to appoint I almost commissioner and I literally just read your name to appoint Mr. Ro Palasios mayor proip. Mor, I'd like to move that we approve the consent items drafted December the 8, 2025 organization meeting budget meeting BA9 fiscal year 2026 board leaison assignment town committees board appearance of sustainability committee application to appoint Mr. I missed one

medium housing appeal board of application to appoint Jason right is there a second I second any discussion all in favor motion carries we will now move on to public comment So just please remember that each speaker is each speaker is allotted a total of three minutes. Um, each topic must be related to the town of Spring Lake only and please approach the podium and state your name for the record. Beginning with Pro Palasio's recovery support group.

Thank you, mayor and board. Good afternoon and congratulations to those that are ready to get to work. Good afternoon.

Wanted to let everybody know we have a uh recovery group here in Spring Lake and I'm launching that next Monday on the 19th. It is going to be a weekly meeting 6 p.m. I have flyers and I have cards available for anybody. I've also shared this information on Facebook. Um, anybody that wants to look it up, United Recovery Group, uh, the information is there. We have free meals for each meeting and this is for areas of recovery for individuals that are facing things like anger, addiction, alcoholism, pornography, gambling, overspending, overeating, PTSD, those kind of things. So, we have a support group here in town and that's the reason I want to present that to you guys. Uh but it's great to see all of you guys and happy and it's great to see this lovely crowd that's here uh caring about the town. So that's it. Thank you mayor. Thank you board.

Thank you. I I keep wanting to say commissioner to break that up for 40 years. And I'm leaving early so don't be offended. Are the buyers left? Thank you. And next we'll have Miss Regina Thompson. This is citizen request followup.

Good evening. Good evening. Happy 2026 to you all. Well, uh, thank you. My name is Thompson Z. I do 200 Scarboro Street, Spring Lake, and I'm here before you. One of the main things that's been tal was talked on the campaign trail and prior in the community about follow up with the public comments and I have for years and years thought there ought to be some kind of system or some somewhere by that if we make a public comment that we can get follow up uh with that whether it be via email, a phone call or something on the website that each person that does a uh that does come before you what they comment knowing that you're unable to answer [clears throat] us directly that we feel empowered and enlightened by giving a followup um answer to our concerns and that's it for me. Next one [clears throat] of concerns is open.

Hello everyone. Congratulations

and hello to the Unity for Prosperity to the town of Spring Lake. I just like to say that we have a problem here in Spring Lake with death squatters. It's a big problem. There's t, you know, if you go out of town, you might come back, you might not have any copper in your house. You might, and if if there's a home that is vacant, you might not have any. They're going to go, they're going to live in there and they're going to take all the copper out. There several homes from Chapel Hill Road to McNeel Street to uh Odell Road that they've already gone in where some people have passed and left and they have taken their possessions out of their homes. We would just like to have someone to do something about it if if it's all possible. And I thank you.

Thank you, Mer. Next is Deborah Clyde and this is be read by the clerk.

Thank you. On behalf of Deborah CL, greetings. I am taking this time to submit my personal concerns regarding regarding items on the agenda for for January 12th, 2026. I will be unavailable to attend the meeting in person. Please note my address in the heading. The newest members of the board of commissioners should be cognizant of the possibility that the LGC is still watching the government and staff of the town, North Carolina. Discussions of bringing back expenses to the budget that increase expenses that are not necessary for the health and welfare of the citizens of the town should not be discussed regarding new business. C discussion regarding town for town cell phones. There is a system in place whereby the current members are paid a stipen that is a fair market value for most companies. $50 per month will allow you to get a plan with some companies that will allow you to put $35 in your pocket. The current process allows for all the legal requirements for public records and confidentiality to be met without the cost of purchasing and maintaining a separate phone. And I'm not sure if we should be electing officials that are not willing to use the the technology available to save expenses. Regarding new business, discussion regarding board compensation, no thank you. We chose to serve the site at its current rate has been satisfactory for the current board members. It can be satisfactory for the newly elected board members as well. The previous board saw fit to sacrifice their health insurance. I am quite certain that the new members can take the pay at the current rate without the health insurance as well. Finally, it would not be wise for me to try to fire the manager, clerk or finance director. My contact information is in the heading respectfully Deborah.

I would like to reiterate that those comments although read from the Davis did not come from the Davis. That is public comments from Deborah Clyde. Next we have Frank Alexander. uh taxes and I can't sorry industrial development. Yeah, thank you.

Actually, for me, these two issues are related. Um I would like to urge the council to consider dropping the mill rate. Uh the county recently did that and they're down to 4.95. I think it's pretty close to what they have. and we are still uh up in 7 79 if I'm not mistaken. So what I'm urging the county to oh I'm asking the town to do is come close to what uh the county Cumberland did and that maybe maybe come down to 45 or 455 and that leads me to my other subject about industrial development. I came here in 2019, addressed the count uh the town council then about developing industry in uh Spring Lake and that was not a priority for them. Uh, I look at industry as an opportunity for um North Carolina and Spring Lake to broaden out their tax base to include industrial development. And this way we can bring jobs other than retail to Spring Lake [clears throat] and we can become more than just a bedroom community

is basically what we have now. And I see on our agenda we want to move more residential and that move that into retail. I have no problem with that. But there without any industry there won't be any broadening of the base. industry, an expansion of the existing base. Also, there are many many companies in New York, in uh Illinois, uh that are looking to for a place to come to. Guess what? We have land on uh 90 up up on the highways that have great infrastructure capability to bring in middle uh middle industry light industry where we can put them in. I'm not talking about putting in a willow run. No one's talking about putting in four or five thousand acres at the disposal of industry. No, but you get a small middle uh um development companies. They're all over the country. Some of them are in extremely high tax area. And all we have to do is go find them. Maybe if we had a committee to talk to the local military facilities, we might be able to find what would be on their wish list. Who would they like to see in Spring Lake to make it easier for their logistics? With the Air Force base right near here, I can't see why we can't have some kind of uh aircraft fabrication or fab aircraft development here in Spring Lake. We have a military major military base here. Several of them. Why can't we find some kind of uh middle sub middle military contractor to come here?

And your time has expired. Thank you. Thank you so much. I appreciate you coming up. Next we have Mr. Steve Watson.

I should just give him my 230 because this is going to take 30 seconds. [laughter] So, I had not planned to talk, but uh but uh your illustrious town manager asked me to say a few words. So, excuse me. [clears throat] Steve Watson, 210 Cel uh like uh John had already told me, it's already on the agenda to discuss on item F. So, we'll leave it to there. But all I can say is every resident on Cecil Avenue wants these speed bumps. Okay? Except for one that I cannot get a hold of. And I'm pretty sure they would want them to because they don't have children. I know they have children, but what I'm saying is, you know, I uh I bought my own speed bumps because I was just getting tired of watching people go by at 60 mph. I talked to a few uh the police officers. I I know that's not the official from the police chief. I got that. But I'm like, "Hey guys, I'm going to put the speed bumps out there." He's like, "Good." It's not a debate whether they're a good idea or not. It's how we get them put out. And John and I, I'll be happy to work with you guys with this uh to make our community safe. Thanks.

Thank you. Next, Mr. Henry Ponder. Taxes. [clears throat] Can I claim everybody else's time? No, sir. You cannot. We have a very packed agenda tonight. No, I just want FaceTime. Good evening, Mayor. Good evening, Commissioner. My name is Henry at 1620 Street in Spring Lake 33 years. My concern tonight, one of my concern is taxes. I got a big surprise.

I got a big surprise uh when I got my tax statement showing that I had an increase in my taxes over $700 spring compared to county which is only $82 which gave me an increase of $231. And I'm trying to find out why is it the taxes so high compared to Cland County and other towns in county. The other thing that I wanted to mention is uh the 17% water increase that we had back in January. Uh I'm understand has that been approved? I know you can't answer that, but I would like some information back on that if you can. Uh the other is the cost that we're having with the increase of taxes. What did that taxes going to? Is it going to pay for like the fire station or phone to the highway? Is it for fire equipment that we have in the town? Because the fire station, I understand, is not being used. What I see when I go by there, it's not utilized. and there's fire trucks in that station that's not being utilized. So, I'm trying to understand where does this money go and what does it cover when we pay the taxes. Uh, we got a refuge tax and my refuge tax, I noticed you have on the agenda for recycling and I had a question about recycling because I called the town on it once and I called the recycling company because when they come to pick up my recycling every other Thursday, they pick up my trash and the recycling bin in the same truck. And I would have a concern as to do we have a contract? Do the town

manage that contract? Do we pay for that contract? And if we do, my refuge taxes should be reduced since they're not giving me refuge that we should be recy.

I'll be back next week. We hope to see you. No, we won't. Yeah. Next we'll have Miss Betty Stanford and the topic of concern is a check mark. Please express us what your topic of concern is. Thank you.

I'm still on the roads. The roads they need to be fixed. and I got some information on that and I I don't work here but I want y'all to do something about it. Um, and I noticed that on our in in our area there's a yellow on the on the roads on the speed bumps. There's road on on our road street and if you don't know it, there's a bump and you just go right over there and really mess your car. That needs to be. Okay. The other thing is Do we have anything that we can help these people that are walking the street that are homeless? Some of them are staying in the woods in tents and stuff like that. You know, we need to look at those things. Um there are a lot of things that I've seen just riding along at night or early in the morning, you know, feeding people because they don't have anything to eat, you know, give them something to drink and stuff like that. We need something like that in the community. U I noticed that I think it's in Fairfield they're going to move little houses. You know, maybe we need to think about something like that. Also, um we had um the Martin Luther King breakfast on Friday and I didn't see all of you. I didn't see our five fire chiefs. I didn't see our police chiefs. And uh I think that when we are in the community that we should work together. We should all be together no matter what it is. You know, you want votes for different things and you need to participate in what's going on in the

community. You see, and that's so very much important. Um and the other thing is Why are we firing people? Why was Patricia Hickman fired? She's been working here a long time. Discuss that as a day. We've been she's been here for a long time. That's personnel and you cannot discuss that.

Well, anyway, she's been here for a long time and I miss her, you know, and some other people that have been here for a while and uh maybe we need to look into that. Okay. Thank you. Next we will have Miss Renee Barasco. Reneor I just have clarification on your instruction on what the parameters are for. I heard you say that it was only addressing Spring Lake and what I came or would like to discuss would address the county as a whole

as it relates to campaign. Okay. Thank you. Thank you for that clarification. Thank you for asking. My name is Bne Rosco and I am a citizen resident of Cumberland County. I'm also a practicing attorney. No, the microphone.

Also a practicing attorney, having been practicing in Cumberland County from 2008 until 2023, at which time I took a job in Raleigh, where I'm still practicing in condemnation. I'm writing for Cumberland County District Court Judge. I wanted the citizens to be aware that there is a choice as it relates to Cumberland County District Court Judge seat five. And what I want the citizens to know is that I believe in fairness and would provide fairness, impartiality, integrity. And I believe that when a person goes into court and entrusts his or her life, matters dealing with his or her life with a stranger, that person should have the opportunity to be heard and respected. And if elected, that is what I will provide. And what I will tell everyone at any time when it comes to me as judge, it would not be about me because I am not running because it is about me. I am running because it is about you. It is about you the citizen and I ask for your support. I ask for your vote. Early voting is February the 12th and the 28th and the primary is March 3rd. Thank you very much.

Thank you so much. Okay, we will now move on to we do not have any presentations. So, we will move on to our public hearing. I'd like to ask Mr. Patrick Hosford uh from Kim Inhorn, civic analyst for developer, please approach the podium.

Good evening. Um my name is Patford. I'm a civil analyst with Kim Horn. I'm here on behalf of my client Impactable Development. Uh we are hoping to annex 1523 North Blag Boulevard into the town of Spring Lake jurisdiction. Um impeccable development is planning to construct a commercial development at the intersection of Rag Boulevard and uh Manchester Road. This includes that requested parcel in highlighted in blue on the map here. Um, this development will include a gas station convenience store which I will show you on the next slide. Um, right there on the bottom right 41 parking spaces. Um, and that will be a quick service restaurant on the left side and potentially for another quick service restaurant andor a bank. Um up on the top left that will be our storm water management system. You will probably have a wet on there. Um and in order to move forward with permitting, we would need to annex this parcel into the town spring jurisdiction. We do plan to reszone that parcel to plan commercial uh to meet the town ordinances for our plan development. um parcel in the somewhere down the line in the future we plan to recombine that parcel with the other seven parcels uh shown on the annexation map that we provided. Um I believe that is all I have. Um any questions?

Are there any questions? Mayor question. You talking about NX has um been in several different meetings and the town manager [clears throat] stated uh about our infrastructure and I just want to know do we have the capacity to serve that water capacity uh for those new incoming questions? [clears throat] Yes, we have sewer water we purchased. purchase that sewer and the water. I think at one of the meetings was stating that we needed more water coming into Spring Lake and we do have some more. I think y'all did emergency meetings uh that Thursday before the 8th week about those uh we purchased water from PWC. We don't produce it and so anything that we purchase we have to pay for on gallon basis per thousand gallons and so yes the capacity is available from BWC we just haven't we have a long-term agreement contract that needs to be updated in terms of purchas

thank you so much I now declare this um public hearing to be open there anyone here to speak in favor of this um request. Um I think I've got my point across again. Is there anyone here to speak in favor of this request last time? Is there anyone here to speak in favor of this request? Hearing none. Is there anyone to speak in opposition of this request? Is there anyone to speak in opposition of this request last time? Is there are you did you want to speak in opposition? I have a question. Am I allowed to ask a question or does this have to be?

You can either speak in favor or against.

Last call for speaking in favor or against this uh request. I now declare this public hearing closed. Any questions or comments from the board? Hearing and seeing none, we will then move on to uh agenda item nine, our new business. And this is ordinance 20261 to extend the corporate limits of the Thomas Spring Lake, North Carolina and reszoning from our 10 residential to CP plan commercial. Um, and since we just heard from Mr. Hosford, um, I will go ahead and ask the board, do you have any other questions regarding the reasoning or the annexation? Well, I'll entertain a motion uh to approve or deny um ordinance 26 20261 to extend the corporate limits of the town of Spring Lake uh North Carolina and resoning from R10 residential CP plan commercial.

I have a motion to approve. Is there a second? I second. Any discussion? All in favor, [clears throat] was that your name?

That motion carries. I'm sorry. I didn't I didn't hear you. So maybe, you know, and I thought about this. Excuse me for interrupting the meeting with this. If you can, when we take a vote, if we just throw our hand up real quick so I can see everybody just that way. All right. the motion carried. Okay. So, we'll move on to Thank you very much. [clears throat] So, I will be providing excuse [clears throat] me a um end of year review and this is not the fiscal year. This is for the calendar year of 2025. So, um I want to offer you a reflection that's honest about where we are right now, what we learned last year, and how we stay focused for the months ahead. So, 2025 was about stabilizing the foundation by staying focused on the basics, planning, accountability, and protecting our core services. In 2025, residents felt higher cost everywhere. For us at the local level, that reality shows up in the prices of equipment, in the cost of contracts, and the cost of maintaining aging infrastructure and in the cost of keeping skilled staff in critical roles among other things. And residents felt this through raising raising water bills. Um, in January 2025, our water and sewer rates increased, as Mr. Ponder said, 17%. And we were clear about why the cost tied to water repairs, water purchases, and system operations have

continued to rise. And that's not just a talking point. It's something that the town and families are experiencing from month to month. In 2025, we kept two commitments that matters when money is tight. First, we leaned into planning and not guessing. Our strategic plan work centered on major focus areas, safe, reliable water and sewer and storm water systems, revitalizing town infrastructure, and a safe, vibrant, and healthy community and economic development. We established impact teams led by our board of commissioners, town staff, and community members to take on big problems in a very structured way. [clears throat] Second, we stay focused on accountability. We allocated $150,000 this fiscal year to complete our audits for 2022 through 2025. That's $150,000 that can't be spent on anything else. Not salaries, not equipment, not new programs. It's an obligation we can't avoid. We provide all available financial documentation to support the completion of these audits. And tonight, our manager will uh talk a bit more about the audit milestones and what's next for the board and the public. So, I also want to talk a bit about Spring Lake Property Acquisitions. For those who haven't followed um closely, SLPA was a nonprofit corporation formed in 2019 as an economic development vehicle. The idea was to acquire property near Fort Bragg for a potential lands swap that could attract major

employers. SLPA borrowed $3.5 million from BB&T to purchase approximately 160 acres on Manchester roads. The proposed land swap never received federal military approval. The loan went into default for 5 years. SLPA did not pay property taxes or solid waste fees. The financial irregularities surrounding SLPA were part of what led to the local government commission taking control of Spring Lake's finances. With this situation, we were faced with a choice choice given to us by the LGC. We could walk away from the situation and let it to continue to damage the town's financial standing or we could take control and clean it up methodically. We chose to clean it up. In 2025, working with our finance director and outside legal counsel, we negotiated a settlement with Truist, the successor to BB&T, to resolve a $3.5 million debt for $450,000. The town purchased the default note for $150,000. Or was it 450? We purchased the note for $450,000. We are pursuing foreclosure proceedings to legally transfer the property back to town's control and we sold one of the parcels for $75,000 and use those proceeds to pay back to pay back taxes and solid waste fees. The budget amendment that recorded these transactions also recorded a forgiveness of $2.9 million in debt that the town was never going to be able to pay under the original structure. Now, let me be clear about what this means. The town had to address $3.5 million of liabilities tied to property that was generating zero revenue and

accumulating penalties. Through aggressive negotiations and legal action, we reduced that liability to $450,000, recovered control of approximately $160 acres of land, and are now positioned to either sell the parcel strategically or explore legitimate economic development opportunities. SLPA is being dissolved. We are unwinding this struct structure methodically, legally, and transparently because the alternative was to let it keep draining resources we don't have. This is what fiscal cleanup looks like. It's not exciting. It doesn't make headlines, but turning a $3.5 million disaster into a manageable situation and potentially a productive asset [clears throat] is exactly the kind of work that has to happen. Now, let me connect this to the budget in plain language. So, that's supposed to say 62%, not 67%. So, keep that in mind. Um, our budget isn't just a spreadsheet. It's a plan for how we keep the lights on, how we respond to emergencies, maintain roads and parks, and keep the water running. Two facts help explain why we have to stay disciplined. First, our revenue mix is limited. Property taxes make up a large share of our general fund revenue and sales tax is a significant portion as well. Second, Jason walks in at the perfect time. Public safety dominates our general fund spending. Police, fire, and fire account for roughly 62% of our general fund expenditures. That doesn't mean other

departments aren't important. It means when public safety costs rise, it affects everything. We're also operating with multiple frozen and unfunded public safety positions position. It's not that we can't we don't want to fill the positions cuz we do. It's literally because we can't afford them. Every dollar is already allocated. Every line item is already committed. So, here's the part that I want to say clearly for everyone listening. When the town has a budget with limited flexibility, there are only a few ways to pay for new or expanded costs. You cut something else, you raise revenues, i.e. taxes, or you delay work that still has to be done later and done later often at a higher cost. Right now, our margin for taking on new reoccurring costs is extremely small because we're already hearing major infrastructure needs, public safety staffing pressures, and audit related constraints. Now, I also want to address the property tax reevaluation head on because I know it's on people's minds. You heard public comments today. On one side, a revaluation can be positive. When property values rise, it reflects growth and investment. It strengthens our overall tax base, supports long-term planning, and helps our residents build wealth through higher home values. But on the other side is what worries people. And I understand that completely. When property values rise, tax bills rise,

too. And that's especially hard when folks are already stretched. The reality is Spring Lake has already uh already has one of the highest property tax rates in Cumberland County at 71 or 74.1 cents per 100 uh dollar evaluation. In a perfect world, we could offset rising property values by lowering the tax rate. But how with how financially constrained we are, we don't have the flexibility to simply drop taxes and pretend the need for that money goes away. Our water systems and sewer systems are crumbling. We're still operating with frozen positions. We're competing or completing We're still completing overdue audits. We're still trying to build reserves that protect us in emergency situations. So, our responsibility is to fight for every efficiency we can find, to pursue outside funding aggressively and grow our local economy so we're not placing more burdens on the same households year after year. Our water and sewer infrastructure uh our water and sewer and storm water needs are not theoretical. Spring Lakes water and sewer infrastructure is 40 to 60 years old. 60% of our sewer system still uses outdated clay and concrete pipes. The sewer system includes 45 miles of lines, many showing serious structural damage and allowing groundwater to seep in, which means we're paying to treat that groundwater, not just sewage. The water system spans 65 miles of mains. Here's a number that should alarm

every taxpayer. We can only deal for 50% of the water we purchase from Fville and Haret County. The other 50% of leaks, the other 50% leaks out broken pipes before it ever reaches your home or business. In January 2025 alone, we experienced five water mane breaks. One of those breaks lost 3.5 million gallons of water. That's water we paid for and it ran right into the ground. Our engineering firm is completing a comprehensive study with hard numbers. Sewer system rehabilitation 45 to $50 million to address the 27 miles of line in fair to poor condition. Water replacement 20 to2 million for approximately 20 miles of critical maintains. Total urgent total urgent infrastructure needs 65 to75 million. I hope you're seeing why we can't lower taxes yet. In later in 2025, the B board heard that repeal bills for leaking water lines and replacing infrastructure was described at almost 80. Those numbers aren't meant to scare you, but they're meant to tell you the truth about the scale of the problems we plan to correctly pursue that we meant to they're meant to tell you the truth about the scale of the problem so that we can correctly pursue the right funding and don't pretend that we can solve it with small changes. Here's what keeps me focused. If we don't invest now in planning rehabilitation, we will face emergency

repairs that cost two to three times as much. Every dollar we invest in proactive rehabilitation saves us $3 and emergency repairs later. Let's get the slide. On February 20th, 2025, I sent a funding request letter to our state legis legislative delegation seeking $85 million in state assistance from um $50 million for wastewater and 25 million for infrastructure and 10 million for storm water improvements. We're also pursuing every available grant opportunity and have secured several infrastructure grants totaling over $1.5 million. But even with the state and grant funding, infrastructure investments must be our absolute top budget priority. Another major bud budget pressure has been the change in how sales tax is distributed. Cumberland County switched to add the Lauren sales tax distribution has caused a serious seriously detrimental effects on the spring lake budget. The distributions are shifted from per capita distribution which is based on population count to adal the Laurum distribution which is based on property values. This change was projected to result in approximately one $1,761,000 less in sales tax revenue for the town of Spring Lake. To put that into perspective, $1.7 million represents about 16% of the entire general fund budget. That's money

we once had to invest in our community that we no longer receive. Here's why this matters for the residents. When revenue changes outside of our control, i.e. PWC increases water rates. Cumberland County raises property taxes. The town still has the exact same responsibilities. We still have to fund police and fire. We still have to repair water lines. We still have to maintain parks. The math doesn't disappear. This loss compounds our fiscal constraints and makes every budget decision more difficult. But even with those pressures, 2025 included progress that residents can see and use. The playground renovated um renovation at Edward Mendoza Park was completed in late August, giving our children safe, modern play equipment after nearly a year without access. The park partnership with a Fedville Cumbering County Parks and Red made this roughly $100,000 investment possible without the use of town's general funds. Veterans Park received major upgrades, including new side, a gazebo, park benches, brick work, all managed with state grant funding, and town staff, labor, and gloves. We're building more than just budgets. We're building community pride and the new murals at Mendoza Park and all throughout Main Street are state symbols and include pictures views of Spring Lake that are compliments to the ongoing park renovation. These art installations aren't extra to people who live here. They're part of revitalization. They help create a sense of place and they make our town feel cared for while

they support local artists and create a more welcoming experience in our town. Our stormwater fund invested $318,000 in maintenance, repairs, and capital outlay uh to address flooding and road washout issues that threaten our roads and neighborhoods. We've committed $200,000 in state grant funding towards a natural gas line expansion with peace. This project better this project matters because you can't attract industry without industrial grade utilities. Public safety and community standards is something I want to acknowledge. The closure of Flush Lounge. I know people have opinions on that, but here's where I stand. We want businesses to thrive. We want a night life that's positive and vibrant, but we're not going to compromise on safety. Our job is to maintain a community where families feel secure, where businesses can grow without chaos around them, and where we respond quickly when something becomes a reoccurring problem. We're going to keep doing the work with our public safety team to make sure Spring Lake stays a town where people can live, work, and enjoy themselves without fear. Throughout 2025, we hosted events that brought our community together. From the annual cleanups to uh First Friday on Maine to our Christmas tree lighting event. The these events matter because they reinforce our sense of community. We received the findings from UNCC School of Government students on the potential of Lilian Black Elementary School. Uh the building is an exceptional asset and we are working with Cumberland County and community partners to develop the area while preserving the historical character of the building. Again, these projects matter because

quality of life isn't extra. It's a part of what makes Lake feel like home. But even here, we have to do it responsibly and in a way that fits our financial reality. So, as we move through the remaining months of the budget, uh here's the guiding principle I want us to keep in front of us. We have to protect core services, address infrastructure, stay compliant while being honest about what we can afford. That means we should be very cautious about adding new reoccurring expenses or expanding benefits that aren't already planned because every added cost has to be paid for. And right now those payments come at the expense of something something else the community depends on. This is stewardship. Good leadership sometimes means saying not yet to good ideas. It means holding the line when everyone wants to move forward. It means making unpopular decisions to protect long-term stability. So, I want to take a moment and um ask our manager a few questions about the audit, our AIA study, and our budget timeline. Um, and I'll just ask you one. Uh, so what is the current status of the outstanding audits? Um I know we've provided all financial documentation to our auditor. Um from your perspective, what remains and what's the next milestone the board should expect? Negative to positive. Um I will say that the town of Spring Lake in working with the local government commission spent over $1 million and produced zero financial statements. However, since on boarding um Mr. wrote

to our finance director. He has spent numerous hours combing through reports, records, almost to the point of driving me crazy with stuff. We have contracted with Cherry Beckerts to complete our 2022 audit after the 2021 audit was considered so messed up that it was unaudible, optable. I'm saying that correctly. So to date, uh Jimmy, Mr. Oakton, our finance director, has written four financial statements, uh that can be submitted for auditing. And we expect to have our we have been reached out today and they told us that our 2022 audit should be completed by midFebruary. And I want to emphasize that term should be I was here um yesterday. Um, and we will continue to pressure them, but you can't pressure them so much because there are other audits that are required throughout the state and we are kind of at the university getting it done. After those are done, we've already issued um and received a bid for the remaining three audits. The board has already um approved who will be actually doing those and we want to put those in short order after we get to 2022. At the end of the day really means that you have to have an adequate and appropriate starting point to cross the finish line. If you start right, you end right. If you start wrong, you end wrong. We cannot end wrong. We cannot afford to end wrong. That's the art piece.

Yes. Next. Asset inventory assessment. Where are we with it? Um what phase are we in and when should the board expect some results?

I was prepared to talk about that under my manager's report. this evening. And so it will currently we have basically two grants that you refer to when you hear about AIA um and MR. AIA grant stands for um asset inventory assessment. That's where you analyze and assess the the system where you come up with components. So many pipes of this, so many pipes of that, so many things are there. Um, currently I have the draft report for the AIA and forgive me um, I was going to read this as part of my manager report but I go ahead and put it in there now. Focusing on sewer and sewer alone. Some of you just heard me say that we have the capacity for the sewer and for this annexation. That is a completely accurate statement. We have the body, the capacity to support this development. Our problem lies in its distribution getting it where it needs to be. Um and so when you look at 40 miles of pipes and 30 miles of pipes in this and leaking and everywhere else, let me just read the project names. Um prioritization remain to be seen. Uh sewer interceptor investigation 250,000. These are profitable opinion of costs. It comes from our consulting engineers. Road area sewer rehab and replace it 5,728725. Let's not forget that $725. Max Street. Uh y'all forgive me if I sound a little uh trying to be a little humorous on this, but this is would be 247 365 night and day. How are we going to do this? Uh Max Street area sewer rehab and replacement 3,166800. That's 3,666,00 area sewer rehab and replacement 5,257,775.

Uh I'm skipping right now, but Spring Avenue area sewer rehab and replacement 7,916,000 deer sewer rehab and replacement 7,200,000. Additional sewer line replacement throughout um is 13 million and rehabilitate their stations and have backup generators 828,000. The 10year CIP total project cost, let me back up. The 10year CIP total project cost is ringing in at 43 million. If we had the capacity to borrow $43 million and pay for it over a 20-year term, we would have to double our water and sew. Clearly, we don't have the financial capacity to do that. I get it. Understand that. And so, that's just the sewer side. The water components listed as high priority improvement projects. isolation valve project $250,000. For the record, uh the board has already funded that in this year's budget. We've already taken and dedicated $250,000 of the um water and sewer revenue money to take to pull those things together. An Odell Road water line replacement $4,47,000. Max Street replacement 3,753. Deerfield 5,482 water tank project 2,400,000. Let me stop there and just speak for just one second about water tank project throughout Spring Lake. Some of you may experience low pressure and low volume. That is directly related to the fact that we only have one elevated water

tank. Everything that you get is coming under pressure from PWC with the exception of what's coming from the water tank. And so the water tank is filled up during the evening hours, if you will, when the demand is low. So that when the demand is high and everybody's trying to shower and use the water, it adds pressure to the system and volume to the system. One of the key things that you need to think about is that if you notice that the fire protection is the back in the background, um there's a color coding for hiders. We have areas to include apartment buildings that have very very low pressure, very very low volume. That is a direct relation to not only the lack of a water tank, but also the lack of the size. That's what I was referring to in terms of capacity issue with the water in front of this development. There's plenty of size there. It's on Bra Boulevard. When you get out into the other areas of town, those sizes of the pipes get smaller and smaller and smaller over time. They also corrode inside and therefore they lack the ability to carry the volume or the capacitor the capacity because it gets smaller and smaller over time and they just can't pump it through there. Um, and when you try to pump it through there, you take an increased pressures, right, coming from wherever from BWC and then you'll experience some of these issues in terms of these water leaks over town. Our staff will go fix a water leak and it's like whack-a-ole. It'll cause another one over here, cause another one over here. Um, these are significant problems when it comes to our water and sewer system. Some cities respond by issuing uh development for growth or employee use. So now get this, we have to be very aware and cognizant of our capacities. We also have to be aware of what we can

actually produce, what we can purchase and how we can get it around there and distributed throughout town. This is a critical issue for us and in order to solve this, we've heard some of our public comments. We even heard comments in regards to economic development, things of that nature. To stop this, we need to broaden our tax base and we need to broaden our rate payers. It's just that simple. Okay? If not, you're going to be taxing the same amount of people more and more trying to accomplish um what you can do. So, you need to think and broaden that out in terms of the number of people who are paying into the system. That is the AIA. Um, so if you if you track that, I guess that was probably what 79 million something like that and $780. Let's not forget that one. $780. Um, also keep in mind that the the city has established um four focus areas in terms of our street strategy plan. The top priority remains investing in our water and sewer infrastructure. If you want to get to the fourth priority of economic development, none of that happens when you don't have water and you don't have sewing. It's constrains it and it caps it and it limits what you can do. So, we've got to focus on those issues first. Um, you heard other comments in regards to theft and blight throughout our community. We have over 160 properties identified as white in spring. These are all rundown properties. Owners don't care about them. They left a long gone. And so, how do we attack that? How do we address that? Because if you've got all these properties that are a state of disrepair, guess what they're doing to your tax status? You're dragging it down. And since it's dragging it down, you end up with the lowest value of properties.

All right? Give it to give you a little latitude here. I'm not talking real math. I'm talking general math. lowest value in properties, which is why you end up with the highest tax rate because you can't afford to tax it at a rate that's lower because it doesn't produce the same volume. So, one of our com our speakers earlier was talking about um lowering the tax rate at the county level. That's what's known as a revenue neutral number and you can do that when you come through these revaluation years. You can lower your tax rate to kind of balance that out. Um but as the mayor talked about, we didn't do it. That's the AIA piece. Um, as it relates to both water and sewer infrastructure. Another grant that we have from DEQ is what's known as a merger regionalization feasibility study. We have until September to complete that project. Those funds are allocated through ARP. Therefore, we got to get them off the books for the state by December. So, we need to finish it by September. What that does, it says that you need to partner. If you haven't heard it before, um, I'll say it for the record. You're looking at $79 million worth of other things, repairs, liabilities, and assets. If we do not invest in a timely manner, those assets will continue to be a strain on our local structure, our infrastructure. It'll get harder and harder and more and more cost if we don't address those things in a timely manner. And that's where the pain is. You can't ignore it. Ignoring it is only going to make the problem worse. Um, and you need to be moving forward. This merger regionalization feasibility study. It is high time for free to think about how do you partner with others, not just grant money. Everybody wants grant money. All right? not just grant

money, but how do we partner with others uh to provide this water and sewer system? Um, for the record and on the record, I've said multiple times, at the end of the day, the only thing that our residents want is clean drinking water when they open the faucet and for it to go protect the environment when they push push it somewhere else. The problem is that comes at a cost. It's not cheap and that's what we face and that's the problem. So, uh, I'm going pick on the mayor there for a second. She gave me the mic. And so, the mayor is the message of hope. I hope to be the practical reality. This is really what we're facing. And I want to continue to have that message out. Here it is. This is what I live with 24/7, 365. It is a huge concern for me. Um, it is a huge concern for staff because it affects and impacts everything that we do and how we plan. Uh, one final comment. Mayor was what? Three things.

Budget timeline. Walk us through the budget timeline.

Yes. Budget timeline. So, um staff has already began generating everything from our financial reports. Those are basically available through just a record request if you will. And so, we're starting to look at where things are, what's happening, where we're at end of the year. So, we will be moving towards our staff department heads will get their budget documents the 1 of February. don't hold me to February the 1st, the 1st of February and they will start submitting their budget requests. Um, by state statute is the town manager is the budget officer. They have a specific timeline in which they have to submit their requests. I have to evaluate those requests and figure out how to balance the budget. the only one by state statute that has to recommend a balanced budget. It rests on my children as a town manager. I don't approve the budget. I have to recommend a balanced budget. Um, and that's driven by statute of law. I'm not going to shy away from that and I'm not going to be ashamed to say what I have to say in regards to what we do with that budget. So hopefully we will move forward and we'll have a budget adoption by June the 1st. Um I think the mayor also also referenced the local government commission. We are still on the unit assistance list. So uh we have to provide a draft budget to the LGC and the coaching staff prior to submitting it to the board. Um so the LGC has to still review it before we submit it to our board. even though we have financial control back um it's that don't make it easy we still got to deal with all these things so um keep in mind that's what we're trying to push for and we're trying to get the budget adopted somewhere in the tune around June 1st to July 1st will be starting the fiscal year and we're required to produce and present a

balanced budget that looks at revenues and expenses and then having to have some type of unbalanced policy as well that's the budget timeline Thank you, sir. So, uh, where do we go from here? As we look ahead, our priorities stay consistent with the direction established last year. Stay on track with audits and compliance and keep the public informed on milestones. Keep moving infrastructure strategies um that matches the true scale and need and aggressively pursue funding opportunities. maintain public safety coverage while being honest about recruitment and retention pressures and what we can uh sustain long term. Continue with our natural gas expansion efforts as part of long-term capacity and growth planning. Use the asset inventory assessment and feasibility work as a decision tool. So, we're making choices based on facts. keep investing in visible community assets like parks and public spaces within the budget uh within what the budget can responsibly support. Now, let me close by thanking our staff, our town manager, our clerk, our attorney, and every board me member both past and present for doing the work. Our residents, I want you to hear this clearly. We are not ignoring problems. We're not going to sugarcoat them either. We're staying focused, staying organized, staying accountable because that's how a town gets through the tight seasons without losing its core. We're not going to budget by talking points. We're going to budget by priorities and facts. We'll stay transparent. We'll stay focused. And we'll keep doing the hard work of keeping this town moving

forward. 2025 was about stabilizing the foundation by staying focused on the basics, planning, accountability, and protecting our core services. And that is all I have. Are there any questions or comments from the board?

Thank you, Madam Mayor. was quite said and I think town business said it's a huge u concern for the cit I mean for the town employees but it's a huge concern for the citizens as well. Um, talking about the taxes, our taxes is high and they always been high and uh, which is a very good concern because you you threw out those a total of $79 million for the infrastructure and u me receiving this information as well as the citizens. It's a huge concern and it makes me wonder if I can afford to live here after paying $7,000 this year for my property taxes as well and after living here for 46 years paying um the high tax the 74 on $100. So yes, we have to move forward but we have to move forward strategically. We always have to take the citizens in concern and our demographics. We pay high salaries, thanking the employees, thanking our first responders. We pay high salaries. It has been raises on during the budget uh to our county employees. I've noticed that water leafs uh and I don't know if the certification of the individual who's serving those water lines have the uh certification needed but it was noticed um I think those water leaks and it are they fixed or they just com repaired. So that means you have to continue to send a employee out there uh with time for that. And I don't know the

lifespan of the uh infrastructure in most municipalities. I don't know that that wasn't there. And again, Mary, let me thank you. And I don't know if the $85,000 $85 million you sent to the state, was it approved? Did they all lot spring lake to get to 85 million? So, no, that was in they're not in session yet. They don't go back and say it.

So, we submitted it um a little while back, but it was the the hold up at first was we were right off of Helen and the state was sending all of the funding that they had. All the budget funding was allocated to Helen recovery. And so, they were saying, "Hold on a second. We have to take care of this emergency first." And now they're not in session. and they'll come back again in April. I believe

we have we hope we thank you for that. Uh because I know it's always whoever served has the opportunity to reach out to the state for this infrastructure. So thank you for that. Um, town manager. Um, Mr. Lori, you stated that the audit was behind and during the state that was one of the concern, Miss Cooper, that we worked on when I was on the board that make sure that the audit is never behind so we can have a balanced budget. So, we do know what the citizens um interest is and and the monies that they're paying in their taxes and so they'll know. But I know you threw out a big large number there, but why is the audit so far behind?

Start simply with the fact that they weren't done,

right? They wasn't done. I can understand that. But the state sent down over 12 employees once the parent board left and the new board came on. It was two years that the state balanced the budget. Then they gave it back to the town. Right. But that's why they we had so many individuals in there paying them the high dollars to make sure. So we can't forget about that what the state did to make sure that they were done and they was here for about two years. So that's why I'm wondering now why they behind. But I know you said they wasn't done right. That's why um they we had them to come the state come down to make sure we in compliance to make sure they over a million dollars and they didn't do it. Oh,

so the state so the town paid over a million dollars for those individuals to be here from Beth Woods and from the state and it was not done after we paid all them individuals to be here and go through all the records and they still didn't do it. So my question to the board, who's liable for that? Because if we paid them and they still wasn't done, that's not fair to the citizens. We was trying to, you know, get back on track. This is something that we have we've been we addressed when here asking No, they didn't do that.

So, same we had the same concern which is why Mr. Overton is working double and triple time to uh catch up on that. Yeah, I think the citizens need to know about that as well because if we paid all that money which is our tax dollars again uh and they didn't do their job or the due diligent to make sure these ite was done when the state had already took over, then that's a a big concern with our money and the fundings that could have went to this $79 million for the infrastructure. But anyway, that's my concern about that and I just didn't know and want to be caught up with the information about why that audit is behind and be in the same situation that we were in prior. Thank you, Mr. Hoover.

Thank you. Um I I pointed out several times that we were paying a lot of money to the LGC and they left without doing any audits. It wasn't until Mr. Overton buckled down and got us a starting place. We had to get ending balance in order to do one honor and nobody was able to get that in those books. So he was able to get us an ending balance so that we could have a starting balance for 2022. But I also wanted to address the situation with the taxes when we switched from per capita to adorum. We lost 76 million dollar out of our budget. We didn't just spend it, we lost it. So, we had to balance our budget minus that 1.76 million. And that is why police positions were frozen, fire positions were frozen, and some other positions in the part-time. We lost half of our sales tax revenue and uh in one fail. and we've talked about it at the Nauseium. And I I will repeat, like I always say, you can watch these meetings at home. We'd love for you to come here, but and we we prefer you come here. You can watch them on YouTube. You can watch them after the meetings. And we talked about this over and over and over again. We've been very transparent. It's a What is our total budget?

Yeah. So, 10 million and you lose 1.76 million. That's a lot of That's a lot of cuts. So, I just want to make that clear.

Okay. Um if there is no further discussion, we will move on. But before we do, I would like to acknowledge our Cumberland County Chair, um Kirk Deier walked in. Hey, sir. Okay. Okay. So, now we move on to agenda item E, discussion regarding um cell phones. Mayor, thank you, Madam Mayor. This didn't have to go on the agenda because when I came to um the Christmas dinner lunchon, the clerk had given me a phone. I thought that was sufficient. Didn't ask for anything. I have not received $50. the other board members have. I don't I haven't received anything. What as far is me not to be able to utilize my personal phone to do town business, which is what I'm accustomed to when I served on the board. No additional monies did I ask for or did I receive? I have not received $50. So my question is when I she had given me the phone but then she took the phone back because she said we had to put it on the agenda. That's why we're going to go over get this agenda situation the way it should be and that's how this came about and jumping to conclusions and you have a right to your opinion but I stand firm on being transparent honesty with integrity especially with your tax dollars as well as mine. never received any monies. Still have not. But I do not want to use my personal phone

and she had already given me a phone, but she had to take it back. So she decided that we I guess she asked the town manager that we need to put it on the agenda. So we talking about it. So that's all that is. I mean, I don't know why it's so difficult when everybody's upset thinking that Miss S want this. I don't. I I don't need it. I just need to be have a a a a personal phone as well as a town issued phone that we used to have. Now, I've been told that uh the town of Spring Lake used to have a contract for over 30 years. Our phone number was 9104360241. for over a year or two. You could not reach the town, the police department. I called the state, the LGC to find out why we could not reach our police department and they had to use a iPad or whatever the case may be to get called in. They got that straight. what I'm understanding but I would like to know um what was the reason that we had to go to a personal uh I guess it's team over I think I was talking to our and she was stating some issues that one of the board members had decided to go with the the private T-Mobile I think it was and I think she said the individual got fired and somebody else got involved Um, so I don't know about all this stuff, but only thing I asked for is just a personal my personal separate from the town and it's $33. It's $50. And I did ask, well, why come I just can't go get my own phone, but she said we had to bring it to the board. So that's what we're doing.

Okay. So, um, any other questions or comments from the board? So um and just to to Miss Jackson, did you have something? Come on. One moment. Just to pro provide a little clarification. So we did away with cell phones. Um simply because uh we were trying to find more ways to cut cost. Um and so in order for us to cut, we did away with because we have to pay for the devices as well as reoccurring monthly fees. um we switched to the app which cut our cost significantly. Um so the $50 will come it's automatically included into your pay in your um your salary your mine's a monthly stip and so you can check with Mr. Overton or Mr.

A PA that was signed on the 19th of December. Okay. So Mr. will will take care of that and they said was overlook. So um but as far as that we again we did away it's policy driven. We did away with all um secondary scale cell phones for non-essential employees um and chose the $50 site. Again it was all cost savings um to use the app with $50 versus paying full cell phone bills. So that's the reason why we always wonder why she issued me and then took it back put it on. I didn't do that. You did it was it was probably a small mistake.

Yeah, I think it's been several. That's why mistakes and it wasn't me. I was trying to get clarification and make sure it was a mistake. But that she issued to me and gave it to me and I asked her was it a new phone and was it just wiped clean? She said it was okay. I asked her as well. It was a mistake over the marium and it's just All right, Miss Jackson, excuse me, Commissioner Jackson,

I just want to chime in on what may prom. The um I imagine it was a huge cost to change telephone and we never really got clarity on why that was done. So, we were able to move the phone numbers from that we had to the app. So the phone numbers didn't change just we were able to port those numbers into the app. Correct. No, cuz the telephone number of town has changed. Oh, town phone. Yes. Just technology upgrades. Um we're going through a process of of upgrading technology and that's all. I was maybe at a later date know would love to know the cost of it.

Cuz we're emphasizing on cost of things that we're spending on things that we can't have that it's important. and we can't have them and they're important for us to survive if we're making decisions on things that is not necessary or is not really cost effective to do. So I think what we might need to do from now on is really go over some of the changes that we say need to be done and then those that we say we can't do because of lack of money. I think we need to be very careful about the decisions we make.

Perfect. And but that's why we uh alluded to the budget updates. So all of these things can be readressed during the budget cycle. We can talk about cell phones and and payment structures or set of things. Any other questions or comments? Yes. M clarify why the number I just like to clarify why the number was changed is because when we were going through all these uh from Verizon to T-Mobile, then T-Mobile back to Verizon. Uh T-Mobile would not release us that phone number. So that is why it had to be changed.

Most likely if they didn't release that number, that means there was something holding that number up. They have a choice to let you have a number or not. If they own the phone number, so if like personal cell phone, they do the business different than they do the personal because if the personal cell phone, if I don't owe a bill, I can change my number and I can move my phone wherever I want to. So, what you're telling me is that there's a different procedure for business use when you're using the phone because if we didn't owe any past bills or anything that there wouldn't have been a cost to move the phone from one thing to another and then my other thing would be why would you move it anyway? What was the problem? Okay. So, I want to make sure we stay on top. That's fine. Thank you. Thank you. I appreciate that.

Perfect. Okay. Is there any other discussion? Let's continue on with our discussion regarding uh recycling services. Commissioner Cooper. No, ma'am. This was just for discussion.

Oh, I'm sorry. I did. I'm sorry. I scratched out. We're on agenda item B and this is a discussion on how agendas are prepared. Thank you.

Okay. For future reference so the citizens is not mis misled when they should be on the sun channel list and receive agenda. My recommendation would be that um I don't want to talk about the other one that you send out a draft. We receive this agenda on a Thursday. Then on Monday, which is today, we have the meeting. Normally, it's about 3 to 4 days prior. And I understand it's holidays and it's been uh kind of busy, but we receive the agenda midm morning or whatever the case may be on Thursday and then the meeting is today. It's not efficient enough time. Um, but I would recommend that you send out a draft for us to approve before something is put on this agenda. Then it's negative information and people are receiving this and feeding this that somebody has done something wrong. I would have had the opportunity or any other board member would have had the opportunity to say no, this is not what I'm saying. So we have a clear understanding for future reference. So I would like to see a draft sent out prior that it's been printed and put out to the public and on the sunshine list and that would help us as board members, you know, be on one accord as well as [clears throat]

this is all addressed in our rules of procedure, correct? Yes. Okay. So this the structure is already set up um on how it should be done and procedure to vote on it. what I'm saying the rules and procedures if we don't know what I'm saying we're just going to make it easy for the it's nothing I'm not asking for anything that's complicated but I'm asking so we can all be on the same report so we won't have to go through this that you just send it out so we can see it prior to printing it and sending it out

I that's the way the agenda is addressed that's all laid out and the rules of procedure for the timing that it's sent Okay. The words the rules and procedures. What is it? It's on our website, but I'll send them [clears throat] because some [cough] caught up on right now. You're telling me I'm asking these question, but I still want to draft and if we have to vote on it, we can vote on it. So, the way we would vote on that is we would have to um we have to do something with our rules and procedures. We have to go and adjust those. The vote wouldn't be taken tonight. We have to bring those rules of procedures to the board and discuss that and then see how we move forward. That's fine.

Okay. So, but in the meantime, we'll have the clerk send out the rules of procedure to the entire board. Um, and we'll discuss it at a later date. Okay. Commissioner Jackson, I just have a question about the rules and procedure. So, in the rules and procedure, there is nothing stated that they have to that the clerk will send it to the board first for the board to approve and then send out to There's no um I would be the person that she would send it to to approve the agenda. So, and we can like again those are things that want to go through the rules of procedure. Put that on the agenda for discussion. We can do it that way.

Well, I definitely want to do that because my name was put on the agenda for discussion and compensation that I didn't ask for. So, I didn't ask nobody to do anything. I didn't ask to speak, but my name was put it in there. And with the results of that some of our citizens, retired ordinaries made a very bad statement to make us and now some of the citizens are thinking that we are asking for something where we did not. So that is a very important thing that we need to clear up for future references on so it can't be noted that if I don't ask for it don't put me in it. Okay. Those things that will be addressed when we address I appreciate that. Thank you so much. Thank you. All right. Any other questions or comments from the board?

It's okay. Um, now we will move on to agenda item C. Discussion regarding recycling services by GFL. Are they here today? Oh, yeah. Commissioner. So, um, yes.

Oh, you don't have to come to the podium just yet. pretty good. There's been a lot of discussion about um the trash pickup, the recycling and all of that. And so um I asked could we have a discussion with um with him and Mr. Warrior was nice enough to invite uh someone here. I had also spoken to Jennifer Rackley as well. She wanted to be here but she had somewhere else she probably go to. So um I'm sorry. your name.

Most Yes, ma'am. Mr. Aosta, um, [clears throat] we need to understand what's going on with the recycling. Uh, is it truly recycling? Because I think many of us have seen the trash get picked up by the same truck on the same day at the same time. So, um, Yes, ma'am. So, I want to clarify real quick for our board and for our neighbors. There's you have two types of trash can. Just to clarify that one is your black trash can. That's where you will put your regular trash. Your green will be your recycling or blue

or blue. Sir, I need you to address our presentation. So, you have two trash cans. We have the black, which is your regular trash, and you have your green or your blue, depending on where you're at in the town that you will have the cancer. The recycles are 100% recycles. They do not go to the uh landfield, we send those to our processing partner where they will go ahead and if it's mixed with trash, you get sorted out and then we get sent to whoever is a partner who's going to purchase those uh those items.

So, good question. You're saying that when they pick up It happened to me. I was literally standing outside. So when they pick them up and put them in the same bin, it's going to be sorted once it gets to your facility. If they combine it, that truck is going to our recycling facility. Well, they will be sorted out as contaminated and we'll go side by side. The biggest thing I mean I've had several people call me um because that happen but you know we just need clarification on that really.

Yes ma'am. And if any of our neighbors or community has any issues with that feel they'll feel free to reach out to us. I'll be more than happy to have my phone number my cell phone number. They can help me. And you sure you want to do that? Yes, ma'am. I don't have I do not have a problem. I do not have a problem because it is my job to support the community. You're paying for that service. I've been in this area [cough] today. Oh, yeah. 36 years. So, this is home for me. So being able to do that for our community and being a true partner is very important. Well, I would like for you to provide that phone number so that the town does not call our clerk and they call you directly. That's not a problem. I will answer. 910 910.

Oh god. [clears throat] 316 9263. One more time. 910 316 9263. My first name is Mel Mel, last name Aosta A. And I'm the regional manager for DFL and I'm a local person. So you're not calling somebody in Raleigh or somebody in South Carolina. I am 10 minutes away. Thank you. And now I I have noticed that we haven't had as many truck breakdowns, but we were getting them two, three, four times a week.

That is correct, man. I was here for roughly a year. We have replaced uh roughly about 30% of the fleet. We have a new maintenance team inside and actually the town of uh Spring Lake will be seeing their new truck rolling around that has a big old sticker that says we support our troops. Uh so we're in a military community. I'm a veteran, so I want to make sure that uh we take care of our own first. Thank you for your service to our country. Thank you for your service to our community. We just don't want our trashes to feel like trash. So, and thank you.

Yes, ma'am. Well, I have a meeting with Mr. Rory and he told me I only want to talk to you once a year. That's what So, that is that is the case. So, thank you. I just want to tell you thank you as well. I like the fact that you're taking accountability and that is very good. I like that. I just want to tell you thank you. Thank you, ma'am. And just know that you gave us your phone number. That's okay. We'll see how many codes before I get to the desk. coming. Thank you, madam. Thank you, ma'am.

Let me let me thank you as well. I have no problems with mine and they take care and if I do, I normally call and you come right out. So, thank you as well as being transparent and leaving your phone number for future reference if we have any problems. Appreciate you. We'll now move on to agenda item F 9F. a discussion regarding speedhouse on town owned streets. Mr. Rory, it's here you sir.

Mr. Watson has already spoke in public comments. I'm going to address some of his issues as concerns and the fact that some I also sent some probably about four or five draft or variable policies related to what we should know as traffic. In my history, um, I have dealt with this issue in every city that I have served in some form or fashion. Uh, we spent at least two meeting nights debating the difference between a stop sign, a speed pump, a speed pump, a speed table, a speed ramp. The list goes on. So I simply provided the board a various different versions of traffic common policies and in this case we're going to narrow it down to that one single comment. We're not going to talk about a lot of difference between traffic circles and narrowing down the roads and all of these types of things. It really comes down to when, where, and how do you allow for the installation of speed bumps, speed pumps, stop signs, speed tables, or whatever it may be. So, with the board, I shared that it really revolves around just a couple of things. Uh, Mr. Watson is talking about a,300 ft long road, Cecil Avenue. Um, I have been out there. Uh I have the police department's been out there evaluated. He did that and talked a little bit about it. Um at the end of the day you have to ask the question are one thing one thing of the four things that you need to think about is does it meet or meet warrants? How do you define those warrants? That was all in the versions of the different policies that I shared with the board. Um and I'm going to read

a couple of warrants in terms of uh to to recognize if there isn't as a necessity. This doesn't mean this is the single right answer. It just means that it's part of a point of discussion. Ultimately, the board will have to decide. This is a legislative act. This is a board policy. It's not the policy of the town mayor, not the policy of the police department, not policy of staff. This is a board policy to be addressed by the board. For example, a warrant for action in relation to the installation of a wheelch. Okay, that's those real aggressive things. There's some of them in Deerfield already.

Okay, these are the things you usually go over when you're in parking lots. They're aggressive. My opinion, yes,

Marcus really everything that you hear is opinion. Everything that you see is just a matter of perception. So my opinion is that the speed bumps are the most aggressive form of vertical things that you can put in place. The warrants for that and we're only going to be talking about residential streets in neighborhoods. So, we'll name Cecil Avenue, um, Deerfield, not necessarily all of them, but those that are kind of more of a collector in a local street. One warrant is it means it has to have a minimum traffic volume. It's often been said if a tree falls in the forest and nobody here listen. So, if you're the only car on the road, you really don't have a traffic problem, right? But if you have upwards of a thousand vehicles per day, how many of those are speed and is that a warrant for action? Other issues are 85th percentile of speed. This is a police department engineering standard where you begin to look at um y'all realize that we've got all kinds of speed limit signs all across the town of Spring Lake. Do you realize how effective they are? we still have to do citations and tickets. Um and so basically um you have to have a 85th percentile of speed. You got to have a greater than speed limit on CEO in particular. The speed limit is listed as 25. Since we first had this conversation um we've done some wheel windshield surveys with Jarm and identified we need at least two signs that say 25 miles per hour for two different locations. But by and large we're in pretty good shape. The average speed limit in Spring Lake is 35 in those in these residents neighborhoods. And particularly the issue we're talking about tonight, Cecil is listed as 25

miles hour. So at what point is the vehicle speed 26 miles hour or is it another one way of thinking about it? Nine you're fine, 10 you're fine. So if you live on a street with a 25 mph speed limit and you're doing 35, is that indeed speeding? Yes, without a doubt. Without a doubt. So, this is how you start thinking you're breaking down these engineering concepts into something that's just simple to understand. You know, if you're on your front porch and you're getting 10, 15, 20, 30 cars or whatever going 35 miles in a 25, then you probably got a speeding problem from a matter of percept perception that perspective. So, we got to think about that and how that plays out into a public policy. Um, for the installation of these speed humps, speed bumps, speed tables, um, they need to be installed based on what's called MUTCD standards. You know, I can do a pothole that makes for effective speed. You've heard others talk about that tonight. I could take a 4x4, right, that you just buy loads, crank it down into the middle of the road. Now, that's more aggressive than you could imagine, but that doesn't mean it meets MUTCD standards. MUTCD stands for manual or uniform traffic control devices.

All these engineers get in a room and they figure out what's best. Okay? They come up with these engineering standards. And so, basically, what you're trying to do is identify what is an appropriate device to put on a road. Not just simply do something, but what is an appropriate device? That's where you start getting into a conversation about the difference between a speed bump, speed hump, speed table. Uh most people do not like a speed bump. Some of them find these little speed pillows or these little smaller speed bumps, if you will, speed humps to be a little bit more powerful in their community. Most people buy into speed tables um which has a little larger surface area on the top of the ramps about the same the large surface area. So that's more of a smooth police and fire would prefer speed tables over speed bumps and we identify that DOT braoulevard whatever it may be usually um do traffic improvements depending upon the number of accidents we have to decide whether or not it's a problem before come up with a solution to do something. So these are engineering standards from turning movements to all the different stuff. Um and then of course you know what's the average speed average daily traffic? How many of them speeds? I suggest to you that the board um policy needs to be broken down into four simple issues that I wrote down before I came. One, the board needs to decide how many speeding cars there needs to be before there's a problem. Okay,

sit forward. Yeah, [laughter] understand what you're saying. One kid, then he gets a th000 car.

Okay. Um, and then they need to decide what warrants that. Uh, they need to say, what does it need to be? Does it need to be a speed bumper? Definitely not a stop sign, but a speed bump or a speed [clears throat] bump or a speed t. Let me give you the history behind some of that stuff. Um, in one of the cities that I served, the residents came together and signed a petition to install [clears throat] speed pillars, which is a non-aggressive or a little less aggressive speed bump or speed pump. You take these and you spread them across the entire road and you pound them in the road. In order to do that, they had to have a petition signed by 67% of the people who lived in that subdivision. That subdivision had over 640 residents who lack 67% of them had degrees. 400 have them had to agree. So they then they decided what they were going to put in based on the board policy. then they have to pay for it themselves. The policy was once 50% then it was amended to include 100%. Um if it's something that you need to do then you need to take and pay for it. How do you do that? Have you push not push that to the taxpayer? So that's 100% issue that they had to face. Well they went through all of this process and installed it. Next thing you know, somebody went up that was probably the other 33% I guess but uh there's always that always that one. That's why you need the board to decide on the type if it's something that's temporary or something that can be dried up. Um, in another city they said they'd have to be concrete ramps and asphalt ramps built into the pavement. All right. The reason it's concrete is now pays

instead of these things that you just count in the road. Um, for the record, um, it's those four issues. Number one, what are the warrants meaning there is an issue? Are there accidents an issue? Number two, what are you going to install based on MGCB standard that needs to be defined by the board can't be just whatever. Okay. And then um finally how do you take make sure the signage is in place and how do you make sure that standards and then who pays for it? That's the gist of any policy that you address. Now, what you got some of were 10 pages and some 20 pages and um they may not get [clears throat] the question for the board is um what would you like to see? Mr. Watson is here and I'm sorry we keep bringing it up but we've had a lot of convers actually we have kind of an argument first but we come

but you know but you know what you you offered the olive branch and then you can't speak for so at the end of the day um the action step or the request is what say you would the board like to for staff to draft some type generic policy associated for board adoption consideration.

Absolutely. That is exactly what I was going to ask next. But before that question, what would be a realistic timeline to see this come back before the board? I know we've got um massive things working right now and you have a million things on your plate. Um so realistically could we revisit this maybe next uh the February work session? Yes, you could. I can I can having all these different policies that Mr.

So I will now ask the board to give consent to staff um to prepare uh a generic policy and bring that back to us at our February work session. I have a comment on Go ahead, Commissioner Jackson. My question is I know you stated those numbers and those stats there. Is that for residential or is that for the main highways? Nothing occurs on the main highways. Usually they don't allow them like hotel.

No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no. I mean, no. I mean your statistics by saying how much how many speeders and all of that is that for the um residential or is that for open? because you're not going to have the amount of speeders for open road in the neighborhood. You're not going to have it. And nine times out of 10 that the people that are speeding in the neighborhood is probably people who live in the neighborhood because they're coming through there. So why would why would you judge those numbers based on what you're saying that they have to have so many speeders come through because one speeder kill a kid and then what?

That's a decision for the board. I I I don't I won't I will deny confirm basically yes this is just for residential streets not main thorough affairs not boulevard um anything along that it's just residential streets and yes it can come down to just one and that's a decision

I I recommend that um I don't mind going out and just maybe one day just sit out there and just have lunch or something and watch exactly how many people come through there because I don't I don't want the the neighborhood ood to be short and if there's five five speeders that's coming through there and there's kids on there that we say oh you got to have six speeders when there's five going on it takes once for me to kill someone Jackson that's what we're going to have it come to the work session in February so we can discuss all of this and we can figure out how we want

but I t I'll make sure a little different from what I we usually discuss it right here so I apologize the way we do it is when we let staff go and prepare. Um, so so they go in and figure out how or what it is we do and they make the recommendation, bring the recommendation back to us and then we figure out how we want to do it and send it back to staff. But how are they going to figure it out if they

That's what he was saying. They did a windshield survey with um with Chief German and they went out and they were they were counting. Okay. But they sir, I did see your hand. However, we do not take questions during um the meeting. You would have to sign up for public comments in order to contribute. By the way, I'm here with Mr. I know he shouldn't have been That's John's fault. John shouldn't have been talking to me on that one. I'm sorry, sir. I could sir. Sir, you I know, but you can't do that from the audience. I'm sorry. If I open up to you, I have to open up to everybody. See you, John. Mayor Proton.

Thank you, Madam Mayor. According to the document we received in the agenda, it does say discussion discussion discern related to unauthorized installation of the speed bumps. This discussion is prompt by recent incidents. So, I am um sir, we're going to look into this to make sure. As you stated, it only takes one vehicle to hit a individual. But my question is on this document it says that um these speed bumps was removed. Yes.

So my question is they were unauthorized for this state. They was removed. So where are they? Yes. They might. Okay. If the citizen that's what I was my question if the citizen purchased them. I just wanted to know where they were. But this document does not say where they are. So, I just want to make sure since y'all purchased them that you still had them. Um, and again, it does have a discussion. So, it's good to have a discussion so that you know that we're [clears throat] about your concern. Okay. Next work session so he

All right. We will now move on to uh resolution 20261 to obtain permanent ownership and maintenance of Caleb Farms Road, Old Angus Lane and Tory Drive and Caleb Farm subdivision phase one historic. Uh mayor, this is just a matter of procedure. It's very difficult to develop and once the roads are built to engineering standards based on they are assessed and we get a stamp approval of them and the city accepts those forgive me. not the actual better with that. But basically, we will accept these roads, they will become part of our long-term maintenance plan with our power dollars. Um, and we be adding to roughly 29 miles.

So, when we um uh take on the roads, does our power increase as well? Yes. Any questions or comments from the board? I got it highlighted. Okay. It says you take over and the maintenance and it stated here that the employees will do the maintenance. What does all of the maintenance require?

Actually, you'll be doing the resurfacing in the long run based on the life cycle of the roof. We will resurface it holes things of that nature. Um for example, this year and this year uh alone, I think we funded over $800,000 in new services. about half of that has been completed here today. So in the long term it's going to have to be resurfaced. That's what says lifetime resurface. We are not we are not equipped to actually pay those. So we have to outsource that yeah I've seen employees kind of kill them and then it

in a few months they come back up. Uh but we have some situation people vehicles already get destroyed. That's why when they said a lifetime of maintenance with the I was wondering about the existing roads as well the lifetime maintenance. I do I see you feeling but don't if if you won't owe me to this specifically

okay the last cost estimate for a 2in wheel is about 250 to 350 per mile. So in order to get that flashing bottom um and so I don't want to speak for contractors but at the end of the day they make money by the mile and so when they come in and have to do small jobs they can do big jobs and they can't have to be deployed to get all their equipment they go around and so we're really at all of this all of these projects are bid out on an annual basis and we did this with our civil engineering firm actually did all the processes all the specifications, but at the end of the day, you're looking at this from 250 to 350,000 per mile. And so that's the cost difference.

It's cost and I I understand, but you know, the the roads here in the streets and it is a big concern of citizens. So when it says a lifetime for a new Yes. And you're going to be doing that. We need to continue to look at our existing uh streets as well because it is a big concern for our citiz all of our staff has been put through something that we refer to as strong academy. We should be very very careful about annexing or taking ownership of future maintenance liabilities when we cannot fund the maintenance liabilities.

Yeah, that was my concern. The point that would be made here is that we budgeted this year 800,000 for paving roads and we only have roughly 1 million in the bank. So we only got about two years of paving and we get 350 450 something like that

350 a year of cow wheel funds and so anything that extends beyond $350,000 is going to require some type of general fund subsidy outside of you know the education very important for the citizens as well to let them know that we're certainly concerned about their concerns and this is our And but when it said a lifetime for a new then I'm wondering about the old road. I love sharing that thing that I like. How about that discussion so they'll understand as well. Thank you.

Uh yeah just briefly and this is really just a formality uh because a resolution does have to be passed to take legal ownership of those roads. So those will become city streets. However, we can't really not do this because we already approved prior boards already approved. I can remember when we did it already approved the plat and agreed in advance that hey, if you do what we say as far as how to do these roads and build this way, we've approved your plat your roads in exchange dedicate those to the public which means the town light and we are telling you in advance we will take ownership of them. So this is really just the formality and formally taking ownership of those roads. So I certainly understand all

education is key. Yes. But that that's all I was getting. Thank you. Appreciate it. Uh if there any if there's no further discussion from the board, I'll entertain a motion to approve resolution 20261 to obtain permanent ownership and maintenance of Kalin Farm Road, O Angus Lane, and Tory Drive and Kalin Farm subdivision phase one. Commissioner Cooper. So moved. Is there a second? I second. Any discussion? All in favor? I thank you. Oh, that works so much better. Why did I do that a long time ago? Motion carries.

All right, we'll move on to agenda item 98 H. Resolution 20262 providing [clears throat] uh notice pursuant to interlocal agreements and supporting full county funding and management of the joint 911 operation center. Uh Mr. May there in your um agenda packet you will receive the minutes from meeting back in October. You'll actually see the authorization of the board to send this letter of intent to withdraw the 911 agreement um from the board. That letter is also in your fact that that sent to the county manager. It has since come up on whether or not that action or town manager actions. But I want to briefly give you some of the background associated with this. Um the in 2009 the town of Spring Lake entered into an agreement for Cumberland County to staff up and begin a central communications what's typically known as a PAP public safety answer. Now some of you myself included will remember that you used to get the call a sevendigit number that you call that would ring it to a police department and police department staff and someone that would dispatch this person that person associated with so the town of Spring Lake entered into an agreement in 2009 for the Cumberland County and the Spring Lake Police Department's 911 center to merge. So the county took over ownership and operational and in exchange for that the city the town agreed to provide them roughly $135,000 worth of funding per year to pay for the staff right that were basically for them to

take the two people we had in Spring Lake and absorb them in the 911 center staff. Um since then [clears throat] and somewhere around 2014 they did an amendment to that original agreement and they were trying to get that number reduced and the county would not agree to reducing that number. We kept it at 135,000 a year. Fast forward and you find yourself in that agreement still paying 135. So over at least a 10ear period. Now, this is technically a 15ear period, but over a 10 year period, the town of Spring Lake residents has subsidized the operation of the 911 center to the tune of about $1.3 million.

So, the question becomes, how does that play out and how did you get there? All right. So, the agreement was to pay those the two staff members to be absorbed by the county and it also has in there a statement that says if the county ever receives any type of public safety tax um they would actually reduce that payment some equitable amount in terms of what was coming from the city. The that never happened. So you got to think of the taxing structure and how this impacts the residents in Spring Lake. If you live in Spring Lake, when you live in Spring Lake, you are taxed, we heard it tonight, from the county for the provision of services. They provide tax you have tax to provide services. That includes funding for the schools, funding for this, and funding for that. Okay? So they tax you that tax. You're also taxed in spring lake an ab. So if you live in spring lake, you pay double the taxes, county taxes and spring lake tax. When you live in Spring Lake, you're also taxed a third time for your uh the capital cost that the county um for the record Jason pulled it up. Uh this year they're budgeted to receive $676,000 of state 911. The withdrawal of the agreement is about discontinuing to pay for the staff, not withdrawing from 911. Um, it is everybody's belief that there should be a consolidated 911 public safety answer point. When you dial 911, you should have to decide whether it goes to Fort Bragg, whether it goes to

Spring Lake, whether it goes to where it goes to county. So, this resolution is basically um in front of you to follow up on that initial action from April where we will withdraw from providing the subsidy based on the concept that that is double taxation. Our residents are being taxed three times pay the same services that the county has decided to give up and operate. Furthermore, they're currently having conversations about that joint PAP with uh FE who's going to operate and manage it. Um so for the first time you will hear that um the belief and the thought is is that that should be a fully funded fully operational and fully managed facility of Cumberland County. So our resolution would basically withdraw $135,000 but ask for the county to operate and fully fund and manage the 911 center separate from that's a decision they have to make. That's it in a nutshell.

Again, um thank you, Mr. Roy, because this was a great catch. Um not just double, but triple taxation. Um it's absurd. So, a good catch on finding this and making sure that we again are being good stewards of Spring Lake's tax dollars. So, without further Oh, we got lights. Commissioner Jackson, you first. Um, quick question just so I can have a basic good understanding. Um, if we don't So, we're basically taking 135,000 and we've been paying the county to help um, put somebody in position to answer the 911 calls. Is that what you're saying?

They're already in that position. They've been in those positions for 15 years. And then we're paying to help pay their cost for doing it. Yes. Okay. So, if we decide not to pay them, then who who who pays them? We're already paying them three times. Okay, I understand that. But I'm saying if you stop all that, and I agree with you, we shouldn't be paying three times. But if you stop all of that, are they going to still be funding for 911 to still be able to function here? That's what I want to know. 911 functions here through the PAP in Cumberland County. We do not have a 911 center here. So, it won't it's not going to affect you pull out. That's what I need to thank.

So the subsidy we were paying we're pulling back because now the county is receiving state funding. Okay. And the clause is in the state funding says that if they're if they're receiving state funding then we shouldn't have to we should negotiate the contract. That's never happened. This has just been

auto document in the agenda. The first one was sent out June 11, 2025 stating you have to have a year to be able to stating that the interlock 911 dispatch service that you're asking us to uh assist the citizen was taxed two to three times for pay. Okay, that's when it was originally sent out, I think. And then the other documents you got paid for today. So, one of the the one that was sent out on June 11, 2025 says $140,000 Spring Lake property tax subsidized the Cland County Emergency. And then the one for today has 100 Approximately 135,000 affected Tuesday, June 30, 2026. So which one is correct? 135,000.

The number on the actual memorandum dated June 11th actually has a TB in front of it which means approximately 140,000. So we're talking about rounding numbers there. The actual is 135. Oh, so it is 135. Okay. I just noted the difference and since

uh since the um citizens was taxed two times and then three times, how do they get their monies back? This was this was 2009 originally and then since this was been going on for so long and it should have been and it was double tax or three time tax I see but I just [laughter] I'm ready for sure we don't so again we've been over tax don't know and again the good catch is well that's $5,000 difference Um, yeah.

So, anyway, I just want to know what happened. Basically, um, it wasn't the cops, uh, prior to Mr. Royy's for a long time. I mean, going back, I don't know how long. Um, but as far as Yeah. As far as legally, uh, the town signed the agreement, which is so we have no reason for all that, which and then Mr. Rory and I when he brought this to we looked at it is a pretty simple contract year's notice that was approved the year's notice was given here we are coming up on that and that's why he's asking for ahead

I just wanted to know the difference

yeah but I wish we could get it on a contingency this this resolution is not request of John's rescend. What was the difference in the amount and where uh so for future reference if we no longer pay the monies then at the end of the year when we get our tax bill that means we're not going to be taxed since we've been taxed this since 2009. So that [clears throat] will show on our tax bill, right? You said we're being taxed. So how is this going to

It does not show on your tax bill, right? It's been built into the general fund budget. And so there's been no specificity that your taxes can pay for this until now. Now, what that means is, and I think your next item, we'll talk a little bit about recreation as well, right?

What that means is is even though this doesn't necessarily hold true, represents about each each one on your tax rate now is about $72,000. So you could look at it this way. Um if I don't send it there for 911, I could use 130,000 to fill some of those unlimited payment police divisions, which would be my goal. All right? um or you could do some type of deduction strategy but mine would be to recommend to fill police positions and the board would have to decide in terms of the option but we don't know and I think I would love to know the two the two and then three times that the citizens have been paying that you stated and that's what we want to stop it we still have 911 u I'd like to know what that dollar amount bring to us 1.82,000.8 everything that we do. I just want to know is 129,600.

It's just it's just less than two cents tax. Thank you. Yes. Um I have a question. Wasn't that uh weren't they getting the money from the on your phone bills? There's a charge for 911. That wasn't the um county getting that money cuz we didn't. That's the 600,000 he was talking about from state money. It comes from your phone tax. Okay. So, you're paying city tax, county tax, and telephone tax. Okay.

Any other questions or comments from the board? All right. And I entertain a motion to approve um resolution 20262 providing notice pursuant to the interlocal agreement and supporting full county funding and management of the joint 911 operations center. Is there a second? Commissioner Cooper. Any discussion? All in

favor. Motion carry. All right. We are nearing the end of our agenda. We've been out, y'all. We have work to do. We've been gone for a long time. A whole new year. All right. Resolution 20263 authorizing the lease of the com of the community recreation center building to Cumberland County. Mr. Uh, a little bit of backdrop on that one as well. The the city, the town has agreed to allow Cumberland County to tax our residents 5 cents for the permission of providing recreational services. With the rebal, the revenue neutral number to generate the same amount of revenue would have been 3 cents. However, Cumberland County decided to keep their the tax at 5 cents, which means they get additional funds. Part of that agreement never considered the debt service for the recreation center across the street. Um, and so now they're taxing our residents and providing recreational services in the facility and the facility the town of Spring Lake owns. Um, you guys had your meeting there and swear right there in that facility. The debt service on that is 130 some thousand. Forgive me, I'm getting close to it at that point as [clears throat] well. Um per year for the next 21 years.

So the board had [clears throat] a meeting and a discussion with the county commissioners about taking on that debt. right now the the thing the idea of taking on that debt brings different types of costs right if they take on the debt should they not own the asset um I don't think the board was really interested in the county owning the assets but if they're going to use it they should be able to pay for that use and they should do it because they're already taxing 5 cents to our residents and the revaluation at that point was a little bit elevated So this discussion here um has occurred between the board, our board of uh commissioners and the county board commissioners, not necessarily all of them. I don't know exactly who's to discuss this. Um and the thought was that they would take on the debt, but then when I've had discussions regarding district 911, it's well, how do you do that without conveying an asset? And the way you do that is through lease. And so I do not know if the county will officially lease the building from us as laid out in this resolution only that that's been a point of discussion and they asked for this board to provide a resolution support asking for that to happen. Um once again my resolution just something that I am conveying um to the board for city. Um, and for the record, it stands the same reason. [clears throat] Now, now think about this. The county is taxing our residents 5 cents on top of what we're taxing to provide recordation. Then we're taxing 74 cents that we're turning around taking two cents of that equivalent two cents of that pay.

Are you tracking now? talk about 7 cents give or take on our tax rate. So this is another one of those 1.8 8 something to 1.9 on our tax rate. That um if you're following the math, this represents about 4 that we pushing to the county for that's the purpose. So again, we're not giving up ownership. In layman's turn, um the county is renting a rec center to provide services to us. And if they're rent, somebody's renting your house, you would expect them to pay the rent for your mortgage. Correct. So that's basically what's happening. Direct center steal our house. We still own the property. The county is going to pay the mortgage on you. That

we hope hope we hope. So, just again, we are not losing our rec center. It is still owned. The land and the building is still owned by the town. Um, Commissioner Jazz. Um, when So, if you do the resolution, when will it take effect? Does it take effect when the contract is over? When is the contract?

So, the resolution is just to is to give it to the county to make a request that they do this. So, they asked us to instead of having a meeting or conversation, put it in a resolution. so that they can vote on it. Um, so this will go to their board, we can't we don't know what they're going to do with it. Um, yes or no. Now, the if you're talking about the agreement for them managing the record, is that what you're talking about? Well, you you're asking us to sign a contract that is almost No, a resolution. A resolution that So, what does the resolution do that the contract don't do?

It's just requesting that they take on the funding for the lease. Uh, so when when would if you if you do the resolution tonight, when does the resolution go into effect? Yeah, it goes into effect. It goes to a vote for the county to to make a decision on it. I'm I'm I'm going to I'm going to um Well, whenever we get rid of the commission, I I don't understand that. So, I think Go ahead, Mr. Yeah. Ju just briefly. Right now, they aren't paying anything to us to lease the rent.

What how did that happen? It did. LGC was here. That's what you know. So, right now they're not paying. All right. So, what this the board of commissioners for the county wants to work with us on this is my understanding. In order for them to be able to vote on it, they wanted us to pass a resolution so we can say, "Hey, we want you to pay us a lease payment as we're paying a mortgage payment." Essentially, if this is passed tonight, now we'll go to the county board of commissioners. They can then vote on it and hopefully we can cut a deal. So, the resolution tonight doesn't mean anything is going to be signed today, tomorrow, or even next week. We're just trying to cut.

It's just giving them permission to talk about and see if they will. Yes, ma'am. So, we're not signing anything saying nothing. Correct. That that would have to come back later for So, it will come back to the board. Yes, ma'am. The legal eagles would have to craft out this lease agreement to make sure they fit all the requirements. Other than that, this is just a discussion. And I know you said that some of the board was have a conversation with some of the boards on the county commissioner. Is that what you said earlier? Is that what I heard? Yes, ma'am. So, how what what board members does that? Why why wasn't the whole entire board there to do that and have that talk? I can't speak for the Cumberland County Commissioners, but the entire I'm not talking about them. I'm talking about us. The entire board for Spring Lake could have done that.

Okay. So, if we go to do anything that the town the whole town board does that I'm not signing off. I don't understand. Commissioner Jackson, we had um the the meeting that's coming up that you just said you were going to come to with the county. We actually said uh myself, Mayor or Commissioner Cooper, uh Commissioner Lackman, we all uh and it was open to the entire board. We all sat and we discussed this. So, it was an open disc, but that's just one. I'm just asking questions. We should have motion.

And I also want to be clear that the county is not not paying for anything. Um that 5 cent on our tax is what keeps it's paying the salaries over there. it's keeping the the services going. So that's that 5 cent on our taxes going towards that as well. It's not they put um tens of thousands of dollars worth of repairs. It's not enough yet. We still have a little long way to go. Uh but that's what that it's not like nothing's happened over there. They just take over. We gave them the building for free. They're still running and managing all of our services, all of the the athletic teams, all of the events that happen over there, all of the grass mowing and those things are managed, too.

So, with us paying the the mortgage on the building and the 5% tax, that 5% tax that we're paying is going for them to manage the building. Correct. Yes. Um, Commissioner Burg.

Can you talk to your mic about the taxes? And we're not getting anything out of that building. Nothing. But we are. Well, we did.

So, um, so far to date, they have done massive repairs on our on the HVAC system. over there. They've done um overhauls with the park system, that Mendoza Park upgrade, that was done through the county. Um all of our programs, all the staff that's paid over there, though, that's all um done through the county through that 5 cent that we're paying. And which is why um it's it's being the work that's being done. We're not we don't pay for that at all. the only thing we pay over there is for the mortgage or the the the debt service is the only thing we pay. So now they're taking on that debt service as well. So it'll be more like they are like a renter, an actual renter that's managing the services. Again, we own the property still and it's not that they're not doing if they weren't doing anything then there would be nothing happening at the rec center. There would be no Mendoza park upgrades. Uh none of that would have happened. So services are being provided. We're just they're taking on more. They're taking on this debt service from us because they are the tenants in that building.

We pay them to run our parks and wreck. They are providing the service that the town could not afford to provide. We can at that time we were in a terrible financial situation and so we were unable to pay for the upkeep and maintenance and programs and repairs over there. So we had to do an agreement with the county to manage our services. Now the county manages all municipalities in Cumberland County outside of Hills. So Steman East over God way they all have the exact same agreement. But we still pay the insurance. Yes. and we'll continue to pay insurance. But they taking care of everything over there as far as activity. Yes, sir.

But if somebody gets hurt over there, the town go, it's still town property. It's still our building. I I have another question. This I'm sorry. This 21 year term, why is it 21 year term? Why is it that long? It could be anything, Commissioner Jackson. At the end of the day, that's how much we owe the debt. Got 24 years. 21 more years to pay. Okay. So that's why you asking for the 21 terms so that what they give us will take care of the mortgage. So when they pay the mortgage and the the um the building title to the building, it will come to us. Time stays with us. Time stays with us. Yes.

Yes. That's why that's why insurance. Any other questions or comments from the board?

Madam Question since the citizens is paying for it's coming out of the taxes and it's on our tax bill. It used to be when the county did not have it, the citizen when for the rates they could utilize that at a certain rate because we're paying for now. I understand that if you try to rent it, it's substantial amount for a citizen here that's paying for it to be able to utilize it. So if you send in this agreement to them which is 131,249 and we wasn't getting that for four years whenever y'all turned it over to them and you said you went to the meeting and somebody else commissioners went to the meeting. I would have liked to seen any sense with c is to them that the citizens should get something out of it to be able to utilize it since they're paying for it and not have to go and pay those high fees to utilize it. So I just think that since it's still ours and I'm grateful that the Mandoa Park was remodeled and the children are there but I do think citizens should be able to utilize it like they used to without paying the high fees. And so if somebody's going to advocate for us with this lease and we got some people here that can kind of understand what we're saying, I would like for our citizens to have some kind of rate reduction to be able to utilize that cuz we used to pay to utilize it even though we still paying for it already. But now it's just I'm hearing it's ridiculous to try to rent it. we don't even have the activities that we

used to have that we look forward to because the affordability of citizens be able to use it. So, and that's another topic that we've been discussing too is to make sure that spring lake has representation on the currently county parks and rec um committee. That way those things like that will be discussed with them to tell them, hey, look, make sure we can get things in order. So, that it's important a part about representation. something that um our current county chair uh says he hears commissioner Cooper in his head all the time screaming make sure there's screen representation and so that's been a hot topic of discussion now it's making sure that these um issues are addressed reestablishing that open line of communication with the parks and rec center um that transition was a bit rough um and so reestablishing the connection between the town and the rec center with it being under new management has been It's been a bit difficult. Um, but we're getting there. So, and it's a constant conversation. And hopefully, um, I'll put you on the spot, Mr. Jackson. And hopefully she'll she'll be willing to be our representation.

Of course. Of course. On our parks and record. No problem with that. Okay. Good. I have a question though. Go ahead. When When is the contract up? You have a We have a contract with them, right? The agreement is ongoing. We could pull out the interlocal agreement. Uh, but that would be detrimental to us. Well, what is it? So, does the agreement go from date to date or is it just an open agreement? Whatever is the interal agreement is just it's it's just binding until Yeah, it's it's basically just like the 911 agreement. I thought it said it ends here. It says 2006 ending June the 30th, 247. No, that's just that's the debt service. That's the payment for the debt service. That's not the local agreement with the county parks and

so we have a blank agreement asking them for 131,000 You're No, no, no. Chief, uh, Commissioner Jackson's question is different. You're talking about just the interlocal agreement for them, not this resolution. You're talking about our agreement to with them to manage our rent services, right? That goes on forever unless we pull out. Can I get a copy of that? Yes. Let me understand this. So, we're asking for them to take over. This is the lease amount that we ask. So how long? So this date on here is this date correct for the lease amount

for for the purpose of a resolution. Yes. Now we can actually get into the lease agreement. You can do that for 5 years, 10 years, 15 years something other as approved or calculated. But at the end of the day, this is a resolution to pick up debt service annually. 21 years. Um, it's in the resolution that says that it'll go back to I mean the town can establish how they're going to work out the payment arrangements for that agreement as well. So that it'll come back to us to see how they're going to agreement.

Any other questions or comments? All right. Uh, now entertain a motion to approve the resolution 20263 authorizing the lease of the community recreation center building to Car County. Commissioner Thompson. Is there a second? Commissioner Cooper second. Any discussion? All in favor by show of hands. Any opposed? Okay. Okay. I'll call I'll call for the motion to hear. All in favor by showing hands for the lease no long

and the resolution does not overpower the we have to keep our sidebar please. Thank you. Commissioner Jackson. Yes. All in favor show against. Motion carries. That's right. I I I appreciate you guys asking questions. Absolutely. Oh, I'm sorry, Commissioner Cooper. I think

Okay. All right. Well, we are now on to our reports and I only have two this week. Um I will be with Samo tomorrow. Um so I will bring back any information that that happens there. And we also have our uh mayor's meeting with myself, Fateville, and Hope Mill to talk about regionalization issues um and opportunities. And that is all I have for now. Mayor Pro.

Thank you, Madam Mayor. I'd like to thank you all for coming. Continue to come out and support your town. Uh I ask a lot of questions because I like to understand. I don't like uh vote on the item if I'm not understanding. and I want you all to understand as well. So again, thank you all for being here. Commissioner Thompson,

happy new year to everyone. The only thing I have is that Bel Church um 255 ARO um starting tomorrow at 5:30, they're starting their free tutoring. So if you have some children, any children that you know that need extra help ting be more than happy to take them there at 5:30. And again, that runs from um tomorrow the 13th of January until um April. That's all I have. Oh, Tuesdays and Thursday. I stand in correctly. Tuesday and Thursday, Commissioner Jackson. Um thank y'all for coming. I too long. I apologize. I got to know what's going on. So, um thank y'all for coming.

You guys do not have to apologize for doing your job. Not at all. The work of the town sometimes goes long even if y'all don't like it. Commissioner Burg, I'd like to thank everybody for coming. Also, the meeting was a little long today, but we got it done. We thank each and every one of you.

Yes. Uh January 19th at 9:00 a.m. over by Tractor Supply, there will be a clean up. There's an old slave cemetery and they'll be doing a clean up for Martin Luther King. Um, secondly, I wanted to congratulate the mayor. He was accepted to advanced leadership core at the University of North Carolina School. I've been trying to get here for four years.

I [clears throat] graduated from the first the best class, I'm sorry, 2020. And Mayor Ray graduated sometime before me, but he's class. Uh and also uh I will be planning uh meetings for my strategic planning group which is safe, vibrant and healthy community. And we do need some community volunteers still. Uh and I'm also working with Brit to get uh have medicine boxes placed in the community. I'll see how many I can get and also some free Wi-Fi. I'm probably talk to the manager and see where that should be strategically placed, but how they want to do some they want to be a partner to our uh oh and um there will be another community suite uh um on in March and it will be Holly Hills. So if you don't want to get a red door hanger, you want to make sure you don't have over a junk pile and what's the other one?

Oh, an abandoned vehicles uh annual vehicles parked in the right away. It's going to be a community suite. We hope everybody gets yellow and greens in Holly Hills, but uh it'll be sometime in March. That's it.

We don't need So, u just I want to make sure that I highlight that walk through. Um I walked I was walking through my neighborhood this morning and there were several high houses that were cited um with red that are now cleaned up. So, um those tags were very effective and I see it with my own eyes walking through my neighborhood. So, thank you for that. It was a great idea. Um Mr. temporary u focus groups for representation. All I need mayor is or my hope is that everything we talked about fall into one of those four categories of plans. And so with Commissioner Lackman and Commissioner Stones, we have vacancies in terms of representation on the water infrastructure group and we need representation from the white side. Um I think you already intended to talk a little bit more about that with the AIA since I got drafted that earlier. Basically that's just the final the final thing. We need somebody to represent those groups because we will have to circle back around and talk about those types of things. So, uh, while we're on the topic, I would like to ask our new, um, commissioners, Mayor Pro Tim, uh, if you would volunteer to serve on one of those, um, focus groups.

Look like they put me on it already. No, that was for those are our committees. This is totally different. This is for our strategic plan. focus group. No. So, no, that's just the regular committee's appearance. Then I have those, but this one's for our focus group. So, I have economic development. Commissioner Thompson and Commissioner Cooper are both on um safe, vibrant, healthy communities. So, again, we have our um infrastructure and then our wastewater storm water um focus groups. If you guys want to volunteer for one of those, I would like to information.

Perfect. Um, so if you want to just go through your strategic plan, you can just send me or Mr. Rory an email um picking whichever one you want to be on and so more than likely two of you work together um so that everyone has a part of the focus group. So if you just want to breeze through the the strategic plan and send us an email, let us know which one you choose. Thank you, Mr. Porter. I

I'll just say I'm on the flight one. So if anybody wants to be on the pool like uh and it is interesting because uh Chief German and Chief William they find a lot out there Jason find a lot out there and it's been a focus of the town anyway. So y'all want to start with us uh very briefly SLPA just wanted to touch upon that because that came up tonight. Uh still waiting to hear back and coordinate with Hutchkins law firm on where we're at. So just so the uh new board members understand SLPA owned and this is a very very promise. SLPA owned that property. So that would have a separate legal entity. So what we did in order to clean this up was buy a note from the bank. We're now going to foreclose upon that note so we can get that property. Unless someone else wants to come and out, you know, that's up to them. But I don't think they can afford it quite frankly. So trust me, but anyway, maybe they will. Uh, and then that is it other than very good to see my fellow county.

Sure. But I just need some clarification. the school. Uh you said that the red door knocks and they don't be in an area, but you're going to educate the citizens so they won't be caught off guard and get ticketed up. Fine. Um who does that? Do we have a employee here that goes around all the employees get come together? This employee has all the employees come together and they spread out in groups of three. just they spread out and they um hit every door in that community. So here was the first one and um this next one it's part of the focus groups

right they knock the doors and if are they looking to you said make sure the grass is cut the vehicles is not there so they at the propert make sure they cleaned up right right all of that is um you know part like a part of code enforcement because enforcement is the police department so yeah that's my yes so they'll Let them know ahead of time. Right. But instead of, you know, doing something embarrassing, it's more than ready to educate, right? That's the key I wanted to emphasize, forgive me for stepping in. We never find

the goal is to knock on the doors and what we call violations, educate, inform, and then probate the code force issues before for right to send out a notice to give them an opportunity since all right now we will entertain a motion to go into close session pursuant to NCGs 143318 11186 personnel uh Commissioner Cooper may discussion.

All in favor? All right, we are now in close session. Thank you all for coming out again. Happy New Year. Safe travels. Stay warm. Just blow it outside.

Close motion second. Any discussion? Of course not. All in favor? Motion carries. Any discussion? No public. I didn't hear it. I'm sorry. All right. All right. I didn't hear you. I'm sorry. Don't thirst me. I'm