Board of Commissioners - Regular Meeting

Great Lake Board of Commissioners regular meeting is now called to order. I ask that you please silence your cell phones and not that cell phone. That cell phone's legit. You guys silence your cell phones off too. And please keep all sides of our conversations to the minimum out of respect for the business of the town. Um I'd like to begin with our invocation and pledge of allegiance. uh Pastor Marshall, who I do not see in the office, um to lead us in our invocation. Chief German, would you like to step up to the podium if I can put you on the spot to lead us in our pledge of allegiance and invocation?

Thank you so much. This are our uh police chief, Chief J. Please stay and join us if you choose to. Most gracious heavenly father, we thank you for this day that you've given us. We thank you for the opportunity to gather and self-govern ourselves as a town. We thank you for these board members who lead us every day and lead this town. Amen. Thank you. 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, chief, and I really appreciate you allowing me to put you on the spot like that. All right, we will now call for additions and deletions. Uh we will add a discussion regarding uh healthc care insurance or health insurance and we will add that to new business um ABC that'll be E new business agenda item 10E and everything will fall after that if there are no more additions or additions to the agenda. That's her packet.

Are there any other additions or deletions to the agenda? Okay. So, um we just have the one addition which is agenda item 10. What did I say? B 10. And this is a discussion regarding uh healthcare insurance. I'll now entertain a motion to approve uh the agenda. Commissioner Cooper. Commissioner Thompson. I second. Any discussion? Cooper. Oh. All in favor? I I motion carries.

I'll now uh entertain a motion to approve the consent items which are the draft minutes of April 13th regular meeting, the April 20th special meeting, April 27th work session, and the May 1st special meeting. Is there a motion? Commissioner Cooper? So moved. There second. Commissioner Thompson. I second. Any discussion? All in favor? I.

Motion carries. We will now move on to our public comments. Please keep in mind that your public comments are limited to 3 minutes. And there will be a timer on the screen letting you know uh when your time is close to up. And we will begin with Miss Mary Jackson. Topic of concern, removal of the kiosk. Good evening everyone. Good evening.

My name is Mary Jackson 649 Goodyear Drive Spring Lake. I'm here tonight to request transparency and justification regarding the removal of the town of Spring Lake water payment kiosk. These kiosk was installed to provide 24-hour access for the utility payment and to improve convenience for citizens who cannot easily u visit the town during regular business hours. According to public information, the town approved approximately $78,000 for the purchase and installation of these kiosks. This investment represents a large public uh use of funds by taxpayers and utility customer dollars. My concern tonight is simply why were the kiosk removed? Has the town publicly evaluated whether they are actually serving the residents as intended? Uh many families, seniors, military personnel and residents with transportation issues cannot um use these payment kiosk for at the hour um to pay their utility bills. Okay. I believe the public deserves answers um to several important questions. First, how long have the kiosk actually been operational? Based on the public notice that appeared um it has been operational since November of 2025.

If that is correct, they have only been in service for a limited time period. Second, how many transactions have been processed through the kiosk since installation? What total dollar amount has been collected? Are they being heavily used, lightly used, or has the town simply not shared the data? Third, what financial analysis was performed before considering removal? If the town spends approximately $78,000 for the purchase and installation of these devices, the cost and what is the cost of removal and what return has the town received on its investment? Finally, I respect I respectfully ask the board to publicly release the kiosk, usage, statistics, vendor cost, and operational um report.

You can finish your sentence. That justifies the removal. Thank you. Thank you, Miss Mary. Um, next we have Shawn Brner. Topic of concern, Manchester Elementary. John, while you come, I just want to thank you for your v vigilance on this topic. You've been an extreme help.

Good afternoon, everybody. Um, I do want to make sure that everybody was aware that tomorrow is the actual final vote for the manso. They have all the timeline and everything already out. Um, and we just need to stay on top of that, you know, showing up. Um, I've seen a lot of really good news article come out about our president, about everything we're doing. Um, and it really helps that everybody here been showing up doing all that. Um, no.

Okay. But again, um, I'll be out here again. I'll be trying to talk some more. Um, I think I've addressed everything that they, you know, refuse to answer basically. Um, and it would be great if everybody showed up again like we have and if people can tell their friends and all the show too because it'd be great to have to show the support and everything. Thank you very much.

Thank you. Okay, we'll now move on to our presentations and we only have one for the evening. It is our town manager search council manager form of government, Mr. Joe Durham and Mr. Harold Owens from the North Carolina League of Municipalities. It is always great to have you guys in our town. So, welcome. Good evening,

Mayor Commissioner. It is a pleasure to be here. You know, I think not long ago, I think I was sitting over here somewhere, but uh brings back fable memories and it is a pleasure for us to be here this evening. Harold and I are here to uh provide some technical assistance because that's what we do as part of the cities and towns that trying to provide technical assistance too. And I'll be presenting a presentation to you this evening regarding the improvement process for a manager and Harold's going to respond to any questions that you may have. way. So again, Harold and I are municipal operations consultants and we're providing technical assistance for an area. Harold primarily in the central part of the state which includes Spring Lake. I in the northeastern part of the state. I'm not going to go through every one of these slides, but again want to be able to provide you a summary of this as well as respond to any questions or comments, concerns that you have. uh what we do is is to help you identify and guide you through a positive process. One of the things that is always important is to be open and being transparent as you go through this process of approving for a new manager. Of course, the town's going to conduct the process. It can be done by selecting a point person or a committee. It is a confidential process obviously there. We'll get to that in a little bit about that. It could be an internal or external process. It's something that you can lead internally. You can hire a consultant to do it. So there are options that are available to you. And your charter is is the what creates your town. And this is the ultimate authority on what type of government you have. So there are two in North Carolina. It's

either a mayor council or a council manager government. You have the council manager which means you hire a manager. Council manager that was done in 1997 and 19 excuse me yeah 1997 amendments operating under the council manager form of government powers and duties of the manager. Again I'm about to read that word for word. You guys are aware of that. take some time to read through the uh the PowerPoint and of course the manager has the ability to once it's been remove all city office employees not elected other people. So that's what the responsibility of the manager is.

So you have authority to appoint the manager, attorney, tax collector and also the town clerk. These are the only positions that you have the authority to hire and fire. Spring Lake is responsible making the manager, attorney, town uh tax collector and town clerk reporting relationships. Obviously that is being determined by your charter. The charter is the ultimate authority. If they have anything concerned about that, check with your attorney. move through that.

It's open book though. So you

So uh this these are some of the duties of the manager obviously attending all meetings executing the laws of the state city the charter. Uh the important thing also is preparing the annual budget any capital program that may be developed. There is a shall submit a annual report to the council and make public report on the finances done monthly here and then any other duties and responsibilities that you deem to be important for the manager to carry out. One of the things that's important is to there's a what's called the good national city county management association. I think Harold is a member. I I am a member and again this is holding managers to a code of ethics. It's important that you hire somebody who is a member of the international city county management association and even if they're not that they can be a manage a a member of the North Carolina city county management association which still has a code of ethics. Town manager search. Um again the manager manages the day-to-day operations of the town. It is the most important power that you will make. Uh the board the has outlined the roles and responsibilities that are outlined in the charter. It's a very important hiring decision. This person is in charge of the day day-to-day operations for your town. And one of the things you want to do as you go through this process is try and determine um to get a feel for where you are right now. What's important for you? What are some of the characteristics that you want to see in a new manager? What are the current? You can think about what are the current and future needs of the town. What are the strengths and weaknesses of the town? What were the past successes and challenges of the town? And this manager will need to understand what has worked well, what has not worked well. And this is important for you to start thinking

about this as you go through this process. This will move towards developing a candidate profile. This will be the current challenges, future challenges and then the board can again work on that candidate profile. For example, again this is just example someone that has a masters in public administration or something related to that. 3 five years experience maybe longer maybe seven years. is something you guys talk about special qualifications, financial experience, engineering experience, somebody who was a previous manager or department head has budget experience and also an important one there is ICMA credentiing and that is a people have called this certification. It's not a certification. It is a credentiing process which a manager has to go through demonstrating his or her expertise and knowledge in public management. Also has a number minimum number of years that you have to have in order for you to be credentialed. Time frame it really is going to vary. uh you look at the application process for a couple months screening process could take a month or so another month to select a candidate and notice that and of course notice is given to the candidate and two months is to bring the candidate on board to the town of course take into consideration that you'll also have to the person who may be employed or or somebody who may not be employed that could vary in terms of the uh time that that person can start salary range. We did this about a year ago and that was a competitive range from 110 to 120. Obviously, we would that probably would need to be updated and we would have more current

information. I should have done that before, but I didn't. I apologize. Um, you can go up with the range. publication of vacancy. There are lots of places where you can publish that. ICMA website obviously municipalities has their own website. Uh USC school of government, a local newspaper, any social media sites, LinkedIn and others. So there are many opportunities for advertising. Now some are not as costly as others. Candidate screening process. The full elected board could review all the applications. There could be a committee who would narrow down. So I think it's what you did the last time to two or three people. Then you could hire a search firm to do the whole thing for you. Uh but again all these it's important to understand that this is a at this stage it is a closed process because you are taking applications you're talking about qualifications competence and performance character and fit of a of a particular individual. So that is closed at this process. Then you are accepting resumes. You're acknowledging receipt of those going in close session to talk about those those employees. Keep in mind also that a lot of these people are you heard me say again it's important for this to be confidential. A lot of these folks already have jobs. Uh so it's important to keep this this confidential and typically boards narrow it down to about three candidates to move forward. And again, this includes internal candidates as well as external. Uh board members can compare notes. It's important to go into close session and talk about the qualifications, experience of each one of your candidates.

There are approximately 40 to 50 or so vacancies across the state. Carol and I look at a report comes out every month and it's it's amazing how you know there is turnover that list stays about the same in terms of the number of managers out there. I say this also because it's important for you to understand that applicants are looking at you also to decide whether or not they want to come. That's important because it it is a competitive process. I think I bolded at the end candidates evaluating at times as much as supporters evaluating the candidates platforms interview. Uh it is very popular now and you did this your last time to do some video conferencing. If you've got somebody in a in California or in New York, it's easier to do the video conferencing versus having that person to drive down here and take a flight etc. So you see a lot of the initial interviews can be done by phone. They can done by video conferencing. Then you could have maybe your finalist and this is an option for you to come in and do the actual inperson interviews. We can help with that in terms of preparing questions. And of course it's uh important for you to make sure there are questions that are relevant to your particular situation. I'll go through this. Uh it's important again some of these things are just self-explanatory. Completing an evaluation form with each of the candidates. This is to allow you to discuss the merits of each of the candidates. Selection process board should discuss at length and the board needs to come to a consensus on the candidate. It would be ideal if it is if it is unanimous and believe me it is

always important that there are having been involved in this work in a few years over time it's you managers want to be able to know that there is a unanimous decision that's been made on on them and I think that's important and moving forward that that there is a clear choice for that candidate. Of course, you make that job offer and as you talk about benefits and etc., you'll be working with your attorney to come up with some type of contract or agreement. Background check is always important. It's a lot easier to check on people now, but there are lots of uh screening opportunities that are out there, and this is just a list of of those. One of the things that's important is EMV records, credit, credit credit history, criminal history, education, and so forth are the critical ones. Um, the appointment of the town manager should be done in an open session. Now, some communities have narrowed it down to a couple three and had an open session where they would bring candidates in and have a have interview questions that would be open to the public. That's an option that's always available to you. And that concludes the what we have this evening and we'll be glad to respond to any other questions or comments you may have at this stage.

Well, um thank you first off for driving down to um assist us with this. Again, uh we appreciate it and this is critical training so that we as the board understand the process of selecting uh a competent qualified town town manager um that's best suited for the town of Spring Lake. Um the only question that I have is you know I've been through this process I believe this is time number five. Wow. Um, is there someone at the league that can help us adjust our u the job description? Um, right now we are we don't have an HR clerk.

Um, and we need some assistance in that HR area. Um, so if we could have somebody assist us with just making sure that the job description is current. Um and as well as some numbers around uh and I I I've kind of talked to our finance department a bit about um what we can what type of range we we could offer um and once we we the board comes together to discuss this but is there someone from the league that could just help us with um updating that job description?

Yes, we'll be able to do that for you as well as getting you the we don't help you set compensation. That's totally up to you. We can give you the range based upon budget, based upon population, and what other managers are being paid. Again, within that range, comparable size jurisdictions. Awesome. Thank you, Commissioner Cooper. Thank you, Mayor. Um, I'm going to go off script because uh I already know this again, been through it many times, but what I want to say is you, a lot of people don't know Harold and um Mr. Durham were part of the team that helped us uh put our strategic plan in place.

Yes. And many people in this room have helped to us to put the final thing together. So I just wanted to public publicly thank you all since you're here in front of us because we have really done a lot with that. So thank you. I I I appreciate all of you for being a part of that, sticking with it and going through that process. Again, it's a it was a quick day and a half. appreciate you being there and but in the end obviously it's been beneficial for the town. That's that's a great thing. Thank you, Commissioner Jackson.

Um thank you again for coming as well with the job description and everything is done with the um compensation. That is a board vote. So you won't come in and make the changes without us voting on the changes. Correct. Ma'am, I'm not going to do anything. I am providing information and it's up to up to y'all to decide what you do with it. So, we don't even recommend there may be a suggestion made from time to time, but again, that is purely up to the board to make those decisions. Thank you. Any other questions or comments from the board? Thank you guys so much. We really appreciate it. Thank you.

This is some some really good information. So, um what I I highly encourage is it you don't have as a resident, as a citizen, if you don't have a copy of this presentation, um if you didn't get the full um agenda packet in your email, please reach out cuz this is how we govern our town. These are important things um that you should be a part of and understand as well. So, please read through these slides. This isn't just random information. This is really important information. All right, we will now move on. Okay,

to our public to our public hearing. Um and this is Z26001. Reszoning request from O and I and office in in sorry resoning request from O and office and institutional district to R six residential district or more restrictive zoning uh district for two parcels containing approximately 0.73 acres located on the southwest corner of Elizabeth Street and John Street. submitted by drafting and design services incorporated. Uh applicant agent on behalf of Kingdom Community Development Corporation. Uh honor, Mr. Fagan.

Hi. Uh my name is Richard Fagan, excuse me, mayor and members of the board. um a plan or two for Cumberland Countyy's planning inspections department and we here to present case1260011 which is centrally located within the town of Spring Lake as denoted by the red star. As previously stated the applicant and owner is Kingdom Community Development. The agent is drafting and design services incorporated. The request is to go from O and office and institutional to R six residential. Uh the intent which I think has already been done is to demolish the existing unit uh and develop the subject property for single family residential use. Uh the total acreage of the subject property is 73 acres. specific property may have contained could be demolished at this moment which I think it has um was a stick built single family residential unit uh with some undeveloped wooded lands in addition uh there's a variety of uh uses surrounding the property we have single family residential so manufactured homes multif family residential along with institutional with the spring lake uh recreation facility some of the surrounding zoning districts. Uh we'll start clockwise to kind of help. Uh directly to the north is P and D. You have O and I C3 uh C1, C, R six, R 6A, R5, and then you can see down to the U southwest the Fort Bragg military reservation as well. This is an aerial to kind of give some color and character uh for the exact location of the area. As you can see, there's Elizabeth

Street, John Street, and the subject properties located on the southern corner of that intersection as well. There are no hydra uh soils or hydro inclusion soils on the subject property and there is water and uh sewer services that front the subject property along John's street as well as Elizabeth Street. This is a contour map uh with some topo lines overlaid on the subject property. Um, just to give you some general background, it's relatively flat with a slight grade going from southwest to the northeast with the northeast portion or southwest portion being the 4t higher than the northwest northeast. The property sits within the Spring Lake area land use plan with the land use designation being high density residential uh an associated zoning district for highdensity residentials R5. Some of the development goals for a high density residential include uh to encourage the use of both new and redeveloped housing to attract residents at a variety of housing types and prices and as well medium density residential may be suitable in certain areas to match the existing zoning. Uh the request is consistent excuse me out plan. This is a picture of the subject property. As you can see, the lawn has been demolished. We're looking at the subject property across from Elizabeth Street. This is a west view along Elizabeth Street with the subject property on the left hand side. You can see denoted by the reszoning disc right there. This is a north view looking away from

the subject property along Elizabeth Street. And this is a northeast view with the uh subject property on the right hand side. Staff recommends approval of the request uh the joint planning board at the April 21st joint planning board meeting uh recommending unanimous approval and state on the consent agenda. That concludes my presentation and I'm happy to answer any questions you might have. Uh as well as the uh applicant agent Mr. Blakeley is here representing graphing design as well. Thank you. Are there any questions or comments from the board?

All right. I now Thank you, Mr. Han. I'll now declare this public hearing open. Is there anyone to see speak in favor of this resoning? And it's okay to speak on behalf of the developer if you wanted to say a few words. obviously. Um, so what we're going to do is, as you know, we've already done houses to the to the east of or to the west of it. We're just continuing right along with Elizabeth. And then we have future plans of doing housing at Warfield and Elizabeth also. Y'all see the products out there now. That's what Kingdom has done in the community.

Do you know how many houses are out there now? Uh there was 15 14 Oh, can you say your name? Oh, yeah. I'm sorry. Michael Blakeley Drafting Design Services, 6728 Carbon Road, Sanford, North Carolina. Thank you so much. Yes, I didn't even think about it. Me either. My Yeah, there's 14 there. Uh this project will give us three more and then we have seven more at Elizabeth and Northeast. Okay, so so it'll be, you know, revitalization of the area. That's really good. Get rid of some of the older homes.

Just like to make sure we know how many new houses are coming when we're fighting keeping a school open. Yes, ma'am. I did. Um, y'all have any questions on Thank you so much. Thank you. Is there anyone else to speak in favor of this development or excuse me of this request? I'm in favor of the house. Did you get Yeah. com. Wait, you got to wait till you get to know and then put your name and address on the record. We know who you are, but say it again for the sake of the public hearing.

My name is Lady Sandress 104 Drive, Spring Lake. Been here for over 40 years. But anyway, it's good that we're having these houses, but the thing about it, the price of the places you have, they're too expensive and uh they need to come down on the prices so we can, you know, get more people in these apartments and these houses and they I think on road there's only one. And how long those apartments?

I know we have to we have to stay on the topic of Okay. Thank you, Christina. You said what I'm saying. All right. Is there anyone else to speak in favor of this request? Is there anyone here to speak in opposition of the request? Again, is there anyone here to speak in opposition of the request? State your name and address for the record, please. Crystal Johnson six before I just have a question. Why um do they always try to buy just a little space?

That would be a question you have to direct with the agent. Oh, okay. Okay. Um can I ask this question? Will it affect if someone wants to put something commercial there or interfere with like the funeral home or somebody want to put commercial? So we would have to that again this this is speaking in favor or against the request. Um but once the zoning is changed it would become residential and no more commercial property will be allowed to be developed there.

So that the it's right now it's for office and industrial buildings like this but once we reszone it it'll be for residential purposes. Is there anyone to speak in opposition of this request? Last time, is there anyone to speak in opposition of this request? Hearing none, this public hearing is now declared closed. Thank you so much. All right, we will now move on to agenda item 8B and this is 945 Willington Highway annexation. And in accordance with North Carolina general statutes and the town of Spring Lake CO ordinance, the public hearing notice was published in the Bayville observer uh on the appropriate date which was Tuesday the 28th, 2026. So we'll pass this to Madam Clerk. You like to speak to the annexation? Uh everything was as it appears. The p the resoning would be held with Cumberland County and Craig Der on behalf of the agent is here for any questions or con concerns the board may have. So again, the board has conducted um um the board has uh conducted the required public hearing and the petition meets the requirements of general statute 168-31. There's no opposition and the board finds the petition valid in every respect, we can adopt the ordinance 2026-2 um when we move on to the resoning request. If there's any questions or comments about that.

No, mayor. There's no reasonzoning requests. Annexation. I'm sorry. Annexation request, not reszoning. All right. Hearing none, we will now move on to agenda item. Mayor, we have to do the public hearing. This one didn't have public hearing on it. There's no give me the information for public hearing. I don't have any what you just read or anything. We have to do the public hearing what you just read. Public hearing is now declared openly. Mr. Bon have anything for this? No, this one's separate. Okay. Yeah, this is just for the annexation only. I went I gave every all the information the previous two meetings,

guys. Okay. So, we will now um I now declare this public hearing open for the annexation of 945 Linton Highway um property owned by author L. Jackson and Ronda Jackson. Is there anyone here to speak in favor of this request? Please state your name and address for the record.

My name is Craig Stewart, 403 name, North Carolina. Uh I'm here as a uh representative of the applicant uh who filed the annexation petition on behalf of the property owner as an authorized agent. Um and it's simply to annex into the city so that we can then move forward with the resoning. Unfortunately, we have to do it in two steps. So we'll be back before you guys hopefully in August for this simply annex so we can tie into the existing query soon. Any questions?

Thank you so much. Is there anyone else uh here to speak in favor of this request? Last time. Is there anyone here to speak in favor of this request? Hearing none. Is there anyone here to speak in opposition of this request? Is there anyone here to speak in opposition of this request? last time. Is there anyone here to speak in opposition of this request? Hearing none, I declare this public hearing closed. Now, we'll move on to agenda item 9A, consideration of cell phone service and device changes. Uh, Mr. English.

Okay. Since the last meeting, we talked about um just transitioning from the app on the phone for the board, myself to actual cell phones. I spoke with our clerk and she um she came up with some recommendations. So, if you don't mind, um Madame Clerk,

thank you, Dennis. So, I reached out to the ver to Verizon. It is $36.99 per line. um they we can have them give us new hardware, it would not be at no additional cost. So if the board or the whatever board members elect to do a new device, um again I would just need to know that number. The old devices we have, I can sell them to the previous well a past or previous vendor that we used in the past to buy the old used cell phones. So um I again was however we can move as long as this is not coming at a cost to the town or if it's a cost savings I am for this completely. Um however we need to make sure that this is driven by policy. That way it's not um up in the air anymore. We can lay this out in a policy that states that board members can have a cell phone. It could be either an actual device or the act, but if something needs to be put into a policy.

So there was a policy for town staff, right? There was not one for the board. So the board would need to adopt a policy. So I and I um with consensus of the board before we make any movements, we get this policy established and we move based on policy and not just wants and and desires. Um, Commissioner Jackson, um, I thought it was said that the cell phones had to be sold on surplus. If it's under 30,000, it does not, but

but we I mean for for for I mean just for normal practice or or or general, you know, how it's normally done, that's not a problem. But they're they only buy they're only like 50 bucks we get. So information that was told to me in last meeting was incorrect. Okay. So, well, I looked into it and they we can do it just to cover our butts. Yes, we can do it as surplus, but if it's under like a certain amount, we don't have to. So, so we need to make sure that if we move that way, we move correctly. Okay. As well with the

Yeah, because normal practices we do. So, we want to keep it that way. That's fine. Just to keep things legal, which it will still be legal. There is something that states under a certain threshold you can Okay. So that would cover it. There's a policy cover. Well, no, there's actually information that was given to me when I brought it up last time was incorrect. That's all. So, it's it's fine. Okay. Thank you. Yeah. There is Mayor Proim needing to be recognized. Mayor Pim, did you have something to add? I thought it was a uh board members to if they elect to have a private phone that we had talked about and discussed.

No, there's no statute that states board members have to have a separate private phone. What What did you tell us the last time? No, she uh Commissioner Jackson was referring to the um the surplus of the phones. Okay. was up to the board to if they want a private phone or a uh work phone. Yes, ma'am. Yes. We're just uh mayor was just stating that it would probably better for it to be policy driven instead of kind of just up in the air.

Okay. We just need to get on there then to get it policy driven so we can go ahead on and get moving so we can stop being at a stagnant uh place right now. Thank you. Commissioner Jackson, what is the policy now? There isn't one. There there is one, but it's basically kind of for town staff. It's in the personal policy. That is not for the board at all. So there is no there's never been a policy for the board.

Not that I know of. Not that I see. There was no cell phone policy for the board of commissioners. There was one in the old employee handbook, but that was just for staff that didn't involve it. That's what I'm saying. So that we can go forward and it it will uh with a policy it help it gives options for those who want an actual device and those who want the uh app. So with the policy you can opt in for to get the device or say I'll just use the app. So the policy so the we decide what the policy is or you going to come up up with something for us. So basically the next meeting we can go ahead and get this done and over with. Yeah I can have. So we have to discuss the policy how we want it in open session.

So what what we'll do is staff will give consensus tonight for staff to go ahead and draft the policy. They'll draft the policy. They'll bring it back to us for approval. We can have them either um submit it to us early once they draft it. They can submit it to us via email. That way we can go through it and read it and have our responses prepared to discuss it in open meeting and we can take that vote at the same time. So do you I'm sorry, Commissioner Cooper.

Um yes. Um I think uh where the confusion is we um we were moving based off the budget. We based off the budget, we took the cell phones and just gave the stipen because it was a lot of um state money for one and there was a lot of confusion. So the policy it wasn't a policy, it was just budget driven. So go ahead. So with that being said that we were cheaper to keep the cell phones than we were to get the app because you're giving everybody a $50 bonus. not on, excuse me, a $50 stocking for their phone and it's only $36.

I'm not sure about being there because we would have to factor in. I would like I would like to know that. So, can you go through back to the notes and find that where that changed from the act? Because it sounds like we were cheaper to keep the phones than we were actually to get the app because everybody's given a $50 stipen for the phone. So, I would like to see that and that's not too much trouble. The the the reason why they did this. Excuse me. Sorry. Uh, the reason why they did with the app is because we changed ways of reporting how to clock in and out. So, it would consist of town staff using their cell phones. So, that's why the former town manager got just rid of the townisssued cell phones and went to a monthly stipen. Okay. I still want to Yes, ma'am. No problem.

Thank you, Attorney. Uh yeah, there there was also a bit of a dispute with the last provider. So it was a little more complicated. But just to be clear, the the dispute with the our previous provider was for cell phones issue to the entire staff whereas tonight we're just talking about cell phones for the board. Well, who was the potential? Who was it providing? Was it Are you talking about the one that we were in that was it T-Mobile? It was T-Mo. T-Mobile. T-Mobile. I mean, we actually had like I had to get involved. So, you know, if I'm getting involved, it's getting a little nasty. Um, but yeah, the size of the contract is very, very different.

And then when we switched over, and I don't have the exact numbers, but when we switched over, the staff, the board at the time just said they would go ahead and switch over to the app as well, but there's nothing preventing y'all from doing whatever you want. You know, that ultimately y'all can have it for however you want. So, um, with the board's consensus, we will, uh, direct staff. Did you have something Mayor Pim? Did you have something?

Well, he said the board can do whatever they want. So, I mean, we can draw a policy, but the board is Well, I mean, we take a vote on it is considering that we want to have a our own phone, saving money, $36.99 opposed to the $50 that we're going to get back so we can have our own personal phone. So, uh, I just think we need to put it in a motion and move forward. And they want to draw up a policy and draw up a policy because as a town attorney just stated, the board can was talking about the whole uh employees during that budget time or whatever reason uh that situation was with the phone because uh having all that turned over, the town didn't even have a number that they could call police to shut down as well. So, in order for us to move forward, as the attorney just stated, I just think that the board need to put it in a vote so we can move forward uh with this issue.

Uh did you have one more thing? because I want to because it so with the board consensus, are we okay with moving forward with allowing staff to draft this policy? That gives us the option to use phones or or apps and we bring back the information you've requested. We can go ahead and take that vote, put the policy in action, and move forward with getting everything settled. Are we okay? Can we get a general consensus from the board on that? So, are you saying I'm sorry I'm I'm out of order. Go ahead. Oh, no. No. Well, I was I thought you was here to make a motion or not a motion, but consensus. Go ahead.

So, are you asking that we vote tonight before the B for the phones? No votes tonight. Just saying it's okay for staff to go ahead and start doing the actions to get all this close up. Um, if we vote tonight, what does that do? If we have what would we vote on? Oh, okay. That's a good question. So, are we voting on to go ahead and get the phones and then come back when we do it again to break the policy? Is that what mayor wants to vote? What can ask? Yeah. Yeah. She may not be able to hear her. Mayor Tim, could you hear Commissioner Jackson?

Yeah. She trying to figure out which one which which are we going to do a consensus or we going to go ahead on and vote so we can get the phones. I think the town attorney said it didn't apply to the board member. So I would like to put in a motion that we move forward so we can get uh as town manager so we can go ahead on and get the get the sale. Mayor Pro Tim, when he was saying that, he was referring to us having the authority to do what we needed to do as the board, but and only thing we were discussing tonight were the cell phones that the board were using and clarifying that what staff does was separate. Is that correct, Mr. Border?

That's correct. I mean, in theory, you could vote on it tonight if you wanted. So, we would just have to state that motion very clearly. Yes. Which is why we move by policy. That that's that is the way local government works. We move by policy. That's why I'm saying in order to keep us covered and to make sure going forward we're operating, you know, correctly. We do it by policy. It's not left to discussion or decision. It's ran by policy. So, I mean, we can take a vote. Like the attorney said, we can take it a vote, but that's not usually how local government works. We vote on your policy. The policy drives our decisions. So us as the governing body should be developing these types of policies that govern how we move.

So that which is why I suggest step one is develop the policy.

They bring the one second Tim. I got you. They bring back the policy to us. We approve it. We say fix this. Don't fix this. Put this in there. Take that out. And then we vote on it. and then that move forward based on that. So, two weeks they'll bring the policy back to us at our next board meeting. We'll go over it. If we if we if we like the policy right then we can vote on it right then. It doesn't have to go back anywhere else. We can vote on say this is what we're going to do. If you are Mayor Pro has Mayor Pro. Yeah, we've discussed this and we've discussed it and it's been uh quite quite a bit of time and we keep discussing the same thing. I've been believing policy process and status of course but uh that's why we have our town attorney there seeking his advice but uh I think that instead of waiting for two weeks I think we can call a special meeting. We try to call a special meeting prior in town coming and nobody showed up. So, I would like to if you want to go ahead and get that policy uh drawn up and if we can call a special meeting uh to get this taken care of, that's why I like this direction uh to go and uh then it was still safe in the town money uh with the board.

That's fine. As long as we can go ahead and give staff consensus to get started and that's all we need tonight. We just have to call the special need, get enough people that's going to show up opposed to again, it's been about 3 months that we bought this uh four months that we bought this before the public and before the board uh and move forward with a special meeting to get this taken care of and we can put this behind us. We can talk about that special meeting soon whenever staff is finished with with drafting it. Thank you. All right. So, we can go ahead and move on. How long would it take to draft it? It won't take me. I can have it done by uh Wednesday.

Okay. So once once once it's once it's drafted, we can discuss special meetings then and look at time frames to get this in. So we have a consensus to give the staff uh permission to draft the policy.

All right. Staff, you have general consensus to go ahead and get the policy drafted. Bring it back to us whenever you can. We will discuss a special meeting time at that once we we get the policy. All right, let's move on to a discussion regarding the kiosk. So, we discussed this last time and madame clerk, you did some research and brought back to us your findings and I do All right. So, um, it was tabled from the April 27th, 2026 work session. It was requested for the town clerk to research whether the removal of the kiosk constitutes day-to-day operational matters or board involvement is required, particularly giving the associated costs. The clerk findings were while the town manager has authority over day-to-day operations, the kiosks were implemented pursuant to a board approved budget amendment and executed contract. Any action to remove or discontinue their use, particularly if it impacts contractual obligations or town expenditures should be brought before the board for review and direction to ensure alignment with prior board actions and to mitigate potential financial or legal risk. There was a contract approved by the board on Monday, April 14th, 2025 and signed by myself. Um, our clerk also reached out to the school of government and their input was that they agree with the clerk's finding. If the board approved the budget and the contract, they need to approve any removal. This is true even though it is a former board that approved the amendment and contract. The former board binds the current one. The

terms of US payment contract was provided by Mr. Overton. a three year a term of three years with an option for an annual renew renewal for additional four years with a total of seven years if renewed. The annual subscription of $1,500. Termination of the contract requires a 90-day written notice and termination of the contract without cause in the first three years. The town would have to pay an additional $1,000 for the termination of the contract. We the uh kiosks themselves were $25,000 and a piece with the installation the total came to $78,000 for uh the installation of these kiosk as it was mentioned earlier were installed December or excuse me November 2025. So, we are bringing this back to the board to discuss how we want to handle um the removal of these kiosk. Mr. Jackson.

Okay. So, um we're only speaking about one kiosk that was moved and that's the one that was at the water department. So, that's that $2,500 because only one only one um was removed. 25,000.

25,000. So my question to you in the contract we didn't get a copy of the contract so I would like a copy of the contract and then in the contract when it specifies removal is it talking about removing it all together or is it talking about removing it from place to place because we did not get rid of the kiosk the kiosk is not gone. It's going to be removed to another place that is more convenient or better used for the um more people to use it. We spoke on the um you spoke on having the kiosk there in the first place because you mentioned that people were having a hard time paying out the hours. That is not a true fact. There's a box that's right across the street that people have been using it for now and forever and there is not to my knowledge not going to say there is not but to my knowledge there is no complaints about them that box being there. So they're not the kiosk being moved from the water department is not enabling people to continue to pay after hours. Another statement that was made is for the younger people to do so. So I asked a couple of younger people and what I was told from the younger generation, they don't go to the chaos. No way. They do their phone, they pay online. So the kiosk doesn't bother them either way or the other. There was a lot of other citizens, older citizens, especially one like my mother for once that had a problem with going through the kiosk because she's 79 years old and trying to figure out how to use it was a task for her. So, I know I deal with a lot of seniors myself and I know that's one of their complaints. They don't want to go to the task of doing it. They like it better when they can go and say, "Hi, how you doing? What you got going on?" Whatever. Payment being taken. So when the kiosk was put there, there was a lot of indoor traffic that came in from the outside to the inside. So I would like to see and I would like the word removal

to be more clarifying. Are you speaking removal all together or is the contract only speaking of removal from situation from place to place? Because if we as the board or the prior board signed a contract that gave somebody to tell us where we can put the kiosk when it's not best sit for the for the citizens, that's a problem within itself. So I need to know what that word removal is for. Is it for again I say is it for to remove the kiosk from place to place or is it to remove the kiosk altogether? So and there's only one kiosk that is being used. So to keep using the fact of $78,000 is an incorrect finder because the other one is still sitting where it's at which only had 10 to 15 users in the last 6 months. I could be wrong about the numbers. Correct me if I'm wrong, but if I'm not mistaken, it didn't have a lot of traffic there in the first place.

Commissioner, the 78,000 is just addressing the total cost that the town spent to purchase them and install them. That's I appreciate that. I understand that. But if you're going to make it, you're going to emphas um if you're going to keep referencing the $78,000 because that's what it costs, then we need to reference the amount that is affecting us and that's the $25,000 for the kiosk itself and whatever it cost to be removed. Again, I say I need to see the contract and I want that contract in terms of what that word removal means.

Some clarification on what you mean by how how it's affecting us. Well, the 20 the kios is from what I'm saying from what I'm understanding with what y'all saying is the fact that you bought the kiosk.

So now the kiosk is not where it's at. So now they're violation of the contract. Well, the kiosk is not there but it's going to be moved somewhere. So when we bought the kiosk to my to my understanding what I'm regulating you um tell me if I'm wrong. When you bought the kiosk and you signed the contract for the kiosk, you're saying we're going to put the kiosk wherever we see fit that the kiosk will go. That would be more beneficial to the community. So, you put one, of course, you would think the water department. It didn't happen that way. Not to say it was a bad decision, but you have citizens that don't like that kiosk there. So, if you move the kiosk and you move it to somewhere where it could be more out in the open. So, if I'm driving around and I'm at a store and the kiosk is over here, oh, let me go pay my water bill while I'm over here, you can do that instead of having to actually come here. So, my question, I guess my overall question is what is the big deal if the kiosk is still going to be used and it's still going to be in a position that may be better for the citizens and of that. So, the only loss, if you call it a loss, that you will be using is the actual removal and putting it somewhere if it cost a lot. But sometimes in life as it was state before you got to get with the times. So when you get with the times you spend more money to get with the times but the overall result would be better. So that kiosk movement to move to another place may be shortterm money cost now but long-term savings in the end. That's what I mean. Thank you.

Okay. Um I believe attorney Porter was next and then we'll move back to the Yeah. Just to be clear, I just don't want to get us uh too hung up on the word removal. I think that's just the word we were all using last time. I don't think it's meant to have any connotation other than how we were using it last time. Just we moved it, it was moved, but that was it. So, uh that being said, I think uh to Carly's point as far as what she's saying is just if the town decides not to put it somewhere else and not use it, there would be contractual ramifications. I think that's all she's saying.

So, I just don't want us to get so hung up on relocation, removal. Again, I as an attorney, I deal in words. Um, and so you can get real hung up on it, but at the end of the day, the thing was there and now the thing ain't there.

Yeah. And I I believe a bit of the conflict was was it a dayto-day? Should it have been brought to the board before the decisions was made? Commissioner Thompson. And I and I think the main reason the kosh was put there because they did budget cuts within the water department. So it was saving money and that's the original reason why the kosh was done to save the town money. Just to elaborate to Commissioner Thompson's uh point, we were against budgetary constraints and um the previous manager was trying to figure out how do we continue to provide the service we had been providing without uh because the it was conversation was to close the window completely because we just didn't have the funding to fully staff that department. And so it was either do we close the window totally because we don't have that position or do we find another way um and an employee is let's say $78,000 every year. That kiosk was a one-time payment that's still going to provide the services that the community needs without us having to restaff that position right then. So that was the main reason for the kiosk. It wasn't just trying to be up with the times. it was we didn't have any money and we still wanted to provide access because for ever people been able to go to that window and pay their bills. We wouldn't if we didn't have somebody manning the window if they just had to close. And so this was um the next best option was give them something digital. That way they can still it might be a little bit of a learning curve but they still have that same window access. Um, I would like to see too since you bring up the budget, I would like to see what money that we saved or we lost by doing that because at the end of the day that sounds good, but that wasn't reality.

That's it's budget. The um the the cl the community wasn't usable. So either way, and then you talking about budget cost, there was a fee. There was a 50 cent or 75 cent fee just to write a check on there. All those fees that you had to pay to use that kiosk would probably make up some of the difference that you would have just had somebody there at the window. It probably would. I don't know, but I would like to see we can ask um our manager to instruct staff to give us those numbers on on the difference of the one time payment for the kiosk versus the onetime payment every time they use it.

No, no. I'm just talking about the expense to us, not not the user expense. I'm talking about the the budget from the towns. We're not budgeting in the user expenses. We're only talking about the money from the town. You should budget the user expenses as the community. Is there money? I mean, when you got a senior that is on a fixed income that is used to paying $35 for their water, now they got to pay five more extra dollars just to use a kiosk when they have to pay anything. Put a tape. I think the user fee should have been in there. That's their money. That was my money. That's their money. Okay. Let me give Commissioner Cooper a chance at make sure all the voices are heard. Commissioner Cooper and then we'll move to Mayor Proin.

So I think one the reason we keep saying 78,000 is because it was one budget amendment and you can't just break it up into parts. It was a whole which is one budget amendment. And um the thing about the fees, if you pay with your credit card through the window, there's a fee and it's it's probably about as much as the kiosk because that's one of the reasons why I went to direct deposit because pay with your credit card. There's that fee. Um you know there's I don't think there's a fee if you do um a check. It is a 50cent. It is not

we can't don't don't talk from the audience please. Thank you and and also you know I have talked to people who um have appreciated the kiosk because it gives them the opportunity to come there late at night when they get off work and the uh we haven't had it in place long enough to really uh get good data because everything has to have time to take off. you know, if it's a business, you have to get it established. People have to know you're there and know you can use it. Six months is not enough time to get a good uh record of what people will be using. So, um I don't think it was given the right chance and I just think uh it should have been discussed with the full board before it was uh taken from the place over by the water department. Mayor Broton.

Thank you, Madam Mayor. Um, discussion of the kios go over everything everybody else has said is $25,000. Only one was moved, removed, and other one is still down the way by my church and nobody can get to it as grass and everything like that. So, I feel like that was a waste of money budgeted in the first place when it was budgeted uh in uh April, I guess April 14th when you put it in 2025. Anyway, it's already been done, but we're going to keep those kioskes. I would like to see them still in spring lake, but I would like to hear from the citizens. Where should we put those so it can be utilized? Open back that window. And I think we're in the process of budgeting to make sure we have somebody in that department to be able to service our uh citizens. We always want to make sure that our citizens uh are taken care of in a proper manner regardless of what age they are from the young folks to our senior citizens. But if we can have a public forum, they can let us know where they think we should uh we can discuss where those kiosk can be utilized in the one that's down on 210 when I pass it. Every time I go to church, I said just sitting there, nobody is utilizing it. but it was $25,000 uh since only one of them was removed. Mayor, I would like to see us have a public forum, listen to our citizens, and uh move those kiosks. When it says remove, I thank you, uh, attorney. We're just going to put them in an area where they can move and open that window back up if we can all come to a, you know, a vote on it, how we need to see that and just move forward with it. So, um, with that, thank you.

Just just so we're clear, the positioning of the kiosk, that's outside of the purview of the board. That is literally in the hands of the town manager. Um, that is fully his decision on where they should be located. That's outside of our the only thing that concerns the board is um the the cost of it. Um, we we now have clarification. We can't do anything about it. It's already done. we know next time things that are over a certain threshold bring them to the board before a decision is made. Um if the town manager feels that he wants to involve the community in his in his decision that is fully up to the town manager that's outside of the work of the board. So if he wants to hold a forum that's that's perfectly fine. Um, however, he could use staff to, you know, determine the location, but that's again that's within his Can you Can you pause there for just one second while I'm doing um so that's that's within his jurisdiction. And so now that we're clear, the whole issue was just making sure we know which things should be brought brought before the board before action is taken. And what now that they have been removed, I would like to just see what's the plan for them. one.

Huh? One you said they

Oh, okay. The um where what's the plan for I mean if we put the other one back where it was and move the one at the fire station that wasn't used, I think that would be that way we still have the access again at the key and I I know we want to see people there and we can look at addressing that a little further down the line when we've got more money in our budget. We have to be, you have to remember that we have to make sure that we have money to cover um incidences and like a a storm could come through and we have to have money in our reserves and hiring somebody for that position is going to be ongoing costs that we're going to have to continue to pay for. We're just not in the place for it right now. So, if we could use the kiosk temporarily just until we get more financially stable and plan for maybe next year looking at refilling that position just so we're not putting this additional cost burden on our community. We have to be responsible and sometimes that means saying no to convenience because we can't afford it the same way you do your own house also. Sometimes you got to buy the generic brand because money might be a little tight. Sometimes you have to forego that cup of Starbucks because you know money is a little tight. And once you save, we can go back and revisit it and then give that convenience back. But to be perfectly honest and transparent, if we open that window back up, we are putting an undue burden on our budget. a budget that is very I mean one big decision, one big or or uh cost uh one of the major trucks break down and we got to purchase $300,000 that's gone like that. We have to be very very careful with growth right now because our it's just really fragile. It's we lo we took a very very severe loss and this is our first full budget cycle with us really feeling

losing that 1.8 8 million. That hurts a lot. So, if we can just baby step in expansion internally and and not to lose and say we're never going to do this cuz I mean we want to be a a good employer. We want to be, you know, provide good services. We also want to be responsible with the money that we have. So, that is my my only uh point when we're talking about reopening the window. I'm absolutely not against it. Not at all. And I I like the idea of finding better locations for our kiosk because we've already purchased them. Let's put that convenience somewhere else. But let's just remember we also have to always be mindful of that fund balance and how our ongoing cost. Um we need to make sure every single expenditure has an ongoing revenue source or a clearly defined expense cut every time. And I digress. Is there anybody else who needed to make a statement on the key? Well, we'll take one more round of statements if you like and then we'll go ahead and go forward.

Go ahead, Commissioner.

So, um, if we're talking about convenience, safety, we're struggling to maintain staffing with our police department and our fire. And I would rather put extra money because we lost five police department positions last year because of the budget cut. I would rather put our money towards the safety of our citizens rather than the convenience from the kiosk. That's just I'm going to choose that all day. If we can find a way to increase pay to keep our police officers and fire uh fire department staff and keep us safe, I I'll choose that every day. One more round of questions and then we're gonna we're going to move on. Commissioner Jackson,

I am 100% sure that when we sit down and we the budget that whatever we do, we're going to do it on best on what's best for the community and for us. That's even mean that if the board itself has to take us on some of the stuff that we got going on. I mean when everybody that that includes the money that we have going to the trainings and things of that nature or whatever, we will have a problem with taking cuts on that too um with whatever we need. So I'm pretty sure that we all five of us is capable of making sure that that budget is where it needs to be. All right, we will now move on to agenda item 10A and this is the zoning 60001 resist from O and I Austin Institutional District to our six residential district or to a more restrictive zoning for two parcels containing approximately 0.73 acres located on the southwest corner of Elizabeth and St. John Street submitted by drafting and design services the agent on behalf of Kingdom Community Development Corporation. I'll now entertain a motion to approve or deny um reszoning uh 26001. Commissioner Cooper moved.

Is there a second? Commissioner Press second.

Any discussion? All in favor? Any opposed? Second. Motion carries. Congratulations, Mr. Manning. I look forward to you continuing to build this community that you said back in 2021. We said in the audience and you showed these beautiful pictures of these houses right across the street and now I drive there often just to look at them, seeing vision fulfilled. So, thank you um for continuing to build in our community like some people in our county isn't seeing happen. We've got, you know, new houses coming all the time yet. Cumberland County School Board says Spring Lake isn't growing and that's justification for closing our schools. Yes, I said it and I will say it again. We are growing. We have people who want to invest in our community and we need our county's school board to do the same thing every time. And I'm going to die on that hill every chance I get. All right. Next agenda item 10B, Ordinance 2026-2, ordinance to extend the corporate limits of the town of Spring Lake, North Carolina. the 945 Lson Highway. And I'll now entertain a motion to approve or deny ordinance 2026-2.

Uh, Madame Mayor, I'd like to make a motion that we approve orders 2026-2 and orders to extend the corporation limit of the town of Spring Lake, North Carolina. Commissioner Burgess. Any discussion? All in favor? I the mot I'm sorry any opposed hearing none the motion carries all right we'll now move on to budget amendment B823 for FY 2026 Mr. Overton.

Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. Good evening.

Uh we have budget amendment number 23 here. Uh there is no increase in the total cost because we're just moving it from one line to the other. Um the first line there is software mainly $6,000. Um there is a software called Planet that um that you use to do a capital improvement plan. Uh we have a capital improvement plan for our water and sewer that we prepared by our engineers as part of the uh asset inventory assessment, but we don't have a capital improvement plan for all of our other buildings, equipment, vehicles, and everything else. Um this software cost $6,000 the first year. It's a three-year contract. is 5,500 the next two years and then option to renew after that. Um we we are currently paying Harris software uh for payroll and uh capital asset software that we do not use anymore because we switched to AP. We can pay for this software next year by deleting those programs from Harris. Okay, we're paying for it this year by taking some money out of professional services. We had budgeted professional services for three years of audits, but we're not going to get three years done. God can just get one year done. Okay. Also, um 1,500 uh interest rates have declined this year. They were 5% last year. They are 3.75% right now. uh our bank service charge. When interest rates go down, the bank earns less money on our checking account. So, our bank uh service charge goes up a little bit. It was averaging a little less than 500 a month. Now, it's

about 600 a month. So, I'm asking to add 1,500 uh to cover our bank service charge for the rest of the year. Um and and both of those will be paid out of reduction in professional services this year. the software can be paid for next year by reducing what we pay tax. Okay. Um the other big part of this budget amendment is a request from the street department to buy two pieces of equipment. The first is a uh asphalt pot trailer. It is a trailer where you heat up the asphalt so you can spread it. Uh we currently do not have one. We used to have one years ago, but we don't have that piece of equipment now. And you see the quotes there. They've gotten two quotes. One is 71,000, the other is 80,000. The other piece of equipment they would like to buy is a lift bucket to they right now the lift we we rent one whenever we need it. Uh we use that to in uh hang the banners and to take the banners down. We use it to hang the Christmas decorations, take the Christmas decorations down. also use it to uh put uh decorate the Christmas tree, but it can also be used uh for lifts when they need to trim trees and do other things uh repairs. Uh the cost of that is either 378 or 395. The two quotes that they have um we the contract we had with Highland Pay to resurface the streets that came in under budget. So now we're looking at some other streets that they make and repair, but I'm asking to take 100,000 out of maintenance and repair streets and put 100,000 in capital outlay equipment. 111,000 to purchase these two pieces of equipment. Uh Mr. Wing is

here. He can explain more why he needs these two pieces of equipment and what he can use them for you if you have any questions. Awesome. I want to say thanks for this planet uh software. I was looking through it because I am a techie and I love software and yes I am the mayor because I most got excited about the fact that it could put together a booklet for you know slower folks who don't understand those things. Um and it could put together a booklet that's for the board. So now we know and we can explain real time about what's happening with our capital improvement plans. That in itself is huge. I mean I know that the detailed stuff is great for

demonstration. It looks to be very easy to use. Uh there he gave us examples of other towns that are using the software. One being the town of Wake Forest is using it. Uh several other examples. You can go on the website of those towns and look at their capital improvement plans. Uh but it's something that we desperately need a capital improvement plan. We don't have one right now. So I'm just asking for your approval for this budget amendment. Also with the power bill right now we have almost a million7 in power bill funds. You cannot accumulate more than five years where we are pushing to five years. We need to spend some of this power bill money before June 30th. Now we've already ordered a backhoe that's coming I hope any day now and this will be paid with the power bill funds. If we don't get it below five years total, we won't get 350,000 next year. So, we do need to uh start spending our power bill fund to maintain the streets.

Absolutely. And I know the streets department will be extremely excited if we go ahead and decide to give them some more equipment so that they can better clean our town. I can't wait. Let me let me let y'all take the vote first before I get excited. All right. I if there is there any questions or comments as Mr. said Mr. Wing is in the back if you have questions for what this equipment is for. Mr. Burgess or excuse me Commissioner Burgess this lift here. I understand y'all rent some once in a while, but we have a bucket truck that will take the replacement. Mr. W.

Yes, sir. Mr. Burgers, we had a bucket truck. We had to sell it. It was a 19 I think it was 1990. The computer system on it caught on fire. They couldn't find a computer system for it anymore because it was so outdated. We had to get it mechanically inspected every year. It has to go through an inspection every year just like the fire department apparatuses do the ladder truck and all that. It was failing every year and we would have to send it to Raleigh and then we'd get a bill 2,000 $3,000 at a time. But we had to sell it because they could not find a computer for it anymore.

Did you have anything else, Mr. Mr. Directors? Uh, Commissioner Jackson, the money that you're at the the equipment that you're asking us to buy, the money is coming from the power bill. Yes, ma'am. And then like you said, we have to spend it before we lose basically won't be able to get next year. Yes, sir. Without Right. Uh, Commissioner Thompson. Oh, I'm ready to motion. Commissioner Cooper, uh, I make a motion. Okay, go ahead. Commissioner Cooper, I make a motion that we approve budget amendment BA23 FY 2026.

Commissioner Thompson, I second. Any discussion? All in favor? I. The motion carries. You get new toys. Thank you all. No, but this is a good way for we now we can see them cut down some of those low hanging trees and Oh, this is going to be good.

I have not. Okay, we are now moving on to 10D and this is our U PWC agreement. Now, I will allow um our town manager to touch it. Mr. Overton, you're fine. We just got this this afternoon. We were preparing for it. However, PWC did not send the contract over until maybe two hours later. We got it maybe two hours before the meeting. So, we will um again, Mr. English, please tell us what's happening, but we don't have to make any decision until the board has ample time to read through the contract that was given to us.

Right. So, as far as receiving our PWC contract today, again, we just received it. So, therefore, we're not going to discuss it in great detail tonight because we want our attorney to look over it. It is going to be a savings to the town. So, we will save money. We will not go over um we will of course any catastrophe we can't do anything about. But the goal is to come off the tiered system. We've been spending a lot of money because when we get to a certain amount of water, they have been overchar they've had to charge us. So, we're coming off a tiered system and we're going to go to a bulk system type of uh agreement. So, we're looking forward to bringing that back to the board.

Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Huh. That was it. You We're not going to even go into it because we just got it. So, I'm just here for the good insurance. Oh, all right. I'm with it. Okay. So, now we'll move on to agenda item 10 is increases in health insurance. They're they're they're going to bring it back to the board once attorney reviews it.

Yeah, yeah, we just Yeah, we just got it today or this afternoon. So, they just wanted to make an update. We're going to move on to the next item. All right. which is regarding that increase in health insurance. Okay.

Uh uh this is also something we just got uh last week when I was on vacation. Uh the insurance companies generally don't like to tell you what the increases are going to be until the very last minute because they're afraid they might have a big claim near the end of the year. So we were uh Elizabeth had told us that we were expecting an increase of 15 to 22%. Uh so in the first draft of the budget, we put in a 20% increase in health insurance. That would have kept us still slightly below what our insurance was a couple years ago. Uh Nicole received the actual quote uh last week for our uh medical insurance and the increase is not 20%, it's 26%. So that puts our cost that puts our cost for medical insurance instead of $653 per employee up to $823 per employee, which is more than what we were paying two years ago at Blue Cross and Blue Shield. Uh, our dental insurance is also going up 8.5%. From $33 to $36 a month. Uh, the vision insurance is staying the same if we keep the same plan. Uh, that's 558. So, there's no increase in vision. They have offered an an alternative which would go from 5.58 to 614, an increase of about 60 or 70 cents a month. What that would do is right now when you get a pair of glasses, the insurance will pay $125 toward the cost of the glasses. If you go with the other the optional plan at

$614, they'll pay $150 or $25 more for your glasses or contacts. Uh other than that, the plans are pretty much the same, but the increase in the medical insurance of 26% uh instead of 20% will add another 39,000 to our budget. The dental insurance increase will add another 2,800 to our budget. So, the total increase is going to be around $42,000. Um when we just got this uh we have talked to our insurance agent on fail. They have reached out just today to United Healthcare to see if they can't do a little better than this. They said they were also going to try to contact Blue Cross Blue Shield. Um, you don't really like to switch uh insurance companies every year because we've only been with United Healthcare one year, but we cannot afford a 26% increase in our health insurance in one year. Uh, we have an option. Our old pay bill has been our insurance agent for several years. I don't know how long.

Just about two or three.

Okay. Uh, we um there is an alternative. We have a young man named Zach Crawler who last year went out and shopped our insurance for us. Unfort we stayed with old pay bill, but he was the one who originally found the significant savings we got last year when we switched to United Healthcare. Uh my question to you is we don't really need two insurance agents because there's only about four or five insurance companies. Do we want to let old Fedville shop our health insurance or do we give Mr. Crumpler a chance? And he was the one that actually found us this savings last year.

Okay. So my question would be um is it wouldn't it be a little biased to allow the person we're entertaining to shop around for more insurance? I mean we've used okay bill before. Um, and if we're looking to go back to them, I would. Now, the the guy, what's his name? Zack Chrome. Zack is Zach. Um, is he an independent contractor?

He's a licensed insurance agent, selling health insurance. Um, and he can basically either one can contact the insurance. There are only four or five insurance companies. Blue Cross, United Healthcare, Sigma, and Etna. Those are the four you can buy insurance from. Um I my only person is last year. I I just like to see old faithful old faith will be a little more aggressive in in trying to find us savings rather than waiting for us to get these huge increases before they even attempt to to shop around.

Attorney just to be clear, we don't have to sign a contract with uh with either one of the agents just for them to get us quotes, right? Right. But really, you you're correct, but we really need to have a designated insurance agent that's going to go out and do this work for us. We don't need two of them out there doing it. I I hear you. I just want to make sure. Yeah. Um I I don't disagree with what you're saying, by the way. But I guess what I was just going to say is uh until we have to sign a contract or anything, I think this is really a Mr. English decision to obviously with consensus from the board. But

if Mr. English wants to do that, save us some money. Absolutely. That was all that was all I was going to say. Commissioner Cooper, thank you. Um my question is, uh does the league offer health insurance? No more. Oh, they stop. Yeah, they they got out of the health insurance business last year after Edna Edna when Edna took over Blue Cross and then the league well that that happened to leave the league mostly ensure small towns like ours.

Most of the larger towns don't go through the league because they can get a better deal because they have such large groups. They mostly ensure small towns who don't have a lot of employees and therefore they they're were no longer able to continue to get the competitive rates and pay the claims. So they last year decided to get out of the health insurance business. So they only moved property and liability and work with compounds. Mr. Mr. Manager,

just to uh just to close it out, um I have spoke with Zack. I'd like to have a meeting with him and um he can explain to us um what his opportunities are for us to save some money at this point. It's a very critical time that you all here. It's a lot.

Sounds good. So, we will wait for you to have those meetings and bring back to us um which which provider will go with. All right. Thank you guys so much. All right, we'll now move on to our reports. Um, a few things. First, I want to make sure we are um we had an internal um little gathering to say farewell to Lieutenant Sun who had been with the town for 20 years. Um, and so I just want to make sure that we acknowledge him and his transfer to Fyville and wish him the absolute best and knowing that his presence will be missed in our community. Um, also the board had a chance, most of the members of the board, myself, Mayor Pro Tim, Commissioner Jackson, Commissioner Burgess, and Mr. English all had the chance to go to city vision. City Vision is where elected officials get their professional development. we are able to get current legislative updates from league lobbyists to petition on behalf of municipalities. Um so we're getting real-time updates as well as being able to network with our um other elected officials, managers, clerks, uh and be able to really kind of hone in on on how we work together to solve problems, creating better governance for the state of North Carolina. um we were able to extend multiple different classes um on things ranging from interacting with your town manager to how do you handle messy situations in government. Um so this is it's a critical um environment that I I genuinely appreciate. It has made me a better elected official. Um and I've seen the growth and development with my uh with fellow board members. Um and I am excited on continuing to do this so that we can further grow and

expand our knowledge as elected officials. Um I was awarded the there I was awarded the certificate of municipal excellence as well as Commissioner Cooper was also awarded the certificate of municipal excellence um for diligently studying I am a glutton for information. Uh and this the league actually honors that. They want us to um again continue to learn how to be better electeds in the state. Um so on the 14th I've been invited to Fort Bragg to be a part of their defense community infrastruure infrastructure summit. Um and this is discussing how uh critical infrastructure uh capacity not just the pipes in the ground but human infrastructure um data and and cyber attacks how that will all affect um things that are happening in our community directly affects the resilience um and capabilities of Fort Bragg and how we work together the together to mitigate those. So, I'm really looking forward to hearing um Fort Bragg's perspective on how Spring Lake um plays into this conversation and how they can help us be more um stable so that the the that Fort Bragg is more defense ready. We also have our mayor's coalition meeting um and this is the Cumberland County mayors. We all get together quarterly to discuss issues in the county and so I will be there on the 15th to meet with my fellow mayors. Um the Deerfield Manchester water outage that happened while Oh, it's such a terrible time for it to happen when you've got majority of your electives and your manager all out. Um and so it it was and and an issue with our phones all at the same time. We had a cyber issue here. Poor Carly. Um, cyber issue, phones are downs, internet was messed up, and then Deerfield or uh, the park decided to

explode. So, what happened was, and Mr. English can really, uh, get to the details is we long long time ago a phone line was installed on top of our water lines. It had it finally gave way and crushed our water line and caused a massive flood in uh, Park Mendoza. Uh well, staff jumped on it immediately. Uh Mr. English addressed that one immediately. Um and sent staff over. They were able to repair it. However, the repair caused water to flow normally into other bad pipes which caused another uh breakdown. Some some valves exploded. Um, and we lost power to Deerfield for about 36 or excuse me, water to Deerfield for about 36 hours while they addressed this issue. They worked until 5:00 in the morning, send in a new ship and continue working until about 12:00 in the afternoon to get this addressed. I am not saying this as an excuse. I'm saying this so that you are aware that this is not us just randomly shutting off power. This was not or water. This was not us knowing that we were going to disrupt service to a community and not telling you it literally happened and there was no we didn't it was not any fault of staff of the board. Um we just have have to work on our infrastructure and that's why we are working so hard. our commissioner Jackson and our focus group too are really looking into how we um work on our infrastructure to get this $80 million um to try and and you know mitigate issues like this. So, I wanted to make sure that community knows. And I know um it's it's it's it's hard and it's it's bad. And maybe someday we can find a way to thank you

guys for your patience and understanding because I know if my internet goes out, I'm on the phone with Spectrum saying, "Hey, do something." And I don't want you guys to feel that we don't feel that that that burden, too. I live in Deerfield, so my household, my daughter was there alone, and my daughter my household was without water. So, I understand the pain and frustration. And again, I just ask you guys to bear with us while we try our best to address it. The problem didn't happen overnight. That issue came from something that was installed years ago and this this is just where we are. So, we suffer the exact same way the regular residents are. So, we hurt too. Just so you know that. Um, okay, I'm off that. Um, splash pads are open. Um, and we have a huge So, I've been working on the Mudsburg Park project off of Chapel Hill Road. It was one of something I found in the corner in my office and said, "Hey, what's this?" And they said, we were given 33 acres of walking trails and just scenic overlooks to the Little River. Um, and so we've been trying to figure out how we how do we we fix this beautiful park that we have and open it up to our residents? We have worked with FAMPO. Um, we have worked with the LGC. The state had given us funding for this. And I was just notified last week that we have received a $1.5 million grant to rehab this park. This money is it's coming from Greenway Trails through um the state. This is state funding provided through us by the LAP program through FAPO. Um, and so we have finally found some money to actually create this amenity for our town. So, I'm super excited about that. I know you guys are like, you're just telling me we need $80 million for water. We do, but we also have to still maintain other services for the town.

So, this still is a huge win. And no, we cannot use this $ 1.5 million for anything other than the creation and maintenance for that park. So, yay, Spring Lake. Um the school board meeting is tomorrow as you heard already and our work logs from Mr. English begin this week. Correct? What now? The logs. Time logs. Oh, you went from time. Yes. Okay. And that is all. The conference was Yes. That's not this next when your your logs begin. Got it. Okay. That is all I have. Mayor Pro Tim. Mayor Tim, do you have any reports?

Mayor Parton, while we pull her up, we'll go ahead. I can hear you now.

I'm sorry. Okay. I was trying to drown her out here in the country and all this beautiful nature. But anyway, um, Mayor uh, Chia Anthony, thank you. She just went over just about everything. up enjoy the city vision enjoying the classes enjoy the classes that we took together the sessions so we can better educate oursel as well I want to thank Mr. and she had those individual on speed dial. He was constantly on the phone um while we was at city vision. So again, if we can continue to try to work together for the betterment of our town, that's all I ask for. Um so thank you again for allowing me to be on this phone to conduct the meeting with you all. Thank you.

Thank you, Mayor Ba Commissioner Thompson.

Um yes, last week I attended the state of Fort Bragg. Um, and they it was a lot of information given as far as the future of Fort Bragg and what they're going to be doing for the surrounding city. So, and I think if you can I think it's it was um you can go on the website and see the entire program. And then also I attended the National Day of Service um that was sponsored by the Spring Lake Ministerial Alliance um at First Baptist Church. And then also um May 22nd at 11 o'clock up here at the Veterans Park, we're going to have our Memorial Day ceremony and if it rains, it's going to be held here. And the banners, military v banners will be going up shortly and they will be flown until November of this year. And then also um we have the unveiling of the murals on at Mendoza Park at 10:15 and at Boyds at 10:00 on Saturday. And that's all I have. Commissioner Jackson.

Um the convention at city division was very exciting and very um fulfilling. Um I like the information that the mayor gave us how we could also um be awarded for some of the things in the school of government. So she was very good information on that. Um, I am going to tap Commissioner Jackson one more time because um, the North Carolina League of Municipalities has a program called Commit to Civility. And what this is, it is a promise that the board, it's a class, a two-hour course that the board takes. Um, and it's about understanding how to work well with others. Um, a commitment to doing our best as elected officials together to work cohesively. and Commissioner Jackson said, "We're doing that." And so I I want to to ask you if you will take charge of making sure that the town of Spring Lake, at least 75% of our board, as long as at least 75% of us take this commitment to to civility. What we'll do is we'll pass a resolution and this resolution is our declaration not only to ourselves but to the community that we will be a civil and working board. Um we send that resolution to the uh League of Municipalities and they recognize our town across the state as a board that has committed to civility. Um and I think it's an amazing program. I was able to take the course um last year. I believe um Commissioner Cooper and um our former commissioner uh Chadwick, she also t had taken the course. Um, so I would love to see this board do that and and and make that commitment and get that declaration um at the at the next city vision. So if you if you want to take charge of that, I'll work with you.

Um I I can I don't know what I'm supposed to do taking the class. I think we all should do that. Good for the town and moving forward it shows unity. So I think that very very important. All right. Well, I'll get with you offline and we'll we'll start. I can help. Commissioner Thompson. Oh yeah, absolutely. Um, I'm sorry. You're right. Mr. B, I'd like to thank everyone that came out. We did have a good time in city vision. A lot of knowledge was there. We got to meet a lot of people,

important people. Mr. English knew a lot of guys there. And uh, May 16th over at Boys. It's 10:00 a.m. at Boyds, 10:15 at Park for the mural dedication. And uh I want to thank Mr. English for all our work he's continued doing and keeping us pushing forward. Thank you,

Mr. So I for the first time in eight years or nine years, I did not attend city. I uh needed a break. Uh I have um attended every year uh since um 2018 I believe and actually served on the board of directors for four years. Uh but uh I've learned so much. They are also doing an AML course uh for finance and May 13th is the next one about audits. So, I don't I don't think you have to be an elected official to take it, but I do know if you are um if you're interested, you know, I can tell you how you can take it, but they're very very informative classes. They're free. They're webinars, you know, so it's virtual. Uh they do one once a month. Um and uh last week I was here, wasn't it? Yeah, I was here for the uh the water out different water outage of 2026. And I will tell you if you call me and want updates and you do not have the app downloaded, I'm not talking to you. That's the that's it. If you don't have the app downloaded, I'm not giving you information because it's too simple. So

that's it. That's it. Thank you, Mr. English.

Right. Some good news. Um, the town of Spring Lake has officially partnered with Fedville Technical Community College uh to participate in the institution's workbased learning program. The initiative creates a pipeline for student interns to enter our water ops department. And what it also does, it reinforces workforce capacity while delivering robust real world technical education under the guidance of seasons industry professionals. So the standard the standardized internship framework requires 120 hours that we have uh agreed upon uh typically completed over a three-week period uh to ensure academic and professional growth. participating uh students established three defined learning objectives uh monitored and evaluated by their direct supervisor and we will welcome our first intern on May the 20th.

Awesome. Now um is this the project with NC Works at FTCC or is this the program that FTCC designed for Town of Spring Lake? I'm only asking. This is No, I didn't know about ones they designed in the past. No, no, no. Go ahead. I'm saying is that did they create this particular intern program for countless spring lakes water department? I Yeah, I did. We did together. Absolutely. So when I So speaking of our water infrastructure, we realize that we're short staffed in that space, right? So what I wanted to make sure that we don't get to a point where let's say we lose Donald, right?

Now we're down to what two people, right? So for me, I'm thinking strategic about how do we go about working with Fed Tech particularly in the border ops department. So yes, students will be coming because they're aware now that we have this program designed and set up for that. I just want to know that question. Yeah. Yeah. I'm sorry. I should have said that in the beginning. This program was designed by us. That's pretty awesome. Yes, ma'am.

I'm sorry I didn't say that at the beginning. Um, on another note, um, I did speak with our DOT, um, department here in the in the region. As of April, uh, the maintenance unit has reported the repair of 390 potholes. No, not having it. And so along North Carolina Highway 87 South, they are currently projecting this number may approach and exceed 500. So if you all feel like that's not accurate, I can talk with Mr. Baker again

and we can maybe you and I could sit down with him in his office because the way you reacted. Um and I only say that because um they they did fill a lot of potholes. That didn't do anything but create a bumpy road. That is not fair. When is the last time they drove a a steamroller down Brad the entirety of Bragg Boulevard? Spring Lake is our streets are destroyed and I will not let them pacify us with filling potholes. So, so let's you and I talk with him.

Absolutely. So, um moving on here u we are noticing uh increase in traffic accidents. Uh those accidents are occurring uh because obviously there's just too much speed. People are driving way too fast right now on our highways particularly on 210 and 87. And so we will start I spoke with the chief the chief today. Uh we will start a focus speed enforcement um with operations. It'll be a a digital uh sign as you come into Spring Lake to allow them to to basically slow down. Um and so this board um on 87 is coming in coming into Spring Lake from 87. So, just so you'll know that we we we are being more proactive about the the speeding that's happening in our town. It's it's not acceptable.

I have a question about that one too. Have we got any more officers radar trained? Where we at? I'm sorry, Chief. You're back there on the radar. Yes, ma'am. Absolutely. Two weeks ago, we got two additional certified officers on five. I want more officers. one on every shift to be radar certified officer here certified radar officer. So we will be increasing our speed enforcement operations like Mr. English said um they will be real citations. We have to slow our traffic down in this community because we are seeing an uptick in traffic accidents and there's a direct correlation to that.

So I would encourage the community please slow down and work with us and avoid those traffic. And then two more um well, city visions been talked about, but I Please tell us your respect. I u it was a reunion, a lot of good friends that I've known over the years, mayors and I mean just just a lot of people that um allowed the mayor and I we we got a chance to sit in some sessions together and uh and really kind of we were whispering back and forth about things we know we needed in the town of Spring Lake. So, I really did appreciate that. um also attended the best utility management practice

uh training which was all day long with uh Commissioner Burgess and Commissioner Jackson um and Lilington and I tell you it was probably 20 plus towns represented in that best utility practice. But it was something about Spring Lake. We were a lot more knowledgeable of asset inventory,

right? And so knowing that we had a AIA done, we were able to speak to some of those things and other folks who's listening like, wow, you know, they they really have their information together. They're talking more about mergers, regionalization, feasibility. We're in the process of doing that right now. And so being ahead of the curve and you're looking back, some of these towns just had no idea

what those acronyms were. And um when they were talking about it in training, I felt really good about the fact that Spring Lake is ahead of the curve on a lot of towns as it relates to our water infrastructure. Just be aware that the town of Spring Lake is not the only town facing aging water infrastructure. This is happening across our state country.

Thank you. country. At the end of the day, the state of North Carolina has encouraged towns to participate in merger, regionalization, feasibility. But as I mentioned when I was first brought on, I'm going to make sure our board is fully aware of what type of partnerships we go into moving forward. But that is critical right now. So, be proud of Spring Lake for the fact that we have a lot already in place that we're doing currently as it relates to addressing our water infrastructure. And um on that note, complete

be proud of us. And then remember, we're still the government and so it's going to go slow. Be proud and patient. Mr. quarter. Uh, speaking of things going slow, so, um, this is an old one. I just got word and I have not received official word. Uh, actually a reporter called me and let me know this. Um, but I did think the board would find it interesting and it is obviously has to do with uh, legal. Uh, but if you recall, I want to say it was all the way back

in the fall of 2022. Yeah. that we tried to hire um well with the board voted to approve Justine Jones as the town manager and the uh treasurer at the time declined to approve that and we made sure we got that in writing because we all anticipated for reasons I won't get into for tonight

that that was going to end in litigation and then I think by January or February of 2023 she had filed a EEO OC complaint. Um I don't remember exactly what our allegations were. We were initially mentioned in that. Uh but then when the uh yeah when they actually filed suit, we were never named as a defendant or anything like that. Uh so I here we are in May of 2026. So, uh almost uh three and a half years from when that first started and almost four years from when we tried to hire her. I don't know what the terms of that are. I think you know what were the ter record?

Yeah, it's public record. Um she got paid $320,000. Her lawyers got a word of it. Good for her attorneys. us we got we you know we always pay each other on the back like uh but anyways but the reason I bring that up is just one it shows how slow litigation is two it did involve us and three we didn't have to pay anything

because we did what we were supposed to do so we didn't pay a dime uh so I figured the town would be happy about that and then um Spring Lake property acquisition no foreclosure uh I haven't received the final pleadings but my understanding is everything was signed off on about a week and a half ago So, I think you did that. Yeah. So, I still haven't gotten a a new update uh from Claire Dickerhoff at the Hutchinson's Law Firm, but I'm assuming that's been filed. Uh but hopefully I'll have additional updates as time goes on, but then that will also be slow. And that's it. That's all I got. The word of the day. Well, that is all we have. Uh Madame Clerk, you will be out of the office

Friday. Friday. So, just be aware Friday. Just just Friday. Just Friday. Just Friday. So, Friday our counselor will not be in office. Um, send her an email if you need something. Um, but she'll be off your office. No, I'll be at uh training in Gold. Of course, she's off. That training is the word of the day. We love to learn. All right. Well, that is all. You guys get home safe. Have a wonderful evening. Thank you board for your commitment to this town. This meeting is a journ.