Board of Commissioners - Regular Meeting

I'll ask Pastor Williams to please come for the invocation and the pledge of allegiance. You may stand if you like. Let's pray. Heavenly Father, we thank you for bringing us together in this moment. We acknowledge you as the source of wisdom, peace, and truth and invite the present to this meeting. Bless every official in this place. Lord guide every conversation and every decision made here tonight that every voice we heard embrace and every heart be open to wisdom. Father lead us in what is right and beneficial for your entire community. Have your way in this way. May your will be done in Jesus name. Amen.

Amen. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

Thank you. Our mayor is out of town taking care of some great business uh in DC and she will be returning. Let's continue to lift her up in prayer for safe travels, addition and deletions to the agenda. Jackson,

I make a motion that we delete item E town search Joe and Harwins North Carolina legalities. We can second. been properly moved and second and we'll move on to approval of the agenda. Motion to approve the agenda.

Mr. Jackson, I make a motion that we approve the agenda.

Mr. Burgers second. Been probably moved and second. Approval of the consent items. Motion to approve the consent item for draft minutes of March the 19th, 2026 special meeting as well as draft minutes March the 23rd, 2026 work session meeting. Commissioner Thompson. Um, so move. Can we get a second? Commissioner Cooper second. It's been probably moved and second.

Okay, we have public comments. There is three minutes per speaker and I think we've been here long enough to understand to abide by the rules that uh for the town. So, we'll ask our first one to come up. You have three minutes to speak. Quincy Marshall Quinnise. Quice Marshall.

Good afternoon, commissioners. My name is Quice Marshall. I'm resident of Spring Green Lake. I live in the Deerfield complex. In 2021, the town faced a serious financial crisis. The local government commission stepped in after mismanagement and finance and a finance officer was indicted for stealing over $500,000. That moment damaged both our finances as well as our reputation. Over the past four years, I've watched a mayor and a board of commissioners from all walks of life come together with respect and a shared mission. They built relationships, attended trainings, and worked hard to rebuild the town and restore public trust. They brought stability and professionalism back to Spring Lake. That progress matters, and we do not want to lose it. During the last election, commissioners Jackson and Sutherland campaigned on transparency and improving communication, especially the idea that public comments should be acknowledged and responded to. But by the second meeting, by their second meeting in office, the community saw the opposite. No engagement, no warning, no open discussions of concern. Instead, a closed session, a backdoor decision, and a town manager removed without explanation while a replacement was already sitting in the audience. That is not transparency. And the continued lack of answers despite repeated and respectful questions from the residents only deepen the concern. I also want to address tone. I recently watched past meetings held by the commissioners uh in at the time in office southerntherland and Jackson and uh there was a lot of yelling there were a lot of threats it made me think

that I understand now why the reputation of Spring Lake was what it was and we don't want to bring that energy back this community is not here for bitterness side comments personal jabs especially towards a board that worked hard to fix one of the lowest points in the town's history. This is an unprofessional and unnecessary and we notice it. Please leave the egos at home. And I'll offer a simple analogy. A house is neglected to the point that outside people have to step in to rebuild it where they are in the process of putting new people in that space to rebuild it to allow it to fall apart and then walk back into the house and point out every little thing that hasn't been done. It's unnecessary and that's exactly what that feels like. We have questions that still haven't been answered. One, what was the town manager dismissed for? what process was used to select a replacement and Mr. English exactly what the process was for hiring you what what your process was and I'm hoping that we actually get some answers.

Thank you. Thank you Mrs. Marshall. Next passage of Steve England, Steve England, uh at 2011 South Main, I just wanted to to tell the town how much I appreciate and the mayor also uh uh for our our time that we had Saturday. uh the mayor came out and she presented a award to a gentleman and he wanted to make sure that I told you all how much he enjoyed that time and how much he enjoyed her picking him out. I just wanted to thank you um and for coming together. It's it's amazing that just the least little thing something like a car and horsepower can bring people in. Uh so that was all I wanted to say. Just thank you uh the board of commissioners, the mayor, the town, uh the chief of police, um all of you for doing that for us. We appreciate it so much.

Thank you, Pastor. Our next one is Sean Bridges Bridge. Good afternoon everybody. I'm here again uh to further discuss how we need to um keep on coming together. Um the public hearing I believe is on the 27th of this month. They have a school board meeting tomorrow. Um it's really vital that we as the community come out and show up. Um in the sense that we need to come and show what we what we want. Um I've reviewed the data extensively. I also have it's all public access and the public access and um one of the main things that they're doing is they were saying that they had 257 kids enrolled when they did that survey. um that was actually the number of kids they had enrolled at the beginning of the 2024 2025 year. Now we were at 3 to 15. So it is a more difference of approximately not to mention that WT the same case. Um something that I'm not sure the public seems to understand or look at is the simple fact that WT Brown kids are affected by this too. There's also some people that if we know any family that those kids, they need to know him because if the goal is to move Manchester Brown where kids go, they have to go somewhere. So that's also something that they don't know that they might not be going and those families shouldn't be known

and that should be knowledge that the school board should be talking about. Um, and it's not just that. It's that we need to go there and we need to stress the fact that the data does not line up for a good intended data that's wrong. Um, of their $83 million budget, $250 million of it was related to appearance. They were not items that needed to be replaced. It was items that they deemed were unclean, um, dirty soil or deed otherwise unsightly. 250 million right now was literally because they like the way another 150 is talking about energy conservation. At what point is energy conservation effort actually make your money back? Is it worth it to shut a school down to save a couple electricity better? How much time before things come? The other thing that we need to discuss and put up to the board of education um when it comes to things like that that's data point I will be going tomorrow I'm going to speak top data points unfortunately the problem kind of is that they don't seem to keep my hand um all I have also um 147 199.

Thank you, Mr. Bridg. And thank you so very much for your research. There is a difference in the numbers of the children. We've been attending the board meetings uh board of education meeting. Please get with Miss Jackson as well as uh Miss Chadwick to share that information as well as they'll continue to share the information with you. Thank you so very much. Aviana Washington. She's not here.

Okay. Mr. James O'Ra 614 Lake. I just want to come out and let you know that I'm described as police neighborhood and uh at my corner on Duncan and Lake Tree the stop sign is like a uh like it's not there but recently the police have started parking over in the corner and uh it's become stop sign and I won't compliment them to that. Also, I was going to say about this, but uh I do know that the board uh well, the board members had asked the other board members to come to a special board meeting and they had turned it down on a number of occasions. Um, and that's part partial reason why they never knew about the new town manager. That's part of the reason why they didn't know that these individuals wanted to fire the old town manager. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. O'Reill. It's Robin Chadwick. Hello, my name is Robin Ch. I am your former mayor Timworth as well as commissioner and I reside at 202 Dunan Road. So I'm coming to you today to talk about the Manchester closure and consolidation. So Manchester is more than a school. is the heart of Spring Lake and it is the last remaining school that truly belongs to our community and its future directly affects the stability, pride, and growth of Spring Lake. So, we're asking family, friends, neighbors, and community partners to stand with us. The board of education will meet on April 14th, which is tomorrow, at 6 p.m. And we need a powerful united presence in the room. If you'd like to speak in support of keeping Manchester open, you must sign up on the board of education website between 12 and 5:30 p.m. on the day of the meeting. And we encourage everyone to log in at 11:45, so you can sign up the moment the portal opens. Our community has been asking for transparency and dialogue, and that request has finally been honored. A public forum will be held on April 27th from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. at Manchester Elementary. This is our opportunity to speak directly about what the school means to us and why it's closure will harm our community. We are asking every supporter to bring at least three to five additional people with you. Numbers matter. Our presence shows that Spring Lake is engaged, invested, and willing and unwilling to lose a foundational part of our town. Spring Lake is a growing community and we pay some of the highest taxes in Car County and our children deserve a state-of-the-art school in their neighborhood. Not long bus rides and

overcrowded classrooms. If Manchester closes and WT Brown reaches capacity, our students will be bus elementary school. That's right, Ponderosa Elementary School. And that means longer commutes, less connection to their home community, and fewer opportunities for families to stay involved. Keeping Manchester open is not just about a building. It's about preserving community identity, supporting local families, and ensuring equitable access to education. Not doing that is educational genocide. When a community loses its school, it loses a piece of its foundation. And we cannot allow that to happen here. Spring Lake has always been strong, resilient, and deeply rooted in pride. So now is the time to show. Let's invest in our children, our neighborhoods and future by showing up, speaking out, and standing together. Manchester matters, Spring Lake matters, and our children matters. This is our time. This is this is a pivotal moment for us to be part of the conversation. Okay? So, let's keep Manchester open. Please support us and please come out tomorrow. Please come to our um forum that will be held at Manchester Elementary. Thank you. Thank you, Miss Chadwick, for your diligent hard work that you even mentioned on last year when you served on the board about the closing of our schools and we'll continue to support you. So, thank you so very much for the work that you do for this great town of Spring Lake. Miss Betty Sanford,

praise the Lord, everybody. He's worthy. Oh, I be deprived. Search me, oh Lord, know my heart. Try me and know my thoughts. See if there's any wicked way in me and lead me in the way of everlasting. We have to ask God to do that. Okay? Because there are so many things that's going on in the community of Spring Lake. We're trying to get rid of the school. We saying we don't have houses. That's a lie. We do have houses. We have houses that people have not even moved into. Brand new houses, but the cost is high. It needs to be lowered. The next thing is um the main roads. They need to be repaired. You got bumps all over the road on 210 87. You got buildings that are all messed up. They need to be removed or repaired. Then you got these uh children that are talking about going over the Palmer road. No, no, no, no, no. That's not where they're going. They're going to stay right here in Spring Lake. In Spring Lake because this is where I live and this is where my children were were raised right here in Spring Lake. I volunteered at that school, you see. And so it's going to stay here. So, I want all all of Spring Lake go to the meeting, be there, and say what needs to be said because we do have houses for people. And in my neighborhood, we have new people that have already moved into the neighborhood, families of nine children. Where are they going to school? You got you got your seniors that don't drive. So, how are the children going to get to school? Come on now. We need to do something about this. The next thing is I want to

see more policemen. I want to see more in my community. I want to see them get somewhere and stop these people from driving so fast through the neighborhood because they drive too fast and nobody is there to stop them but me. And I told you blank my lights. You need to stop. Some of them slow down. Some of them give me favor. But that's okay. But I said, I'm going to get the police out there and going to get you where you're supposed to be. Sign your name to get you get going get fine. The other thing is the water. The water. Why do we have that on kiosk? We don't need it. I don't see anybody using it. Not that I'm over here every day, but we got that and we don't need that. You got people that are in wheelchairs. got people that's on walkers in all these states and then they got to walk all the way in here in order to pay that water bill. Come on now. That don't that don't make no sense. Well, let's go. Remember what I said. Thank you, Miss T. Uh Betty Son has always been passionate about her neighborhood. Her and I have walked the neighborhood. We have uh protested in the neighborhood about the balance and and things. So we thank you so very much, Miss Sanford, Miss W uh Graham.

Good evening, commissioners. Good evening. Good evening.

Uh my name is Rubber Graham, 10th Parent Circle uh in Spring Lake over West. Uh I'm just here this afternoon just to introduce myself and the organization which I uh again my name is Rub Graham. I'm a retired grand major. Uh been here in Spring Lake since 1971, over 50 years. And my purpose here today is to introduce myself as the new executive director of the Sand Hills Family Heritage Association. And uh as you know, most of you know, we lost our director, Miss Denkins back in October of last year. This year, we'll be celebrating our 25th anniversary on the 18th weekend. on June the 20th. Uh we have three things I'd like to share with you that you might not know. One is that we have programs that service the underserved community uh you know such as food banks, health classes, things like that. But we also have two major projects that we're working this year. And the first one is the uh Spring Lake Civic Center which is located on 230 Chap Hill Road. Um it's starting 75 years. We're renovating it this year and we'll be working with the city to help us finish up that project. Uh additionally, and most people don't know this is that we have the Deerfield Cemetery which is over by the tractor supply uh company there at the end of their parking lot. It's a slave cemetery. Most people don't know that that exists here in Spring Lake, but it will also bring cultural tourism here to the city once we get these two projects completed. So again, my purpose this afternoon was just to come and introduce myself and I look forward to meeting y'all. Thank you.

Thank you. Thank you very much, uh, Mr. Graham. And, um, of course, Miss Amy Jenkins is certainly missed, but we thank you for stepping up to serve, uh, the community as well. Mayor Pro Tim, I apologize. Uh, this is my fault. We need to go back and redo the motions uh after the the second to make sure everybody is asking for affirmative or a nay. I apologize.

Okay, just for uh item four and item five. So, we'll go back. Approval of the agenda. A motion to approve or deny Cooper. Um, I approve the agenda with the with the stated changes. Yes. Can we get second? It's been second by M. I so move. I mean I second. All in favor?

I. Perfect. Thank you. Approval of the consent items. Motion for approve or deny. M. Thompson. So move. We get a second. Second. It's been moved by Miss Thompson. Second by Commissioner Jackson. All in favor say I. I. Eyes have it. Thank you.

Okay. So, we'll move on to the presentation. Certificate of recognition. Uh this is um Mayor Kia Anthony. She's asked me to stand in as mayor prom in L of Mayor Anthony. These certificates is for spring lake flags along with coach Drew and coach T for winning the basketball championship at the Spring Lake Recreation Center. And as I call your name, you can come up, please. And I think we normally stand over by the flag. Is that correct? Zanna Davis help give her a hand. Stop right here, baby. Shallow calendar and I apologize. A buff.

Aula Palino. Jasmine let Jayla Lion. Jalisa Libertton.

Congratulations job. Well done. And again, keep doing the great work. Keep shooting shooting those hoops, spinning those, and being the best you can be. I think the women leave tonight at 7:00 going to be on with their championship. to go look at it. Thank y'all. CAREFUL.

OKAY. Take one more. Congratulations.

Thank you. Next presentation will be done by Rashanda Manuel, community development.

Good evening, commissioners. Good evening.

Good evening. Um, each year, Cumberland County Community Development prepares an annual action plan which serves as our road map for how we propose the use federal funding for our housing and community development funds in the upcoming year. We truly appreciate taking a few moments to allow us to discuss our programs because community development works best if it when it is shaped not just by plans and funding but by the people and the community. um that those investments are intended to serve. Our annual action plan was published on March the 20th and it is available for public comment during the 30-day period which started on March 20th approximately through April 20th. And thank you on the screen. So if you scan the QR code that is on the um the cover, it will take you to the county website and the annual action plan will come up. Um if there's any public comments coming from the community then feel free. I think we have some um cards we mail them to um town hall for them to write on and put their comments on. Okay. Absolutely. Perfect. Um and a copy is also on the website. Um so tonight is just not anformational meeting. It is an opportunity for you to help shape the priorities and projects that impact your community. Because while we're responsible for administering these funds, we want to make sure that the work continues to reflect real community needs, not just what looks good on looks good on paper. So tonight, I want to focus specifically on what we do, our entitlement grants. These are federal funds that the county receives the US Department of Housing and Urban Development. And the two primary entitlement grants we administer are the community block grant or CDBG and the home investment partnerships program. Call that home. These are our primary funding sources that support much of the housing public services and infrastructure we do throughout Cumberland County. Now, while those

names sound a lot political and they're all federal, the purpose behind them is very practical. The funds can be used to primarily benefit low to moderate income persons, aid in the prevention of um or elimination of slum and blight or address urgent need and that is a like a federally declared public disaster. So in plain s these funds are intended to help our community where the need is greatest and the impact can be meaningful. Our programs are our housing program that is operated by the do most of our public facilities programs our infrastructure programs housing rehabs minor housing repairs um public services investment rehabs which we call those our rental rehabs and our affordable housing in Spring Lake alone last year. I have an offer to present to you tonight. We did approximately 181,853 in repair and rehab. We actually partnered with Kingdom Community Development Corporation and we were partners with them in the Elizabeth Street project. If I'm not mistaken, it's right across the street. Okay. Um, so if you would like to take a look at those, I'm sure Mr. would love to have you looking for those that tour and see those homes for. So, with those funds, we continue to do all of our projects upcoming. We have our public services, our affordable housing, and our infrastructure and our public facilities applications online right now. They'll be online. Well, the application closes I want to say April the 17th. So on the website you see April 10th that's my fault because I made a great error and I did not catch that typo. So April 17th that is with that is all I have for you this evening. So I will answer any questions that you may have.

Any questions? I have um I did have a couple questions. How would someone who needs um housing rehab go about getting those?

You need to call the office and schedule an appointment with our administrative professional and she will um your intake information. And when she does that, we'll call you in for the appointment. And how that goes with government, so we're a little slow. We'll um make an appointment and see if they qualify for the program because they have to be able to qualify. After that, we'll um have our housing rehab specialist go out and do an assessment of the homes to see the repairs. So, they can qualify for the repair program and our housing rehab program. We call that a full and then we have our minor housing repair project. That's up to $30,000 for minor repairs. Now, a few years ago, if any of you are familiar with the program, a few years ago, our minor only $10,000. about two years ago, we went to the board and told that was not enough to do minors um because of all the different things that happened with construction and so I really don't want to talk like she and all that stuff went up. So we were not able to keep up with the growing need that we had. Um 12 years ago when I started with community development, we could put a HD unit and windows in a house of 10,000. we cannot be, right? Um, so we had to do something to kind of alleviate or minimize that as much as possible. So, back to your question, where we do the assessment, the housing rehab specialist determine if the house is full or minor and then they work with the homeowner to um work that out. Now, our pool is a set up as a deferred forgivable loan in which we um defer the loan for six years and then every year After that, up to 15 years, we knock off the full amount of that each year until a loan is complete. A lot of times our citizens do get a little afraid, especially our senior citizens, and we say alone. But that

helps to protect them. Um, when we put a lean on the house cuz a lot of times in our elderly community, I have not seen it happen in a few years, but prior to my starting with um the elderly would get subject to family members or something taking advantage of selling the house out under them and then the government will be out of their money. So we implemented put a lean on the property until it is complete until the 15ear period affordability period is complete and then we release the money. So it does not cost the um citizens any now the up,000 that is a so there is no lean or anything but if you would like I will have someone get information. We have some little cards information. I'll make sure that

Okay. Yeah. Um I I we have a lot of seniors in our community and um with the taxes going up and everything going up. It'd be good if we could point them in your direction for something, you know, minor that need. Yes, ma'am. We'll do as many as we can until the money runs out. Thank you. One more question for you. It says here that uh it's a federal HUD funding loan. So is that a low interest loan? No, no, it's a deferred forgivable loan. Okay.

That means you the six years go back to that. We put a lean on the house for a period of 15 years. During the first six years, it is deferred and we don't charge you anything. And then on year six, we start knocking off. So, for instance, if that payment was going to be $2,000 a year for the remaining term that we knock that off until it's a zero balance. Okay. Do you have a business card? I can reach out to you afterwards cuz I we have uh Go ahead. I don't have a business card, but I can do something better. What's that? I got your information. You have a tap. Oh. Oh. You said tap your phone.

Tap the phone. Yes, sir. Tap your phone. Tap the phone. Okay. Now, it might be the front or the back. I don't know what kind of phone you have. I will do it later. Okay. Whenever your NFC is on, if you tap it, it'll bring you to the county website. The reason why I was asking, we'd like to invite you. We're going to have a uh focus group meeting on revitalization of town infrastructure. Okay. On the 21st and that's one of our focus groups, our strategic plan. Uh Mr. Manning is a part of that committee as well. And so I think it'd be good that you know just come in and be a part of that conversation on the 21st. What time? Uh 4:00

in here. Yes, ma'am. And we're if we don't have it here cuz it's growing, we may have it at the council of government and that's off Rayford Rford Road. Rafford Road. Okay. So, I um if you Carly will give me your information and uh Commissioner Burgess is spearheading that that uh focus group. Yes, sir. Okay. I will try my best to see if I can make it. Thank you. Thank you very much. Thank you. Right. Thank you. Number C, BRC, Grant, Amanda, Sher.

Good evening. Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to speak here. My name is Amanda Shette. I'm the Cumberland County Emergency Management Coordinator. Um today I'm here to talk to you about a path forward for Spring Lake to address flood mitigation and infrastructure resilience um through the building resilient infrastructure and communities also known as the brick program. Um so brick is FEMA's primary mitigation grant program. Um the goal is to reduce future disaster impacts by investing in projects before disasters occur. So this slide shows you what mitigation looks like in action. Uh taking steps before a disaster to reduce its impact. Whether it's strengthening buildings, uh protecting against flooding, or managing wildfire risk, the goal is the same. Lessen the damage before it happens. We can't prevent hazards, but we can reduce how they affect our community. For Spring Lake, that could mean improving things like drainage and protecting infrastructure. Mitigation fits across the entire disaster cycle. It's not just one phase. It's ongoing. It's about reducing or eliminating long-term risks to people and property from hazards. While response to recovery recovery happens after the event, mitigation is what strengthens community before and after, helping us become more resilient over time. It's how we break the cycle of damage and rebuilding and instead build stronger from the start. Every dollar invested in mitigation saves multiple dollars in future disaster costs. So this is really about both being proactive and fiscally responsible. This funding cycle, FEMA's prioritizing projects that are ready to be implemented and demonstrate measurable risk reduction. This means the stronger and more developed the project is, the more competitive it will be. brick supports projects like storm water

improvements, flood mitigation systems, and protection to critical infrastructure. These are the same types of needs that have previously been identified locally, which position Spring Lake to be well competitive. What you're seeing here are real examples of flooding impacts within Spring Lake. I'm sure we all recognize many of these photos. Uh we've seen the effects of severe weather, storm water challenges, and infrastructure strain across multiple areas of this community. Addressing these issues proactively helps reduce future damages, lowers recovery costs, and strengthens overall resilience. There have been prior discussions and efforts to address these concerns, including storm water initiatives and drainage improvement projects in areas like Deerfield and Wii. These challenges are also reinforced through the county's hazard mitigation plan, which identifies floodprone areas and infrastructure vulnerabilities. Together, this gives us a clear understanding of the problem and a straight point for an opportunity to continue to move forward. From a funding standpoint, grit typically covers 75% of project costs with the potential for up to 90% depending on eligibility. Projects in the national competition can receive up to $20 million in federal funding, which creates a significant opportunity for the town. The current brick timeline has an application deadline set for July 23rd at 2, I'm sorry, 300 p.m. uh Eastern time. The North Carolina notice of funding opportunity is expected to be released this week along with anformational call to walk requirements and um to answer requirements and requests. While this is a relatively short turnaround for a project of this size, we're confident that the town's understanding of its own needs and ability to move forward strategically with a focused approach identifying a priority project and building it out

with efficiently. This remains an achievable opportunity. Cland County Emergency Management is available to assist throughout the process within our capabilities to help position the town for a strong and competitive submission. At the end of the day, this is about moving from identified needs to real solutions. The key is focusing on a project that is ready to be built to support the community. With that, I'm willing to answer any questions you might have.

Commissioner, thank you. Um, so that massive flooding from what we understand was because they breached the Wood Lake Dam up in North County. Yes, ma'am. Um, so we have um the little river runs right through Spring Lake and it is fed a lot by the the dam um damp area in Moore County. Um, unfortunately, we can't control everything that's done over there, but we want to make sure that we're positioning the community to if they do need to release the water from that dam that the uh residents here in the community are not as impacted.

Yeah. Well, that was not going to be my question. What could we do in case that happens in the future to prevent the widespread flooding that we experienced? Uh there's a variety of projects that are options. Um we'd have to sit down and have a discussion on what has occurred um and different potentials which I'm happy to sit down with anybody to go through that process to identify um potential projects. Any additional questions? Thank you very much. Thank you. Moving on to number D, minimum housing upgrade. Derek maybe alliance code enforcement.

Hello. Good to see you. Uh, some of you faces I know, some of you are new. Um, you don't know who I am. I'm Derek Babe. I work for code enforcement off. Uh I am your contract code enforcement officer. Um so we're moving back towards uh me doing some presentations for you. Uh being a part of the focus group, things like that. Um so our first thing that we can look at, what I'd like to do is just go over our most recent two monthly reports. U moving from there, I'd like to go into where any questions that you may have. If there's anything on the report that you may not understand or want to get some clarification on, please ask me. Um and then we can go through anything that you have that any questions about code enforcement itself uh we can go. So if you look back at our February monthly report. So when we do these reports we uh turn them in at the beginning of the next month and it's going to show you what happened in the previous month. Um as you all know uh starting at 1421 White Eagle Lane all the way down to 1437 BC Circle. That's the one uh mobile home park that we've already passed ordinances on for demolition. Um anything that you see in the red is going to be something that's open that we're currently still working on. And right beside it, you'll see what the next action is. So on those properties, we're still waiting on a title search provided by the town as far and that what that does is make sure that we get make sure that every single person that could be on the title actually gets notification. Um, moving on from there, anything you see in the green is what is abaded. That means it's been demolished. It's been taken care of because currently right now we're we're focused on minimum housing. Um, so, uh, the South Connor Circle was a mobile home park. We did have the property owners remove every single mobile home on there that was collapated, which was everyone, and they they are now gone.

And that goes all the way. It was about eight properties that was still left on that that hadn't been demolished at our previous. As you can see, we're still waiting on title searches. Um, several others. Anything you see yellow is on hold. Um, that's that's either that's because we've been requested by a town official. So, let's put that on hold for specific reason. Um, if you look at 421D Street, you'll see on the next one. A lot of those have been taken care of. That's also the uh Liberty Estates mobile home park off. So, we're still just going through this is just it's a very large list. Um, you get down to violations by numbers. This is going to show um on this particular report how many of each type of case is actually there. You will see some of junk piles, some junk vehicles, overgrown lots of stuff added in. The reason why it's on there is not because that's what we're technically going after. But if we go to a property that has minimum housing and it also has that on it as well, we go ahead and add it in. Even though the police department may be working on some of that as well, we go ahead and add it in. That way nothing's left on the table. Um, you know, at that particular property,

the next one, Derek, the next one. Yeah. Uh, okay. There's uh we'll actually go over that on the next. Oh, okay.

Uh, it's uh pretty much of the same. The only differences you're going to see here is if we've added new cases or if um anything else has been abaded by the property owner or by the town. So, here at Liberty Estates, um we did have uh around seven mobile homes demolished between the previous one and this one. They're on they're on steady. Um we've actually worked out a deal with them to have at least two torn down every 30 days. are actually ahead of schedule. So that they've actually torn down more than the two needed between the the previous month report and this uh you'll also see monthly highlights. It just basically goes over the things that have been taken care of or if there's anything at note that uh I feel like that we feel like the board really needs to be aware of. So this is a pigraph that we update every time we do a monthly report. What you're going to see is the n the total number of cases that we have opened since we've actually been contact contracted with. So we've opened 333 cases. We closed and obeyed 168. Open in progress currently still is 56. um open new we did open three new cases for the month um to add to what's already there. Transfer 64. So what that is is where we transfer um cases that we had that did not pertain to minimum housing to the police department some time ago and things that that section. So that's what that number is. And then we currently have 42 on hold.

All right. I can take any questions. Can you speak to the on hold? I talked about that in in my office the other day.

And that's that's one of the things that we definitely need to talk about. Um so cases on hold if if we're requested by the town to put on hold for a specific reason. So, you have a lot of these cases that were put on hold because the um going over with uh previous um town manager. Uh what we did was was going to tackle 10 every single month, 10 cases and just go through the entire process from A to Z all the way to ordinance and keep moving that way to get down the list. So, that's what we had been doing. So that's why you see the on hold as majority at the very end of our u uh case law. Um so if you see one or two in between that's just s specifically because it was requested in between to put on hold. One of the cases that are on hold now is currently on brag. It's u used to be an old bank and that was requested by the town to put on hold. question.

Do you just do um housing? Do you don't do commercial? We do do commercial builds as well. Yes. So if you see CM means commercial um or anything like that, that's for commercials. Anything that you see MH is for housing, minimum housing. So that one on hold on Boulevard, that was the OBBN. Yes, ma'am. Okay. Are there any more questions now? Manager English.

Um I just want to update the town uh citizens on this particular topic. Just to be aware, we've added Mr. gave here, Derek gave to our focus group, our infrastructure uh focus group so that he can include all of this information with the citizens who participate on this focus group. The main reasons why because we need to be aware and this a part of our strategic plan of how we plan on getting rid of these flighted blighted homes and abandoned homes and commercial buildings. So, just to let you know, this is an ongoing effort. He just doesn't come up here to report. We're meeting with him on a monthly basis. So, I just want to let you know he's also back reporting to me. Uh before uh we met, he was only reporting to our planning and inspections uh manager. So, I just want to give you an update on the progress we're making with Mr. Gabe. Thank you.

Mr. made I'm sorry.

Thank you very much, Mr. May. If there's any guys any more questions, thank you so much for the work that you do. We do see the improvement. I drove by to see the trailer for gone. So again, it makes a big difference. Our spring does matter. Thank you. Thank you. Number inventory assessment, Mr. David Honeyut and Glenn McFaten. Good evening. David Hank from Miguel Associates. I appreciate taking time to presentation tonight. This time I'll cover a little bit about the asset inventory assessment work that we've been working on for for some time now. uh go through that the assess asset management plans what apply what when of those and also talk about a funding opportunity that you have available to submit for the end of this month when due applications are due on on April 30th. Um I've tried to make make this I know a lot of this information has been presented in the past. I'll try to make this presentation relatively brief and kind of hit the hit the highlights of things but certainly if there's questions detail won't go into stop free to jump into more detail. So overall the point of the asset inventory assessment work was to look at the existing systems to try to develop that inventory to understand the condition of your water and sewer systems for the town spring. So we have a water system That's primarily your water source. You purchase water from Carne County and Fable BC um and your water distribution lines. That's all the lines in the system that

deliver deliver water out throughout Spring Lake. Um sewer system similarly has collection system lines picks up all of that water once it's been used and takes it to the treatment plant. Y'all have other vehicles, your own wastewater treatment plants, capacity one and a half million gallons today. So, we've reviewed we did work on water modeling of those systems. We've done manual inspections. We've done a lot of mapping work. We've looked at files. to try to get get as best understanding as we can with information we can of what the condition of those those systems are that help to define what the kind of current situation is. So overall what you the challenges that you have here um are within the water system you see a significant amount of of water leaks that when you look at billing data of what your what you're billing customers for that goes through here into homes and commercial etc versus what water that's being purchased from PWC from our county approximately 50% of that that water is being lost. It doesn't make it from the meter coming into the system to the meters going into the customer times. And that's due like due to a variety of reasons. Some it's ongoing leaks. Sometimes it's in um water main break events that cause significant loss and and quickly as those waters gush etc. Um but overall that long-term average we're seeing a significant amount of water that unfortunately is not getting through the meters. Um and those systems also a big issue for system reliability. You've got aging water lines, you've got a lot of asbestous cement lines, you've

got older galvanized lines. Um it's a lot of the materials in general that have uh been a lot of the system is 50 60 plus years years old. There have been some improvements over that time. Uh but it has the vast majority of the system is getting into that point of call past it life. It's that the car that's passed 100,000 miles it may keep running or it may not. Um so that's that's our challenge water system. That's where it's where it's really showing right now is that water loss number. Um that that hurts and in both repairs and it hurts on the the cost of paying for water that you're not able to resell to other people on the sewer side of things. So where we see the challenges is

sorry I'm hear it now. Um I was not pleased to talk that close to that. Um so on the sewer side of things with where we see those problems with older sewer lines similarly similar age you've got clay uh sewer lines. Those types of pipes have joints very close very short lengths of pipe with lots of joints that tend to be susceptible to leaks. Um they also can called cracks. Uh that leads to what we call infiltration inflow system. That means water that's not supposed to be in your sewer getting into your sewer and reducing your capacity at the wastewater plant. Um so when you're treating water that's you're not supposed to have to treat um it it impacts your your cost of treatment at the wastewater plant and it impacts the ability to grow because that capacity is being utilized. Um you also see challenges with pipe collapses and damage to the roadways and things like that. So the lines start to to have failure. Um again also sanitary sewer overflows that are that are cause of that. and the overall uh system we're seeing we are seeing challenges that uh that need to be addressed but um that's and the the challenge but one of the biggest challenges is some of the timing of all that that it's uh it's certainly it's been a long time since significant work was done within those systems that mean you've got a buildup of work that needs to be caught up on per se. Um so the the the capital improvements plan is intended to provide a road map a priorization within that of what projects need to be worked on as soon as

we as soon as we can. Um, so in total, the asset inventory assessment identifies $36 million in water system projects and a little over $44 million in sewer sewer system projects there. Um, those are largely water main replacements and sewer main replacements. Um, with also there is a a project to add a water tank in the water side of the system and also to add isolation valves to help with with water loss. Um on the on the sewer and it's primarily sew sewer line replacements uh with the it also does include um work at two two lift stations. The sewer system does just have two lift stations pump stations that uh the rest the rest of it all flows by gravity. So, and the the overall takeaway from that is it's trying to be road map. It's trying to define priorities. Um, but it's uh there's the way I want to look at that from a roadmap standpoint, from a schedule standpoint is we know where we need to go. Um, we want to be headed in that right direction, but the time it takes us to get there is a little is it's dependent on a lot of things. Some of them inside of our control, some of them outside of our our control there. So the that looking for ways to fund that capital improvement plan is really what the biggest hurdle is certainly certainly dollars. Um so the within the uh setup of the asset inventory assessment um the state some of the requirements of the look at running the analysis on the rates to say is it feasible? How do you how can you support this capital improvements plan through rates and I said those numbers are

within the report and they're uh they're frightening. I'm going to use that word. Uh they're they're certainly they're very high. They um and and that's looking at we ran a couple different analysis. one trying to see what we tried to just be as aggressive as possible um per se and do this all within that full but all the work we can in your CIP um what that number looks at we've looked at also a reduced approach and um trying to look for what's um what is a reasonable quote marks around that being his bra which I also understand is still is still a an aggressive and a challen challenging rate to to look at. Um the the other mechanism that it can look for is to find grants and loans and mechanisms to to help fund that work. And most most of the time the answer is somewhere in between. It's that trying to to make the system internally sustainable, long-term viability for it to be self sustained, but with those to find ways that we can find projects that will help the uh help you to be sustainable through finding grants and other things. So that um so that's where the next step in this comes in. I think actually I do have one more file assessment we talk about that this is basically just a summary of just you know we looked at current condition we've developed this capital improvements plan and this was it's intended to be a strategic plan on what your what your goals are. It's a working document. Something I wanted to to note here is that although we've looked at things pretty closely uh it's a large system and there's still there's still

certainly a good number of unknowns out there that as things happen with systems. If you have failures, you have sanitary sewer overflows, you have uh that that more work and um you actually say that it's done a little bit differently that you that that may impact your priorities within the system that you may say, well actually I thought this was going to be the one we needed to tackle first, but let's we've seen four issues here the last couple years. We needed to move this one up in front of that. Um it can also mean adding something to it as well. you know, this has come up and we're aware of it. Um, some of the work in the zoo is doing some more investigation on your main interceptors, but there there's a lot of clearing and work that needs to be done there to better investigate some of that. So, that could also impact that. So, and the one other piece I wanted to at least touch on while I was up here on the the study before I get into the the applications here is virtual regionalization. Uh so we are working through um the second portion of the study to do options to to consider feasibility and visualization there. Um this is also part of the the funding received from the study. Um Jackson and Mr. Pingshot had a great conversation with Hernick County a couple weeks ago. We're continuing to have those discussions of trying to find ways that we can partner with others in the area to uh to make things better for all communities. I think there are some some certainly some opportunities there to uh to to help um improve that uh improve that situation for that doesn't be clear there too that doesn't mean merger or purchase or things like that or options to be considered with that but that's not the sole purpose of those

things. It is very much looking for those types of partnerships and ways that you can work together to uh to make spring lake system uh function better and have a better long-term viability. Um that's what I guess before I have any questions on the asset management plan on that there. Are there any questions? Yeah, I I think Are you going to talk about what's needed so we can apply for the grants or do I need to

Yes, that's what my my next piece is to talk about the the grants in terms of the voting.

Yeah. Yes. So um the way I was going to Yes. So the asset management plans by by going through that study and having these documents prepared um the board to adopt those studies as asset management plan that's the where that quickly helps you to get funding is that there are that gives you points towards the uh competitive rank cycles. It's 100 point um potential I guess within the the application cycle and asset management plan having adopted and asset management plan for the system is a 10-point item on that. So, it's a significant potential that the state wants to see. We've looked at it. We've tried to to come up with the best plan. This is a high priority for us. Of course, many our first priorities to to come out here for for funding. So, so we're so one of the resolutions on your agenda further on is to adopt those plans which will help you in support of these applications. Um so from from that this is a spring funding through division water infrastructure in particular what we're looking at is through the Bible utilities program. So, um, Spring Lake was identified as a distressed utility several years back. Um, and that's there are dozens at least, maybe maybe even a hundred, I'm not sure exactly of distressed utilities across North Carolina. you're not there are quite quite a number of of utilities that are under this program. It was specifically developed to try to find ways to uh uh to to focus on those communities and to give uh help them with long-term viability. That's why they they called it the viable utilities program is to look at ways that we can give somebody a

leg up that they can then stand on going forward. Um this spring around there's $20 million available in that program. Um those are under that that particular program are 100% uh grant stress utility are eligible for most of the other waterfront programs uh have portions grant loans depending on rates and other other factors in those. So, so by being on that distressed utilities list, it has managed to compete towards towards this uh this funding. It's a maximum amount of that that 20 million statewide. It's a maximum of $5 million per applicant. As mentioned, it's competitive scoring program. Um that depends on the the type of project being submitted. Um there's four four basic categories within the way it's set up. I think it's 100 point max but it's talk about the project benefits project purpose um the uh management of the uh the system and which is where the asset management

play question before we go past it um it states here it says spring uh the funding of 20 million the distress utility of 5 million max per applicant. So speak a little bit on that that 5 million per applicant whoever is going to be applying for that. Uh

yes ma'am. So so it is competitive statewide against the of all of the those that are on that distress utilities list would be uh through that of course not every one of those would be submitting an application but any that are within that would be uh would be eligible to do it. And you'll have some projects that that come in anywhere from from a million dollars up to asking for that 5 million or or some may have asked for above and have some loan components or others for that as well. But it it's so in in theory it's it is very competitive. Um and in theory you could have four high scoring applications that are $5 million under this and that's basically it. Um there's actually a small portion of that that will be that 20 million that'll be allocated to um study future house and inventory assessments and things like that as well. So it's I think numbers but I want to say maybe 1.5 or two million something like that out of that 20 they're saying be studies out of this. So it's it's some it's definitely a competitive program. We've pre-scored the sewer project and the water project for Spring Lake and based on numbers that we've seen in the previous cycles, you know, the sewer application looks to be very competitive. Um that it's it's certainly a strong application based on the there have been sanitary sewer overflows within the system. Um having the asset management plan approved, the type of the age, type of infrastructure that we're already placing all goes into that. So, Missouri application um scores in the mid mid70s on those points based on our plinary scoring. The uh the water application is weaker. Um, unfortunately I think it it scores

in the mid50s in the in that process and that's part of the reason that we're recommending a higher amount going towards the sewer system in that application than the than the water system. Although I think you from a strictly Spring Lakes needs water system is at least as high realistically higher of a need because of the the water loss uh challenges that y'all are facing. Unfortunately, water loss uh is only three points in that application. That's that's what the the assignment of that is something maybe we can push on in future cycles to consider that a little more strongly, but that's the way the score sheet is is the way we have to play play the game per se. Um so that's the reason we've set it up as we have to go for the put more on the sewer project. There is there is a infrastructure authority board that reviews these applications. Um there is always a possibility that that board can go outside the score sheets as well. um certainly would make a case that uh that trying to um that that these projects have merit that doesn't fit points categories in this and approachable that there may be some potential there as well but that's rarely if ever done on that just from a standpoint of it's it's difficult to you have a certain metric for them to say well we understand our metric or we're going to we're going to change it for this. Thank you. Recognizing town manager.

So David and I meet Honeyut and I meet on a weekly basis I think every Tuesday to talk about this very issue. Uh he brought this state grant to me and I was actually told by some other folks in Raleigh as well about this. So we're bringing it to you and we don't want to waste time. I want you to speak to the deadline on the state grants if you could. So the the applications are due on April 30th. Uh so yeah, we've got about two and a half, three three weeks there to finish up the application. So we've done a lot of pre-work having the asset management plan, asset inventory assessment work within that um already helps to uh helps to to feed into that. And again, what we've uh tried to do is do get these projects identified in areas that that both are strong needs for the town of Spring Lake, but also fit that fit that program well. Okay. Uh thank you. And I want to thank um Mr. English as well as Commissioner Jackson uh for meeting with you all as well. I see u Mr. Honeyut, you have a team that's sitting there that I met on last week. uh and I did speak to them on some of this information still learning about the different options and they did state there is always option. So we thank you for your team. We thank you uh Mr. English for getting them together for us to have uh to go forward to figure out what we're going to do with our infrastructure and our water. just tips for clarification. Their clinic that had is actually not directly the Miguel associate.

Well, thank you. But just they're all they're all working on our water. Exactly. Exactly. And just to see them back there. So I know you're working kind of hand to hand and working on the Thank you for the clarification. Uh, so I guess the adoption tonight, is that something we go if we am I out of order or is that something we can vote on? the adoption of the AI

the first three items of the new business. Okay. So, we'll wait till new business to move discuss that. I thought it Yeah, it's not on the presentation. Okay. Okay. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Honeyut. Thank you.

Those are the end of the presentations. We will move now to the new business. We'll move to resolution 20267 recognizing a state loan grant assisting for the water and sewage. I'll entertain a motion to approve or deny resolution 2026-7. Commissioner Cooper, please. Thank you. I make a motion that we approve resolution 2026-9.

I second. No. All in favor say I. Any nays? The eyes have it. We'll move on to resolution 2026-1, resolution approving water and sewage assistant manager plan capital improvement. I entertain a motion for resolution 2026-8. Commissioner Jackson,

I make a motion that we approve resolution 20260A, resolution approving the water system asset management plan and capital improvement. Thank you, Commissioner Jackson. Can we get a second? Second. It's been properly moved by Commissioner Jackson, second by Commissioner Burges. Burgess. Thank you. All in favor say I. I. Any nay? The eyes have it. We'll move on to resolution 2026-1. Resolution approving the sewage system management plan and capital improvement plan. Commissioner Cooper. So moved.

It's been properly moved by Commissioner Cooper. Can we get a second? Second. And second by Commissioner Burgess. All in favor say I. I. Eyes have it. Is there any ns? consulting agreement for the utilities, the LLC, the interim town manager, Mr. Dennis English.

Motion to approve consultant agreement. Not yet. So I want to first of all say that this is actually one of the most important parts of the agenda for us. When I first came into this position as your interim town manager, obviously the biggest and most important priority has become our water infrastructure. Each and every day I get a call about some type of leak happening and we're spending money every time it happens. We need to make sure that this particular priority is addressed on a daily basis. And that means we have the most important we have the most with it being the most important, we have the most trained and experienced experts to come in and assist us on a daily basis when needed. So, I'd like to at this time bring up the A team as I've called them on time and time again to make sure that we understand what we're going to bring this group in for. Mr. McFaten, if you could come up with the team. These individuals will will address our water infrastructure strategically and tactically. I like them to talk about their experience. They will be working with us until we hire a director of water operations. And so I'd like for you, if you don't mind, Glenn, talk a little bit about why we went into this initiative. Um, thank you for the work you've done with me. I talk to this man each and every day and the commitment that you've shown me. I want to make sure we move forward and educate our and inform our citizens as well as our

commissioners about this initiative. So, thank you, Mr. McFat. No. Uh, thank you again. I'm Bloom Fan with Myers Engineering and I want to start off by saying what Dave has done here with your asset inventory plan with McGill is a great job and I want to really stress it's a road map. I think that one of the things I heard when I first started working with the town 18 months ago is there was this impression there's something wrong with your water and sewer system. It's it's really quite the contrary. It's a really strong system. It's a system that needs some TLC and it's a system that's no different than any other town really in America, not only in North Carolina. So having a road plan helping to get this asset inventory approved, it just shows that you're taking the time to look at, hey, what are our needs for the next two years and it's at least in the back of your mind that you're you're addressing them. But I was brought in with Myers Engineering in about 18 almost two years ago now to serve as your OC. All water systems in North Carolina, all public water systems have to have operating what's called operating responsible in charge um for your water and your your sewer system. And so I worked 34 years with Haret Regional Water and I retired. Uh one of my went to work with Myers Engineering. One of my first contacts was with Spring Lake about the OC position. So I came down and since then been doing those roles under water and sewer side, but also just filling in gaps working with the previous town manager, the finance officer, and really your wonderful staff. I want to say over the the 18 months uh in the water industry, you'll realize you can people that you can count on. It's no fun when there's snow on the ground to be outside looking for a water leak when the road's freezing at 2:00 in the morning. So, you guys got some great staff that uh that want to work that have the great work ethic, but one of the issues that we've come up with is how do we sort of train them? How do we get them to understand? It's not like running a cash register. You can't I can tell you all day long how to fix a leak. I can write it down for you. I can do that. But until you get out there, each and every one of them is different. there's little nuances or little things that can help save time.

So, one of the things that Mr. English asked is is we're looking really going down two roads. One, we're trying to find you a a a good full-time permanent public, you know, parks director uh that would serve as your OC and everything. All of us standing up here, our goal is not to be here forever. I I like Spring Lake. I've come to love Spring Lake. I think we have a great time, a great town, but our job is to work ourselves out of the job. We want to train your employees. We want to get them licensed and we want them to be self-sufficient to be a stand on their own. So, one of the things that is occurring is we've got good contractors that can handle our large leaks. If we have a a big water line and it's a bad situation, we've got contractors that can come in and fix it for us and help us. One of the things that we're struggling at is the everyday dayto-day items. And so, one of the things that Mr. Engage asked is who can we get to come in and help train our folks, help work with them? You hear a lot about fixing these leaks and again we all towns have a lot of leaks and you know how do we get those under control. Uh so my first job was John Cannon behind me. John Cannon is the guy that might make me work out. So if you see but I worked with John I've known all these guys for a really long time but I will go through John Cannon. I worked with him about 30 years ago with Har Regional Water. He was we went through hydraulic classes and things together and I think he realized I wasn't going to leave Harvard Regional. So he left me and went to the city of Apex. Uh I guess good news, he started in Raleigh, came to Hornet Regional, then left and spent the rest of his career in Apex running water systems. Um he's licensed, got his A license, can run whatever. He's got his collections. Um so I knew John had retired from Apex a few years ago, so I thought it'd be a good fit. I called him to see if he'd be interested in helping us here on this sort of role. He said, "Well, you actually know someone else." And I said, "Who?" He said, "Ricky Bird." Ricky Bird is also someone who worked for me about 34 years ago. And what do you think happened? Apex was a much shinier place to go. So he went spent the remainder of his career in

Apex and he is currently getting ready to retire after 30 years of service in local government. And then they brought in Joe Gardner. Joe is someone I actually Joe and Ricky I went to high school with to show you how long I've known those guys. But but anyway, Joe comes in brings a contractor sort of background. He has heavy equipment and they formed a company. When I was talking with John, he said one of the things that he wanted to do is offer smaller utilities to get folks like this in the back of the room, you have to pay $500,000 in in salaries and payroll. I'm not joking. And so to get that sort of stuff and they they realize is working in in different places this need throughout the state. So they want to come in and work handtoand with our employees and help them. And when I say help them, um you know, you've got great guys and they call me and I can try to help, but I'm not as good as them. I I recognize that and you guys need someone that can do better. So, I wanted to bring those folks in and they they bring, like I said, there's 100 years worth of exper experience standing behind me and that uh anything I could do in the water sewer system when it comes to running it, fixing your leaks, teaching the guys how to do it. They're they're so much better than me. So, I was really happy that they formed this uh their their goal and and John will tell you that his goal is to work himself out of a uh out of a job. He wants to bring a level of or I shouldn't say him and they do. They want to show them how to do it the right way. Safety is very important in this. We we want to make sure the guys know how to do things, how to do it right and work with them. And so I'm excited about bringing this while we're also on a second, you know, over here trying to bring you a permanent full-time utilities director that we can get in here and that can help take us, you know, much further down the road. So is without all that John want to say or

somehow I always end up first. I'm not sure.

Uh first off thank council for giving us the opportunity to stand here before y'all tonight. We greatly appreciate it. Thank you Mr. English for inviting us. U as Lyn said I'll just quickly reiterate. I started my career with the city of Raleigh as a laborer. I had a brand new son needed a job and that's what it started out was a job. It became my career. I'm still in it, still doing it. Uh, retired with 31 years and some change. So, I guess I'm pushing about 40 years doing this stuff. Um, I would love to have the opportunity to come in. I've understood that you have some very good people. Uh, and I've never reinvented the wheel. What I've been smart enough to do is when people smarter than me thought, I showed up and listened. I would like to take your new people and just fast forward them instead of taking as long as I took to learn. We we'll shorten that time up with what we know. Show them a few shortcuts here and there and attack some issues that are at the forefront of the sewer system and of course the water system. Uh having your AIA is going to help a lot. I'd like to take look at that information if you guys decide to let us work with y'all and uh talk to the engineers and see what we can accomplish first. Uh thous being one. We've already talked about that. So we've got a small plan together if uh if we go forward with this. Um, I don't know what else to say. If y'all have any questions directly for me, I'd love to answer them.

Introduce the rest of the team.

I can. Uh, Ricky Bird. I work with Ricky and I did steal him from Hart County. I absolutely did. Uh, Ricky is one of the best equipment operators you'll ever meet. Uh, I've been in some tough situations with him. Um, and just to let you know, you're not a den. There are a lot of small towns, medium-sized towns that have issues. Uh the infrastructure, what your town is built on, you don't see. So, you tend to forget it. Everybody does. Uh without it, you wouldn't have a town. You have a nice rural area. But like I said, what we want to do is come in. But Ricky, his I like to say I'm good, Ricky's better. And that's just me being honest. That's not trying to put him, you know, any pressure Ricky. But, uh, and then Derek Gardner comes in. He knows how to run equipment. Uh, he has a background in business that neither Ricky nor I have. Uh, we're all three hands-on people and all three, in my opinion, are very good teachers. Um, and I do want to say this. If we if we do go forward with this, anytime y'all like to sit down and see what we've accomplished at any time, whether it be week one, whether it be month one, whether it be month two, I will always be more than happy. We're going to keep a defined list of what we accomplished, what we've taught your people, where we are, and where we're going forward. So, anytime y'all would like to sit down and question us, I would have zero problem with that. If y'all have any questions for me, please let me know. If not, I'll let Mr. Bird say a few things. Go ahead, Rick. That's kind of hard to follow up on, but um we would we would really like to get in here and teach the guys that y'all have working

for you and get them better. um on the smaller like Glenn said dayto-day less uh we'd like to find or try to help find a lot of the water loss that y'all are suffering from. Um so if this is possible we we would like to help y'all recover. And I'm Joe Gardner and um again my background is more in business. I own and operate um three businesses now and have um background in in business administration from Campbell University financial planning concentration in trust management. And what I noticed uh off off the bat was the water loss the 50 50% water loss in rough rough numbers. You know you're over $60,000 a month. you know that that that's one on the ground or it's not being metered. You know, your meters are um are aged. Um Ricky, he says that the age of meters uh they're good for about 10 to 12 years. Y'all meter around 25 years old. Some have been changed. I think about 4 to 600 meters. Um around roughly 500 not being used because of houses not occupied. But with that being said, we would um like to look at a schedule to try to see how to switch those water meters to increase y'all's y'all's um y'all's income. I mean, that's the main thing to do is get some money flowing. So, that's what we got to do. Thank you.

Thank you all. um presentation were very well put and I'm so glad that the citizens understand the infrastructure but we don't understand if you're willing to train the employees because with the water loss that's just to me as a taxpayer and living here that is kind of ridiculous and it leads me to believe that it could be a situation if we're not trained and they're not trained that it could cause a situation with the high bills of our uh citizens as Well, but once everything ties in in the infrastructure. So, I thank you for the information. We'll continue to learn as well and train with those that you all train. Yes, sir. You're 18.

There. There was by our attorney a couple things that we need to um update and and just put in there from a technical perspective, but we will definitely make those changes so we can get the contract. You can review the contract even more. So, what we're not going to do, we're going to table this one. We have to Yeah, we have to just um Yeah. So, we'll table this um Well, I mean, well, if you take it back, that's another problem.

So, the change was just not a cap. So, I want to back that up. It's a very small change, so I'll let Carly share what that is from our attorney.

Y uh at Thank you, Dennis. Attorney Porter just uh we need to make sure we add the pre- audit certification where Jimmy signs off on it to make sure funds are budgeted. And he also recommended possibly placing a cap on the funds and if we go over that cap, we just need to make sure it gets board approval before going over those funds. Jimmy, can you come up please? Mr. open. Could you share that cap that we discussed in your office today?

Uh, we discussed a maximum of $50,000. The budget amendment that you approved at the previous meeting included additional $50,000 for engineering fees. So, that's already been appropriated. Soon as you get the contract, I'll be glad to stand. So when we move forward with the with the motion. Yeah. So now we can just I'll let you I'd like to entertain a motion that we approve are deny the agreement with the utility consulting LLC. Miss Jackson,

I make a motion that we approve the consent agreement utilities and consulting LLC. It's been properly moved. Can we get a second? I second by Miss Thompson. All in favor? Any readiness? Um, we said we're going to cap it at 50,000. Should that be in the in the res? I believe in the agreement. I believe there you can add a number figure in there. The lawyer will make whatever necessary changes include that. Okay. So that should be included in the motion as well, right? Yes.

I'll retract that and you will approve with the said um addition on there. Correction move second. Mhm. With the correction of the 50,000 that we're going to add to the motion. All in favor say I. I. Any nays?

The eyes have it. Thank you very much. Mr. You might as well just stay up here. It looks like in U budget amendment BA19 FY2026 finance director. Mr. Albertton um this is a budget movement simply to move the money around within several departments. There is no increase in any department. There is no increase in the total budget. Uh the town manager has the authority to move money around within the departments as long as you don't change the code. Uh we're adding a couple thousand in the police department for training because they have a very low budget. Uh due to the uh water leaks and also to the uh snow that we had back in February uh and some vacancies, our employees have to incur some overtime. So, we're adding overtime in a couple departments and uh we're taking that group insurance. When we bid out our insurance last year to United Healthcare, our insurance went down over $100 a month per employee. So, we have a little money left there. Uh adding $1,000 in the fire department, the uniforms. The largest item here is we just built a new line storage facility out of the wastewater treatment plant with the uh FEMA grant money. Uh but now we have to buy some line to actually treat the water and that $12,000 is for the purchase of that line to fill up that line of storage facility. Again, there's no change in the total of any department and no change in budget. So just ask you to approve this one.

Thank you, Mr. Oak. I'd like to entertain a motion that we approve budget amendment of BA19 FY 2026. M Jackson, I make a motion that we approve budget amendment VA 19 FY2026. Miss Cooper, um second. It's been properly moved by Miss Jackson, second by Miss Cooper. Any readiness? None. Okay. All in favor say I. I.

Any nays? The eyes have it. Okay. M number 20. Um, we have a grant from the Department of Environmental Quality of $800,000 to repair the Virginia Street and Max Street sewer line. We bidded this out a few months ago and the bid came in at 1.6 million, double the amount of the rent. So we had to back up and decided that we had to pick which is the worst. Virginia Street was worse than Back Street. So we're going to fix Virginia. We let out a contract for 574,000 to uh SKC the contractor uh to fix the sewer line on Rita Street. When they dug it up, they found that the water line is also in a state of disrepair. Uh it it could eventually fail. Uh it is also very close to the sewer line. It's actually in the way of them repairing the sewer line. So the engineers have recommended that we repair and replace both the water and the sewer line because we just do the sewer line. We're going to have to dig street up again at some future date and replace the water line anyway. We might as well do them both at one time while we got the room for them. Um they they have uh given us an additional change order of 214,000 to repair the water line. That plus the 574 for the sewer line is going to take up just about all of that 800,000. Unfortunately, there will not be any money left to do back street, but back street is included in the asset inventory assessment plan that Mr. Honeyut showed you. So, we're asking to move the money around, take away Max

Street for now, and replace the water and sewer line on Regina Street. Um, it will still be right about 800,000. That's all the money we have. Thank you, Mr. like entertain a motion, Miss Cooper. I'm so moved. It's been properly moved by Miss Cooper. We get second. I second. Thank you, Mr. Thompson. It's been second. All in favor say I. I have any n Okay, we'll move to budget amendment. Do you need to? No. We'll move to budget amendment 21.

All right. Budget 21 is one we discussed Saturday at the uh budget retreat. Our unfort uh gentleman ran into the back of our street sweeper. Uh damaged it, bent the chassis. It was declared a total loss by our insurance company. They're going to pay us 13,000 for the damage to the street sweeper. Uh it is a total loss. Uh Jason is going to put the uh street sweeper on gov deals tomorrow and try to sell it for whatever we can get for it in addition to the 13,000. Uh as Mr. Bergus asked, what about the driver who ran into it? Uh our insurance company will seek reimbur's insurance company. Uh and they've gone they will go ahead and pay us and then they'll go after the other driver. Um, so, uh, Derek and, uh, Steve went out and got bids for a new street sweeper. Uh, we got four bids. Uh, the lowest bid was Amic Equipment Company for a 10p street sweeper at 220,000. The other bids were 313,000, 393,000, and 259,000. The Tempo and Elgen are your two most reputable or most prevalent street sweepers. Uh they've looked at it as well. It is one reason it's cheaper is it's a little smaller street sweeper than some of the others are larger. The other reason is this street sweeper is a demo. They have demonstrated it. It's not used. They just used it to demonstrate to three towns including us. They have asked that they be allowed to demonstrate two more towns, but we have said that we will hopefully commit to buying it uh before they sell to one of these other towns. Because they've used it as a demo, we're getting a little bit of a discount. That's why it's only

220,000. Um that is a good price for a screen because I was expecting the second to be at 250 or higher. So, but they do need a commitment soon or they'll turn around and sell this street sweeper to one of the other four towns they demonstrated to uh right now we haven't swept the streets in several months because the street sweep has been broken and that's totally so we need to do that in order to keep our storm drains clean. So, we're requesting that you approve the budget amendment to buy the street sweeper and then also award the contract to uh Amish equipment company uh for Timco street sweeper at $220,000 as they are the lowest bid.

Thank you, Mr. Uh entertain a motion to approve by deny budget amendment 21. So, it's been properly moved by Commissioner Thompson. Can we get a second? I second. All in favor say I. I. I. Eyes. Any nays. Okay. Moving right along. Thank you.

Thank you. Uh, Miss Sample would be very proud to know. I've looked at this equipment. Uh this sweep street sweeper and it looks like town of Spring Lake is going to be shining again. Uh making sure that the the storm water drains are not clogged up. So I'm very proud of this uh approval for this as well as the citizens will be proud as well. So, we'll move on to a certificate um from Miss uh Jackson's property from the town, sir. Yes, ma'am.

Thank you, Mayor Pro Tim. So, last board meeting the board uh approved a resolution for me to do a a sufficiency report and a feasibility study. Um, I did that and everything is as uh was petitioned by uh Miss Rhonda Jackson. Um, the fe feasibility study, I'm just going to go over that just a little bit. Uh, it is currently zoned as R10. However, the the applicant is wanting to reszone well is seeking reszoning to C3 conditional. they uh they are going to have to work with Cumberland County regarding the conditionals. So, we actually myself, Stephanie, and Cumberland County has a meeting with them tomorrow to make sure they would be okay to do this. Um, it's currently vacant with two it's currently uh has two vacant homes on it. There's no residents. Um, excuse me. Fire protection, police protection, sanitation services will be uh good there. Water services is already provided. However, they do not have sewer services, but there is a sewer line there. So, they will have to pay a fee to tap into our sewer. So, uh here is if you see up here on the the monitor, there is 945959. That is one parcel of land. Here in the green is our water and in the blue is our sewer. So we got sewer that they got sewer. They just going to have to tap into it. And um I believe that is all I have to report at this time. And well following this uh the next agenda item is to

approve a resolution for me to go ahead and do a public hearing notice. However, I will not be posting that notice until April 27th. Uh, we can get into that when we get to that resolution. Sorry. Thank you, Miss Audrey. Okay. For information only, we'll move on to um resolution 2020 6-10, the fixing of the public hearing and portion. And that's Miss Carly as well.

Yes, ma'am. Um, like I was just saying, I will not be posting the public notice until the 27th because I want to make sure my information is correct uh from Cland County regarding the seek and reszoning. So once I get that information from Cumberland County tomorrow, I'll bring it back to the next board meeting, but this is just going ahead approving me uh or approving me, well, yes, the board to go ahead and schedule the public hearing. And I believe that's going to be May 11th. And per statute, it has to be um in the paper, no less than 10 days, no more than 25 days, one time. Okay. Thank you. Thank you.

Entertain a motion to approve. I deny. Uh it's on here for approval. Is it? Yes. It's on here for approval. Page 100. Yeah. Entertain a motion. Miss Jackson, I make a motion that we approve resolution 2020 2016. It's been properly mot by Miss Jackson. Miss Cooper, second and second by Miss Cooper. All in favor say I. I. Having any naysay? We'll move right along. Thank you, board.

Thank you. Resolution 202611 the closer of Manchester school that's Jackson. So we have been attending the um board meetings for the closure of Manchester Elementary School and I was very disturbed at the last meeting that they had. Um, one of the board um, board members stated that one of the reasons that they were closing the school was because they didn't see growth in Spring Lake. As a matter of fact, he said there was no more growth in Spring Lake. So, we all know that to be uh, true. The young gentleman that stepped up earlier gave us figures where the numbers of the students that they had was incorrect. They have a board meeting tomorrow. Tomorrow is the the last board meeting before the form on April the 27th. So the board has come to the conclusion that we need to step up. So what we're going to do, we're going to have a resolution that is going to be telling the um school board that we also do not like the closing of Manchester Elementary School. Um we're going to fight to the very end of what we need to do. closing out schools to me is not an option. We they need to figure it out. The repairs and stuff that they're talking about, they they didn't fix it when they were due. So, there's a lot of stuff that's going on. So, we definitely want to I definitely want to echo Miss Chadwick and the other young men that stood up there how important it is to go to the board meeting tomorrow. If you're going to speak, speak their language. And their language right now is we don't have any growth. So, we're gonna have facts that we have a houses coming up, um, apartment complexes coming up, we

have all of that coming up. So, that's not a fact. So, and our schools are important to us and it's important to our children. And then April the 27th is the public form. That's the public form that we have been demanding them to have. They were actually trying to close it without that public form. So, now they're going to have it. It's going to be at Manchester Elementary School and I believe it's at 6 o'clock. Yes,

at 6:00 we need everybody in Spring Lake there. Everybody in Spring Lake there. It might be a good thing if we have our police force on hand as well. Everybody needs to be at that forum on um April the 27th. The doors open at 6:00, be there at 5:00. We can have signs where we can be posted up saying we don't want our school closed because if the if the thing is going to change, it's going to change that night. So we definitely need to be in the place and be ready to do what we need to do. We also have instructive our attorney to send them letting them know our opposition of closing our schools. So it's in the Lord's hands now.

Thank you, Miss Jackson. Can I get a consensus from the board that we have attorney to transmit a formal letter? Okay. Do we have a consensus? We'll just raise our hand. Yeah. Okay. So, we have a consensus. We'll move forward and get our attorney to draft up a letter uh from the closures of the schools. So, again, want to thank um Miss Jackson and well as Miss Jeffrey.

Yeah. And I want to say, excuse me, mayor for term. I want to say this is very good for spring because I right now I have not heard of any other town or any other um district where the board is stepping up to take care of our school system. So this is something that they're not going to be used to seeing. So that's another good thing as well. So thank you to you citizens who have been there from day one who's there. Thank you to those who wanted to come to come because of work and thank you for all those who prayed for us. So we want to tell you we appreciate everything you do. Thank you again. This is very important. It's very important that we get educated and our children be educated, but no times have changed. So, we work very closely with you all. And u uh Mr. Chic, I'm glad to know that some of the churches have contacted you cuz you've been trying to reach out to them as well because it does affect the whole community. So, again, thank you all for the work that you're doing for our great town of Spring Lake and our children. It's very important that they get educated and not move them too far away that they can't understand and learn what they need to learn. So, we'll move right along um to budget amendment 202611.

Resolution. A motion. A resolution. I'm sorry. A motion to approve resolution 202611. That's on 107. That's the last train on the Yeah. 202611. Um, so it's been properly moved by Miss uh Cooper. Can we get a second? Second. Second by Mr. Burgess. All in favor say I. I.

Any nays? It's been properly moved. Okay, we'll move right along. It says for the mayor he Anthony will continue to lift her up in prayer. We thank you all for staying for this meeting. I thank you all for the opportunity that as I continue to serve this community in the capacity that I serve as minister as well as mayor promp that I will continue to stand strong for this great town of Spring Lake. We will continue to work together. We'll continue to learn together. We live here. We pay taxes. We want our infrastructure done. and we want a better town for our citizens. I've been living here for over 46 years. So, I thank you for all that you do for this town. Mr. Brown and all the people that made their public uh statements, we take that in consideration. If we're going to grow united for prosperity, we have to continue to work together. That's right. We have people that are experienced that was here, people that is experienced and sometimes we have to understand there's no boss in this job. We all work together. The citizens elected us to do the job that they thought that we would do. I will continue to stand for the citizens of this great town of Spring Lake. So again, thank you for this opportunity. We'll continue to pray pray for Mayor uh Anony's return and the Lord will give her traveling mercy. Thank you. Next, good evening. Um so many of you know that the banner um program with the for the MVAC um if you're interested in getting a banner or having flown for a loved one that due date um for the application deadline is on the 17th the

17th of this month which is uh Friday if I'm not mistaken. Um and they will be flown from flag day which is uh May until November. And then also Saturday the 18th of April from 9 to 12 at 12:35 Ramsey Street. If you have an animal that needs to be vaccinated, you can take them there and get $5 raots. Um, adults can get flu and and co shots as well. And they even have STI um testing as well. And that's all I have at the same facility. Yes. All of that is at the same facility. Dogs, adults, and kids as well. All included. Onetop shop. Oh, okay. Well, thank you.

Thank you, Commissioner Thompson. Uh, Commissioner Jackson,

again, I just want to echo how important it is to make sure that we can make that meeting tomorrow at the U school board that you do, as well as to make sure that you're there on April the 27th at um, Manchester Elementary. I want to take time to thank our town manager, Dennis English. You have stepped in and you have been on a roll. I've seen the changes. The community has seen the changes. I've got so many good compliments on what's going on and how it's going and the things that you're doing. So again sir, thank you holding stay in there. Hang in there and um we appreciate you. One thing I forgot and also they have the health and wellness fair over here at this uh Spring Lake Senior Citizens Building on Wednesday, April 15th from 12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. and the public is invited to attend. Thank you. Thank you.

Oh yeah. and Spring Lake Community um support center is having a baby giveaway for anybody who needs any clothes for their babies or anything and it's free to the public and that will be on Saturday at 10:00 at Burgess want to thank everybody for coming out committee is having a cleanup this Saturday 900 p.m. 9:00 a.m. Sorry. Right here. 245 Roof Street. You can pick up your trash bags, gloves. We need the appearance committee also needs a date in May board because boards rebuild anyway but they're asking for some of the commissioners

what date we're looking for a Oh,

okay. Um, I would like to thank Mr. Charles. We u had our clean up um on the first weekend of Saturday and we were the only two out there. But I do encourage other citizens if you want to see the town continue to look nice. Please come out. Bring that energy of, you know, bring it on out there and help trash. Thank you. And I and I know it's hard work cuz I did it for 16 years with Eth Clark and we got out there and we clean we went down in the trenches off first street. So I know it's hard. So I thank you all as well. But Mr. Burton, you stated that uh this is the every 6 months the one for the whole town clean up, right? And different people have come out. This is not just the for the county. This is the county.

Yes. Okay. So that's this Saturday. And I think when I was reading they're going to have where you can bring your bulk items. I don't know if it's the paint and something else that you can bring. And we'll have the employees out there, Mr. English. Uh, and it be different. I mean, normally it is the one, you know, that's how it's normally set up, but they'll probably get with you to let you know. And I think, uh, are they putting the signs out? They only put the signs out in the community so we'll know that it's the county big one we have every 6 months.

Can you check into it? so that the communities will know that it's the big one and if we need to bring stuff out, we can bring it out cuz they norally have the trucks out there to pick up. Okay, Miss I like to also say on the lighted properties in town. We're working on we're working hard on sir police force working on. We're going to have something done. I want to thank Dennis Engles for the hard work he's putting in for boggling me every day.

But I mean, it's a good thing. We're working together. We're going to move forward. Thank you. Very good. All right. M let her be last. So, um, you always learn.

Uh, thank you everybody for coming out. Um, the only thing I wanted to say was I wanted to thank um the town for the uh flowers and the card and the resolution for my uncle. Uh, my uncle Alexander Lucas, also known everybody else as Buck, passed away. He lived a great life 94 years and uh, and we memorialized him on Saturday. So, I just want to thank everybody who sent their well wishes and everything. Yeah, that's that's all she has. Well, again, we offer our condolences and Mr. English, I know you sent out something about Miss Cooper as well. So, thank you for stepping up to make sure we got and Carly that we got that out to Miss Cooper and her family. So, we'll move along. We're going into close session. I entertain a motion.

Oh, I'm sorry. I thought I thought you had did all the talking you was going to do for tonight, but let me not forget you. Thank you, Lord. Thank you, Lord. And thank you.

So, I will make my report. I try to make it brief, but um first and foremost, I do feel like I have to be transparent about our audit. Uh we continue our weekly coordination meeting with Chair Becker regarding our town's outstanding audits. During this process become necessary that we report our FEMA related funds which has extended the audits timeline. The revised completion date for the 2021 audit is now projected for the end of this month. We remain committed to maintaining the transparency of bringing all audits current as quickly as possible. We have received all departmental budget requests and are now moving into the next phase of our budget process. A special meeting I'm asking we call for the governing body to go ahead and discuss their budget. So I'll put that together for you all with some recommended dates. So the key upcoming milestones are as follows. Friday, May 1st, proposed budget submitt to the local government commission. Friday, May 22nd, public hearing advertisement for June 8th. Monday, June 8th at 6 PM public hearing for fiscal year 2027 proposed budget. And Monday, June 22nd at 6 p.m. adop adoption of our final budget ordinance, capital improvement plan, and fee schedule. Personnel recruitment. We are actively working to strengthen our leadership team and operational capacity. Recruitment efforts are currently underway for the following key positions. A public works director and a human resources manager. Filling these roles are critical to

improving our service delivery and organizational efficiency and long-term sustainability. water infrastructure and regional collaboration regionalization feasibility. As he mentioned earlier, we met with Haret Regional Water and we are held we have held our initial meeting to begin evaluating merger regionalization feasibility with Haret Regional Water and this effort is important step towards identifying long-term solutions for our system sustainability, efficiency and service reliability. legislative engagement. We met with our legislative delegation to formally present our advocate and advocate for our town's border infrastructure needs. These discussions are essential as we pursue funding opportunities in this coming short session in the general assembly. In our strategic focus areas, focus area number one, safe, reliable, sustainable water, sewer, and storm water systems. We have convened meetings. Thank you, Commissioner Jackson for spearheading that with me as well. Uh we've convened meetings with key stakeholders again advancing this priority and I would like to thank again Commissioner Jackson for spearheading. So we continue to move forward. We're going to be meeting focus area number two, revitalizing town infrastructure uh with Commissioner Burgess coming up on the 21st. So, with that said, I want to thank you all again for this opportunity to be your interimm town manager at this time.

Thank you, Mr. England. Uh, and I'm so glad that you me mentioned about the audit. We've been working very hard uh about the audit. I left off this board and we had a situation with the audit. Come back on the board and we still have a situation with the audit. Mr. English got on the uh phone and he got in touch with the attorneys. got in touch with the um the auditors needed some information they have been waiting on uh we thank Mr. as well when we meet to explain everything. But look like we're moving forward to make sure these audits are up to date. That means with the town's audits are up to date, we have a better look if we need to try to get loans for future reference. So again, thank you because I think we're moving forward in a direction that we should with our audits uh for the town. Again, thank you. And now if that's it, Miss Carly, what do you have? Oh, I'm I'm good.

You good? Yes, ma'am. Well, thank you. Um, we'll move uh entertain a motion to go into close session pursue um NC GS1 143 31811. M. Jackson, I make a motion that we go into close session pursuant to NCGS143-318 1183. Dash attorney client privilege. Thank you, Miss Jackson. Can we get a second? I second. Thank you, Mr. Thompson. It's been properly moved and second. All in favor say I. I.

So, thank you all again. We'll go into close session and continue to conduct the town's business.

You just he was Thank you Jesus. No, he's uh he's working on his doctor right now. He busy. Make a motion to come out of close session. I may entertain a motion.

So moved on property moved by Commissioner Thompson and second by M. Cooper. We need to see what action. Well, we got to come out of close. Oh, that's right. We got to come out and then we can do some second. Okay. There was action taken in close session. asked on Monday the 27th of April to move the time to 3:00 for the regular board meeting. I'd like to entertain a motion. Miss Jackson, I make a motion that we move the board meeting from 6:00 to 3:00 on April the 27th.

We get a second. Second. Mr. Bird is second. All in favor? I I the eyes have any ns? Okay. So on Monday the 27th of April, it's been moved to have the meeting at 3:00 instead of 6:00 on the 27th. Make a motion to adjourn, entertain a motion to adjourn to speak. No, we just All you do is say Oh, okay. Well, we'll journ the meeting.