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YEAH, EVERYBODY BEFORE I PRAY AND OPEN UP WITH PRAYER, I JUST LIKE TO TAKE A PASSAGE OF SCRIPTURE AND READ IT TO SEE EVENING FOR YOUR BENEFIT.
I TAKE HIM OUT OF THE 13TH CHAPTER OF ROMANS BY THE APOSTLE PAUL TO THE ROMANS.
IT SAYS, LET EVERY SOUL BE SUBJECT UNTO THE HIGHER POWERS FOR THERE IS NO POWER, BUT OF GOD AND THE POWERS THAT BE ORDAINED OF GOD, WHOSOEVER, THEREFORE RESIST THE POWER, RESIST THE ORDINANCE OF GOD.
AND THEY, THAT RESIST SHALL RECEIVE TO THEMSELVES.
DAMNATION ALSO IN THE BOOK OF TIMOTHY, I EXHORT THEREFORE THAT FIRST OF ALL, SUPPLICATIONS PRAYERS AND INTERCESSIONS AND GIVING OF THANKS, BE MADE FOR ALL MEN, FOR KINGS AND FOR ALL THAT ARE IN AUTHORITY THAT MAY LEAD A QUIET AND PEACEABLE LIFE IN ALL GODLINESS AND HONESTY FOR THIS IS GOOD AND ACCEPTABLE IN THE SIGHT OF GOD, OUR SAVIOR HEAVENLY FATHER, WE COME TO YOU TONIGHT.
LORD, WE'RE GRATEFUL FATHER FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO BE HERE, FATHER, TO LIVE IN A COUNTRY, GOD, WHERE WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK OUR VOICE LORD, THAT WE'RE NOT LIVING UNDER AN OPPRESSIVE GOVERNMENT, BUT FATHER, WE LIVE UNDER A DEMOCRATIC GOVERNMENT LORD, WHERE, WHERE EVERYONE HAS A SAY AND WHY WE'RE SO GRATEFUL.
AND LORD, WE RECOGNIZE YOU FATHER AS GOD, WE RECOGNIZE YOU AS THE SUPREME COMMANDER FATHER OVERALL, THAT IS FATHER FOR YOU HAVE CREATED EVERYTHING.
AND ALL THAT IS HERE IS BY YOUR HAND.
AND WE HONOR YOU FOR THAT TONIGHT, LORD GOD.
AND WE RECOGNIZE YOU FOR THAT AND FATHER, FOR THE VERY FACT THAT WE ARE COMING TO YOU BEFORE THIS SESSION, LORD, IT REMINDS US LORD THAT WE RECOGNIZE YOU, LORD GOD AS GOD AND THAT YOU RULE OVER ALL AND WE SUBMIT OURSELVES, WE SUBJECT OURSELVES TO YOU, LORD GOD, LORD.
I PRAY OVER THESE PROCEEDINGS THAT THEY WILL PROGRESS FATHER IN A, IN A GODLY WAY.
LORD JESUS, THAT YOU WILL OVERSEE THIS FATHER AND THAT ALL THINGS WILL BE DONE TO YOUR HONOR INTO YOUR GLORY.
LORD, LET ALL HEARTS BE FAIR AND IMPARTIAL TONIGHT.
LORD GOD THAT EVERY YEAR BE OPEN FATHER, LET THE WISDOM OF THESE MEN BE, BE GOVERNED BY YOU TONIGHT, LORD, TO MAKE THE DECISIONS THAT WILL AFFECT THE PEOPLE OF THIS CITY.
LORD, WE PRAY YOUR BLESSING UPON NEWBURN.
WE'LL LET, LET NEWBURN BE A LIGHT LORD IN THIS STATE.
LORD GOD, A LIGHT FOR YOU THAT SHINES TO ALL MEN AND FATHER.
WE GIVE YOU HONOR AND GLORY FOR ALL THAT IS DONE HERE IN THIS PLACE TONIGHT IN JESUS NAME, AMEN ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG AND THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE WITH LIBERTY YOU'RE HERE, HERE.
BEFORE WE GET THE FIRST ITEM, WHICH IS TO GET THAT OUT OF THE OFFICE TO SOME NEW POLICE OFFICERS.
I LIKE TO SAY THAT LAST TIME WE MET, EVERYBODY REMEMBERS WE HAVE AN IMPENDING HURRICANE COMING TO FIND US.
AND WE ASKED, IN FACT, MR. SAMPSON COMMISSIONER SAMPSON GAVE THE PRAYER AT NIGHT AND WE ASKED IF WE'D BE EXPIRED.
IT WAS AN INCREDIBLE EVENT, REALLY TO HAVE THE WIND BLOWING AROUND YOUR WAY.
IT WAS IN THE MISS S OVER THAT WE ARE TRULY THANKFUL.
THE OTHER POINT THAT I'D LIKE TO MAKE IS IT, IF THE GENERAL PUBLIC KNEW THE REALLY GREAT JOB CITY MANAGER AND THE DEPARTMENT HEADS AND THE CITY WORKERS DO IN THESE TIMES DURING HURRICANES PREPARING FOR THE HURRICANE MEETING AFTERWARD TO DISCUSS WHAT THEY DID RIGHT.
SO WE'LL HAVE AN EVER IMPROVING PROCESS.
UH, I CAN TELL YOU VERY HONESTLY THAT IF I HAD TO PICK A SPOT TO BE IN FOR A HURRICANE TO HERE, I WOULD BE WHERE I AM ASKED TO DO IN NORTH CAROLINA.
AND I TELL YOU WHAT THEY REALLY, THEY DO A TREMENDOUS JOB.
IT REALLY MAKES ME FEEL GOOD TO KNOW THAT WE'VE GOT PEOPLE BASICALLY AS A BOARD.
IF WE KIND OF GET OUT OF THEIR WAY AND GIVE THEM THE TOOLS TO WORK, THEY DO SLEEP WITH JOHN.
AND WITH THAT SAID, BEFORE WE GET THE SWEARING AND THE POLICE OFFICERS, I LIKE TO TELL THE NEW, UM, POLICE CANDIDATES, I GUESS YOU'D SAY THAT WE THINK WE HAVE ONE OF THE BEST POLICE DEPARTMENTS IN THE WHOLE STATE.
AND WE WANT IT TO BE THE BEST.
SOME MAY ARGUE THAT IT IS THIS BOARD TOTALLY
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SUPPORTS LAW ENFORCEMENT IN ITS DUTIES AND ITS MISSION AND, UH, WOULD THE MONETARY SUPPORT NEEDS.AND WE EXPECT A LOT OF OUR POLICE OFFICERS.
ONE THING BEING THAT WE CONSIDER THE POLICE OFFICERS AS AMBASSADORS OF THIS CITY, YOU RUN INTO CONTACT A LOT OF PEOPLE DAY BY DAY, OUR CITIZENS WHO WERE VERY IMPORTANT TO US AND ALSO PEOPLE THAT ARE PASSING THROUGH AND BELIEVE ME, CALL IT TAKES IS ONE BAD EXPERIENCE WITH A REPRESENTATIVE OF OUR CITY TO UNDO THE WORK OF THE WHOLE DEPARTMENT, NO MATTER WHAT DEPARTMENT YOU'RE IN, BUT WE TAKE ENOUGH PRIDE IN OUR POLICE OFFICERS AND THEN THE OTHER EMPLOYEES OF THE CITY THAT WE DON'T FEAR THEM REPRESENTING US.
YOU REPRESENTING US AND DOING THE GREAT JOB THAT YOU'VE DONE.
SO REALLY WHEN WE SWEAR YOU IN TONIGHT, THE MAYOR IS NOT MUCH LOOK AT, BUT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT BELIEVE ME.
YOU WOULD COME IN PART OF A BARRIER, UH, OUTSTANDING GROUP OF PEOPLE.
SO WITH THAT SAID, I'D LIKE TO GO AND SWEAR YOU IN, AND YOU WILL BE A POLICE OFFICER, MR. MAYOR, IF I COULD.
I'D JUST LIKE TO SAY THAT, UH, IN OUR CONTINUING EFFORT TO SUPPLY THE BEST POSSIBLE CANDIDATES FOR THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND OUR EFFORT TO PROVIDE PROFESSIONAL LAW ENFORCEMENT SERVICES, CITY OF NEW BERN, WE'VE GONE THROUGH ANOTHER CYCLE OF, UH, CANDIDATES.
IN THIS TIME, THERE WERE 39 CANDIDATES WHO APPLIED FOR THE JOB.
AND TONIGHT WE'RE GOING TO SWEAR IN THE FOUR PEOPLE THAT SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED THE PROCESS OF THE 39, ONLY FOUR SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED THE PROCESS.
AND, UH, THEY SHOULD BE VERY PROUD OF THEMSELVES AND THEIR FAMILIES SHOULD BE VERY PROUD OF WHAT THEY'VE ACQUIRED AND WERE ABLE TO ATTAIN.
SO I'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE YOU FOR YOUR SWEARING IN, UH, JOE CARRILLO, ROBERT GARRISON, JR.
EDWARD JOHNSTON AND STEVEN NELSON.
I SWEAR
CAUSE I KNOW THAT FAMILIES ARE EXTREMELY IMPORTANT TO SUPPORT THEIR OFFICERS AND SO FORTH.
SO WE'LL, THE FAMILY HAS TO GO BY ORDER HERE.
WHERE DO I HAVE THE FAMILY OF JOE GORILLA? WOULD YOU LET YOU STAY IN AND STEVE NELSON THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
UH, MR. MAYOR, I WOULD LIKE TO ADD MY CONGRATULATIONS TO THE FAMILIES ALSO BECAUSE THESE GUYS ARE TAKING ON A TOUGH JOB AND THEIR FAMILIES ARE GOING TO BE A VERY, VERY IMPORTANT PART OF THAT JOB.
THE POLICE OFFICER CANNOT FUNCTION WITHOUT THE SUPPORT OF HIS FAMILY BECAUSE HE'S UNDER A LOT OF STRESS AND A LOT OF STRAIN
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AND A LOT OF THE TIMES, SO THE FAMILIES NEED TO BE VERY UNDERSTANDING OF THE PRESSURES HE'S UNDER AND SUPPORT HIM 100%.IT'S THE FAMILY THAT REALLY MAKES THE OFFICER TOO.
THAT'S AN IMPORTANT PART OF THE EQUATION.
THE NEXT ITEM I HAVE IS THE MONTHLY REQUEST AND PETITION OF CITIZENS.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO SAY, NO, YOU DON'T HAVE TO SET THIS UP.
I MEAN, STEVE, YOU AND ALEX, IT DON'T FEEL REAL.
THE NEXT THING IS THEY REQUEST AND PETITION OF CITIZENS WHERE THE FOLKS LIKE STEVE HICKS CAN COME UP AND JUST TELL US WHAT ON HIS MIND.
UH, I HAVE WITH ME MR. ALEX BADGER, WHO IS THE PRESIDENT OF THE LORE NOUS INITIATIVE.
UH, AS I SAID BEFORE TO YOU, WHEN I WAS HERE, UH, BEFORE THE LORD NIECE INITIATIVE IS AN EFFORT, UH, FOR PANEL CODE CRAVEN COUNTY AND ALL ITS MUNICIPALITIES, UH, TO COME TO GALA TO LEARN MORE ABOUT OURSELVES AND WHAT WE CAN DO TO NUMBER ONE, UH, IMPROVE OUR ECONOMY, UH, IMPROVE OUR ENVIRONMENT AND IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE OF ALL OUR AREA CITIZENS.
UH, WE, UH, OF COURSE ARE INVOLVED WITH THE HIRING OF, UH, UH, FROM A COMMUNICATIONS CONSULTING FIRM THAT HAS HAD, UH, TWO DIFFERENT FACILITATED MEETINGS WHERE THEY HAVE TRIED VERY HARD TO FIND OUT A LOT ABOUT OUR AREA AND SOME OF IT'S, UH, SOME OF ITS ASSETS AND, AND SOME OF ITS OPPORTUNITIES AND SOME OF ITS PROBLEMS. AND, UH, WE'RE HAVING FOCUS GROUPS THAT ARE GOING ON RIGHT NOW.
WE HAD TWO IN RALEIGH LAST WEEK, WE'VE GOT TWO HERE IN NEWBURN TO START TOMORROW.
THEY WILL BE INTERVIEWING PEOPLE FROM, FROM ALL FACETS OF LIFE, UH, AND TO TRY TO FIND OUT WHAT THE PUBLIC PERCEPTION IS OF, OF OUR AREA.
AND, UH, WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO HERE IS FIND WAYS THAT WE CAN COME TOGETHER AND PLAN FOR THE FUTURE.
WE'RE TALKING BASICALLY ABOUT, UH, BEING ABLE TO MARKET, UH, THIS AREA AND, UM, TO MARKET OUR ASSETS.
AND FRANKLY, TO TELL THE STORY THAT HASN'T BEEN TOLD, UH, SO FAR WE'VE WE'VE, UH, FORTUNATELY, UH, HAVE BEEN, UH, HAD A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF, UH, OF GOOD FORTUNE HERE.
I THINK YOU JUST MENTIONED WITH A CITY THAT HAS HAD THREE HURRICANES IN THE LAST TWO YEARS, AND A LOT OF THE OTHER THINGS THAT HAVE HAPPENED, UH WE'VE OF COURSE HAVE A RIVER THAT, UH, CONTINUES TO BE PLAGUED WITH, UH, PROBLEMS AND A LOT OF PUBLICITY ABOUT THAT.
BUT FRANKLY, WE'RE FINDING OUT AS WE CONTINUE TO INVESTIGATE THAT THERE ARE MANY POSITIVE THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING, AND THOSE OF YOU THAT HAVE ATTENDED THOSE MEETINGS, BY THE WAY YOU ALL HAD, UM, MR. UH, UH, UH, MUSE, UH, I BELIEVE HIS NAME WAS AND, AND, UH, TO A T IN THAT MEETING.
AND HE WAS, HE WAS EXTREMELY VALUABLE TO US ABOUT GIVING US SOME INFORMATION ABOUT HOW THE WASTE TREATMENT FACILITIES OPERATE HERE AND IN OTHER AREAS.
AND WHAT WE ACTUALLY FOUND TALKING WITH THE HEALTH DEPARTMENTS IS THAT THEY HAVE BEEN MONITORING THE WATERS FOR SOME 25 OR 30 YEARS, AND ACTUALLY THAT IN MANY, MANY WAYS, UH, WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT FECAL COLIFORM COUNTS AND OTHER TYPES OF TESTS, THE RIVER'S IN MUCH BETTER SHAPE TODAY THAN IT WAS 25 YEARS AGO.
NOW WE ALL KNOW WE HAVE NUTRIENT PROBLEMS. WE HAVE GRASSES THAT CLOGGED MOTORS WE HAVE IN SLIGHTLY SITUATIONS FROM TIME TO TIME IN PARTICULAR AREAS.
AND WE'RE WORKING VERY HARD TO TRY TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THAT, BUT WE'RE FINDING OUT THAT WE HAVE A LOT MORE HERE TO BE THANKFUL FOR THAN WE REALLY REALIZED.
AND A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE NOT AWARE OF THAT.
AND A LOT OF WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO IS TO LET PEOPLE KNOW THAT THERE ARE MANY THINGS BEING DONE AND MANY THINGS PLANNED IN THE LOWER NEWS AREA, THAT'S GOING TO IMPROVE THE ECONOMY, IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR ALL OUR AREA CITIZENS, AND SAME TIME IMPROVE THE ENVIRONMENT.
UH, THE, UH, WE WENT TO THE COUNTY, THE COUNTY, UH, WAS VERY, UH, VERY WILLING TO HELP.
WE, UH, GOT A COMMITMENT FROM THE CANDIDATE, APPROVED A $30,000 CONTRIBUTION.
[00:15:01]
FROM, FROM THE CITY OF NEWBURGH.WE'RE ASKING $10,000 FROM THE CITY OF HAVELOCK.
UH, AND THEN WE'RE GOING TO BE ASKING THE OTHER MUNICIPALITIES, UH, LIKE TRENT WOODS AND, AND RIVERBEND, UH, AND THE OTHER MUNICIPALITIES WITHIN THE COUNTY PAMLICO COUNTY WILL PARTICIPATE.
SO WITH ORIENTAL IN THAT AREA, UH, WE, UH, HAVE, UH, AN EXCELLENT RECEPTION FROM PRIVATE INDUSTRY.
UH, THE LARGER INDUSTRIES ARE, ARE, ARE, ARE WILLING TO HELP US.
AND WE'RE HAVING A MEETING NEXT WEEK WHERE THEY WILL GET TOGETHER AND TAKE A LOOK AT THEIR CONTRIBUTIONS.
AND FRANKLY, UH, WE'RE TALKING MUCH MORE MONEY THAN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HERE.
SO WE'RE, WE'RE, UH, REALLY APPRECIATIVE OF ALL THE, ALL THE REACTION THAT WE HAVE GOTTEN SO FAR.
WE THINK THAT IT'S GOING TO DO A WONDERS TO HAVE THESE PARTNERSHIPS FORM AND HAVE ALL THE MUNICIPALITIES AND THE COUNTY GOVERNMENTS COMING TOGETHER TO REALLY TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT WE CAN DO TO IMPROVE OUR SITUATION.
UH, I JUST WANT TO COMMEND THE CITY OF NEWBURGH FOR THE THINGS THAT IT'S DOING, UH, THE PLANS THAT IT'S MAKING, UH, YOU'RE ON THE CUTTING EDGE, UH, OF, UH, OF REALLY DOING SOMETHING SPECIAL, UH, WITH YOUR WASTE TREATMENT FACILITIES AND RENOVATING THOSE FACILITIES.
UH, THE IMPROVEMENTS THAT YOU'RE, THAT YOU'RE PLANNING AND DOING ON STORM DRAINAGE AND THESE TYPES OF THINGS ARE NOT GOING TO BE EASY.
AS YOU WILL KNOW, THEY'RE GOING TO BE EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE.
AND ONE OF THE MESSAGES THAT WE GOT TO GET OUT, THAT IF EVERYBODY WANTS TO IMPROVE THE ENVIRONMENT AND OUR STUDY SHOWED EVERYBODY, DOES EVERYBODY WANTS TO SEE THE ENVIRONMENT IMPROVE.
EVERYBODY WANTS TO SEE THE RIVER CLEAN THAT UNFORTUNATELY IT'S GOING TO COME RIGHT OUT HERE, NOT OUT OF THIS ONE, CAUSE ISN'T EVEN IT IS GOING TO COME OUT OF EVERYBODY'S POCKETBOOK.
AND THAT THAT'S REALLY GOING TO BE THE KEY TO IT.
AND A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE TO REALIZE THAT AND WHEN THE TAXES GO UP STARVING, YOU KNOW, AND YOU KNOW, THINGS LIKE THAT ARE GOING TO HAPPEN.
I THINK, AND EVERYBODY, EVERYBODY THINKS THAT IT'S A FREE RIDE AND FOLKS, WE ALL KNOW IT'S NOT.
AND, UH, BUT WE FEEL LIKE THIS ABILITY TO LET PEOPLE UNDERSTAND WHAT'S HAPPENING AND LET THEM KNOW WHY IT'S GOING ON AND COMING TOGETHER AND PLANNING TOGETHER, WE CAN DO A LOT MORE TO FOR OUR AREA.
UH, MR. FREEZE WAS AT OUR FIRST MEETING AND HIS DAUGHTER, MICKEY'S BEEN VERY INVOLVED IN THIS.
A LOT OF YOU I'VE TALKED TO, UH, IT'S JUST, IF YOU NEED TO KNOW MORE, I'D BE GLAD TO TELL YOU MORE, BUT, UH, IT'S, IT'S REALLY BEEN AN EYE OPENING OPPORTUNITY TO FIND OUT REALLY THAT WE HAVE SO MUCH MORE TO WORK WITH THEM THAN WE REALIZE.
AND, AND WE'RE SO MUCH BETTER OFF THAN WE THOUGHT WE WERE.
WE'VE GOT TO GET THAT MESSAGE OUT.
AND NOT THAT WE DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS WE CAN DO TO HELP IMPROVE OURSELVES, BUT WE HAVE DONE AN AWFUL LOT AND IT NEEDS TO BE TOUTED, YOU KNOW, ALONG THOSE LINES.
I THINK ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS HAS BEEN DONE IN THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS IS TO MAKE EVERYBODY A WIRE OR WHOEVER IS BECAUSE A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T UNDERSTAND IT.
AND MYSELF INCLUDED BEING A NATIVE AND BORN HERE AND NOT REALLY REALIZING THE LAST, I DON'T KNOW, I'D HATE TO SAY, I BE ASHAMED TO SAY 5, 6, 7 YEARS LATER.
NOT THAT I DIDN'T THINK THE RIVER HAD ANY IMPORTANCE, BUT NOT, BUT TO NOT REALLY REALIZE THAT THIS RIVER TIES INTO OUR WELLBEING IN SO MANY WAYS, YOU CAN'T STOP TALKING ABOUT IT FOR AN EXAMPLE, PEOPLE THAT DON'T HAVE A RIBBON, NO MATTER WHERE THEY ARE, WHO THEY ARE, WHETHER THEY'RE A BIG BUSTLING CITY OR WHATEVER FOR NO AMOUNT OF MONEY CAN BUY A RIVER.
AND SOME PEOPLE MIGHT SAY, SAY, WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? WELL, THAT'S WHERE I THINK IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT WE SHOW PEOPLE WHAT THE JUST TREMENDOUS BATTLE OF LIVING ON A NICE RIVER LIKE THAT IS, I MEAN, JUST LIKE AS CONVENTION CENTER, YOU KNOW, HERE WE SIT BETWEEN TWO, EXCUSE ME, RIVERS, COME TOGETHER, NO MATTER WHAT THESE OTHER CITIES DO, NO MATTER WHAT THEY DO, THEY CAN'T LEAVE THEIR LAND.
AND THAT IS JUST SO IMPORTANT.
AND, UH, YOU KNOW, IT JUST NEVER STOPPED.
SO I THINK THAT PEOPLE GET BEHIND, ESPECIALLY WHEN THEY REALIZE OVER TIME, YOU KNOW, JUST WHAT A TREMENDOUSLY IMPORTANT THING THAT, WHATEVER IT IS, PERIOD, MR. MAYOR, UH, ONE OF THE THINGS IN OUR LAST MEETING THAT WAS BROUGHT OUT AND A COLONEL DALLAS BLACKLIST SAID IT BEST, I THINK IS THAT WE NEED TO SET AN EXAMPLE HERE BECAUSE OUR MAJOR HOPE WOULD BE THAT FOR JUST A DAY, I PREFERABLY WOULD THINK IT'S GOING TO TAKE MORE THAN A DAY, BUT FOR AT LEAST A DAY, IF THE RIVER WOULD RUN UPSTREAM, THEY'D BE A WHOLE LOT DIFFERENT ATTITUDES UP AROUND THE RALEIGH AREA.
AND THAT'S WHAT WE HAVE TO DO IS WE HAVE TO SHOW THEM THAT THAT WHAT WOULD HAPPEN
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IF THE RIVER RAN THE OTHER WAY AND GET THAT ATTENTION, BECAUSE WE CAN'T DO IT ALL HERE, WE CAN, WE CAN START IT.WE HAVE TO SET AN EXAMPLE AND THEN WE'D HAVE TO HELP FORM THAT WAY.
IF WE WERE SUCCESSFUL IN THE LORD NEWS, THEN THE MIDDLE OF HOUSTON, THE UPPER NEWS, WE CAN HELP FORM THOSE ORGANIZATIONS AND GET THEM TO WHERE THEY REALIZE THAT THEY CONTRIBUTE AS MUCH TO THIS AS ANYBODY ELSE.
BUT IT HAS TO, YOU KNOW, IT HAS TO START HERE.
SO YOU'RE ASKING US BETWEEN, YES, SIR.
WHEN WOULD YOU WANT IT TONIGHT? THE SMALL BILL IN THE MORNING, WE'LL BE FINE.
I HAVE THE WRITTEN REQUEST IN THE INVOICE RIGHT HERE.
HOW'S YOUR CREDIT? I WAS GOING TO, YOU SAID SOMETHING TO ME ABOUT THAT THIS AFTERNOON.
AND I WAS ASKING YOU KIND OF TONGUE IN CHEEK OR WHATEVER, BUT SINCE HAVE LOG IS ALWAYS TELLING ME THAT THEY'RE AS BIG AS DAVID
I'LL CERTAINLY BE GLAD TO CONVEY THOSE REMARKS.
AND I WAS JUST, I WAS JUST WONDERING ABOUT THAT.
AND I ALWAYS TELL US THAT EVERY TIME I, YOU KNOW, THAT WE HAVE GOOD, FUN, KIDDING ABOUT IT, BUT, UH, YOU KNOW, REALLY, I DON'T, I MEAN, MAYBE THERE ARE SOME REASONS OR WHATEVER, BUT IF THEY, AS BIG AS THIS
WELL, THE THING IS THAT, YOU KNOW, WE NEED TO GET THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND GOT INVOLVED MAKING COLLEGE WORK SO HARD.
AND W WE WE'RE, WE'RE GOING HONESTLY, TO GET AN AWFUL LOT OUT OF THAT WORK.
UH, SHE'S ALREADY BEEN IN TOUCH WITH THE NEW RIVER PEOPLE.
SHE WENT UP THERE, UH, WE'VE HAD REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE CHAMBER THERE.
WE'RE GOING TO REALLY PIGGYBACK ON THAT EFFORT AND LEARN A LOT ABOUT GRANTS AND OPPORTUNITIES TO WORK WITH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
SO, UH, BUT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, AS YOU WILL KNOW, IT MAKES UP A LARGE PART OF THE, OF THE HEADLOCK AREA AND, AND WE'RE, AND WE ARE GOING TO THE MILITARY AS WELL AND ASKED THEM IF IN FACT THEY, THEY CAN BE A PART OF THIS.
WE DON'T KNOW WHAT WE CAN EXPECT FROM THEM, BUT WE'RE CERTAINLY GOING TO ASK, AND THEY HAVE BEEN VERY ACTIVE IN THE PROCESS SO FAR.
SO MAYBE THAT'LL HELP SOME, WELL, YOU KNOW, THIS, THIS IS NOT A BUDGET THAT ITEMS WE NEED TO, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO HEAR FROM A CITY MANAGER STANDARD ANSWER.
BUT, UH, IF THERE COULD BE THE CONSEQUENCES, ANYTHING WE NEED TO KNOW THAT I'M NOT AGAINST IT.
DON'T WELL, I THINK RIGHT NOW WE HAVE NOTHING ATTENTION TO IT.
LET ME ASK YOU THIS, STEVE, HOW SOON DO YOU NEED A YES OR NO? I, WELL, I WE'RE GOING TO PARTICIPATE.
I FEEL CERTAIN WE'LL PARTICIPATE, BUT HOW SOON DO YOU NEED THIS ANSWER? I REALLY NEED IT RIGHT NOW.
AND, YOU KNOW, I CAME TO YOU ABOUT A MONTH OR SO AGO AND KIND OF PREPARED YOU.
AND WE'VE, WE'VE BEEN, UH, WE'VE BEEN WORKING REAL HARD.
AND MATTER OF FACT, THE COMPANY THAT WE ARE DOING THIS WITH HAS BEEN MORE THAT THEN WONDERFUL ABOUT, UH, HOLDING THE BILLS.
AND, UH, WE, WE REALLY NEED TO, TO, TO MOVE ALONG.
AND WE, AS A MATTER OF FACT, THESE, THESE PARTICULAR, THESE PARTICULAR MEETINGS WE HAVE, WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO PAY FOR THOSE.
AND, YOU KNOW, SO, UH, THE REASON I ASK IS BECAUSE WE HAVE SCHEDULED, I ASSUME, WHICH IS A DANGEROUS THING TO DO, BUT A MEETING ABOUT OUR FUTURE EXPENDITURES, BECAUSE WE HAVE SO MANY FACING US, LIKE THE POLICE STATION, THE FIRE STATION, AND SO MANY OTHER THINGS, THE NEW SEWAGE TREATMENT SYSTEM.
AND I WAS HOPING THAT MIGHT BE ONE OF THE THINGS FOR DISCUSSION, BUT THAT'S A SMALL, SO SMALL, AND IT WOULDN'T MATTER, BUT THE POLICE CARS SEND A BOX AS YOU GUYS WOULD JUST
WELL, I'LL TELL YOU WHAT, JUST TO GET IT OUT THERE, I'LL MAKE A MOTION THAT WE DIRECT THE CITY MANAGER TO LOOK FOR THOSE FUNDS.
AND I ALSO GET THAT ALL IN FAVOR, SAY, AYE, ALL OPPOSED.
AND WHILE YOU'RE STEVE AND HERE'S STEVE, THERE ARE A COUPLE OF OTHER THINGS I WANT TO MENTION THAT SOMETIMES SLIP THROUGH THE CRACKS.
WHEN WE TALK ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THE RIVER, AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS ABOUT MY DAUGHTER, MICKEY, BECAUSE
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SHE IS VERY, VERY DEDICATED TO CLEANING UP OF THE RIVER.FOR MANY REASONS, HER DAUGHTER BEING ONE, SHE WANTS HER TO GROW UP IN A TOWN WITH CLEAN WATER, ET CETERA.
UM, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THE PUBLIC MAY BE SOMEWHAT AWARE OF, BUT NOT VERY MUCH IS THE WORK OF THE REGIONAL WASTEWATER TASK FORCE, WHICH HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR SEVERAL YEARS AND FOR WHATEVER REASON, THE LOCAL NEWSPAPER CHOOSES NOT TO ATTEND THESE MEETINGS.
SO IT'S NOT REALLY MENTIONED VERY OFTEN, BUT THERE'S AN ONGOING EFFORT THERE, WHICH TIES INTO THIS AND TRYING TO FIGURE OUT THE BEST WAY LONG-TERM TO DISPOSE OF TREATED WASTEWATER FOR SEVERAL COUNTIES.
AND THAT'S, THAT'S A VERY, VERY HIGH DOLLAR EFFORT, BUT IT'S NOT BEING IGNORED.
THERE ARE AGENCIES LIKE THAT, OR THAT'S NOT AN AGENCY.
THAT'S A GROUP, A VOLUNTEER GROUP THAT IS WORKING ON THAT AND THEY MEET ABOUT ONCE A MONTH AND THEY HAVE THE SUPPORT OF THE LEGISLATURE AND QUITE A BIT OF FUNDS FOR THE PLANNING PROCESS.
SO THERE'S SOME WORK GOING ON THERE.
AND ANOTHER THING THAT JUST CAME TO ME A COUPLE OF DAYS AGO, WHEN A GENTLEMAN WHO WAS VERY KNOWLEDGEABLE APPROACHED ME AND ASKED WHY THE CITY AND THE COUNTY WERE BOTH IN THE BUSINESS OF WASTE DISPOSAL, BECAUSE HE SAID, WHY SHOULD IT TAKE MONEY OUT OF THE GENERAL FUND OF THE COUNTY, WHICH HE PAYS TAXES TO AND TO THE CITY, WHICH HE PAYS TAXES TO.
AND I DIDN'T, IT NEVER OCCURRED TO ME THAT PEOPLE MIGHT BE A LITTLE CONFUSED ABOUT THAT, BUT I JUST WANTED TO MENTION THAT THE SEWAGE DISPOSAL IN THE CITY OF NEW ORLEANS NEWBURN AND THE SEWAGE DISPOSAL IN THE COUNTY AND IN HAVE ALSO I'M SURE IS BASICALLY PAID FOR BY USER FEES.
AND IT DOESN'T COME OUT OF THE GENERAL FUND.
IT'S A USER FEE SITUATION AND SOMETIMES CHANGING REGULATIONS DURING THE BUDGET YEAR.
I MEAN, WE LOSE A LITTLE BIT OF MONEY AND HAVE TO MAKE IT UP THE NEXT YEAR BY RAISING THE RATES.
BUT I JUST WANTED TO MENTION THOSE TWO THINGS, THE ONGOING EFFORTS OF THE REGIONAL WASTEWATER, UH, GROUP AND THE FACT THAT ALL THE SEWAGE DISPOSAL FACILITIES ARE USER FEE SUPPORTED AND NOT COMING OUT OF THE GENERAL FUND.
JUST SO THE PUBLIC WOULD BE AWARE IF THERE WAS ANY MISCONCEPTIONS, EXCELLENT POINT THAT, THAT, UH, THAT, THAT EVEN I WASN'T AWARE OF.
AND, AND THAT'S PART OF WHAT THIS IS ALL ABOUT IS TO LET THE PUBLIC REALLY UNDERSTAND THE SITUATION.
WE THINK THAT THE PUBLIC REALLY UNDERSTANDS THE SITUATION.
THERE'LL BE A LOT MORE, THERE'LL BE A LOT MORE EFFORT, UH, TO CREATE PARTNERSHIPS, BOTH PUBLIC AND PRIVATE, TO DO ALL KINDS OF THINGS THAT WE'VE NEVER BEEN ABLE TO DO BEFORE.
SIR, I AGREE, BECAUSE THERE'S SO MANY PEOPLE AND I WAS TALKING, I WAS TALKING TO THIS AFTERNOON, YOU ALL ARE TAKING ON A VERY AMBITIOUS PROJECT.
AND FRANKLY, THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT, THAT, THAT, UH, REALLY DON'T UNDERSTAND THAT AS OF YET.
AND IT'S GONNA TAKE A, A REAL, UH, CAMPAIGN, I THINK, TO, TO LET PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THE TRUTH AND TO KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON.
UH, WHEN YOU CALL IT THE CUTTING EDGE, YOU DON'T KNOW HOW TRUE THAT WAS.
I WILL SAY ALSO THAT WHEN THEY, WHEN THEY, WHEN THEY MADE THE DEDICATION OF THE NEW RIVER AS AN AMERICAN HERITAGE RIVER, UH, MICKEY AND HER FAMILY WERE THERE AS GUESTS TO THE WHITE HOUSE AND SHE WAS IN FRONT OF THE ROPE AND SHE TALKED WITH THE PRESIDENT AND AL GORE.
AND I WILL GUARANTEE YOU, I KNOW THE SUBJECT OF THE CONVERSATION, SHE WAS SHAKING HIS COAT TAILS TO GET SOME HELP FROM THE NEUSE RIVER.
MR. MAYOR, DO YOU WANT TO SAY, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
WE WANT ALL THE PEOPLE THAT LIVE, UH, IN THE NEUSE RIVER AREA, ALL THE WAY UP TO WHERE IT STARTS TAKING YOU SERIOUSLY AS WE DO.
AND IT'S GOING TO TAKE SOME MONEY TO DO THAT.
AND YOU KNOW, ONE THING ABOUT THAT BEFORE YOU GO TO, I'VE ALWAYS BEEN ON THE FOOLISH OPINION AND ALMOST GET THROWN AT ME EVERY TIME.
I SAY THE FIRST HALF OF THE SENTENCE THAT IS THAT PEOPLE DON'T MIND PAYING TAXES, BUT A LOT OF TIMES I DON'T GET TO THE LAYER FOR THE SENTENCE, 40 KILOS, AS LONG AS THEY KNOW THAT THE MONEY IS BEING SPENT IN THE PROPER MANNER AND DOING THE RIGHT THING, THE PROBLEM IS MOST PEOPLE PAY A LOT OF TAXES AND HIS AND HIS MOTHER WAS WASTED OR GOING AGAINST SOMETHING THEY DON'T BELIEVE IN OR WHATEVER.
I CAN'T IMAGINE ANYBODY NOT WANTING THEIR MONEY TO GO TOWARD CLEANING UP THE PLACE BASICALLY.
AND I MEAN, THAT'S, THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT, BUT OUR JOB IS TO TELL YOUR STORY AND FIGHT FOR PEOPLE, SUPPORT AS LONG AS WE CAN GET TO GET THE WORD OUT.
AND THAT'S WHERE YOU GUYS CAN MAKE.
[00:30:01]
IT.WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE AND THANK YOU.
YOU'RE NOT THE ORDINANCE ON THE ANNEXATION OF 49 ACRES CONTIGUOUS TO THE CITY GARDEN OF EDEN LLC.
DO WE HAVE TO MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THAT? SINCE IT'S IN MY AWARD, MAN, I'M MAKING A MOTION TO ADOPT THIS.
THANKS FOR ALL THE DISCUSSION.
NEXT THING WE HAVE WAS A CONSENT AGENDA.
WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND, BUT I MUST HAVE FREEZE ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THAT MAKE OWN LOW ON THAT.
I DON'T HAVE ANY AT THIS TIME, MR. FREY, THIS IS TOO EASY.
I DON'T HAVE ANY MISCELLANEOUS EITHER.
AND WE'LL HAVE ONE QUICK ITEM.
JUST LIKE TO ASK THE CHIEF HOW THE NEW FELICE DEPARTMENT BUILDING IS GOING, UH, CONTRACTORS.
I WAS JUST CURIOUS ABOUT, WHAT'S GOING, I'D LIKE TO SAY ONE THING ON THE MISCELLANEOUS, SINCE IT WAS, EXCUSE ME, THINKING, OH, TONIGHT, NOW THAT I GOT MY THROAT OPERATION WORKING GOOD.
SO I CAN GET PLENTY OF AIR HORN.
HIS BRAIN IS REALLY EXCUSE ME.
AND THEY WERE TALKING ON TV ABOUT, YOU KNOW, FIGHTING THE DRUG PROBLEM.
I KNOW YOU, YOUR GROUP HAS DONE A LOT, YOU KNOW, ARREST IN THAT POCKET TIME.
EXCUSE ME, TIME ON BELIEVING THAT, UH, PROBABLY THE PEOPLE THAT USE DRUGS ON PEOPLE WHO IN A LOT OF CASES HAVE A MEDICAL PROBLEM.
YOU MIGHT SAY, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE ADDICTS.
AND I JUST DON'T, IT'S JUST HARD TO THINK THAT YOU'RE EVER GOING TO CURE AN ADDICT BY LOCKING HIM UP.
DAVID, ISN'T THAT TYPE OF THING I CAN UNDERSTAND.
AND I WAS WONDERING IF THERE WAS ANY WAY WE COULD DO IT AND WHETHER IT WOULD BE A STATE REQUIRED THING OR WHATEVER THAT IF SOMEBODY IS ARRESTED FOR BUYING DRUGS OR USING DRUGS, THEY, PART OF WHAT THEY HAVE TO DO IS IN THE SENTENCE AND PHASE OF WHATEVER HE HAS TO GO THROUGH SOME SORT OF COUNSELING OR SCHOOL SLUMP.
AND I MEAN, IF YOU DIDN'T CURE SO TO SPEAK, BUT ONE OUT OF 25, DO YOU KNOW, AT LEAST WE WERE MAKING SOME KIND OF HEADWAY ON THE PEOPLE AND THE ONES THAT ARE SELLING IT.
YOU KNOW, IF NOBODY USED THEM, IT WOULDN'T BE ANYBODY SELLING AND, UH, WHAT, WHAT IS GOING ON WITH THAT? WE HAVE ANYTHING.
AND WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THE COURT SYSTEM WHEN WE ARREST PEOPLE FOR BUYING, WHEN WE DO OUR REVERSES AND WE POSE AS DRUG DEALERS AND WE SWOOP UP A BUNCH OF PEOPLE, OFTENTIMES PART OF THE SENTENCING IS A TREATMENT PROGRAM OF SOME KIND OF SOME KIND OF REHABILITATION PROGRAM.
AND, UH, UH, I, I COULDN'T TELL YOU WHAT THE STATISTICS ARE, BUT THE COURTS WHERE THE FACT THAT YOU CAN'T LOCK UP SOMEBODY AND ARREST THE WAY SOMEBODY HAS ADDICTION TO DRUGS, YOU HAVE TO HAVE SOME KIND OF A TREATMENT PROGRAM.
AND SO, UH, THEY ARE BEING SENTENCED TO TREATMENT PROGRAMS OR AS PART OF THEIR PROBATION BEING ASSIGNED TO A TREATMENT PROGRAM OR, OR THE LIKE, WOULD IT BE, UH, MAYBE MR. WARD CAN ANSWER THIS.
WOULD IT BE PROPER FOR US AS A CITY OR A BOARD OR WHATEVER TO ASK THE COURTS? DID ANYBODY THAT, THAT WE, WE ARREST THAT THEY MAKE AN EFFORT TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY PUT THEM OR ASSIGN THEM TO SOME SORT OF A PROGRAM OR WHATEVER AS A CITY, AS A RESOLUTION, OR HOWEVER, I THINK THAT WE'RE PROBABLY A LITTLE BIT BEHIND THE CURVE BECAUSE THAT IS IN FACT WHAT THE COURTS ARE DOING NOW.
THAT'S PART OF THEIR, THEIR, UH, SENTENCING PROCEDURES NOW FOR PEOPLE THAT ARE USERS AND ARRESTED FOR SOLICITING FOR, TO COMMIT A FELONY.
[00:35:01]
SO, BUT I THINK THAT IT'S, UH, IT'S, UH, YOU KNOW, A WELL THOUGHT OUT POINT AND IT'S SOMETHING THAT, UH, THAT THE LAW ENFORCEMENT COMMUNITY AND THE COURT SYSTEM IS, IS RECOGNIZING AND IS STARTING TO WORK TOWARD ALSO, UH, I'D LIKE TO TELL YOU THAT, UH, WE'RE NOW WELL INTO PHASE THREE OF OPERATION CLEAN, WHICH IS THE COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT.WE'VE HAD ONE MEETING, UH, WE'RE PLANNING, A LARGE COMMUNITY MEETING AND THE ANTICIPATION OF THAT.
WE'RE HAVING SMALLER MEETINGS WITH SOME KEY PERSONS IN THE COMMUNITY TO TRY TO MAKE SURE THAT WHEN WE DO HAVE OUR LARGE COMMUNITY MEETING, THAT WE HAVE A GOOD REPRESENTATION AND WE'VE HAD OUR FIRST MEETING.
OUR NEXT MEETING IS THIS COMING SATURDAY.
UH, WE'RE TRYING TO DEVELOP SOME STRATEGIES ON HOW TO ATTACK THE PROBLEM FROM A COMMUNITY BASE.
UH, NOT JUST A LAW ENFORCEMENT COURTS SITUATION, BUT TO GET PEOPLE INVOLVED AND TO LET PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THAT UNLESS THEY GET INVOLVED, WHATEVER WE DO WILL NOT SUSTAIN ITSELF, WHATEVER THE POLICE DO WILL NOT SUSTAIN ITSELF.
THE COMMUNITY'S GOT TO STAND UP AND SAY, WE DON'T WANT DRUGS IN OUR COMMUNITY.
WE'RE NOT GOING TO TOLERATE IT.
WE'RE GOING TO BECOME A PART OF THE SOLUTION AND HELP GET RID OF THESE THINGS.
AND, UH, SO FAR SO GOOD, WE GOT AN EXCITED GROUP OF PEOPLE.
UH, WE'LL SEE HOW MANY SHOW UP AT THE NEXT MEETING ON SATURDAY.
AND IF THEY BRING, EVERYBODY'S SUPPOSED TO BRING ANOTHER PERSON WITH THEM, AND WE'RE GOING TO DEVELOP A STRATEGY ON GETTING INDIVIDUAL BLOCKS IN OUR COMMUNITY, INVOLVED IN THIS PROCESS, I'M REAL EXCITED ABOUT IT.
IF YOU PUT OUT THE WORD THAT IF THERE'S ANYBODY IS ACTUALLY AN ADDICT AND IT DOESN'T MATTER HOW HE WANTS TO GET OUT OF ONE OF HIS HAND, BUT DOESN'T KNOW WHERE TO GO OR WHERE TO START OR WHATEVER, HE WOULD JUST GO THROUGH THOSE DOORS AND JUST TELL HIM, I DON'T LIKE LIFE I'M LIVING.
WE, WE WOULD DEFINITELY ENCOURAGE THAT.
AND ANYBODY THAT'S WATCHING THIS, OR, YOU KNOW, WE'LL PUT THE WORD OUT, WE'LL HELP ANYBODY BEFORE THEY GET ARRESTED.
YOU KNOW, AS WELL AS AFTER WE'D LIKE TO, YOU KNOW, INTERJECT IN ANY WAY THAT WE CAN.
AND CERTAINLY, UH, TRY TO GET THEM INVOLVED IN SOME TREATMENT PROGRAMS, SOME REHABILITATION PROGRAMS, WELL THAT PHOENIX HOUSE, THAT THE CITY, UH, SPOTS AND ALL THESE, WE'RE DOING A BANG UP JOB.
AS WELL AS OTHER ORGANIZATIONS WE'RE WORKING WITH YOUR FOLKS, WE HAVE AN OFFICER ON THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS, MR. WALL ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION CALL LOCAL.
ANYTHING ELSE YOU MIGHT WANT TO MAKE THAT ANNOUNCEMENT ABOUT
WELL, IT USED TO RUN ON WEDNESDAYS AT 1230 AND FRIDAYS AT 7:00 PM.
AND THAT ONE WILL BE ON FRIDAY.
ACTUALLY WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN NOW IS IT'S GOING TO BE ON A 1230 ON WEDNESDAY AS IT WAS BEFORE, BUT THE SECOND AIRING WILL BE AT NINE O'CLOCK ON WEDNESDAY NIGHT.
I THINK ANYBODY THAT'S WATCHING THIS AT 1230 ON WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON NEEDS A HOBBY AND THEY PROBABLY