Council - Regular Meeting

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Good evening and welcome to the Surf City Town Council. to a regular schedule meeting. At this we're going to call the meeting to order and ask um Pastor Nathan Schwarz from Chapel by the Bay Church to lead us in our invocation and John Koski will follow with our pledge of allegiance. If you would please stand.

Let's pray together. God, we're certainly grateful for the opportunity to make a difference today with our lives. So we pray that what we do here, what we say, the things that move forward um for this town, which we love, uh will please you. We pray for the mayor and the town council, the directors, the staff, first responders, all of those residents as well um that seek to live here and just help this place be great. So Lord, we pray that you bless this time, help us to know what your good will is and to do it. And thank you for the opportunity to live a life to attend meetings such as this that make a difference. We love you Lord. Jesus name we pray. Amen.

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Okay, at this time I'm going to call up Sandy Maro from our beautifification enhancement committee to deliver some awards. Right, I'm going to try something with this microphone. So, um, business and home of the month every month is an award that we give out to recognize the efforts that our citizens and our business people put into making our community a beautiful place to live. And tonight, I don't think either uh party is here today, but we'll be going tomorrow to bring um their certificate and take photos. But I still want to recognize them. So, the business of the month this month is Bumblebee Market. They're up on New River Drive. that beautiful yellow and black striped building that you um that you see and they have the cutest stuff inside and they always decorate outside really nice with plants and um beautiful decor. And then the home of the month uh the home of the month is 1022 Southshore Drive and that is the Mr. Thomas Nai family and we will go out there like I said tomorrow and take some photos. So, let's give them a round of applause even though they're not here. [applause]

The next presentation is surfing the city

and um at this time we were going to do that too, right? Yes. [clears throat] [laughter] Y'all are going to get sick of seeing me. Um, Surf in the City is a surfboard statue project that you will see. You you should see about five of them out already around town. We've got a few more that are being installed in the next week. And um they're located throughout the town. I encourage you to drive around. There's several out at the park, a couple along Roland, and a couple at some local businesses. And tonight we're going to recognize three of the businesses that are sponsors for the program. And also you'll get to hear from the artist that did all three of these surfboards. So first up, and I think oh it's already on the screen um is Dr. Matthew Parr. If you'd like to come forward. There he is. And uh he has Surf City Dental and he was one of our first sponsors to sign up and we're we're super thankful. He's also been one of our business of the month recipients and um you recognize his big beautiful building out there uh by Lowe's.

Thank you. Um the surf board turned out great. So I'm thrilled with that. I'm thrilled to support the city and uh just honored to be a member of this community. So thank you board. Thank you mayor and thank you so much for uh this nice presentation. It turned out great. So, um, kudos to the artist. Thank you. [applause]

Next up, we have Mary Row from Inis Spa. And her spa is the most fabulous little place over there on New River Drive. And, uh, you can go and get yourself beautified and massaged and relaxed and all those kind of things. So,

hi. Good evening everybody. So what inspired me about the surfboards was for me it was a way of giving back to the community when all of our kids have grown up in the town and just to watch them on their bikes, their surfboards, no shoes, just bare feet. And for me it was a way to capture those few beautiful instances. And then of course the front of the board is the iconic um bridge or surf city pier surf city pier even. So yes, I think it was a great project and I'm very proud to be part of it. Thank you Sandy. [applause]

Uh you'll see Mary's board over on Roland Avenue and Dr. pars board is over by the boardwalk um where the picnic tables are and things over by the park. Um third we have Lorie's Ace Hardware with Miss Lori Tracy Stoby and Nate Stoby and they have also been uh recognized as business of the month in the past and um they're some one of our newer businesses here in Surf City. Thank you. Yeah, we've been open a whole year. Um, so we're in the toddler stage. Toddlers. Yep. But not terrible twos. So, uh, we were really excited when we saw this project because, um, I just think it's a great idea to bring. I mean, it's it's interesting. It's engaging. It's great for tourists that could look at a map and check all the places. But I'm excited to go see all the different boards, too. Um, so working with Cricut was so much fun because I found out she's from the same area that I'm from, which is in the Midwest. So that was really fun. And um, I probably gave her a run for her money cuz we did a lot of back and forth and I wanted all this little detail, but she nailed it. So our board is definitely two-sided. So, one side we did with a beach theme and then we have some like uh what's supposed to represent like Yeti coolers and a shaboomi and sunglasses. So, we kind of sprinkled in things that are in the store as well without putting brand names in there. And then the other side is kind of a nod to a neighborhood and home improvement. So, you got somebody grilling, painting, planting flowers. So, it turned out really really great and um it's eye-catching and everybody that that comes to the to the store, they're all looking at it and we had one person ask if they could buy it, but we said no. No,

they [laughter] sponsor one. They could sponsor one. Yes. But, um, thank you so much for allowing us to be here. And, uh, again, one-year-old, if you haven't been in, please, please come in. We have a great team and, uh, it's a lot of fun. [applause]

Thank you. and Lor's uh board you'll find right in front of their business um at Lor's Ace Hardware. And I wanted to, if it's okay, say thank you to a few people that have helped with this project. First of all, I want to thank uh Chris Carter. I don't know if he's here today, but he and his staff have been fabulous um picking up boards and dropping them off at artists and and getting them back again and getting them installed. And it's a lot of nitty-gritty trying to trying to get that all coordinated. and Cheyenne for helping keep Chris in line and keep him on task. Ashley has helped immensely with the social media and the website promoting it. There's going to be a lot more information online on the website where you can find out how to be a sponsor, how to sign up to be an artist, things like that. And Jordan is creating a story map for us so that folks can go online and see where all the surfboards will be located, make a treasure hunt out of it. We've got some things in the works for the future. And then um just saying thank you to all my committee members. If you can raise your hand if you're on the beautifification enhancement committee. I see Richard, I saw Kim, I saw a couple other people I thought. But anyways, thank you everybody and I really appreciate it. And [applause] I'll leave these on the back podium in case anybody's interested in becoming a sponsor.

Thank you.

Oh to um I'm so sorry. And the artist for all three of these boards is Miss Cricut Tempa. It was on my schedule. I forgot to say it. Um, thank you guys for giving me the opportunity and trusting me with making what you guys thought in your head onto a board. I appreciate every one of you. Where are you? Everywhere. Um, the process that we try to work with is just you tell me what you want to see and I hope to make that happen. and we kind of go back and forth until it looks right to you guys and hopefully I've done that for everyone. But I just wanted to thank you and I don't know there's more to come so it'll be good. [laughter]

We've got a couple more boards by Cricket going up soon. So So thank you Cricket. Thanks. [applause] like Cricket's done an amazing job and it seems like tonight's theme was about maintenance, maintaining your your teeth and your beautiful smile and um getting your skin and your, you know, massage done with Mary and then Lorie's um Ace Hardware, maintaining your yard and your beautiful home. And so I like maintenance and I like um that you invested and that you're proud of being a part of this community. So, thank you very much. Um, moving on. Next is someone very special. And I'm I'm not going to make him stand up here while I read.

Come on. Come on. Yeah,

we're we're going to give him a little break because I know he's a little nervous, but he's going to he's going to come up in just a minute. So, on the screen here, um, this is James Horn. Tonight, it is my honor to recognize this individual for whose service reflects the very best of public safety, leadership, and commitment to others. Following the devastating impact of Hurricane Helen, Mr. James Horn, the emergency management director for the town of Surf City, answered the call and served beyond our community. From September 27th through October the 8th, he was deployed to the North Carolina Emergency Management State Emergency Response Team as part of the first responder communication strike team, supporting response efforts in western North Carolina. Working in some of the most heavily impacted areas where infrastructure was damaged, access was limited, and communication systems were down. James played a critical role in restoring essential communications. His efforts ensured that first responders and partner agencies could coordinate operations, maintain sit situational awareness, and deliver life safing saving services where they were needed most. In addition to supporting emergency service, James contributed directly to community recovery by helping establish public Wi-Fi access and restoring connectivity for critical businesses and services. These efforts allow residents to connect with loved ones, assess vital v vital information, and begin the long process of recovery. In recognition of his exceptional service, I'm going to call James up now while I finish reading. [laughter] James was presented with a kit flag honoring his support of North Carolina's first responder communication efforts. The flag carries a special significance.

It was flown aboard a North Carolina National Guard UH72 Lakota helicopter during active rescue and life safety missions from October 5th through October 9th, 2024 and was later flown again in his honor at the state capital on January 2026. The presentation was made on behalf of the Governor Josh Stein and by Todd Brown, assistant director of operations for North Carolina Emergency Management, re representing a meaningful acknowledgement at the state level, a direct connection to life-saving missions conducted during the disaster. James Horn's actions demonstrate not only technical expertise, a strong leadership, but also a deep unwavering commitment to public service. His work is a testament to the town of Surf City's de dedication to supporting communities across North Carolina in the greatest time of need because when disaster strikes, no community stands alone. At this time, please join me in recognizing Mr. James Horn for his outstanding service and dedication. [applause] [applause] Look at Ashley.

Where's Ashley? Come on, Ashley. [laughter] [laughter] Thank you, James. Thank you, Mayor. Go ahead. The floor is all yours, but please go to the microphone and turn it around. You got 20 minutes. 20 minutes. [laughter] Where did you find the picture? [clears throat] It's online now.

He gave you a dead one. Hello.

Oh, there we go. All right. Thank you, Madam Mayor. Um, it really is a an honor and a privilege to to be recognized by the board. Um, Helen was most certainly not a an individual effort. Um, I was supported quite heavily by my folks um of of the ESF2 community out west. Uh, without them um, you know, we couldn't have done the things that we did. I'm going to stand right here because I can hear myself. Uh, more importantly though is the the dedication of the town to answer the call for help. We have been in that position before as you know. Um, so it's always good to give back. Um, it's just is the the what's the word I'm looking for? I don't do public speaking in case you didn't know. Um, and it's better if I walk, so bear with me, folks. [laughter] Um, it helps me think. When Hurricane Florence hit in 2018, we relied very heavily on outside help. We we were crippled from from the inside. We we had no way to do a lot of things that we needed to get done. And there was a lot of folks that stepped up and helped. When the call came in for Helen, it was 10 times worse, right? At least here, we could actually call out for help. Many of the communities that we flew into didn't have that opport u opportunity. They were literally making calls over ham radio to 30, 40, 50, 60 miles away saying, "Hey, we need help. Send help." And it was through the ham radio network that we found a lot of places that we would end up going down the line. The helicopter was very That's a new thing. No, never in the ESF2 community history have we ever boarded communications technicians and and um ITSL folks like disaster IT guys, right? Um onto helicopters and flew them what we call downrange, which is into the

most impacted areas. That had never happened. So, we were kind of blazing a trail playing from a a rule book that we didn't even have a copy of. And it was because of the support we had back home. I know the mayor, she called me a couple times. She probably called me more. I didn't have, you know, good cell phone service up there, but every so often I'd get a missed call from her. I talked to Kyle several times, many other folks on the board, talked to many of you all back here, um, checking in. But it was the support back home that helped us go out and do the work we did out there. It was the staff backfilling our positions back home because you know what? Business still has to run just because I'm not in the office. There's expectations. Staff that stayed behind. They burdened that that load for us. Our families, we put everything on hold. Our families had to step up and figure out child care and how to get the kids to soccer and all the things. So, it is with great honor. I appreciate the recognition. It certainly was an individual effort. I accept it on behalf of of everyone because it was a true team effort. Just because you weren't in the helicopter with us doesn't mean that you didn't play a role. Real quick, I wasn't the only one that went out. We had folks from the fire department. They deployed. We had police officers that deployed. And our former PIO, she deployed twice. So, that is a true testament of this town's unwavering support for a neighbor when they need it. Madame Mayor.

Thank you. [applause]

Okay. Um we have several proclamations as well. It is safe boating week and um so which one's safe? Who's doing safe boating week? I've got safe. Andy's got it. So it's all yours, Andy.

Yeah. So, uh, for over a 100 million Americans, boating continues to be a popular recreational activity. From coast to coast and everywhere in between, people are taking to the water and enjoying time together boating, sailing, paddling, and fishing. During National Safe Boating Week, the US Coast Guard and the National Safe Boating Council along with federal, state, and local safe boating partners encourage all Boers to explore and enjoy America's beautiful waters responsibly. And whereas safe boating begins with preparation, the Coast Guard estimates that human error accounts for most boating accidents and that life jackets could prevent nearly 75% of boating fatalities through basic boating safety procedures, carrying life-saving emergency distress and communications equipment, wearing life jackets, attending safe boating courses, participating in free boat safety checks, and staying sober when navigating. We can help ensure boers on America's coastal, inland, and offshore waters stay safe throughout the season. National Safe Boating Week is observed to bring attention to important life-saving tips for recreational boers. Is observed to bring mentioned oop so that they can have a safer and more fun experience out on the water throughout the year. And whereas on average 650 people die each year in boating related accidents in the US 75% of these fatalities caused by drowning. And whereas the vast majority of these accidents are caused by human error or poor judgment and not by the boat equipment or environmental factors. Whereas a significant number of boers who lose their lives by drowning each year would be alive today had they worn their life jackets. Now therefore, on behalf of Teresa Bats, do hereby hereby support the goals of the safe boating campaign and proclaim May 16th

through 22nd, 2026 as National Safe Boating Week and the start of the year-round effort to promote safe boating. I urge all those who practice safe boating habits and wear a life jacket at all times while boating. Yes, please come up all of you. Yes. Bring your son. Yeah, bring your son. Bring your son. So on behalf of Surf City, the mayor and council, your proclamation, sir. Thank you. And podium is yours.

Thank you. aside from the fact that they're already put. [laughter] So I want to just say real quick our organization is 75 years old this year. We started in 1951, two years after Surf City came into being. Um, I was born in 1949, so I'm I'm only two years older than this organization. [laughter] And over those years, hundreds and hundreds of people have delivered safe voting education programs, navigation programs. We even do um where you can take the stars and do your plotting of where you are on a chart. And all of that is driven towards being safe on the water. We lost in North Carolina last year 13 people. Doesn't sound like much. That's 13 families that are mourning someone that's not with them anymore. 90% of those were drowning or someone thrown out of the boat and didn't have a life jacket on. This is the way when you go out in your boat. How many of you have boats? This is the way you save your own life. When you get in your car, what's the first thing you do? You put on your seatelt. Why do you do that? Because you don't know when an accident is going to happen. You can't predict that. Same thing's true with the life jackets

and in a boat. go down to Masonboro sometime on the weekend and you'll see why you should wear life jackets every time you go out on the road. So, thank you very much. Thank you, mayor. Thank you, council. We appreciate you more than you know. [applause]

Okay, thank you for being here. Next up is the beach safety week and John Kowski will present that pro proclamation.

Whereas [clears throat] the beautiful coastal inland beaches of Surf City, North Carolina represent a worldrenowned recreational resource. And whereas Surf City residents and visitors alike are drawn to these beaches by the millions each year for water and beach activities. And whereas the aquitic environment has dangers, particularly rip currents that can be effortlessly [clears throat] managed through public awareness and the v viligence of professional ocean rescue personnel, which we have right over there. Anyway, whereas [clears throat] for reasons of public safety, an annual reminder of the joys and hazards associated with aquitic environment are appropriate for the com commitment of the busy summer beach season. And whereas surf city residents and visitors alike must remember, learn to swim, learn RIP current safety, never swim alone, designate a water watcher, alcohol and water don't mix. Fleet feet first. uh feet first water entry life jackets save lives observe signs and flags and beat the heat and block the sun. Mayor

now therefore I Terresa Bats do hereby support the goals of the boat safe boating campaign and proclaim May 18th through 256 as National Beach Safety Week. And if our ocean rescue team wants to come up and receive this

get up here in

[applause]

Just on behalf of the fire department, uh we'd like to thank the town council and the community for your continued support of the ocean rescue program. [applause] Okay. And next up is National Police Week and Hugh Kennedy will present.

Thank you, Madam Mayor. Um there are over 800,000 law enforcement officers serving in communities across the United States, including the dedicated members of the Surf City Police Department. Since the first recorded death in 1786, there are currently more than 24,500 law enforcement officers in the United States have met the ultimate sacrifice and have been killed in the line of duty. The names of these dedicated public servants are engraved on the walls of the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington DC. And new names of fallen heroes are being added to the National Law Enforcement Officer Memorial this spring, including 109 killed in 2025 and many other officers killed in previous years. The service and sacrifice of officers killed in line of duty will be honored during the National Law Enforcement of Officers Memorial Fund's 38th candle light vigil on the evening of May 13, 2026. The candlelight vigil is part of the National Police Week which will be observed this year May 11 through 16. May 15 is designated as Peace Officers Memorial Day in honor of all fallen officers and their families and the US flag should be flown at half staff. Therefore, let it be resolved that the mayor and town council of the town of Surf City City will observe May 11 through 1626 as National Police Week. [applause] I'd like to thank Surf City Police Officers and the surrounding uh jurisdictions for their service.

[applause]

I'd like to uh first thank the community for the support they give us um and also the town council because our mission could not be completed without their support. Um, you know, there have been a lot of police officers that have died over the years and since I've been the chief since 2022, I focused on a few things very strongly. One of those is technology-led policing. Uh, so we can leverage technology to solve and deter crime and also professional development for our officers. Uh, training in firearms, deescalation, and a number of other things that we train for. Uh, so they can be ready when evil comes to Surf City. uh they go out there every day to protect you and they're ready and to step into the breach when the time comes and calls upon them to do so. I'm very uh honored to be up here tonight. Uh if those of you that don't know, I'll be retiring in three months, but uh it's been the honor of my lifetime to serve as the chief here. Thank you. [applause] Last but certainly not least is National Day of Prayer and Trudy will present the proclamation.

Yes. Whereas throughout the history of America, prayers have been lifted up seeking the Lord in every generation for direction, protection, provision so that God would be glorified and bless America, resulting in America being filled with his glory, grace, and goodness as he has answered our prayers for over 250 years. And whereas from the first pilgrim's prayerful covenant with God in the Mayflower Compact to the Declaration of Independence and in every state constitution, God has glorified, given re reverence and thanks, compelling the prayers of our continental Congress that formed our nation to continue to flow fervently across America in this generation and in rededication personally and corporately to the creator acknowledged in our declaration and placing our firm reliance on the protection and divine providence. And whereas the National Day of Prayer is a public law established in the United States Congress in 1952 approved by a joint resolution signed by President Truman and amended by Congress and President Reagan with public law 100-307 in 1988 affirming that it is essential for us to as a nation to pray. and it directs the president of the United States to set aside and proclaim the first Thursday of May annually as the National Day of Prayer. And whereas in our town and across America, the observance of National Day of Prayer will be held on Thursday, May 7th, 2026 with the theme, glorify God among the nations, seeking him in all generations. based on the verse in 1 Chronicles 16:24. Tell of his glory among the nations, his wonderful deeds among all peoples. And now there now therefore on behalf of Terresa Bats, our mayor of the town of Surf City, we do hereby proclaim

Thursday, May 7th, 2026 as a day of prayer 2026 throughout our town. And I and we commend this observance to our citizens and request that prayers would be lifted up through our town with every generation seeking the Lord as we rededicate our lives, our city, and our nation to the glory of God. And our National Day of Prayer event is May 7th, like this states, and it's going to be in the park, Soundside Park, at 9:00 a.m. And I hope that many people will attend from the town and pray together. Thank you.

Yes. [applause] Okay. At this time, I will ask for adoption of the agenda. Mayor, I'll make a motion to adopt the agenda agenda as written. I'll second. I have a motion and a second. All in favor say I.

Before Before we vote, I' I'd like to make a a recommendation for a nominal change to the agenda. If uh since I imagine many of the folks here are here to talk about the budget, if and the council was uh uh thought ahead enough to put in a second uh comment session section that if we could move that section 14 to follow immediately after Mr. Brewer's presentation. That way, information will still be fresh in the minds of the folks and we won't have visitor fatigue throughout the rest of the the agenda, as important it may may seem and and and it is. Uh if uh you would support that move, I would appreciate that. I think people in the audience might as well.

So, we had a motion and a second. Motion to add that. A motion to add just to move section 14 to follow the budget discussion under old business.

We have a motion on the floor. Is there a second? Second. I have a motion and a second. All in favor say I. I. All oppose. Same sign. Motion carries. Do I have public comments to after public comments go behind the budget? Yes. So, do I have a motion to adopt the agenda as amended? Make a motion to adopt it as amended. I'll second. Have a motion and a second. All in favor say I. I. All oppose. Same sign. Motion carries. Okay. So, this time we have our first public comment.

Mr. layer. Before I start, I want to give Andy the axeman credit for chopping a lot of the unnecessary costs off of this year's town budget. Mr. Lair, could you please state your name and address? Oh, Rich Lair, 581 Atinson Point Road.

Thank you.

Revenue neutral definition. The rate that produces the same revenue for the next fiscal year as the current tax rate would have produced if no revaluation had occurred. Tax rate stealth, any rate higher than the one needed to fund the budget. windfall tax, a rate significantly higher than the revenue neutral requirement. Property tax hikes, often caused by rising property values rather than increased spending, must be clearly identified. My property tax increases under the current formula will range from 46% higher than last year to 114% higher than last year. The town government claims that under revenue neutral, some will pay more, some will pay less, some will pay the same. I believe this is not gerine for surf city. The law of probability suggests that the vast majority of surf city island property owners where the median house value is 851,000 will see tax ranges tax increases ranging from 30% to over 100% higher than last year. This follows a year when the property taxes already saw a 30% increase. How to calculate your tax? Take your new valuation divided by 100 multiply it by 030 the projected revenue neutral rate. The last I've heard subject uh subtract your last year's tax amount. So, if you have a median priced house in Surf on Surf City Island, just your town taxes alone will be approximately over 25 thou $2,500. Higher property taxes hurt a town already facing a shortage of workforce price housing. I keep my rents low so my

people stay in my homes for years. However, if taxes go up dramatically, I will be forced to raise rents just to avoid losing money. Instead, Surf City should be subsidizing the rents of our underpaid town police, firefighters, town workers, and our school teachers. These hikes are what the House Select Committee on Property Tax Reduction and Reform advanced a why they advanced a proposal on April 15, 2026 to give the state legislature authority over local property tax increases. We have the right to be heard. Legislation already exists to keep our property taxes in check. Quote, "Before adopting a budget ordinance, the board shall hold public hearing at at which time any persons who wish to be heard on the budget may appear. A public budget hearing should be standalone item where a threeminut limit is extended or waved. The law requires the board to hear the public. We need dialogue where citizens can question the town council and the town manager directly.

Thank you. [applause] [applause] Mr. Boff,

uh, Richard Vesov, 253 Southshore Drive. As of March, I've been here eight years and Florence was my hello, welcome to the beach and thank you guys for all you do. Um, I know that we have a unique situation where we live. There's a lot of challenges. Uh, you know, last year we saw a substantial tax increase, uh, using the 0.53 formulation. This year we're going to use either the 0. 29 or the 30 and had the Per County uh, commissioners decided to, you know, hold the valuation to the prior years. I'm assuming that that rate probably would have been around 0.56 or higher. So, no matter how you do the numbers, no matter how you figure it out, our taxes are going up again this year. And I grew up in Southern California and I grew up through the time where people were losing their homes due to tax increases, people with fixed incomes, people who are, you know, retired, people who just don't have money to continue to keep up with the increases. And I would really, you know, like to challenge the council to really sharpen the pencils to really re-evaluate because myself, I'm semi-retired. my wife would like to retire in a couple of years and we would like to plan on you know living out our time here in Surf City but um with you know increasing costs you know that may or may not be possible you know with what we pay on you know I mean I know that has nothing to do with you guys but you know wind and hail homeowners insurance flood insurance and you know with property taxes to both Surf City and Pinter County I mean I'm looking at $1,000 a month just in those expenses is not counting my house payment. So, I mean, we do have some really unique challenges here. And I love Surf City. I want to

call it my forever home. And uh I just hope that uh you know, you guys can keep that in mind when you're really putting all these numbers together. I know revenue and neutral means you don't collect more than you spend, but it's like nonprofit organizations. They always say they don't make any money, but that's because they spend it all. So, I thank you for your time. Thank you. [applause] Mr. Dutton.

Hi, thanks for having me. 275 Atkinson Point Road. My name is Steve Dutton. Uh, but I lately I feel a lot more like John Dutton in the TV series Yellowstone. For those who don't get the reference cuz you haven't seen the TV series, John Dutton is a property owner in Montana. He inherited it from his father and his father before him. And he spends his entire life just struggling to pay his property taxes so that he can keep the ranch. And he's protecting it from, get this, as if like art doesn't imitate life or life imitating art. The wealthy developers come into John Dutton's area around his ranch. They inflate all the property values, therefore the property taxes to the point where he's forced to make a decision as to either sell it to the developers or lose it to a tax foreclosure. And uh I'm not multigenerational around here. I've only been here 20 years. Uh but I know that there are people in this town that are multigenerational owners, probably some in this room. It breaks my heart that there's even a possibility that any of these people might be losing their their ranch to because they can't afford their property taxes. Even the late arrivals get a gut punch because they came here with a certain budget or income in, you know, that in mind. and uh you know between insurance and now the taxes that could potentially double or more or whatever the number is, there's a lot of people that just simply can't afford to keep their properties if this happens. It's exhausting to have to fight every single day just to keep the things we already own. And there's a lot of things I'd rather do than to be here like before the great Oz begging for some tax relief as a property owner in the community.

It seems that property owners are always the go-to for more money when a municipality needs more and they always seem to need more. So, it's it it's just the lowhanging fruit. And I'm concerned that uh I mean, I'm thrilled everyone is here tonight, but I I'm concerned that people if they don't show up and make an appearance like this, they the apathy gets them steamrolled and we're going to start losing properties. So, thank you for your consideration here. I think some action steps as we're forming this budget need to include budget cuts, austerity, whatever measures are needed to keep the property tax level at its current rate at as as a worst case scenario. Thank you for your time. I appreciate it very much. [applause]

Mr. West, My my copier broke so I had to do this. Uh I'm Doug West of 918 Broadway Street. Um most of you have probably seen me out at the bars and the restaurants and maybe on Facebook. Um I'm a beast bum most of the time. I love living here. Um I don't like paying the taxes. I think the budget can always be better. Um I see we saved several hundred,000 or something this year. I think that's great. I think it could be better. Um you well I am a beach bun now. My history is um I actually had a respectable job one time and uh for 38 years I was a federal bank examiner for Federal Reserve and um I went in community banks, I went in mid-level banks, I went in giant banks and um I saw how I started off in fiduciary and then I um moved into um asset management and then risk management and then corporate governance and I saw how they did things there. Um, it was interesting between the large and the small banks is we could go into a mid-level bank or a a large bank and tell them, "Hey, you know what? We think you do it better. We've seen it done better other places." And they would take us seriously. They get a group together of their own people or they go get outside experts and come in and say, "How can we do this better?" We ran into problems with community banks because community banks had always done it the way they did it. And it was hard for them to change because grandma did it this way and Uncle Ted did it this way. And so they would fight us way more than State Street or JP Morgan Chase or Wells Fargo, you know, and this little bank in Face of North Carolina or something would fight us tooth and nail not to change simple things. And we said the reason we're telling this is we've seen 10 other banks do this and therefore we've seen them do it better. So there's ways to do these better. Um and uh so and and we learned that bigger

banks had better ways of doing that. Um I through this process I looked at a lot of strategic plans, a lot of budgets and I want to tell you I did go through the strategic plan today and um I thought it was very well written. It was comparable to some of the best I've seen. It was thorough. It was forward thinking. Um we had um um a broadness to it that um brought where we want to be. It was a Christmas wish list of where we want to be, which is good. um it probably could have had more checks and balances in it. There was checks, there was audit teams, there was um um management reports, there was surveys, there was things like that to see how they were doing and that kind of thing. But again um I think that could be better. Um I know that as an examiner um shoot um [laughter] as an examiner we we we were find experts ask those first, second, third, fourth question. The fourth questions you could always ask the first question when you got smarter you ask the third question. That's why we get experts in. So, oh man, I this I talk fast and this is bad. Anyway, what I'm saying here is I don't know if you do it, but I think at some point in time you should bring third parties in to look at the budget that are more experts than what you you guys are good at what you do, but you're not experts in everything and nor or any of us people more. Okay. Anyway, yeah, there's independent firms, there's tax firms, there's municipal advisory firms, there's local government consultants, there's the accounting sectors like um um um um Crow and Bar. They have s that literally come in and they seen other municipalities and I think it wouldn't hurt. It's a cost but I think you save money in the long run and you might save more than $700,000. Thank you so much people. Thank you. [applause]

Miss Miranda.

I am Jill Miranda. 1102 Terrace's Lane. First off, I want to thank Andy for his hard work in cutting the budget where he can. He needs your guys' help to do more, and you need to do more. I came up here prepared to say something, but listening to these fine gentlemen speak much more knowledgeable about numbers. So, I want to implore you as the council to listen to your residents. When I talk to people around town, they're tired of this. They're tired of you turning your back, your little smiles, silence. They want to talk. They want conversation. They want to ask questions and have those questions answered. And they want to be able to stay here. And what looks like it's going to happen is the only people that are going to be able to afford homes in this town are investors. And investors are going to jack up the rents. Your businesses will suffer. Your workforce is going to suffer. You need to do something about workforce housing so these fine people that work for the city can live here. I don't know if you've been on I17. It took me 90 minutes from Harris terill yesterday. I'm not driving that every day. I don't know where these people are living. They're not living here. They need to be able to live here. So tax incentives encouraging homeowners to build ADUs. put some stipens in their paychecks to give them a place they can live or the money so they can live here and then keep the taxes lower. You don't need that much money. I've read the budget. I read it back in 24. I read the new one. A lot of smoke and mirrors going on there. People, you need to cut the tax rate or people are simply not going to be able to afford it. I'm new. My house is new. With the new evaluation, just my surf city tax is going to go up $150

from last year when it went up $400. So my husband put off between that and insurance increases. My husband put off retiring. He'd love to retire, but he can't. I beseech you to hear the people hold town halls where people can ask questions of all of you and get answers. And if you don't have the answers, you go find them and come back and answer them. I beseech you to do that because people out here are tired and I know that you can handle this. I know you got it in you. So, please thank you. [applause]

All right. Well, thank you. Thank you for the public comments and I think you'll you know Kyle Kyle will be presenting the budget and um you you will have you know chances to ask questions send your questions in come in and ask questions of of the budget that is once that budget is um submitted it stays in town hall and online for 30 days for public comments. Um so at this time we will move on to um the next item which is the approval of consent agenda. Do I have a motion to approve the consent agenda? Mayor, I'll make a motion to approve the consent agenda. I'll second.

We have a motion and a second to approve the consent agenda. All in favor say I. I. All oppose. Same sign. Motion carries to approve the consent agenda. There are no public hearings on the agenda tonight and under old business is Cal Brewer that will be del delivering the budget me message.

Thank you, Madame Mayor and Council and thank you for everybody who has um attended the meeting. Uh this is sort of a an odd situation in which uh we find ourselves in. However, as I have reported previously, um the town certainly uh is is organized and is prepared to move forward with whatever variables uh get thrown our way um in regards to uh property reappraisal processes, um Senate bills that have been filed, etc. So, um just wanted to preface that that I will be presenting a budget message with two uh different scenarios. Um the first scenario is going to be based on both counties going through a revaluation process. The second scenario would be uh in light of a Senate bill that would pause uh revaluations statewide. It's not just Pender County, but uh there's 12 counties within the state that would be impacted. Um and there was an amendment that was filed this afternoon that only affects uh counties less than 15,000 um people according to their last dennial census. So uh the budget itself will be published um following this meeting. Uh I literally had to rewrite the budget message this morning um so that we could calculate and and factor everything um as accurate as we possibly can. Um a tax rate has not been published. um except for tonight. Um so numbers that have been thrown out have not been um proposed by the town. Um and I felt like that was important to to state. What was uh presented last month was a revenue neutral tax rate um that is required by state law to be published uh following a reval. And that revenue neutral tax rate um according to the general statute um takes into account uh annualized growth

within the county. um and we use Enslo County because that is the the most recent from 2022. So, just wanted to make some points of clarification and and I hope to elaborate on those um points uh throughout my message. So, um I'm going to start with the revision summary. Uh since the presentation of the manager's budget message and recommendations, actions by Pender County have affected the town's overall budget and recommended tax rate. The Pener County Board of Commissioners initially voted to suspend its revaluation process and revert taxable values to those established in January 25. The board subsequently revised its decision and elected to proceed with the revaluation using the adopted schedule of values. In response to this uncertainty, the Surf City Town Council rescended its prior action accepting the manager's budget message and the associated revenue neutral tax rate. As noted in the budget message presented on April 7, 2026, Enslo County is also under undergoing a revaluation requiring the town of Surf City to calculate and present a revenue neutral tax rate. This revised message includes updated calculations based on current information as well as adjustments made between April and May. In addition to those uh these local developments, the North Carolina State Senate introduced Senate Bill 889 on April 29th, 2026, which would require all counties to use previously adopted values and suspend implementation of current revaluations. If enacted, this legislation would require both Pender and Enzo counties to revert to prior values. Accordingly, this revised budget message addresses both scenarios by presenting a revenue neutral tax rate as required by state statute as well as an alternate alternative tax rate in the event the evaluation process does not proceed.

In accordance with section 159-11 of the North Carolina general statutes, I'm pleased to present the proposed fiscal year 2627 budget for the town of Surf City for your review and consideration. This budget represents a sound financial plan aligned with the council's adopted goals and objectives. All sections comply with the North Carolina Local Government Budget and Fiscal Control Act as amended. A balanced or interim budget must be adopted by June 30, 2026. Pursuant to North Carolina General Statute 159-12, a public hearing on the proposed budget will be held on Tuesday, June 2nd, 2026 at 6 p.m. at the Surf City Municipal Complex. notice will be properly advertised and copies of the proposed budget will be made available to the public, including distribution to local media. The document will also be available on the town's website, in the office of the town clerk, and at the front lobby of the town hall. The proposed fiscal year 2026 27 budget is balanced and totals 40 mil $40,700,755. Appropriations are allocated among the following funds. General fund 20,70,347. Capital improvement fund 1,268,750. Accommodations tax fund 3,6,69. The water enterprise fund, $4,146,251. Sewer enterprise fund, 6,74,226. Stormwater Enterprise Fund 541,157 and Beach Nourishment Fund 4 thou $4,963,415. The town's capital improvement plan is also presented as part of the budget adoption process and I will go over that

later within the budget message. Property taxes uh remain the town's largest revenue source estimated at approximately 10.33 million either three 10,323,400 or 10,329,800 depending on the valuation scenario representing about 51.5% of general fund revenues based on information provided by Pender and Enzo counties. The town is utilizing two potential taxbased scenarios. 4 billion26,342,419 which is scenario one or 2 bill157,98,315 which is scenario two. Surf city is located in both Pender and Enso counties each of which has conducted a property revaluation for tax year 26. Following revaluation, North Carolina law again requires the calculation of a revenue neutral tax rate. This rate generates the same amount of property taxes tax revenue as the prior year adjusted for natural growth, which reflects increases from new construction and improvements. It is important to note that the revenue neutral rate is based on total assessed valuation, not individual properties. As a result, individual tax bills may increase or decrease depending on how a property's valuation change compares to the overall tax base. Scenario one, and again, this is um if both counties go through the revaluation process, the calculated revenue neutral tax rate as presented prior is 30 c 30.27 cents. The recommended tax rate on that scenario is 26 cents per $100 of assessed valuation, a reduction from the current rate of 53. Based on a 98.7%

collection rate, this would generate approximately 10,323,400 in property tax revenue. Each 1 cent change in the tax rate yields approximately $397,400. For scenario two, this is with no revaluation to occur. The recommended tax rate is 48 and a half cents per $100 of assessed valuation. This is a reduction of 4.5 cents from the current rate. Based on a 98.7% collection rate, this would generate approximately 10,329,800 in property tax revenue. In that scenario, each cent change in the tax rate yields approximately $212,986. [sighs] The second largest general fund revenue source is local sales tax estimated at 3.6 million. Water and sewer operations are projected to generate 10,850,477 across the enterprise funds. Investment income is expected to remain relatively flat due to stable interest rates and market uncertainty. Other revenues including telecommunications taxes, AB ABC ABC ABC distributions, and video programming taxes are also projected to remain stable. Expenditures. Surf City continues to experience steady population growth, increasing from 3,894 in 2020 to an estimated 4,998 [snorts] in 2024. This growth places additional demand on town services. The proposed budget provides for necessary personnel, equipment, supplies, and infrastructure to maintain service levels and support priority initiatives. Expenditure estimates were developed collaboratively by the budget officer and finance director based on departmental request and supporting documentation. These requests were reviewed by council

and incorporated into the budget workbook. Each request was evaluated against historical spending, operational needs, inflationary pressures, and service priorities. Revenue projections are based on guidance from the North Carolina League of Municipalities, county tax data, existing agreements, departmental estimates, and year-to-ate performance. As in prior years, requested expenditures exceeded projected revenues requiring prioritization for fisc fiscal year 2627. requests exceeded available revenues by approximately $1,144,879. To maintain service levels without overextending the general fund, select capital expenditures will be funded through the capital reserve fund. Additionally, the standard transfer of $317,81 to the capital improvement fund has been eliminated to reduce current tax burden. Future contributions will be evaluated based on reserve levels and capital needs. Additional expenditure adjustments include reductions in overtime within police and fire, operational redu reductions across departments, and the deferral of select one-time purchases. Department heads uh submitted requests for seven new positions. This includes three battalion chiefs, three firefighters, and one communications coordinator. The recommended budget includes funding for these positions based on strategic priorities and operational needs. The fire department positions will complete staffing for the ladderchuck program while the communications position will enhance internal and external engagement. A comparison of fiscal year 2526 and recommended 2627 personnel positions are de demonstrated in table one within the budget message. again reflecting each personnel count uh

for every department uh going from a total of 116 full-time positions to 122 full-time positions. Part-time positions are typically based on uh budget expenditures, not necessarily personnel, but however, uh those numbers remain consistent with a total uh part-time position count of 41. uh again remaining consistent amongst the two fiscal years. The budget includes a 3.3% cost of living adjustment, merit-based pay adjustments, and retirement contributions. There's no change in major major medical costs for the town and contribution rates for the local government employees retirement system are set at 15.13% [snorts] for general employees and 17.1% for law enforcement officers. Getting into general fund capital, the most significant capital investment is the acquisition of a ladder truck for fire department operations. Although delivery is anticipated in fiscal year 2829, debt service is included in this budget. Key capital items include the fire department ladder truck estimated at 2.7 million with an annual debt service of 378,000. Battalion chief vehicle at 75,000. police fleet replacement, three vehicles at 180,000, multi-use path funding at 500,000, parks and recreation transportation bus at 75,000, and the emergency management uh DSTR trailer at 80,000. Also, as captured within uh our strategic plan, as was noted earlier, our key strategic initiatives for the fiscal year under growth in natural resources. This includes continue investment in beach nourishment with $4,963,415 addic allocated to the beach nourishment

fund. Funding sources include accommodations tax, property tax, and paid parking revenues. The fund balance is projected to reach approximately 34 million in preparation of the US Army Corps coastal storm risk management project. growth in natural resources, the advancement of the island town center master plan to support resilient infrastructure, environmental stewardship, and community community oriented redevelopment. Under infrastructure and transportation, we have a completion of a systemwide hydraulic model to evaluate capacity, pressure zones, and fire flow capabilities for our water system. Also under infrastructure and transportation, the advancement of priority multi-use path segments to improve connectivity between the mainland and island. Under organizational excellence, expansion of the town's communications capacity through additional staffing. Also, strategic planning and procurement of replacement fire apparatus. And then lastly, under safe, vibrant, and healthy community, completion of phase three of the town's two-way radio system and deployment of the deployable strategic technology reserve trailer or the DSTR. In summary, the recommended budget reflects a disciplined financial strategy that balances service delivery, infrastructure investment, and long-term planning. I appreciate the mayor, the town council, department heads, finance director, and staff for their continued commitment to responsible fiscal management. Based on the scenarios presented, a tax rate of 26 cents is recommended. Under scenario one, which assumes property revaluations in both Enso and Pender counties, and under scenario two, a tax rate of 48.5 cents is being recommended. I'm going to go through a couple of um

line items in regards to revenues and expenditures. Um just to to point out the town uh invests um our monies into uh uh regular investment uh in institutions. Uh we have diversified that through uh multiple resources. Our longerterm investment strategy is uh being handled through First Citizens. Um we are estimated estimating a revenue of 275,000 through that um through that source. Um the current year taxes as outlined um at 10 10,332,400. Our sales tax um revenue projections um are going from uh 2.8 86 million to 3.6 million attempt to offset uh reliance on property values. Another interest uh investment that we have uh being projected at 700,000 um the 2000 excuse me the 26 budget that was at a million um we might not meet our mark on that revenue projection um from this current fiscal year. Moving on to some highlights for expenditures. Our trap uh transfer to capital reserve fund uh is set at 1,51,877. Uh contribution to Pender EMS and fire. This is $112,750 expenditure that will not be funded uh in this recommended budget. um mainly due to the fact that the Pender County is taking over EMS services as opposed to uh this being handled uh through private contract.

Getting into uh the governing body u budget, uh this budget has been reduced um by almost $20,000. um looking at uh year-to-year uh spending as well as uh reducing some cost um in regard to uh training um and other uh minor cuts uh throughout uh the line items. The administrative budget uh we are budgeting uh 74,000 in contracted services. This is covering um a cost share with our enterprise fund for grant writing services um as well as a continuation of uh data analytics services. In total uh that budget uh will increase by $4,000 uh from the 26 budget. Our IT budget um has been reduced uh from last year by 70,000. Um looking at efficiencies, but also certain one-time expenditures may have been executed in the current fiscal year, so therefore no longer needed next year. Our finance budget um has gone up uh slightly uh from personnel and audit services. Um so again the town uh financials are audit audited annually and the increase in those audit services are based solely on uh requirements to do single audits when we receive federal grants. Um so uh anytime that we bring in money we have to uh expend a little bit more uh for our auditing services. Our emergency management budget um generally has remained flat um except for uh the position request and recommendation of funding that position

uh and then of course um you know the other op uh uh personnel costs that go along with that 401k health insurance um etc. As noted in the budget message, um our um uh workers comp claim premiums, etc. will remain flat as well as our health insurance costs. Um there's a a slight increase in our in our legal costs due to some ongoing issues in which uh legal counsel has had to defend the town um on certain suits that have been brought forward as well as just our uh contractual retainer uh to have have the uh legal services presented for the town. Our public works building, which is a um separate department, um has uh been reduced um by $1,300. Our facilities and grounds department um has been reduced. Uh those are operational costs um and potential efficiencies that have been identified there. Our police department um has been reduced. Um this is mainly due to uh personnel reductions in overtime expenditures. Uh and the way that we are are doing that is uh we are reducing the overtime cost uh because typically we will have a salary lag at the end of a fiscal year. Uh we cannot budget for less than uh full um staffing. But it so happens that throughout the year we will not be full staff. So um what the the mechanics of that is that we will um reduce the overtime and expend personnel personnel costs into overtime as needed. Um some operational reductions and then uh we have delayed one-time investments or one-time costs. Um things for evidence incinerator um $30,000 for a shooting

range um and some other operational minor operational costs. [clears throat] our fire department um is according to to the 26 budget and and the current budget um appears to be generally uh the same. Um but that's been balanced out due to the increase in personnel and turnout gear um that are are uh requested for this year. And then what we've done is removed budgeted vehicles from the operational to the CIP. Um, again taking on three additional battalion chiefs and three firefighters uh within the budget. Our community development department um has seen a a minor increase. Um this is due to the funding for the island town center master plan. Um what we did was we looked at that the cost of that and spread that over two fiscal years. So that we will um anticipate spending uh twothirds of that this year and then one/ird excuse me twothirds of that next year and then the the remaining one-third for the following fiscal year. Our POW bill uh which is uh revenues or expenditures tied directly to uh revenues that come from uh the state for maintaining roadways um has has remain or actually was reduced um by $34,000. And then our sanitation budget um remains consistent. Um parks and recreation budget um has gone up um slightly. that is due to uh one-time expenditures for new gym lights as well as replacing the flooring within the gym. Um and then also increased expenditures in some of our athletic and wellness uh programs. Um but I just do wanted to caveat that with with the programs that we're we offer. Um you

know, there's obviously direct revenue that's associated with that. Um and that um essentially without I'm not going to get into the accommodations tax fund and uh the um water and sewer funds this evening um just because those are uh one the accommodations tax uh is not property tax uh not set by the tax rate. Um the expenditures are are typically mandated by state statute uh with three 3% of uh our revenue going into um our beach nourishment fund and then the remainder uh remaining 3% going to support um tour tourism related um expenditures. For example, uh that's that's how the town funds its ocean rescue staff. That's how we uh fund beach patrol for police in the summer maintain doing crossovers. um etc. So, uh with that being said, Madame Mayor, um I just wanted to again uh reiterate that, you know, we have two different scenarios that are being presented here. Um both being uh well, the first one being less than the revenue neutral tax rate. Um and then the second one being a tax reduction from what was uh adopted last year. Uh that the town council will hold a public hearing on June 2nd. Uh we do have uh a work session that is scheduled for May 21st and which is anticipated that that will be another uh working session uh for the council to review budget um ask additional questions um provide additional guidance to staff. Um but we wanted to make sure that the budget message and the budget is able to be produced for the public to inspect and review. um because if we delay that um then then people don't get

to evaluate uh the line item by line item budget. So once again, this will be available again. We had it up um last night on the website and had to take it down based on the actions of of the county. Um so as quickly as we can, we will get this back on the website. This is under our finance um tab. Um and then under fiscal year 2627 should anybody want to review that. Um in addition, there's hard copies available in town hall. Um we're not printing hard copies for everybody, but if you do want to come and inspect a hard copy, please do. Um if you have specific budget questions, please um happy to try to answer those. and and uh if you want to email or call or set up a meeting or um however uh we've got to accommodate that, we're more than happy to do so. Um so with that being said, Madame Mayor, I'll I'll certainly take any questions that you have.

Does anyone um have any questions? Not I was just asking she was just asking the board right now. We're not in a public hearing. We're going to have public comment though. No. So at this time we will move forward with back [clears throat] to public comment.

I know council's worked really hard and and um I commend uh Mr. Brewer for presenting uh what was a a really difficult situation in and probably a very articulate manner and I hope that was informative for you folks. Um we have through uh through Mr. Brewer, there have been uh some reductions made uh with the various line items uh which uh were in the response to input he's received from uh folks uh across the board. So I think we've made a good first step. Uh there are a couple of questions I have and I know I've shared them with Mr. Brewer and uh and uh it's probably something that we can discuss. I I'm I I have the an opinion that some of our accommodations tax fund, which now has somewhere around $6 million in it, give or take. I think uh we spent $665,000 for part of the multi-use path on the island. I think some of that money might be allocated back to some things. For example, I know there's a lot of concern about what we're paying for uh trash can roll back and uh one of the criteria in using accommodations tax money. It has to support tourism and it can't be used for routine expenses across the community. Well, roll back is not an expense across the community. It's an expense for island homes. And many of those island homes, of course, are rental homes which provide lodging and produce accommodation taxes because they're rented. And so the value in nearest to the benefit more to the tourists than it does the residents. Obviously, the aesthetic value of not having trash cans out in the middle of the road on Wednesday or Thursday or

Friday kinds of thing is is a good thing for the entire community, but perhaps and I calculated we're we spend somewhere around 60 $70,000 a year for the roll back. And uh I ask uh I guess Mr. Chris Carter to to figure out if that's accurate or not, but that might be something we could use accommodation tax money for on a recurring basis. So, um the uh uh the communications van that is being requested by emergency uh management, uh I think it's a valuable addition to our our preparedness and our ability to do disaster recovery. We have a disaster recovery preparedness fund. It was started prior to 2012. It has $775,000 in there, give or take. Uh, and it's it's it's it was created, but the money has never been used. So, I'm curious that if disaster recovery and preparedness is a component and a part of that, would it be possible to take the $80,000 out of the general fund and use the money we've already put away for these kinds of activities? That's a question. And then the last one I have is regarding the the acquisition of the fire truck. Um, I think we all agreed and I finally came around to Chief Wilson's point of view on this. It is a necessary uh addition, actually replacement uh to ensure fire safety within our community. I I I I agree. It's $2.7 million. There are a number of opportunities for us to fund the $2.7 million. We have not completely explored those. I have not seen any comparisons across the funding mechanisms. One of the initial ones was related to funding it by paying cash upfront. A million dollars next year, a million dollars following year, and a million dollars or

so when when we take delivery. And then we said, well, we could do uh some type of an installment payment, which is great, but right now we don't have a vendor. we don't have a contract for a vendor and we really don't know what our installment contract might look like or if we use a a municipal-based uh lease purchase option which changes the whole dynamic of how we pay for it. Uh so to take $368,000 from this coming year's tax, your property tax, uh as a prepayment payment or or some kind of debt service, I think is premature until we have a clarity about what our cash flow needs will be and when those cash flow needs will hit. And I think uh that's something that between now and when we adopt the budget, we as a council and with the help of of Miss Moore and and and Mr. Brewer can maybe have some options of how to do this and maybe get a better uh idea as the the financially most prudent way to finance our our truck. So those are some of the things that I've looked at, some of the things that that I'm con I would like us to consider in the next two weeks or at the the workshop. So, with that, I'll stop talking and if anyone else on council has any comments or

I think we have um gone over those several times. So, I appreciate your comments again, Andy, and look forward to um hearing other public comments tonight. If now is the time that it got moved up in the agenda, if there are any public comments, yes, sir, please come up and state your name and your address. Albert Almeida 105 Lumis Court. Uh I just wanted some clarification with this roll back that I'm not familiar with. You mentioned something 60,000. What is this roll back program? The the trash cart roll back program was uh we're going to answer this public comment. This we will take this up. I'm sorry. This is not

We will get you information on it though if you um

Well, if if we're paying for that. I I'm not aware if we're I'm not sure if we're paying for that program or not, but if we are paying for that program and the investors are renting out their beachfront homes, probably making thousands of dollars on these rentals, which I I'm not aware, I'm not familiar with this program, but I sure hope that we taxpayers are not paying for a program where the homeowner or the investor or the property owner could fund fund that bill. They could either get a property manager or force their tenants to bring that program bring in those trash cans. We shouldn't be funding that program.

It just just so you know, it is a huge safety issue on Southshore Drive, especially when someone is trying to get off the island like during an EMS or a fire call or a police call. That's one reason why it was put into in to an active position also. And and I understand that and and and I apologize for interrupting, but I understand that. But the property owner should be at least refunding or picking up that.

It's it's not just property owners for rentals. It's permanent citizens like myself and other people. You know, in a neighborhood that I live in, there's two people that rent. The rest of them are full-time. So, it's, you know, it's not just the renters that are going to get money from the property owner to to put that bill. It's for permanent residents as well. So then the entire surf city tenant uh residents are footing that bill. I'm not familiar with that. It's not paid with property tax just for clarification. That's property taxes [cough] are not used for that fee. That fee comes out of solid waste. Your garbage can fee your trash fee is overall. Not that it didn't. Thank you. But we we will get you some addition. Thank you for the clarification workshop.

Thank you. Yes, please [clears throat] come up and state your name and address. Mr. McCusker and I live at uh 1016 South Topsill Drive. Uh and I am a resident and we live here full-time. Um thank you very much for the identification of that. I asked for clarification just to make sure that we're clear that uh scenario one and scenario two. um that the 26 cents is for the 2025 property value and the scenario two is for the if will be held the 2026 property value. No sir switch switched around. Okay. Good. Thank you sir. Yes sir.

The second conversation is uh we know you all have no control over what the state does uh and we understand that process. two two or three other gentlemen have identified the impact of um uh neutral revenue. But I would hope that you all as key personnel and I know you did your job and your uh divisions identified in what they want versus what they need and that then the rest of the council have to go back and say what is a true need for the running of this town. not so not a nice to have but a critical need to have and things like multi uh use pathway, air conditioning buses and other line items. You really have to look at is it critical to the running of this town and day-to-day for the residents. So, I would ask you to really tighten your belt as all businesses have to do and as all homeowners have to do every year to make sure that we can pay our bills and not uh be in the black uh in the red. So, but you really need to look at what is critical to this town to run its business for safety and not nice to have. So, I thank you very much. I hold you all to it as senior leadership to take sure you take care of us as your constituents. Thank you very much. [applause]

Any other comments? Yes, Mr. Rich.

Sorry about that. Um 25503 Southshore Drive. Richard Bess was up here earlier. Uh, I just have a question and I did ask one of the uh people on on on our on the penny counter, you know, board about this is it's very unique situation here. I've never done this before, but I pay taxes to Surf City and I also pay taxes to Pender County. And of course, Pender County gets a substantial amount more than you guys do. And with that money that we're sending to Pender County, does Pender County actually send us back any of that to help with running the city or, you know, what goes on with that money? Because if we're not getting anything for the money that I'm sending out to Pender County, you know, when I got to Burger to pay my taxes, I'm just wondering what it is exactly they do for us. So if there's

Pender County collects their county tax and then Serve City collects theirs. So you don't send it to us and us send it to the county. What I'm saying is the county does we're sending out to Pen County. Does Surf City receive anything back from the county to help with this with our like emergency services and various other things or does it just go out I can answer it. So um there's there's one very clear revenue which the town receives from uh Pender County and that's been a consistent $180,000. uh and they they deliver that to the town to help fund beach nourishment. So other than that, we're not getting anything

outside of that. Um you know, you the EMS service uh but you're paying an EMS fee for that, but the county is not um delivering to the municipality any additional revenues uh that are not already realized by the municipality, which is why we have a separate taxing authority. Well, like I said, I just was wondering, you know, what it is Penner County actually does for me. I have better question suited for the county. [laughter] Okay, I appreciate it. Thank you.

They spend 40% of their money on schools, so I guess that's something we get back, right? Same house. 581 point. Um, first of all, on the the fire engine, I thought that was interesting. From 1970 to 1980, the dollar depreciated by 75%. I'm seeing this again, and I my own finances, I'm adjusting them to a shrinking do to a dollar that's going to be worth less. I'm having a hard time understanding why we would be paying for something now that we're not going to get for a few years. I think it would be great to get the price solid if that you know and and but pay at that time and we'll be paying with dollars that are worth less. That's how the federal government runs it. The other thing is I would like to know how you came up with the I'm I'm guessing Kyle, did you already do a revenue neutral budget? Do you have that copy of that? uh the the revenue neutral uh it would it would simply be the tax rate applied to the total value. So you could you could simply calculate 30.27 cents applied to the total value of all properties within the town. That would give you the total uh revenue in which that would generate. We did not develop this budget based on a revenue neutral tax rate. We base the tax rate on on what is needed to or you know what is desired to run this city.

So you have the aggregate of of the the total values of the properties. Yeah, I'd love to see a copy of that. The the uh county tax offices uh deliver that to the town. Um, so when they go through the the full revaluation process, so you do not have a copy of it or you do? They provide us the numbers. But do you have the numbers now? Um, not not off the top of my head. Then how are you able to do come up with that 3027 that that's based on a state adopted formula in which the value is provided. I mean again I could pull up the you can call me. I'll pull up the spreadsheet and we can go through it line item by line item.

Yeah, I'm I'm very interested. Please call me tomorrow. Yeah. Thank you. Yes, ma'am.

Good evening. My name is Jacqueline Goddard. I live at 916 West 9th Street. Um, I want to thank I want to thank the mayor. I want to thank Andy and I want to thank Trudy. Uh, they did respond to an email that I sent out to the mayor and the board except for Mr. Kennedy. I messed up your email address. Um, I did not receive answers from anyone else regarding my desire to understand why the rates and our taxes were so high. So, first of all, thank you three for your transparency. Um, second, I want to say that I do believe we need a town hall meeting because citizens have questions and they need answers. If it cannot be inserted into this process, it must certainly be inserted into next year's uh public forum comments of three minutes is not acceptable for the thousands of people who live here. I want to state my most important point that I want to make is that I have a problem underlying problem with the basic assumption on this budget and I speak as a CPA for over 40 years at small 30 to300 million companies. What we've tried to do I've heard several times is revenue neutral. So, I'm sorry. We here and the citizens of this town do not want a revenue neutral budget. We just had a 30% increase. We want a budget that was less than this year's. So, revenue neutral means you have failed us from the beginning.

And you realize we went below revenue neutral, right?

Good. Well, that was the goal. now where you are now and and my point is my next point that I was going to say is that items that Mr. appeal Andy has brought up were significant and the folks that I am sitting with I I'm hearing murmurss because we're supposed to be quiet murmurss on agreement to like wow that makes sense again this is another reason for a town meeting where we can have questions and answers and the last thing that I wanted to say and I am reiterating what some of the distinguished citizens before me have said is that we really want critical expenses. And when you're asking residents to pay for what might on the margin increase tourism by a path or other things, we become very skeptical. I thank you for your time. [applause] My kids are going to hate me right now. Do I hit a button or hello? Okay.

Jody Kenan 315 Northshore Drive. Um, so I was here for the first budget meeting. Um, looked at your I mean Kyle's voice just put you to sleep. Sorry. [laughter] You had a ton of slides and this time the reeal the re thing you didn't have any slides. I think you sat up here and they had a horse voice. You needed some water. So, um, we've been through Northshore Drive and all you're doing with the water and then I asked for I think I was only one of four people here. Put my name down to get, you know, notified to spray paint on my driveway. Anyway, lots of stuff there. But, um, I would love this when you talked for 20 minutes, 30 minutes. Know your audience. kind of dumb it down. Give us like four slides, like hot hits. I know you I don't know if you have to do all that to say it maybe, but it's kind of like quick hits. I work in the corporate world, trust me. Like two, three, four slides and then after that you lose people and you talked a lot and you said a lot of things. I think if he could just like kind of concise that a little bit so the audience will take in what's really important and then you said it all which is fine but yeah just like a quick hot hit you know so everybody kind of gets it cuz I almost was lulled to sleep maybe you have to say all those things and you have to go through it but I appreciate the time. Thank you.

Thank you. [applause] Uh, good evening. Um, Doug beat from 103 Bluewater Lane. I was here at the last work session and just two requests. One is to advocate again for what a lot of people are saying to have some open town meetings on these topics. Um, just so people can express their thoughts and their concerns, but equally here here back in real time as opposed to getting it through social media. But the other question I really would like to hear an answer to is the treatment of the reserves. As I mentioned last time, they seem not only very ample, but actually growing year on year. And it seems like a chance to give the the residents some tax relief if we can at least um if not tap into them, at least suspend the growth on those reserves. And I didn't hear anything about that since that meeting. [applause]

Any other comments? All right. Well, hearing none. So again, um your voice is heard. We hear it. We will you'll have the next 30 30 days. I just wanted to speak whenever I 30 days, Kyle. Uh it is uh just less than 30 days. June 2nd

uh is the public hearing for uh scheduled. But again, we will be meeting in uh two weeks uh May 21 um for a work session. There's always public comment there. Um and then of course staff is always available to anybody who wants to reach out for specific questions and we get into detail and maybe a little bit more fun time. I don't I don't know. Can you give us the format? If you can come up to and state your name and address.

Kim Miller, 1116 Sapphire Avenue. Can you give us the format so that we know when we arrive what we're going to be allowed to do? Because just putting questions out and not getting answers is the frustration I think that we all feel. What kind of forum what forum Matt is it going to be when we have the open that's all I'm asking. What's the forum? Will it be a question and answer or will it be you talk, we ask questions and we don't get answers, we have to come back or circle around to get the answers. That's all we're asking.

Public hearing is a a formal process that people provide comments back to the board for them to consider. If there's additional between now and then, you have every opportunity. When can we have a back and forth? You can email any every day 24 hours a day. When can we back and forth? You can set up a time tomorrow. Pardon me? Set up a time tomorrow or the next day.

I have a question that this lady might have and that man might have and if we could get one answer, then we'd all get the answer at one time. That's all we're asking for, a back and forth. We ask Kyle a question, we ask Teresa a question, we get the answer, and then we walk away and we understand better. We might not agree, but we walk away with the answer. All of us, because her question and my question and that person's question might all be the same instead of having 45 conversations. Just open it up. Let us ask what we want to ask and then you give us the Kyle gives us the answer. That's all we're asking.

Thank you. You had a comment.

I did. I I just really I I've make I make not a lot of notes and I appreciate all the comments. Um we did provide two two times of comments for our meeting tonight and we're going to continue to do that if that's utilized and tonight it was. So, thank you. Um and I I just want to say a lot of the things I heard were let's let's do let's just figure out what what spending is absolutely necessary and and I get that. I do. um my job is is is one of my jobs is to to analyze that and get my own information together and have my understanding just like you you are too. So um and there are some of the things some of the items that continue to come up and and that's certainly the ones that I hit first when I'm going out and talking to our departments and and trying to make sure I can understand and explain it to you. And I do meet with a lot of y'all. I get phone calls, text messages, um, and emails that I work really hard to respond to. Um, so, and I did want to comment about the ladder truck, you know, and I know there's different ways to finance it or pay for it in some case. It also isn't something you just go and pick out like we get to customize this. It takes forever. It takes months, you know, like a year to actually detail like what we want on it that suits our firefighters needs. So we don't So just because we're paying for it now doesn't mean we're paying for it now because we're asking them to get started on it and actually start building it for us to meet our needs. And um and I learned that and and I also our current ladder truck is in the shop more days than it's actually available to use. Um so I think that's valuable information to know. This is not a a you know a really fun expense for us either but it's necessary. I mean, I hope it's got lots of great bells and whistles when it's done, but I mean, I do feel like we are working to also order a truck that has bells and whistles that we need and not

pay for something we don't need that is equipped on that truck. So, the process of that is is quite interesting and I have a lot of faith in it. Um, and I I I want a ladder truck. My house is not just one story and I need that to come to my neighborhood. Um, we had a great a big fire in my neighborhood uh last summer and it was quite scary and so ladder trucks are completely um important to this community and our neighboring towns don't have one. So I want to see Surf City continue to have one, but I want one that works. So that was one comment. Like you said, Trudy, it's not something you just pick on a lot like you go to No

Chevy dealer and buy a a thing of it's concerned. It's a committee that's formed by firefighters to do the best they can for what they're going to need. So, it's a design thing where the company that builds it has to go and listen to the design and do it. So, it doesn't take a month, two months, three months. It could take almost a year, maybe more.

And I'm concerned there's so many things that I know a town hall meeting might would help. And I that is communication is extremely important. That's what we all talk about so much. That's that was the thing that came up continuously in our planning meeting. It is challenging this day and time to communicate with everybody. We do so much with social media. There's a lot of people who don't use social media and I think that's great, but they're missing a lot of information and I can't call them all. And we just think about the the avenues that we should or could or need to use. It's really a challenge. Um we have a public information officer saying she does a great job. She puts posts out there um very proactively. I'm not sure people are are always seeing those and reading those. There's information on the website. I know it might be a little challenging to find, but it's always there. And um uh anyway, but just lots of things that that I think are worth some some things some there's lots of things worth mentioning. I'll just mention I did mention firet truck. I don't want to act like I am totally stuck on fire fire ladder trucks. Um, but we have increased our ocean rescue team over the past few years and that has been some expense. But I I we're we're looking out for the safety of of everyone and we don't have the lifeguard stands and this was the avenue that we chose to do in serve city and and I think it's been just stop one of the ocean rescue guys out there or girls. There's some really amazing girls, sorry. And um and ask them what I mean they're you might just see them riding up and down there. They're on calls constantly especially on our rough tide days. So, um they're they're working hard. Um and so I'm thankful for that program. Um I uh also another thing to mention is that uh the police hours I you know we've have more and more incidents around in our town and I love that we don't get the publicity about that. I don't want everybody to think search city is not safe or whatever, but there are things that happen. And then our police officers have to spend more and more time going back and forth to the courthouse and burgl and because our our population is increased. And so there's just things that just to

continue to increase and it can't be changed and it still is necessary. Um we you know we had graffiti on the water tower. someone had to clean that like and you guys the bathrooms over at the main beach access. They're a challenge to the the damage done to those facilities really hurts my heart and that's not where I hang out, you know, but that's what part of my community and what happens. I go to my bathroom. I don't go to those bathrooms, but you know, it's very upsetting to to find out the amount of damage done to those facilities on a regular basis. Um and then our ABC um income um has was has not been as vibrant as it was and that that funding that came from us from ABC purchases because they built a major warehouse in Burgal, a major store in Burgal and they're going to pay for that before they send us excess money. So, we've lost that income for a while. There's just so many pieces and parts to this. I just wanted to share a few that um that we spend a lot of time discussing, a great amount of time. It's it's just complex. The book is thick. So, [laughter] um, and then, you know, with a air, someone mentioned an air conditioned bus or whatever. I mean, like the bus again, we have a ladder truck that's sitting in the shop most of the time. We have a a Surf City recreation bus. It goes picks the kids up from school to brings them to the after school program and it's in the shop a lot, too. It's not a good bus. I I love I would love you to go over to the community center and actually go check it out because I don't want to ride to drive it or ride it. Okay. Anyway. [laughter] Anyway, sorry. So, at this time again, we're going to have the next how many days, Caler?

20. Huh? Till when? Till. Yeah. Till public hearing. Uh, I don't know off the top of my head, but uh June 2nd. from then

you'll have an from now until then to look at the budget to ask questions about the budget email come in make an appointment see us ask email email all of us ask us questions we are going to try to answer your questions as as we take them um we are held by state law the LGC tells us how to do things we did an audit last year we do an audit third party audit every year um you should be happy that your city is healthy, that your city does prepare for the future. It doesn't sit back and wait for a disaster to happen and then figure out how we're going to pay for it. We're preparing to um take care of our beaches, to protect your home, to protect the roads, to protect the infrastructure, to protect um our tourism avenue for people to want to to continue to have a place to come. Um, there are so many items that were before it even like made it to this town council that Kyle and the finance department cut from this budget before it even came before us. And then when it came before us, you know, there were items we started working on this back in I think the department started working on it back in December. Um we listen to different um scenarios through budget seasons and you I appreciate Miss um I think it was Miss Miss Cannon that said um about not understanding and maybe not maybe just that getting into a tone. But we we we try both both scenarios of like presenting something to you to where we do dumb it down and then we get criticized for showing a chart to where one cents equals this or the tax rate

equals this and then we get criticized for it. And so we tried to present a formalized budget without any um and I won't say you won't ever see any graphs, but just want to let you know the criticism that we give for trying to what you say dumb it down because we don't want people to think that um we have to go and but we're willing to give um

you know and but we're willing to show graphs um if someone wants to see graphs or you know it gets kind of it does get dry when you're talking numbers and you know a lot of times my voice will even after I think I've been talking all day about numbers as well as everybody else so I feel horsearo myself this afternoon but I want to know let you know that all of us have put a mass amount of time into this and we will continue to do so um until the budget gets approved. So, if there are nothing else to say, um, you don't need a motion on this, Kyle. Uh, no, ma'am.

So, it is general consensus that we move forward with our presentation on scenario one and scenario two. And we're going to move on to our next um order of business, which is new business. And it is item number two, contempor temporary road agreement. Um and David Price and

I can I can probably just go ahead and and knock this out real quick. So um we have an active storm water project going on uh grant funded on Meckllinburgg Avenue and North Topsel Drive. Um the the scope of the project requires the full um closure of the intersection at Meckllinburg and North Topppsel. Uh the property owner on the southeast corner um at 10:14 um has graciously agreed to allow the town to utilize a portion of their front yard um for uh folks to get through there. Um so what he has come back um after signing the agreement is requested um some monetary compensation for that. Um if if we were aware of that we would have factored that in the the initial cost. Um the compensation requested is is $5,000 for the duration of the project. It's about um a 60-day project. Um, we will utilize uh funds derived from the storm water uh fund to be able to uh pay for this. Um, I think it it is certainly appropriate. Um, it would be akin to a temporary construction easement if uh the town were were undergoing construction along the rightway and needed to use somebody's property in order to do the utility project. So, uh that is the in in essence the item that is being requested. Um, I did not want to expend funds without council agreeing to this um, proposal, but again um, I recommend that council approve this.

Does anyone have any questions? Motion or consent? This is going to be a request for action. So, I do need a motion. I'll make a motion. Mayor have a motion um to consider the approval of the agreement as presented. Is there a second? Have a second. I have a motion and a second. All in favor say I. I.

All oppose. Same sign. Motion carries. Next item is item number three, subsurface phase 2, and David Price will present. Good evening, Mayor Council. Before you is a uh resolution of a tenative award for the subsurface project is going underneath uh the new uh multi-use path uh plan later in the year. I apologize u the dates lost me but uh this is the first phase of a three three-phase project to add 400,000 gallons a day of wastewater capacity to our system. Uh it did come in under budget at uh $12 million. This would be paid for out of the $19.7 million appropriation we received in 2024. Um, should the council accept this uh or pass this tenative award, it will go through to uh DWI for approval and we're hoping to get uh under construction soon. [laughter]

All right. So, it is requested that the town council consider approval of this project as presented by David Price. Mayor, I'll make the motion to approve this as presented by Mr. Price. I have a motion. Do I have a second? I'll second. We have a discussion. Yes, sir. Just I have two questions, short ones. One, this is predicated on the scalping plant as well, right? That's the third phase of the three phases, right? Okay. So, we don't have any clarity exactly where that's going to be just yet. We have some clarity. I don't know um the procedure here, Mr. Brewer.

Yeah. So, um, the sculping plant to be located on, um, a tract adjacent to JHB Bats Road in in very close proximity to the subsurface project.

Okay. So, that's we I know we've talked about this previously. So, that's that's that that's good because doing that without having the scalping plan kind of cart for horse. That's great. Uh I did note that in the uh proposals or in the responses to the RFP uh there was a pretty big variance in in the cost estimates and uh three of the proposals were generally in the 156 19 million range and this one came in at 12. Are you confident though that the deliverables will be identical or or similar enough that

Yeah, we looked very hard at that bid for this reason. the it came in I believe it was 18 million and 24 million were the other two um there was some discrepancies in the 24 million and the way they were counting the soil what it came down to is the sourcing of the soil the transivity of the soil that needs to be brought in not to get into too much detail um this particular contractor who won has already built this for us before and he's builds it all over the east coast so this is his specialty therefore drives down the cost so his estimate is farly fairly accurate with regard to what his costs are because he has prior knowledge and I know that he's done work for us before andre certainly the work that's done has met our expectations. So I was just exceeded. Yes sir.

That was just it was a question. It wasn't a criticism. Yes sir. And I will I'll just take the opportunity madame mayor if I can. Um we did receive the soils testing from the third party testing agency um on that piece for the scalping station and and things are are looking good. So that's been sent over to legal counsel for to progress in that process. So thank you. Thank you. There is no further discussion. I had a motion and a second. All in favor say I. I. All oppose. Same sign. Motion carries. Thank you, David. Um item number four is the cross access easement on Goldsboro Avenue. And Kyle will present.

Yes. Thank you again, Madame Mayor. Um and councel. This is a followup um to an item that we discussed at a work session, I want to say two months ago. Um this has to do with property owned uh by the town of Sir City along uh Goldsboro Avenue um on the west side of North New River Drive. Um and the agreement is for a cross access easement uh with the adjacent property uh that is uh undergoing construction for a new uh restaurant uh use on that property. Uh throughout the development uh process, uh the town worked closely with the applicant and specifically in regard to fire apparatus access and the ability to service that new um uh restaurant use. Options presented were an additional driveway being located on North New River Drive, um a hammerhead turnaround, or a partnership with the town uh to provide that cross access. Um the third option was elected to explore and move forward with um we have negotiated a cost for that uh cross access easement um in the amount of $191,000 um for the the perpetual use. um but also to adding in cost escalation um and maintenance responsibilities uh financial maintenance responsibilities of that uh portion of the cross access easement. As a result of this, um the town has um as communicated has proposed a grant application um with the Division of Coastal Management for a public access uh grant to provide an additional boardwalk um canoe and kayak launch and parking uh on the town owned property.

Um and we would utilize this funding for a cash match for that grant. Um which uh increases our favorability for potentially being awarded uh that grant. So um the easement language uh itself has been uh reviewed between legal counsel um on both uh sides of of the agreeing parties. Um there's also the HOA um as a a party to the agreement. um they're not held liable for any financial responsibilities. Um but the the easement itself has been reviewed again by both legal councils and and agreed upon. So we do have a final um version or iteration with with without substantial changes from what is presented to you in your packet. So happy to answer any questions the board may have on this. Um but again a a payment for the cross access easement for it.

Sir, does anyone have any questions? Um, I have a a quick question for you, Mr. Burr. Um, there's a about a $200,000 payment in there for uh constructing a boardwalk along the the remaining part of the property. Uh, that's about 50% of the anticipated cost. The other 50% is coming from grant money or from grant from grant money. How does that impact on the kayak launch concept? Is that component of that or the kayak separate?

The the ele all the other elements um would be included in the grant proposal. Um the actual floating kayak launch would come from the town as another um addition to the cash match for the grant. Um so it's about a $10,000 expenditure that that we would make to provide that access. All right. So, at the end of the day, what we're going to have hopefully is a boardwalk, which we've paid for by grant money and through this fee. Yes, sir. Plus a kayak launch that has will have a nominal cost, plus the additional 27 parking spaces, given final design, but that's a good estimate. Yep.

Yeah. And uh and he gets or the the residents get easier access to the restaurant to improve public safety. I think all in all, I think you you cut us a pretty good deal.

Well, thank you very much. Um and and just, you know, again, as an update, that that grant application was submitted um prior to the grant deadline. Uh we we will hear back by the deadline of July 31st, hopefully a little bit sooner. um with that notification would then trigger a uh request for final application which we understand that's um we're going to receive the the uh funds for it. Um and we will hold a public meeting u between that process. So if anybody wants to come and talk about the project um we will certainly do that but that's again down the road. Um, so

so it is requested that the town council consider approval of the easement as presented. Do I have a motion to do so? I'll make a motion to do so. Mayor, yes. Felicia seconding. A motion and a second. All in favor say I. I. All oppose. Same sign. Motion carries. Next item is the Neville Alberry Park playground equipment and Frank Sedata. Sedata. Thanks for sticking with us, Frank.

Oh, yeah. Um, mayor and council, I'm just proposing uh the repairs at Nelva Alberry Park. Uh, the 5 to12 structure has been shut down for quite some time. Uh, I have a quote from the man or from our dealer, which is game time and, uh, Cunningham Recreation for the 47,000. Uh, sorry, I'll get you the total. The $47,000. Um basically working with uh FNG uh we've determined that it is in our best interest to outsource this work. Uh it is extensive work that needs to be done and uh the timeline provided from game time is approximately 6 to 8 weeks if we're able to go ahead and get under contract tomorrow. Um again noting the timing of this and noting the urgency in which we want to act. I think it's our best bet. So requesting Soul Source since it's over the $30,000 threshold.

So the funding is in place in the current budget year. Yes, sir. Okay. So, and right now it's still closed. I I imagine that is correct. Because of the the issue of safety and Okay. Yes. So, I'm out of the kids in parks game. Is this a very active park? I mean, [clears throat] okay. Just wanted to make sure I didn't want this. The part we just when it was sitting still when it was near the ocean we just fenced in. Yeah, I know. It gets an increase of users um during the summer season. Um but yes, it's

it's located um at beach access 5 where there are restroom facility, showers, parking um accessible by walking by many residents and tourists. So yes, high use. Um, it is requested that town council consider the approval of the plan as presented. I'll make that motion. Mayor, I wanted to. I'll [snorts] second it. Have a motion and a second. All in favor say I. I. All oppose. Same sign. Thank you, Frank. Thank you. Next up is um Melissa Moore, our finance director for delinquent taxes lean advertisement.

Good evening, madame mayor and mayor. Madame Mayor and Council, um, as of May 1st of 2026, the outstanding principal balances on delinquent property taxes to advertise was $215,1951. The general statute 105-369A requires the governing body to charge the tax collector with advertising the tax leans information in the local newspaper. As of May 5th, today about 4:30, the number had been updated to $211,1367. We respectfully request that council charge the tax collector with advertising the delinquent taxpayer listing in the Pender Post and Jacksonville Daily News.

Um, it is requested that the town council consider approval of the advertisement as presented. I'll make that motion. A motion happy tonight. Have a motion. Do I have a second? I'll second. All in favor say I. I. All oppose. Same sign. Thank you, Melissa. Thank you. Moving on to Cal Brewer's manager report. Anything continue

hear from me again, I guess. Um have several items on the manager's report. Um there's obviously a ton going on all the time within Surf City. So I try to select um some highle things. Um did not make it into the written report. However, just wanted to to notate for those here. We had two major water um disruptions today uh generated through a third party contractor. Had no um responsibility of the town. However, I always commend town staff for their uh expediticious response uh to these issues. Um crews are on it and equipment is is there um and they really um get that stuff restored as as quickly as possible. So, um we apologize for any inconvenience or disruption of service. Um, but that should be good and and we'll follow any uh state guidelines uh necessary uh as a followup to that. First thing I wanted to talk about a little bit was the um North Carolina Department of Transportation ramp meter traffic signal. Um so beginning tomorrow uh NC DOT will be placing a temporary signal as you approach the island roundabout uh from the mainland. The purpose of the project is to assist in allowing traffic to enter the roundabout from the north and south by stopping traffic for a short duration of time. The town will work alongside of NC DOT to monitor the installation and effectiveness of the temporary implementation and will follow up with a detailed report back to council and residents. The town has identified limits to indicate failure and potential success. This is a pilot project only and has been set to last two weeks uh which will only be longer if determined

to show success. So um just real quick, it's very abnormal to have a uh traffic light that is metering a roundabout. Um it is also uh seemingly a major concern for traffic from the south to enter that roundabout in heavy traffic times. So, uh, DOT is deploying this, uh, concept, uh, to Surf City to try and help alleviate that congestion. I will, uh, let you know that, um, beginning on Saturday, uh, the town will, uh, formulate and come together as our own um, incident management team to monitor this this uh, event. Um our police department uh have reporting stations in which they will be reporting back on the hour as to where uh traffic is backed up to. Um we will deploy technology as the chief had highlighted earlier um to try and effectively gauge timing uh for vehicles uh that are entering Surf City and then arrive to the to the traffic circle. Um the failures of this are going to be dependent on the backup um as indicated uh from the S-curve on Southshore um Shell uh on North New River uh Northern Pintail Place on 210 and Shephardd's Road on NC50. Um we probably uh you know will uh continue to see backups. We're also going to put a drone in in the air to evaluate any gaps in the network so we can then communicate back to NC DOT about light uh synchronization. Um they did communicate with us that they are doing another light study this summer um in order to affect potential change. So I

understand there's a ton of skepticism out there um about this project. Um DOT understands that. Um I think that DOT is making a good faith effort um and able to to deploy this. Um but uh as we have indicated to the state, if we see failure in this, we will um they will give us a key to it uh we will uh bring it down and take it off of the bridge because the last thing we want is um to make any issues uh that much worse. As a reminder, this is also part of a island roundabout feasibility study in which DOT um presented back to uh the town um several months ago um with potential longer term options. Um one of those scenarios included uh removing pedestrians from the roundabout. I think that they've uh Okay. So, what the removal of the pedestrians from the roundabout is that that causes just another delay for vehicles to get through the roundabout. So, um we have set up uh temporary detours to again try to measure um any sort of success or effectiveness of the program.

You're talking about the crosswalks.

The crosswalks. Yes. Just wanted to touch on the waterline resilience project. uh took note of communication to make sure that we are communicating back to our residents as promised at the public meeting. Thank you for showing up to that public meeting. Um contractors will begin working on that uh next week um starting on the on the north side of that. Um we're asking that if you have anything in the right way, please remove it as contractors will not be able to relocate or save landscaping, hardcaping, things that tend to grow within the public right ofway over the years. So um just wanted to make that announcement. The Meckllinburgg and North Topsil storm water project um this project was delayed a week um due to some logistical issues um in regards to uh bus transportation, mail delivery, um etc. You name it, it was it was thrown at at Price and his crew. Um but those items have uh been worked out and continue to be addressed and any issues that come up. Um that project did start last week. Excavation has begun um to install the PA system. Um as discussed earlier uh this evening, the alternative travel patterns are in place. Uh and the temporary roadway for access has been installed. Um so we look forward to the contractor um moving that project forward as as quickly as they possibly can. Uh I want to touch on the US Army Corps of Engineers, the Coastal Storm Risk Management Project. Um, so as part of the Toppps Island Shoreline Protection Commission, which is made up of all three island towns in both Pender and Enslo County, uh, we did travel to Washington DC, um, April 20th and 21st and then travel back on the 23rd, uh, to meet with federal legislators and key officials um, spec specifically to emphasize the importance of the Surf City uh, project. We have productive

meetings with Congressman Rouseer, Dr. Murphy's office, Senator Bud's office, the Army Corps of Engineers, Civil Works, and the Office of Management and Budget. The project justification uh is awaiting the Office of Management Budgets approval through the issuance of their consistency statement uh which will then direct funds to move back to the con back to construction and the district can then finish items on their end such as final design and expectation of a project partnership agreement is forthcoming. The town will then seek any remaining easements necessary so the project can be sent out to bid. Um, and to try to summarize that, uh, we are in the short rows of of this project, um, in order to get to construction. Office of Management Budget works directly under the administration. So consistency with the administration's priorities is necessary uh to move those monies that were already obligated in disaster recovery act 2019 back to construction. So they were they were already in construction. We lost a partner in this project and then it had to be reverted back into investigations. It's the bureaucracy of the Army Corps that is um we have uh seemingly dissected over the last couple of years to um understand where things are at. Our plea to to office and management budget. They don't know Surf City from any other town in this country. So, um our plea was that our finances are in order. Our beach nourishment fund is prepared to take on our local cost share of this project. Um the easements are are uh almost you know 90% uh obtained voluntarily from oceanfront property owners signifying the willingness and readiness of the town to execute and uh we hope that that message uh was

received well. Um they asked questions of us which indicates their at least uh somewhat level of interest. Um, and we do hope to hear something back with them in the coming weeks um, so that we can make an announcement to the community. But as soon as we know, we will let everybody know where that is. And, um, I won't harp on this, but just wanted to last month we were uh, talking to the to the board about grant submitt preparation for the CAM of public access grant, but um, I did put it in my report, let you know that that did um, get submitted. um a very thorough and detailed grant application in my humble opinion. Um staff, you know, assists in in putting things together. I think what the real um element of this project that this town is missing is safe access to the water uh or safe waters to access from canoe and kayak is is our only other canoe and kayak launch is in Southside Park. Um and that's literally like going onto the interstate um on a kayak. Um, so it's a very difficult thing if if you're a novice. Um, so we we do hope to to provide additional access um into the the backwaters where it's a safer um safer activity for all. And then lastly, I did want to note um typically I don't discuss a whole lot about outside um special events um but Oceanfest this past weekend um even even though the not so pleasant weather um was seemingly a success. Um and I wanted to publicly recognize their team particularly uh for selecting the town of Surf City as a grant recipient. um they graciously donated $10,000 to the town uh to go towards the installation of uh water conscious public beach access showers um that will be installed at the Ro Roland Avenue beach access um and they want to be long-term partners in sustainability projects with the

town. So, um, just wanted to to communicate that with the board and the public of, um, you know, the sort of community partnership that we have with Oceanfest, um, as demonstrated with with their, uh, willingness to give back to the community. So, with that, Madame Mayor, I'm happy to answer any questions about things ongoing, etc. Um, at this time, anyone have any questions for Kyle? If not, we'll move on to the attorney. Um, Mr. Domes,

wait, real quick. I just want to make sure I know the board knows this um but for the public's sake the revenue neutral numbers that Kyle gives are something that he has to give by statute. It's just so I know that there's some focus on whether that is necessary or not. I don't think Kyle chooses that. That's a statutory requirement. So that's all I wanted to report to the board. Thank you. You Andy Plow always start with me. We were right there beside the last person.

All right. I just wanted to reiterate the this ladder truck um procurement is is not a question of whether or not we should do it. The question is how we are going to budget it and where and when the cash flows occur and and how it's going to be how it's going to be impacting on budgets in this year and years going forward. So given that there are uh a variety of funding mechanisms and we've adopted a uh um I guess a perspective that maybe debt financing is a better way to go than cash payment upfront. Uh there are multiple ways of doing this and I challenge uh Mr. Brewer and Miss Moore and and whatever staff are necessary to maybe by the uh the workshop meeting give us some uh idea as to what alternatives we might want to evaluate. The other thing I'd like to do is is get an update on where we are exactly in the procurement process. Uh do we have a final vendor list? Do we have an RFP? Have we had replies to the RFP? What are the specifications? Are those firm or are they still variable? One thing I I read in uh in googling uh is that you need to be careful that you don't pay a lot extra for just chrome and whistles. So, and that's the specification list. And I know uh Alan Wilson is is an expert in what his needs would be and what that should look like. So, I'd like to maybe get have that on the agenda as an update where exactly we are to make sure that if we do need to budget the $378,000 in this coming budget year because we have a bonafideed uh need for [clears throat] that as an expenditure that we do it. But if we don't, maybe we don't we move it to the the following year. So, as far as the budget is concerned, I think Mr. Brewer and staff have done an a really great job in in

the initial cut. I think uh council has an opportunity now to review and then identify further areas where some uh modifications might be necessary maybe in how much or in terms of um where the funding uh alternatives might lie. Which brings us to the the the roll back uh question. And uh I think the the sanitation department which is responsible for our trash also is does the roll back right and it's a fund 10. It's a general revenue funding. No this the uh trash company does not do the roll back.

No no sanitation as a department is a fund 10 department. The roll back services are conducted by the employees of the sanitation department. So as funding is fungeable and and dollars are fungeible. Uh we as taxpayers are paying for the roll back one way or the other either because we have to pay for that and not pay for something else out of the revenue that we generate when from your trash bill. So uh it's neither here nor there. But we have alternatives. One I think pushing it back on the people that benefit might be one alternative. I know we used to do that and then we didn't have the the the opportunity for code enforcement and GFL decided they no longer could afford the manpower to do it for us and then we adopted a different approach. So there are opportunities there to evaluate how we can better do that. It's a nominal savings but it's a savings nonetheless. As far as the uh NC DOT traffic light experiment, you know, we struggle. I live on that on the south side of the island and and Saturdays are just uh the day to go to the beach and not to go to to to food line, right? And we we we've all come accustomed to that. It's not great. We need to think about ways to fix it. This is an experiment. It's welldesigned. I think the uh the timing of it in using May is better than trying it on July 4th because if it fails it'll be a miserable failure for everyone on July 4th. At least we'll get some idea on the data. Uh I'm curious Mr. Burr are we we are already collecting data now

um without light data in regards to what

uh volume throughput delay that kind of thing. uh not actively collecting that data. Um right now uh you know we have typical average annual daily trip counts um traffic counts that may be generated uh from NC do but uh the town monitoring uh direct time uh time needs to get from point A to point B is not something that that we document. Well, if I were to design a a clinical trial, I'd use a crossover study. So, I would have a period where we didn't use the light and a period where we have the light and see if there's a difference in the outcome. But that's that's not

that is that is the um effect of traffic being backed up beyond those certain points that have been identified as failures. So, when we know traffic is at a certain point, we know things are failing. Well, I I'll leave it up to you and the DOT to to give us the data at the end. And uh we'll we'll have an opportunity to discuss it then. And the final thing I wanted to talk about, oh, by the way, thank you for the survivors who spent who were still here. I appreciate the all the folks that came early on and the questions that were asked. And what I'd like to to ask council and and the mayor to consider is um is there a possibility at the workshop in May to maybe change the way we interact with the community and set up a a slot of time and where there can be an exchange. So a discussion as opposed to a presentation without response. So, allow a question to be asked and allow a council member or the uh or one of the staff or or Mr. Brewer or or the Are you going to be here? Yeah. Or the attorney to respond so that we have an exchange as opposed to what almost often ends up being a one-way presentation. If if we have an opportunity at a workshop meeting to try that, particularly for for things as important as a budget, I really would appreciate that. So, if anyone has any ideas on how to do that, that would be great. Um, and with that, thanks for listening. Appreciate it.

Thank you, Andy. Done. Okay. None of my comments are going to be towards this budget because I think we've discussed enough of it tonight. But anyway, I like to thank everybody coming. We had 32 people tonight. It's an all-time high since we've switched this to six o'clock. Uh, backyard beach ba blast. Thank you, Frank. Thank you, Bella. And Gabrielle's not here, so I'll just pass on the thank you. Did a great job. It was the first one, and it came off very, very successful. And thanks for all the volunteers that showed up and volunteered for it. Mr. Horn, you still back there?

You, sir? Thank you, sir, for your service and what you do because that is certainly something that if we didn't have you and we had some problems, we'd have more problems. Beach safety, ocean rescue, thank you and your people. I know they departed, but uh I know you're on the beach all the time and I know you're good. And I was really impressed with I saw it uh the little device you have uh for, uh I guess explaining rip currents. Uh, I saw it once at the Beach Bash and I saw it again at Ocean Fest. What's that called?

RIP. Yeah. See, I was supposed to remember that and I said, "What what do they call that?" It's a rip current uh test, I guess. But if anybody has the opportunity, I I said that they should take that to the school and show that to some kids to so so they can watch the little things that float and watch what happens to them when they get caught in a rip current because a lot of people, more people than none, come down here and really aren't familiar with swimming in the ocean. And even if they are, they should know that because it's a very, very good aid. National Police Week Chief, thank you and all your officers for what they do because I tell you what, I sleep good at night knowing you guys are out there. Uh, Ocean Fest was really good. It was raining, but it still was good. It was It seemed like it was very happy to be back where it started. You know, I they tried it somewhere else and I don't think it worked as well. But I tell you what, on if the sun would been out, there'd probably been four times the amount of people there. But there was a lot of people there and it was really nice. And that's all I have for this evening. Teresa,

Mr. Kennedy, I'll try to be brief. Oh, come on.

Oh, no, no, no. Listen. Hey, listen. Just know that when you we're in these conversations about these budgets a lot of times and a lot of what I'm getting ready to discuss I think hits these categories and I'm going to try to hit these what I think you call them quick hits. When you hear something for the first time, you're like that's a great idea. Why are we paying for the roll back? Well, it's more complicated. And I'm not saying that we need to be doing. I'm just saying it's more complicated than just on the surface. Hey, tourists pay for this. It's this, that, and another. All right. Well, you got to weigh it out. Either we're going to pay the people to do it or you got to pay and overwhelm and maybe have to hire another guy on the enforcement side to write the tickets and find out and go monitor the uh management companies that are not doing it. So, it's not just, hey, why are we doing this? Let's quit doing it. It's just more to it than that. Second thing, that's more to it, the fire truck. For whatever reason, this firetruck conversation, it seems like it's growing legs and is becoming a huge topic. We'll get the fire truck figured out. We got to have the fire truck. We got to figure out how to pay for it there. Again, it's it's complicated. Do we do it now? Do we do we lease it? Do we do this, that, and the other? what we're going to do, and we'll figure it out as a as a group and as a committee, we'll figure out how to fund this fire truck without potentially causing the risk of another tax increase. That's what's happened before. Whatever reason something slipped through the cracks, we needed employees. There weren't enough funds. We let this firetruck slip through the cracks. That's another 2.7 million. You got to come up with it now. It's no different in your household budget. Christmas don't sneak up on you. You know it's coming. You either start putting little money aside here and there and prepare or you're overwhelmed at the end. You're scrambling with credit cards and you can't figure out how to pay it. U the roundabout. Nobody here thinks that the roundabout scenario that they're getting to try is going to be all end all solution, but we got to try something. We've been working with DOT. We've tried a couple things. It's a build upon

tactic. Hopefully what we'll find, we'll be able to identify this part failed. Hey, you know what? This may be something that we can build on that we don't even recognize yet. So, [clears throat] it's going to be frustrating. Facebook is going to blow up. People are going to go nuts. It's the first time they tried it. It's a pilot program. It's never been tried. North Carolina roundabout for a signal, especially on a single leg of a roundabout. Roundabouts designed not to have to stop. Okay? It's a pilot program. So, that's good. Real quick shout out to budget. We've worked very hard on the budget. Kyle Brewer and [clears throat] Melissa Moore have ground out and they have done a great job. I promise you. On top of that, you take we had we didn't really call it a finance committee, but uh the mayor uh Councilman Plow, Councilman Kowski along with the town manager and Melissa, they met I want to say weekly for a while and they were grinding and working. U Miss Trudy and Miss Alicia and myself, we had our own input. We can't all be in the same room at those meets at at one time because then it becomes a forum. That's why it was broken out like that. We're we're able to put this together. And what we've accomplished by that is the state mandated as uh our attorney mentioned earlier revenue neutral rate that says based on what was this new rate gives you the same revenue. We were able to create or they were able to create a rate that was below that number. Okay. Basically, it's this is what we were before. We're below that now. So, that is um a goal accomplished. I'm gonna move on. I feel like I've I've taken up too much time, but I wanted to do I did want to hit those bullets and let you just give you a sense of there's always two sides of the coin. When you hear idea, you're like, man, that's perfect, but there's where there's a ying, there's a yang. There's more there's more to it than just yes or no. I promise. Thank you.

Thank you. Um, I know we talked about money and how the town gets money and everybody thinks that we always go straight to property taxes to make the town's money. The town is very good about getting grant funding for a lot of things. Price talked about a $19 million grant tonight.

Um, the town manager talked about a another grant. We are constantly looking for creative ways to get funds. We use a lot of our occupancy tax, which is the the um rental tax essentially to help fund beach nourishment, to help fund additional staff during the summer. Being an area that we are that we rely a lot on tourism, it's not just those people coming and running the house. They spend their money here. We get sales tax off of it. They're buying gas here. They're allowing some of these businesses to stay open year round. So, us as residents that live here year round have a place to go eat all the time. and some of these restaurants aren't closing during the off seasons anymore. So, um we do look into a lot of different ways to fund the town, not just coming out of our residents pockets. Um the large I know somebody mentioned something about stipens for our staff. We did a huge payroll study last year and a lot of our additional expenses went to payroll. Payroll is the biggest expense the town has as a whole. And we made a commitment last year to make sure we were going to take care of town staff as a whole and keep the quality people that we have here and working and to continue to work here. Um so it there those are all things those are places that we have put the town's money. That is the reason why we have amazing fire and police and um the multi-use pass and the bus. I'm going to touch on for a minute. I know that's not something that everybody sees as a necessity, but it is a necessity for a lot of people. If you have families and you've got teenage kids that want to be able to get back and forth from restaurants or businesses, we're not having to get on the road and drive them somewhere. They can ride their bike or they can walk from a community to some of these places. And again, those are things that we can potentially get grant funding for as well, but we do have to fund them. And sometimes that grant funding comes on the back end. But if we just sit here and wait, traffic is one of our biggest complaints that we have.

And this is one thing that we can actually do to help alleviate it to some extent. So just because it might not be at the top of your list doesn't mean that it's not at the top of the list for a lot of other people and traffic is a safety concern. And if we can get more of our people that live here off the roads, then we are doing you a service as a whole. And the same thing for the bus. The bus carries kids back and forth to school. we're spending more money on it every year to do repairs than it would cost us in the long run to buy a new bus. So, that's part of that, but it also gives us the opportunity to go out and maybe do some new things for the town as a whole, whether it's additional camps. I talked to him, I was like, let's do a senior citizen camp where we can take some older people that live in Surf City, put them on an air conditioned bus and take them to the movies for the day because they don't want to drive all the way to Wilmington. There's opportunities there for us to do good things for our community. So again, just because these aren't things that maybe you specifically feel should be at the top of the list, they are at the top of the list for a lot of other people. Um, and I love the idea of a town hall questions. If you ask us questions ahead of time and send us an email, I know for me, what I'm going to tell you is it gives us the opportunity to ask staff that question and then a lot of times I come back and ask the question myself here. So, it is a way for you to get your questions asked and actually get answers, but also give staff time

to give correct information because sometimes if you come here with a question and they don't have time to prepare, then we can't give you an answer anyway. So, it's not always us sitting here just trying not to give you an answer to something, we might actually need time to find the information and give you accurate information. We're not going to sit up here and just blow smoke. That's not fair to you guys either. So, that's it. Thank you. Well, Alicia took a couple of mine, but [laughter] no, I was actually going to comment about grants also. I I don't even know [clears throat] if we've ever done a report of how much grant money we've, you know, um received in year to year, but it's it's quite impressive and um it certainly doesn't need to be um it needs to be highlighted is is my point. And I agree with what because I already had that note too, so you were reading my notes. No. [laughter] Um no. And I uh agree with the um a lot of the conversations we've had about our employees and we we uh I I worked with when I first joined council, I spent a lot of time with um our HR department and talked through a lot of our situations and just really want to have um good retention because that does save us money also instead of hiring new people all the time and training them and and just them getting used to the the culture of s city and understanding what we're trying to accomplish. So, I'd like to see us do what we can to keep our employees. We we still lose a lot. Um um our we've done a a pay study and and we're not the most we don't pay as much as some of the other communities. So, we do what we can to to um to love on them in other ways. So, um I did I did start the the meeting out today with reading reading the proclamation about the National Day of Prayer. And I want to remind people about that. It is May 7th, this Thursday, couple days away at 9:00 a.m. in Southside Park. Um, there's also going to be later in the month, I'll just go ahead and say this, even though we're meeting again before this, but on there's our Memorial Day ceremony at 9:00 a.m. on Friday the 22nd at

Southside Park. So, I'd love to see a lot of people at both of those events. um they're both very um well done and I appreciate that our town celebrates uh both of those um types of of of uh city and national [clears throat] events really. Um and I just with that comment about the National Day of Prayer, there's a lot of prayer and thought put into our budget too and I hope everybody realizes that. Um and I'm just very proud to be part of this council. Uh Melissa, thank you. you put up with a lot of and we ask a lot of questions and we'd want to hear your questions because sometimes there's some just like Kim Miller was saying there's some um some questions that everybody's kind of asking and that's a good one we want to we want to address sometimes there's some very specific questions that only one person thought of because it was just something that they you know was rep relevant to something they had learned before. So we really want to hear all that. We encourage you to reach out to us by email or call us or anything like that. Our information is on the website, so please use it. And um it's hard sometimes for us to track down your information. So, um but I'd love to hear from anybody. Um I'm leaving tonight to get to Raleigh to the City Vision conference. Um uh and that's just another opportunity. We talked about using third parties and having outside influence and things like that. Um but that's going to be a lot of educational sessions that I'll be in and a lot of networking and um just discussing current municipal issues. Surf City and our budget issues are not unique to Surf City. Um I talk to towns all the time are having very similar issues and problems. So this is an opportunity for me to go talk to other towns and seeing how they're managing their budget. We did talk a lot about disaster preparedness last year when it was in Greenville and and that was highlighted with um how we recognized James tonight and um how we want to learn from each other when we when one of our towns has gone through some really rough times and what they didn't know that they wish

they knew. We talk about those things at the city vision conference. And so I'll be spending the next couple days there and just discussing what's working, what's not and then hopefully, you know, always building, we all work on this, building relationships with um different people and different levels of government that we call upon later, you know, and they call upon us. And I know that Kyle and Teresa were in DC last week doing just that. And um and I just I don't think anybody really recog is always aware of all the extended efforts that we put into um into outside of Ser City that we need because we don't want to be functioning in a you know in a in a tunnel and not have any vision of of what could be better and different. So I want you to you be assured that we we we do a lot of that. So that's it.

Yeah. You know what? When when things go sideways, they go sideways fast. And today, things went sideways fast for our our water department. But they were prepared. They responded. Things go sideways with the fire department, with the police department, with every department here in town. Melissa know things have been sideways for months. Um, but everyone comes together and works on it as a team because that's who we are. We are a team and we listen and we care. Um, I heard Kyle say in his presentation the word reduction. I don't know. I don't I was I stopped counting but it was it was a a number of times that I kept hearing him say the word reduction and I think that is something that everyone wanted us to say. I want you. We listen and so reductions were taken um into consideration when we when we worked on this budget. Um I'm surprised that Cal has um any hair on his head that is not white. [laughter]

Look at his face. What do you mean? I'm surprised that he has I'm surprised that he has a voice left. Being very very personal on this. [laughter] It could be worse. Yes, it could. Yes, you're right. But we we we have worked on it very hard and um I just wanted to say thank you for to the town council that sits up here for all of their time and effort that they do put in it. Thank you for coming and sticking with us tonight and we'll see you soon. Do I have a motion to adjurnn? [laughter]

Motion to adjurnn. I have a second. All those in favor say I. I. I. We are. [music]