[00:00:16]
FATHER GOD, WE GLORIFIED YOU AND WE LIFT UP YOUR HOLY NAME.
GOD, WE ASK THAT YOU WOULD JUST COME IN AND TOUCH HEARTS AND MINDS.
LORD, WE THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT YOU HAVE DONE FOR US.
MOST OF ALL, WE THANKFUL FOR YOUR SON, JESUS CHRIST AND THE PRECIOUS BLOOD THAT IS SHED WELL, THANK YOU FOR, THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORD.
WELL THANK YOU FOR, FOR YOUR HOLY SPIRIT.
NOW LOOK DOWN ON OUR CITY OFFICIALS AND ADMINISTRATORS LOOK, CONNIE AND EVERYONE THAT'S REPRESENTED HERE TONIGHT AND TOUCH US AND LEAD US BY THE WAY WE SHOULD GO.
WE'RE JUST SO THANKFUL FOR YOUR MERCY AND YOUR GRACE LORD FOR THIS COMMUNITY.
WE'RE THANKFUL FOR THE CITY OF NEWBURGH.
WE'RE JUST SO THANKFUL HERE TO BE ABLE TO SEE ANOTHER SEASON OF THANKSGIVING.
WE GIVE YOU THE HONOR, THE GLORY AND THE PRAISE.
NOW LET THE WORDS OF OUR MOUTH AND THE MEDITATION ABOUT MY HEART.
OUR STRENGTH AND OUR REDEEMER IN JESUS NAME.
UM, I DON'T WANT ANY DOLORES, RIGHT DAVID RIGHT NOW? YES.
AND, UH, REPRESENT THE WHOLE FAMILY.
IT SAYS WHERE I'VE MISSED THE LORD BOY IN THE CITY OF NEIGHBORHOODS WHERE MS. RYAN, DAVID, RYAN, AND THREE DAUGHTERS, DEVITA T WRIGHT AND DEIDRE KIMRA THOUGHT BY HER PARENTS.
WHEREAS MRS. RYAN MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH SERVE AS A FAITHFUL IN THE VOTING MEMBER AS WELL AS MEMBER OF THE SENIOR CHOIR.
WHEREAS MS. BRIAN WAS VERY ACTIVE IN THE COMMUNITY AND DISPLAYED HER SPIRIT OF VOLUNTEERISM.
NOW, THEREFORE THEY GET WITH BALTIMORE CITY.
WHEN THE SECTION ONE, WE EXPRESS OUR PROFOUND SAMPA DAVID, THE FAMILY OF MRS. DOLORES SECTION TWO, SHE WAS TRULY A GRACIOUS INDIVIDUAL WHO MADE LIFE MUCH MORE PLEASANT, EVERYONE AROUND HER AND SEE, OR APPRECIATE IT.
THANKS FOR HER CONTRIBUTION TO OUR ORGANIZATION.
[00:05:16]
I TELL YOU, IT'S ALWAYS SAYING SOMEBODY LEAVE, BUT IT'S ALWAYS GOOD TO LEAVE SUCH A MEMORY BEHIND.I CAN TELL YOU, BUT THE GREAT FIRST, UH, SECOND THING WE HAVE TONIGHT IS THE REQUEST AND PETITION OF CITIZENS AND, UH, LIKE CHECKING ON THE FIRST ROAD AND SEE IF ANYBODY IS HERE JUST FOR A COMMENT AT THE STAFF AND THE BOARD.
AND I WROTE TO, YES, MA'AM COME FORWARD AND TO THE PODIUM AND STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS MY NAME IS SHARON HARRIS WAS ZELLE, AND I'M HERE TO REPRESENT MY MOTHER MISSOULA HARRIS AT 1602 HAZEL AVENUE.
UM, I HAVE A PETITION WHEN NOW PETITION A POSTER THAT IF YOU WOULD CIRCULATE, I THINK YOU COULD SEE THE PICTURES IS COLOR CODED.
I WAS ONE THROUGH SEVEN, OUR DITCH CANAL AREAS THAT WERE DECAYING CAUSING PROPERTY LAWS AND THE CITY OF NEW BERN PAID FOR THE LAND TO BE SUPPORTED BY WOULDN'T SUPPORT BEAMS. OUR RESIDENT STATED THAT THEY PAY NO FUNDS OUT OF THEIR POCKETS FOR THESE NECESSARY AND NEEDED REPAIRS.
AND AS YOU LOOK AT THE PICTURES, YOU CAN SEE WHAT A BEAUTIFUL PROFESSIONAL JOB THEY DID TO REINFORCE THE DITCH BANKS, THAT THEY WERE LOSING LAND DUE TO THE CORROSION BY THE WATER.
HOWEVER, ITEMS EIGHT THROUGH 15, WHERE MY MOTHER LIVES WERE LOOKED AT BY CITY OFFICIALS, PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT ON OCTOBER 28TH, AT WHICH TIME MY MOTHER MRS. ZULA HARRIS WAS ADVISED THAT THE AREA IN QUESTION WAS HER CONCERN, NOT THE CITIES.
AND IT WOULD CAUSE HER ROUGHLY $40,000 TO REPAIR.
THIS OFFICIAL REPRESENT THE CITY OF NEW BERN.
THEN IN A JOKING MANNER, HANDED OUT HIS HAND TO MY MOTHER AS A GESTURE FOR THE MONEY.
SOMEHOW I DON'T FIND THIS HUMOROUS AT ALL.
I REALIZED THIS IS NOT PROPERTY IN CYPRUS SHORES OR TO BURNER OR ANYWHERE ELSE.
IT'S THAT LITTLE 1602 HAZEL AVENUE.
AND IT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO US.
ALSO, I QUESTIONED TO BRING FORTH TONIGHT TO THIS BOARD OF ALDERMAN, WHO IT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE PROPERTY THAT YOU IN FACT DID REPAIR AND THE LOCATION OF MY MOTHER AT 1602 HAZEL AVENUE.
UM, IS THERE ANY QUESTION I WOULD LIKE TO ASK YOU AS TO THE OWNERSHIP OF THE DITCH CONNECT AREA? IS IT NOT THE CITIES? IT'S A PUBLIC DRAINAGE WAY? WHAT DOES THAT DO? IT'S A PUBLIC REALLY UNBODIED CITY OR ANYBODY THAT I KNOW OF THE CITY, OUR DEPARTMENT OF FISH HAS SAID THAT THE DITCH BELONGED TO MY MOTHER.
IS THERE WAS THIS COME OUT OF DANNY'S? YEAH.
COULD YOU EXPLAIN NANNY WHY SUMMER IS, IS A BALDHEADED, IF YOU WILL.
AND HE WANTS TO ANSWER THE QUESTION IF YOU MET WITH MS. HARRIS AND, UH, THE, THE DITCH, UH, AND IT WAS LOCATED ON ONE SIDE FOR YEARS AND YEARS AND YEARS AND YEARS AGO, I DON'T KNOW WHO DID IT, UH, WHETHER THE CITY DID IT OR THE PROPERTY OWNER IS OR WHATEVER.
UH, BUT IT IS IN A VERY SAD CONDITION.
AS FAR AS THAT, IT'S JUST ME AND SPEAKING TO MS. HARRIS.
SHE SHOWED ME WHERE HER PROPERTY LINE, WHERE SHE SAID ROCK WALLS.
AND IN FACT ARE PROBABLY THE LINE STEAK IS WHERE SHE SAID IT WAS IN THE ENTIRETY OF SHE'S ON HER PHONE.
BUT I DON'T KNOW THAT WE HAVEN'T DONE.
WE HAVEN'T A, THE PROPERTY LINE IS UP TO THE FRONT IS NOT, IS TO THE RIGHT OF THE DITCH.
THIS IS WHAT WE WAS TRYING TO EXPLAIN TO YOU WHERE THE POINT IS THESE FAMILIES ON THOSE ADDRESSES LISTED THE RANDOLPH'S, THE HAMS, THE AIRWAVES, AND JEANETTE ALL HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM.
AND YOU CAN SEE THE BEAUTIFUL JOB THAT THE CITY CAME IN REPAIR AND ALL OF THESE DITCHES, SOMEHOW CANAL,
[00:10:01]
THE CONNECTED TOGETHER.AND WE WOULD JUST LIKE FOR YOU ALSO TO LOOK AT MY MOTHER'S PROPERTY AND DO THE SAME THING FOR HER PROPERTY, BECAUSE, UM, WE WANT TO KNOW BE REPAIRED BECAUSE THE LAND IS GOING TO CONTINUE TO DECAY IN THE DITCH AND THE FLOWERS AND SOME OF THE ROOTS, OR EVEN LEANING OVER IN THE DITCH.
AND IF YOU DID IT FOR THESE OTHER POLICE, PEOPLE YOU'D SEE THESE PROBLEMS. AS THEY SAID, THEY WERE SIGNED NOTARIZED AFFIDAVIT SAYING THAT THE CITY PAID FOR IT AND THEY DID NOT PAY ANYTHING TO REPAIR IT.
COULD THEY, COULD YOU CHECK INTO THAT AND SEE WHAT THE HISTORY IS BEHIND THAT? I TOLD HIM THIS HAIR, SHE ASKED ME ABOUT THE, THE BULKHEADING ALONG, BOTH THE THREE AND THE ONE JUST OFF THE MEETINGS.
AND, UH, AS PART OF THEIR, BY MS. RANDOLPH, THERE'S ANOTHER PARK RIGHT THERE, CLOSE TO THE STREET WHERE WE REPLACED THIS GOING, UH, RUNNING ON THE ROAD AND THEN THE ONE THAT WEAVES THROUGH THE CAMP AND THAT LATEST NAME.
BUT I MEAN, THE CITY DIDN'T TAKE THE, THAT, UH, THIS BOARD APPROVED THAT I DID NOT, I DON'T HAVE THOSE PHONES.
AND, AND I GUESS THAT'S WHY MS. HARRIS IS HERE THAT BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, AS I TALKED TO HER MOTHER, THE ONLY WAY WE CAN HELP THEM IS IF THEY PARTICIPATE IN COST KNOW, WE, WE CAN PROVIDE THE WORK AND THE LABOR, BUT WE DON'T, WE DON'T WHAT WAS DONE FOR THESE OTHER PIECES.
DID WE JUST DO THE SAME THING OR WAS IT ALL DONE? I DON'T KNOW WHEN YOU SAY THIS BOARD, WAS IT DONE WITH THIS FORWARD? I DON'T REMEMBER.
IT'S PART OF, IT'S PART OF THE WORK THAT WAS DONE.
UH, THEY'RE ALL GOING THE TOP STREET.
UH, THEN THERE WAS SOME MORE WORK ON WILLIAM STREET AND THE BOARD APPROPRIATE IN FRONT OF SPORTS.
UH, YEAH, IT WAS SEVERAL YEARS AGO WHEN WE DID DO IT.
AND I THOUGHT THAT WE HAD GOTTEN SOME, WE UTILIZED SOME SPECIAL GRANT MONEY, GRANT MONEY, ALMOST SAY THEY DID NOT PAY ONE PENNY.
IT WAS ALL PROVIDED THROUGH THE SENATOR.
WELL, I'M LIKE, IF YOU, IF YOU COULD AT LEAST, UH, YOU KNOW, COME GIVE US A LITTLE BIT OF HISTORY, YOU COULD GET THE HISTORY TOGETHER, HOW IT WAS DONE, WHO PAID FOR IT AND ALL THIS KIND OF BUSINESS, BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE TREAT EVERYBODY THE SAME AND EQUAL, AND IF IT WAS GRANT MONEY, WHATEVER THAT GRANT WAS, MAYBE WE CAN APPLY FOR IT AGAIN.
BUT, YOU KNOW, I JUST LIKE TO KNOW THE HISTORY BEHIND IT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ALL, UM, I KNOW THAT WE DID IT AND IT NEEDED TO HAVE BEEN DONE.
I KNOW, I THINK THE GRANT ON PUMP STATION RATHER, YES.
WRITE THE GRANT WITH THE GRANT FUNDS CAME FOR THE LIFT STATION THAT WAS DOWN THERE AND THE FLAP GATES.
AND THEN WE CAME UP WITH SOME MONEY FROM SOMEWHERE TO DO THE BULKY.
WHY DON'T WE JUST LOOK INTO WHAT, UM, IS BEING ASKED MS. HARRIS'S HOUSE IT'S 1600 TO THE MOST CRITICAL PART, OR IS IT ALL IN BAD CHAIN? WHEREAS THE MAN ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE DITCH, OH, HERE'S IS IN BAD SHAPE, BUT I DON'T KNOW THOSE PEOPLE.
UM, AND HIS REALLY SHOULD BE LOOKED AT ALSO, WE HAVE PITCH PROBLEMS ALL OVER TOWN.
SO WE'RE TRYING TO FIND OUT WHICH IS IN THE WINTER.
WELL, WHAT YOU PROBABLY WOULD NEED TO DO SO THAT WE CAN ALL UNDERSTAND, YOU KNOW, IF WE CAN GET A VIDEO AND SHOW US EXACTLY WHAT IT WOULD COST, WHAT IT WOULD TAKE AND WHAT IS REQUIRED, YOU KNOW, SO WE CAN, UH, BETTER EVALUATE AND ASSESS THAT PARTICULAR.
MAYBE I KNOW THAT THE NEED IS THERE A FEW YEARS AGO, MS. HARRIS HAD HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE GROUND CAVING IN AND THEN IN THE DITCH WAS ERODING AND TAKING AWAY SOME OF HER PROPERTY EVEN THEN.
SO, UH, I WOULD SUGGEST THAT WE JUST, YOU KNOW, YOU TAKE A LOOK AT THAT AND COME BACK TO US WITH A SUGGESTION AS TO HOW WE COULD POSSIBLY HELP THEM SMELL.
WELL, HIS REPORT BE AT THE NEXT AUTO MEETING, OR PRIOR TO THAT RAIN, CAN YOU HAVE IT ON THE NEXT? AND WHAT DO YOU WANT ME TO SAY? THIS JUST HURTS THE ENTIRE DITCH LINE.
WELL, FIRST WANT TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEM OF, YOU KNOW, I DON'T WANT ANYBODY TO THINK THAT WE'VE DONE SOMETHING TO SOMEBODY THAT WE'RE NOT DOING, BUT SOMEBODY ELSE.
SO I'D JUST LIKE TO SEE WHAT, WELL, I THINK THAT ONE OF THE PO, AND I'M NOT SURE WHERE THIS DRAINAGE SYSTEM IS THAT THAT THIS LADY IS TALKING ABOUT AS FAR AS HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO THE CITY, BUT THE DRAINAGE WAY THAT WAS DONE, THE BULKHEADING THAT WAS DONE DOWN ON NEAR BEAUFORT STREET WAS DONE TO IMPROVE THE OVERALL DRAINAGE SYSTEM OF THE CITY.
WE SPENT ABOUT $50,000 OF THAT LIFT STATION DOWN THERE.
WE SPENT ABOUT $40,000 LOWERING THE GRADE
[00:15:01]
ON THAT, UM, DH, I BELIEVE BRANDON WAS HERE WHEN THAT WAS DONE.AND WE PUT IN A NEW CULVERT THERE AT BEAUFORT STREET IN ORDER TO ALLOW THEM THE WATER TO FLOW MORE FREELY.
AND THEN WE ALSO BULKHEAD IT ALONG THERE TO ALLOW FOR MORE DRAINAGE, BECAUSE THIS IS A, THIS IS PROBABLY THE MOST, UH, UH, IMPORTANT DRAINAGE WAY THAT THE CITY HAS RIGHT THERE AT THAT AREA.
AND SO MORE PEOPLE BENEFIT THAN JUST THOSE PEOPLE WHERE THE BULKHEAD GOES UP NEXT TO THEIR PROPERTY.
IT BENEFITS EVERYBODY ALL THE WAY UP STREAM BECAUSE IT HELPS THE WATER TO LEAVE THAT AREA FASTER.
AND AS IT DRAINS DOWN, IT DRAINS OUT OF EVERYWHERE ELSE FASTER.
AND I THINK THAT THAT'S WHAT THE BOARD WAS TRYING TO DO WAS TO A PIECE BY PIECE ADDRESS THAT DRAINAGE WAY THAT WAS THERE AT JACK SMITH'S CREEK AND DOWN THERE AT THAT AREA.
AND SO THAT'S THE, THAT WAS, IF I RECALL CORRECTLY, THAT WAS THE REASON FOR DOING THE VOLCANO AT THAT TIME.
AND IT WAS, IT WAS IN CONJUNCTION WITH ABOUT $150,000 WORTH OF WORK THAT WE DID DOWN THERE IN ORDER, NOT JUST TO IMPROVE THAT AREA, BUT TO IMPROVE ALL OF THE AREA UPSTREAM FROM THERE TO MAKE THE WATER FLOW BETTER, TO GET IT OUT OF THE CITY A LITTLE FASTER, DANNY, IS THERE ANY WAY WE CAN TERRACE SOME OF THESE DRAINAGE'S AND PUT ROCK IN THEM? LIKE THEY'VE, I'VE SEEN DONE IN WASHINGTON, I'VE SEEN IT DONE AND HAVE LUCK TO DO, TO SAVE SOME, TO, TO BE ABLE TO DO SOMETHING THAT IT'S SUCH A PROBLEM ALL OVER TOWN AND THE CITY DOESN'T OWN THAT PROPERTY.
IF YOU LOOK AT YOUR DEEDS, SOMEBODY ELSE OWNS THE PROPERTY.
AND IF WE DO IT AND LIKE THE MAYOR SAYS, WE DON'T WANT TO DO SOMETHING FOR ONE PERSON AND THEN NOT DO IT FOR SOMEBODY ELSE.
WELL, OFF JUST OFF TRENT ROAD, A MAN WAS CONCERNED WITH HIS CHILDREN.
HE FOLLOWED THE CITY PROCEDURE, WHICH IS IF THE PERSON WHO OWNS THE PROPERTY, WHICH IS A BITCH, WE'LL PAY FOR THE DRAINAGE TILE, THE CITY WILL PUT IT IN.
THIS IS A CITY POLICY, CORRECT? RIGHT.
WELL, THIS GENTLEMAN DID THAT.
HE SPENT HIS MONEY FOR THE DRAINAGE TILE.
THE CITY DIDN'T DO IT FOR HIM.
THE PEOPLE ON EITHER SIDE OF HIM HAVE NOT DONE IT.
WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO? I'M NOT SURE.
WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT? WELL, IT DOESN'T MATTER WHERE IT IS.
I IT'S TWO HOUSES DOWN FROM THE OLD DR.
PEPPER PLANT IS WHERE I'M SPECIFICALLY SPEAKING.
AND, UH, WELL THE CITY PUT THE CITY, PUT THE TILE IN FOR THE GUY.
THE GUY BOUGHT THE DRAINAGE TILE AND THE CITY PUT IT IN.
NOW ON EITHER SIDE OF HIS PROPERTY, UPSTREAM, DOWNSTREAM, AND IT HASN'T BEEN DONE.
IT'S JUST A DITCH AND IT'S OWN THEIR PROPERTY.
IT'S NOT CITY PROPERTY RIGHT NOW.
WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO TELL THEM IF WE GO IN, IF WE GO IN AND ADD, THEY'RE GOING TO WANT THEIR DITCHES FIXED TOO.
AND I UNDERSTAND THAT, BUT THIS, THIS IS WHY I WANTED US TO DO THIS WORKSHOP, WHICH WE'RE DOING IN DECEMBER ON PRIORITIES.
IS THERE SOME WAY WE CAN SOLVE SOME OF THESE PROBLEMS THE WAY I HAVE SEEN WORK DONE IN OTHER TOWNS, WHICH DOES NOT INVOLVE PUTTING EVERYTHING UNDERGROUND, WHICH I KNOW IS EXPENSIVE, BUT CAN YOU LOOK AT THAT ALTERNATIVE? AND I'M NOT ASKING FOR AN ANSWER NOW, BECAUSE EVERYBODY THAT HAS ONE OF THESE DRAINAGE DITCHES OR CANALS IN THEIR BACKYARD WOULD LOVE TO SEE IT TOTALLY DONE AWAY WITH, OR TOTALLY MAINTAINED BY THE CITY.
BUT YET MOST OF THIS PROPERTY IS PRIVATE PROPERTY.
IN MANY CASES, THE CITY DOESN'T EVEN HAVE A RIGHT OF WAY TO LEGALLY GO ON THAT PROPERTY TO CLEAN OUT THE TREES.
NOW OFF SEMEN'S STREET, WE HAVE THAT LITTLE PUNY DITCH BACK THERE, AND THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN THE APARTMENTS, SOME OF THEM, NOT ALL OF THEM HAVE A TENDENCY TO TAKE THE EASY WAY OUT WHEN THEY'RE RAKING THEIR LEAVES, WHY BOTHER TO BREAK THEM TO THE FRONT YARD? THEY JUST RAKE THEM IN THAT OLD DITCH BACK THERE THAT THEY WOULD LOVE TO HAVE THAT DITCH PUT IN TILE OR, OR FIXED LIKE THIS.
HOW ARE WE GOING TO TELL THEM NO, IF WE'RE DOING IT OTHER PLACES IN TOWN, IT'S JUST, IT'S A TOUGH, IT'S A TOUGH ISSUE.
AND I SUGGEST WE LOOK FOR SOME WAY TO SOLVE SOME OF THESE PROBLEMS AT A LOWER COST, RATHER THAN ALWAYS PIPING THEM IN WHICH PEOPLE, A LOT OF PEOPLE CAN AFFORD TO BUY THE PIPE.
A LOT OF PEOPLE CAN, BUT THEY DON'T WANT TO BECAUSE THEY WANT TO SPEND THE MONEY FOR OTHER THINGS.
WELL, YOU KNOW THAT YOU MENTIONED CYPRUS SHORES, WHICH IS IN MY AREA.
AND THEN AS PEOPLE HAVE GONE UP THERE ADJUSTING THE LAST FEW MONTHS TO TWO OR THREE OF THEM ARE GIVING THEM PRICES ON WHAT IT WOULD COST TO FILL IN THAT DITCH AREAS AND THE CITY DOING THE LABOR AND THEN BUYING IT.
AND SOME OF THEM WERE RUNNING 14 AND $1,500 FOR SOME OF THE CORONER LIVES.
WHAT ARE WE GONNA TELL THESE PEOPLE THAT'S AT MOST THAT WORK DONE AND HE'S WEB AND GO ON A TRIP SOMEWHERE.
AND THE SUGGESTION WAS, LET'S GET AN IDEA OF WHAT IT'S GOING TO COST, WHAT WE CAN DO TO HELP RESOLVE THE PROBLEM FOR THIS LADY WHO WOULD MAKE THE REQUEST TO
[00:20:01]
COME BACK, TO SEE THE OVERALL PITCH AND SEE WHERE WE GO FROM THERE.WHAT CROSS TOWN? THE ONE THING THAT LUCY IS, THIS LADY IS SEEN SOMEBODY'S YARD OR SOME, SOME YARDS AROUND EVIDENCE.
NICE LOOKING BULKY THAT I SAW IN THE PICTURE.
AND THEN SHE LOOKS AT THE MOTHER'S YARD HAS NO BALL AND IT'S FALLEN OVER.
AND THE OBVIOUS QUESTION IS WHY THEM FOR FREE.
AND WE, AND WE DON'T HAVE ONE.
AND THAT'S ALL I'M ASKING IS COME BACK AND LET ME KNOW WHY SOMEBODY GOT ONE IN SOMEBODY DIDN'T AND IT COULD VERY WELL BE WHAT HE SAID, THAT IT, FROM AN ENGINEERING STANDPOINT, WHAT THEY WEREN'T TRYING TO PURDY UP SOMEBODY'S YARD, THEY WERE TRYING TO FIX THE DRAINAGE AND THEY DECIDED TO PUT THE BOAT, GET, I DON'T KNOW, MIGHT HAVE BEEN THE SAME PROBLEM.
AND I DON'T KNOW ABOUT THE ENGINEERING OF A WHITEWATER WATER FLOW, BUT WHATEVER IT IS, YOU'VE ASKED A QUESTION THAT WE WANT TO ANSWER TO
AND, YOU KNOW, I DIDN'T BRING THIS UP, UH, UH, TO, TO JUMP ACROSS TOWN, BUT NOW THE PEOPLE WOULD HAVE WATCHED THIS PROGRAM, UH, THAT HAS CONTACTED ME IS GOING TO CALL ME WHEN THEY SEE THIS AND START ASKING QUESTIONS.
AND I WANT IT MADE CLEAR THAT THIS IS JUST A REVIEW AND THE WOMAN IS AS WHY ONE YARD, NOT THE OTHER.
HE WOULD COME BACK WITH SOME SOLUTIONS TO THIS BILL, AND THEN I WANT US TO DRAG IT.
NO, I'M JUST SPEAKING TO MY CONSTITUENTS.
THAT'S BEEN IN CONTACT ME AT THE SAME TIME.
WELL, DANNY, DANNY, LET ME RESTATE THE, WHAT I'M ASKING OF YOU, BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY MR. HAS MISSED THE POINT.
WILL YOU PLEASE SEE WHAT HAS BEEN DONE IN AREAS SUCH AS THE, WITH DRAINAGE AREAS, SUCH AS THIS, WHICH I HAVE SEEN DONE IN WASHINGTON, NORTH CAROLINA AND HAVELOCK, WHICH IS TO GRADE THESE DITCHES AND PUT THE RIP RAP IN, RATHER THAN THIS KIND OF EXPENSE AND OR BURYING TILE.
AND WE CAN GET MORE OF THE WORK DONE FOR PEOPLE LIKE THIS, AND IT DOESN'T MAKE ANY DIFFERENCE WHAT NEIGHBORHOOD IT'S IN.
I DON'T CARE WHAT NEIGHBORHOOD IS SCENT AND JUMPING OVER TO TRENT ROAD WAS JUST POINTED OUT THAT WE GOT PROBLEMS EVERYWHERE.
MAYBE THERE'S A CHEAPER WAY WE CAN DO THIS AND STILL GET THE JOB DONE.
WELL, ONE THING THAT THAT IS HAPPENING AND IT IS HAPPENING.
WE CALL THIS WHOLE WORDING AND WE HAVE STARTED OUT WRITING STUDY.
THEY'RE WORKING ON THE FIRST PHASE OF THAT, WHICH IS THE AREA WHERE MS. HARRIS LIVES, ONCE THAT IS DONE, THEN WE CAN SEE WHAT IS NEEDED.
THEY WILL ALSO PUT A RECOMMENDATION WHAT WE SHOULD DO.
AND WITH THAT DONE THE DOLLARS AND CENTS.
AND THAT'S WHEN THEY WERE ALL GOING TO HAVE TO SIT DOWN ALSO SOMETHING, YES, WE NEED TO BE CONSIDERED.
AND THEN WE'VE GOT SOME NEW NEWSROOMS COMING DOWN AND WE IMPLEMENTED IN THE NEXT TWO YEARS, THAT'S GOING TO CHANGE THE FACE OF HOW WE MOVE.
EVERYBODY WANTS TO SEE WATER, WANT TO WAIT FOR IT ON THE NEWS NEWS RULES, WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO SLOW IT DOWN.
SO AT THE END END, ALL OF THESE, ALL THESE THINGS COME INTO PLAY VERY QUICKLY.
I CAN ASSURE YOU, EVERYONE OUT HERE IS GOING TO COST AND I STAY ON THEM.
BUT I, I STILL LIKE TO GO BACK TO THE ORIGINAL QUESTION AND THAT, AND THAT IS THAT I WANT EVERYBODY TO CHOOSE TO BELIEVE AND UNDERSTAND, INCLUDING THIS LADY THAT NOBODY'S GOING TO GET ANYTHING PAID BOOK EDIT OR ANYTHING ELSE BECAUSE OF WHERE THEY LIVE OR HOW MUCH THEY GOT OR HOW LITTLE THEY GOT OR ANYTHING ELSE.
AS LONG AS OUR BOOK IS THIS BOARD HAS ANYTHING TO DO WITH IT.
OR, UH, YOU KNOW, YOU'LL HEAR ME UP THERE ON TOP OF THE BILL AND HOW I ONLY LOUDER THAN ANYBODY ELSE.
SO I JUST, I KNOW YOU HAD THAT CONCERN BECAUSE YOU SAW ONE AND NOT THE OTHER.
AND SO WE WANT TO FIND OUT WHAT THE ANSWER IS BECAUSE WE WANT EVERYTHING TO BE.
EVERYBODY TREATED THE SAME WHEN THEY COME BEFORE THIS.
AND I ASK YOU IF, UH, WE'RE ASKING DAN, AND TO BRING BACK ON YOUR FINDINGS AT THAT NEXT BOARD MEETING, THAT'S IT, THEY COME BACK AND SAY, WOW, BECAUSE I JUST WANT TO KNOW.
SO I WILL BE BACK AND PRESENT TO HERE.
YOU KNOW, WHAT IS IT'S BEEN RESOLVED? WE WOULD JUST LIKE TO KNOW, BECAUSE ALL THE ISSUES THAT YOU BROUGHT UP, THAT'S FINE, BUT I'M HERE TONIGHT WITH MY ISSUE.
IF HE CAN GET BACK TO YOU DIRECTLY, AS SAYING, AS HE GETS INFORMATION, IF NOT, WE'LL MEET AGAIN.
UH, WHAT IS IT? WEEK AFTER NEXT? I DON'T HAVE TO WAIT FROM TONIGHT A WEEK FROM TONIGHT, A WEEK FROM A WEEK WORK SESSION.
WELL, YOU WANT TO DO IT ON THE WORK SESSION.
WILL THAT GIVE YOU ENOUGH TIME TO GO IN ALL THAT? YEAH, I MEAN,
YOU CAN GET WEATHER BETWEEN THAT THEN, OR ELSE.
YOU CAN COME TO THE WORK SESSION, WHICH IS A WEEK FROM MIDNIGHT AND HE DON'T HAVE THIS THING TO GIVE YOU AN ALL THEM.
[00:25:01]
SO IT'D BE A WEEK FROM TONIGHT, SEVEN 30 DOWNSTAIRS, DOWNSTAIRS.ANYBODY ELSE ON THAT ROAD, ANYBODY ON ANYBODY ELSE IN THE ROOM THAT WANTS TO DO PETITION MY NAME IS NEAR RANDALL.
THE RESIDENT I'M HERE TONIGHT.
UM, NOT TOO MUCH ABOUT MY PROBLEMS, BUT I SUPPORT MS. HOWARD ALSO WITH HER PROBLEMS. I'M WELL AWARE OF THE PROBLEM THAT SHE'S HAD DOWN THROUGH THE YEARS NOW.
UH, WHEN THIS HOUSE, UH, UH, INVESTED INTO THAT PROPERTY, IT WAS NICE AND LEVEL WATER WAS RUNNING ALONG THE DITCH BANK, JUST LIKE IT RUNS ALONG THE DITCH BANK AROUND THEM.
I TOOK ANOTHER GOOD LOOK AND FALL.
THE WORST THING THERE, IT CAUSED EROSION IS CAVING INTO THAT CANAL.
NOW, MS. HARRIS DIDN'T OWN THAT CAMILLE AND SHE OWNS THAT PROPERTY.
IT'S BEEN SURVEYED BY OUR LICENSE OR SURVEYOR.
AND AS FAR AS THE CITY TO IS RESPONSIBLE, ALSO KILLING MY PROPERTY ALONG THAT AREA.
NOW, FOR SOMEBODY TO SAY THAT, YOU KNOW, LIKE WHAT YOU DO FOR THIS ONE THAT YOU DO FOR THAT, THIS LADY IS A WINNER AS WELL AS MYSELF AND WE ARE ON FIXED INCOMES.
AND I DON'T CARE WHAT HAPPENS OVER THERE ON TRENT ROAD OR OVER ON ANY OTHER ROAD WHEN WE HAVE A PROBLEM, THAT PROBLEM NEEDS TO BE TAKEN CARE OF.
AND WE NEED TO BE GIVEN RECOGNITION JUST LIKE ANYBODY ELSE.
I STILL HAVE A PROBLEM OVER THERE WHERE I LIVE, BECAUSE ALTHOUGH THEY BUILT THE BULKHEAD THERE, I HAVE A PROBLEM WITH TRASH AND EVERYTHING ELSE THAT'S GATHERED UP ABOUT, UH, BEYOND THAT, UH, ALONG THAT BULKHEAD, I HAVE TRIED TO KNOW HIM TO GET THIS PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR, GET HIS CREW OUT THERE AND REMOVE THE TRASH AND THE DEBRIS ALONG WITH THE SLUDGE AWAY FROM THAT BULKHEAD.
NOW, THE PICTURES THAT SHE SHOWED YOU UP THERE, YES.
AS YOU WOULD SEE THAT THEY ARE NICE, BUT THEN ON THE END WAS ONE OF MINE WHERE ALL, YOU CAN SEE ALL THIS STUFF UP THERE.
I EVEN HAVE PICTURES IN HERE THAT I HAD TAKEN DOING THE SONG.
AND IF YOU DON'T MIND, I'D LIKE TO SHOW YOU WHAT WAS OUT THERE THIS SUMMER.
AND ALSO I GOT A LETTER FROM A WASHINGTON, IF YOU WILL PASS THESE.
AND IT SAYS ON THE BOTTOM RIGHT TOP, SO THEY CAN SEE THIS IS DURING THE SUMMER AND UNDERNEATH ALL THOSE WEEDS, IT'S WATER.
IF A CHILD WOULD GO OUT THERE THINKING THEY'RE STEPPING ON GRASS, THEY STEPPED DOWN IN THE WATER.
NOW I'M SAYING THAT TO SAY THIS, WHEN WE COME BEFORE YOU AND ASK THAT THESE PROBLEMS BEING TAKEN CARE OF PEOPLE LIKE ME, GET THE RUN AROUND.
AND I HOPE WHAT HAS BEEN DONE TO ME.
I'VE KNOWN HER ALL MY LIFE AND SHE'S KNOWN ME ALL OF HERS.
SO ONE THING I'M SPEAKING IN BEHALF OF HER, AS WELL AS MYSELF, I RECEIVED THIS, UH, UH, UM, FROM, UH, WASHINGTON, LITTLE WASHINGTON, WASHINGTON, NORTH CAROLINA, FROM, UM, THE VISION OF WATER QUALITY.
THE ISSUE IS NOT THE WATER QUALITY IN THAT CANAL, WHICH IS I SAY THIS NO STATUS OR NOTHING IN THAT FOR ME TO BE CONCERNED ABOUT SMELL, REGARDLESS OF THAT, IF YOU GOT TRASH, STALE, UH, YOU KNOW, LIKE TRASH AND EVERYTHING IN FRONT OF YOUR HOUSE, WHEN YOU GO OUT OF YOUR DOOR IN THE MORNING, YOU CANNOT EITHER GO OUT OF YOUR DOOR WITHOUT SMELL FOUL ODORS.
THIS STAGNANT WATER COMES DOWN, WHATEVER IT BRINGS DOWN, IT BACKS UP THERE.
IT'S ALMOST LIKE BUILT UP AS HIGH AS THE BALL HIT.
NOW I GET THIS LETTER FROM MR. THRALL.
I CALLED HIM THIS MORNING AND I EXPLAINED THE SITUATION
[00:30:01]
TO HIM.I TOLD HIM THAT THE WATER WAS NOT THE ISSUE AND THAT MR. MELLIS KNOW WHAT THE PROBLEM IS.
AS HE SAID, IT'S NOT LIKE THIS IS NOT LOCAL PROBLEM.
AND AFTER THAT, I RECEIVED A LETTER FROM, UH, FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF, UM, COMMUNITY.
UM, FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF KNOCK HER ON THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE.
THIS, I GOT THIS LETTER IN JULY.
THAT'S THE LAST TIME I CAME BEFORE THIS BOARD, THIS AND THAT.
IT WAS ADDRESSED TO YOU, MR. MAYOR, YOU ALSO INDICATED IN YOUR ANSWER THAT IT WAS A LOCAL PROBLEM.
WELL, THIS IS A LOCAL PROBLEM, A LOCAL PROBLEM.
WHY ISN'T IT TAKING CARE OF? THIS IS WHERE I'D LIKE TO KNOW WHY ISN'T IT TAKEN CARE OF.
IT MAY NOT BE A STATE PROBLEM, BUT THEY KEEP RIDING BACK TO ME TELLING ME THAT IT'S A LOCAL PROBLEM THAT I NOTICE I HAVE TO DO SOMETHING TO GET SOMEBODY'S ATTENTION.
I CAN'T SEEM TO GET THE BOARD'S ATTENTION, ALL THE MAYOR OR THE CITY MANAGER.
SO NOW, UH, AS FAR AS THE BULKHEAD, THAT WAS FOOT ALONG MY PROPERTY AND THE OTHER PROPERTY, IT DID NOT COME FROM THE GRANT WHO SAID AT NEWBURN, PUT THOSE BUMPKINS, THIS THRILL ALL AT THE SAME TIME.
AND I HAVE THE COST, BUT I DIDN'T BRING IT WITH ME.
THEY DIDN'T COME OUT OF THE BLOCK GRANT, BUT HE HAD A UP, YOU GET PHONES FOR SEWAGE WATER AND, UM, ALL THESE THINGS TO IMPROVE YOUR WATER AND SEWER LINES.
AND I CAN'T UNDERSTAND WHY THEY'RE NOT TAKEN CARE OF.
AND I'M GONNA TELL YOU SOMETHING.
I DON'T WANT TO BE POINTING THE FINGERS.
I TELL YOU SOMETHING LAST YEAR.
AND THIS YEAR I HAD TO CALL THE COP WATERWORKS APARTMENT TO COME OUT AND CLONE THE SEWELL ALONG.
WELL, MY WASTE COULDN'T GO OUT BECAUSE THE MAIN LINE WAS STOPPED UP TWICE.
THIS YEAR, I HAD TO DO IT IN JANUARY.
THEN IN MAY, I HAD TO CALL THE WATER DEPARTMENT TO COME UP AND ON THE SONG.
I LIVE ON A DOWNGRADE AND I GUESS THE SEWAGE BACKS UP.
AND IF THEY DON'T GO OFF IT AND CLEAN OUT THE PIPELINES, THEN EVERYTHING BACKS UP.
SO IF Y'ALL, IF YOU HAVE MONEY TO CORRECT THESE THINGS AND IMPROVE THESE THINGS, WHY ISN'T IT DONE? SEE, I WASN'T COMING OUT HERE TONIGHT.
I CAME FROM HOME, MY FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS, AND I THINK SHE WOULD DO THE SAME THING TO ME.
AND THAT'S ALL, YOU KNOW, THAT ALL HAVE TO SAY.
AND I HOPE THAT MS. LEE, I HOPE THAT YOU WILL KEEP YOUR PROMISE TO ME.
YOU PROMISE TO COME BACK UP THERE, GET SOMEBODY UP THERE, THE CLEANING OFF THAT STUFF ALONG THE BULKHEAD.
BUT THAT WAS IN JULY TO THIS DAY.
YOU HAVEN'T BEEN BACK THOUGH? NO, THE LAST TIME I WENT TO YOUR, OKAY, THE LAST TIME I WENT THERE, THERE WAS A CITY EMPLOYEES WERE OUT THERE CLEANING UP AND THEN THEY DIDN'T DO WELL ENOUGH JOB.
THEY KNOW IF YOU NEED ME TO COME BACK.
IT DIDN'T HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH MY PROBLEM.
AND WHEN THEY COME ALONG AND SAY, THEY'RE CLEANING OUT, ALL THEY'RE DOING IS CUTTING UP DEBRIS.
AND THEN I'M GOING TO SIT DOWN.
DID I GIVE YOU THOSE BITCHES? OH, DID YOU PASS THEM DOWN? LET ALL OF THEM SEE THEM BECAUSE THE CAR, SHE SAID, IF THE BOY TELLS HIM TO DO DUSTIN SUCH, HE'LL DO IT.
SO I'M HERE IN FRONT OF THE BOARD TONIGHT.
AND I WANT TO KNOW WHAT KINDA, EXCUSE ME WHEN I APPROACH HIM AGAIN, GOING TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THAT.
OTHERWISE I'M GOING TO HAVE TO GET A LETTER TO GOVERNOR, HUH? GET HIM INVOLVED AND FIND OUT IF HE'S GOING TO CONTINUE THE SAME GRANTS IN HERE.
AND THESE THINGS WHERE WE REEL IN THE NEIGHBORHOODS THAT WE LIVE IN IS NOT TAKEN CARE.
UH, ANYBODY ELSE ON THE PETITION OF CITIZENS? NOBODY ELSE.
SO MOVE TO THE NEXT THING ON THE AGENDA.
AND THAT WAS TO CONSIDER THE POP WARNER FOOTBALL REQUEST, STANLEY WHITE RECREATION CENTER AND
[00:35:01]
OKAY, COME FORWARD THEN.UM, MY NAME IS BOBBY BROWN, PRESIDENT OF WARRIORS BOOSTER CLUB.
UM, GENTLEMEN, WE ARE IN PREPARATION TO, UM, HOPEFULLY DEPART ON THURSDAY NIGHT TO JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA TO PLAY IN THE JUNIOR JAGUAR BOWL.
AGAIN, THE JUNIOR JAGUAR BOWL IS A FOOTBALL GAME FOR POP WARNER, UM, DIVISION FOOTBALL.
UM, WHAT THEY DO IS THEY TAKE THE BEST OF THE POP WARNER FOOTBALL TEAMS FROM THE EAST COAST AND THEY INVITE THEM TO THE BOWL GAME.
YOUR GROUND WARRIORS EMBRACED HAVE BEEN INVITED TO THAT GAME.
AGAIN, WE HAVE A OF 99 KIDS AS TWO FOOTBALL TEAMS AND TWO FOOTBALL TEAMS WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN IS IT'S GOING TO TAKE US A LITTLE OVER $16,000 TO MAKE THAT TRIP.
UM, AT PRESENT WE'VE RAISED $9,500.
MR. PENDER HAS $2,000 IN HIS BUDGET THAT HE SAYS HE CAN SWITCH OVER.
UM, IF THERE'S SO, UH, APPROVED BY THE BOARD, AND THEN WE'LL ASK YOU GENTLEMEN FOR A DONATION OF $5,000 TO MAKE OUR TRIP.
HAVE YOU GONE TO THE COUNTY AND TRENT WOODS AND THESE OTHER PLACES AND ASK FOR MONEY? YES, SIR.
UM, WE SPOKE BEFORE THE, UH, COMMISSIONERS, UM, TWICE AND WE WORKED IN THAT FULL TIME.
WHAT DID THEY GIVE YOU? NOTHING.
WELL, I AM AGREEING TO SPONSOR TWO KIDS.
I THINK I CALLED THE STANDARD FOR FAMILY WHO RESIDE IN MY DISTRICT AND I'M GOING TO A SPONSOR, BOTH OF THOSE CHILDREN OUT OF MY AWARD MONEY, BUT I JUST NEED TO FIND OUT TO MAKE THE APPROPRIATION TO DO WAYS I MAY HAVE TO JUST SEND IT TO THE IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT AND LET THEM ALLOCATE IT TO YOU BECAUSE I THINK YOU HAVE TO HAVE A TAX ID NUMBER.
NOW I'LL PROBLEM IS NOW, UM, THAT THIS THING IS GONNA WORK IN, YOU KNOW, TIME IS THE FACT THAT HERE TODAY AND GET THEM TO YOU TOMORROW.
CALL ME FIRST THING IN THE MORNING.
HOW MUCH DOES THAT? IT'S ABOUT 202 KID WAS 1 36, A PIECE, $172.
I THINK WHAT HAPPENS IF YOU DON'T GET ENOUGH MONEY, HOW YOU DO YOU HAVE A FALLBACK POSITION OR HOW ARE YOU GOING TO COME UP WITH A BALANCE IF WE DON'T COME UP WITH WHATEVER YOU NEED.
I MEAN, WHAT'S THE, WHAT'S YOUR PLANNING MODE TO GET THE TOTAL AMOUNT THAT YOU NEED TO GO ON THIS TRIP? UM, I GUESS THERE IS NO FALLBACK BECAUSE WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN IS THIS, IF, UM, THE MONEY'S NOT RAISED AS A PENALTY, WE HAVE TO PAY BECAUSE WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN IN THERE.
ARE THERE GOING TO BE TEAMS? THEY'RE WAITING FOR US TO SHOW THAT WON'T HAVE ANYBODY TO PLAY.
YOU CAN'T TAKE THESE KIDS DOWN THE ROAD WITH NOT ENOUGH MONEY TO FEED THEM.
IF WE CAN GET THE MONEY TO THE 2000 FROM THE RECORD APARTMENT MOVED OVER, OKAY, LET ME TELL YOU WHAT IT'S GOING ON.
WHAT KIND OF HESITANT AND THE REASON WE SEEM HESITANT IS BECAUSE WE ARE SAYING, THEY'RE SAYING THAT WHAT WE DO IS WE SET A PRECEDENT.
IF WE CONTINUE TO DO THIS EACH YEAR THAT OTHER GROUPS OR ALL GROUPS, WE WILL EXPECT THAT IF WE, UM, APPROPRIATE MONEY, LIKE LAST YEAR, WE APPROPRIATED MONEY TO SEND TWO TEAMS OR SEND A TEAM SOMEPLACE.
AND THEN THIS YEAR, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY AGAIN, AND EACH TIME WE'RE PULLING OUT OF THE HAT TO, UM, TO SEND A TEAM SOMEPLACE.
AND, UH, I THINK PERSONALLY, NOW THIS IS PERSONALLY, I APPLAUD YOUR EFFORTS.
I'M GLAD TO SEE THESE CHILDREN ACTIVE.
WE LOVE TO SEE THEM GO TO WHEREVER YOU'RE GOING TO TAKE THEM, HAVE NO PROBLEM AT ALL.
IF WE HAVE THE MONEY WITH APPROPRIATING, THE $5,000, AS I TOLD YOU BEFORE, HAD A REAL PROBLEM.
WITH 16,000, I HAD MY FINGERS IN MY EAR.
I THINK THAT YOUNG PEOPLE ARE, YOU THINK ABOUT THESE YOUNG 14 YEAR OLD GUY WHO KILLED A LITTLE GIRL DOWN IN SOME TOWN.
YOU KNOW, IT WAS HER NEIGHBOR WHO WAS 12 YEARS OLD.
YOU THINK ABOUT THE KIND OF CRIME AND THE VIOLENCE THAT CHILDREN ARE GETTING INVOLVED IN.
NOW IF THEIR PARENTS AND OTHERS WHO ARE INTERESTED IN MOTIVATING THE CHILDREN, AND IF THE LEAST, THE LEAST THAT WE CAN DO AS A CITY IS TO ENCOURAGE AND SUPPORT THAT EFFORT WITH A SMALL AMOUNT OF MONEY.
IT WAS A SUGGESTIONS THAT MAYBE IF WE THINK IF WE, IF WE ANTICIPATE THAT EACH YEAR SOMEBODY IS GOING TO COME AND ASK
[00:40:01]
US FOR SOMETHING, AS IT PERTAINS TO CHILDREN THAT MAYBE WE SHOOT YOU'RE MOCKING EACH YEAR, A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT WILL BE USED FOR SPECIAL EVENTS FOR CHILDREN.AND I'M IN FAVOR OF ANY PROJECTS OR ANY PROGRAMS AS IT IS FOR THE UPLIFTING OF CHILDREN.
I DON'T WANT TO OPEN UP A PANDORA BOX, SO WE DON'T HAVE A LOT OF MONEY, BUT IF YOU, YOU KNOW, $5,000, YOU KNOW, I HAVE WARD MONEY AND I'D BE MORE THAN GLAD TO CONTRIBUTE MY WARD MONEY, BUT I LIKE TO SEE US SUPPORT THESE KINDS OF EFFORTS AND ENCOURAGE THE ACTIVITIES OF CHILDREN WHERE WE CAN.
SO I'M NOT DON'T KNOW IF WE HAVE $5,000, SO I'M NOT GONNA PUT ANYBODY ON THE SPOT RIGHT NOW, MY TURN TO SOMEBODY IN A FEW MINUTES AND ASK THEM.
BUT I THINK THAT SOMETHING LIKE THIS IS REALLY, REALLY A PORTABLE PERSONALLY.
I, YOU KNOW, I I'M FROM THOSE NEIGHBORHOODS AND I SEE THESE CHILDREN AND THESE KINDS OF ACTIVITIES ARE THE KINDS OF THINGS THAT MIGHT DETER THEM.
WHOEVER WHO KNOWS JUST THE EXPERIENCE OF GOING TO ANOTHER STATE OR GOING ON A, ON A PROFESSIONAL FOOTBALL FIELD, JUST THOSE EXPERIENCES CAN ENCOURAGE THEM AND DETER THEM FROM OTHER THINGS.
AND IF THE LEAST WE CAN DO NOW, WE GOTTA GO GIVING THEM $16,000 AND DON'T BE COMING UP.
BUT AT THE LEAST WE CAN DO IS AFTER YOU, AS PARENTS HAVE GOTTEN OUT THERE AND HAD BIG SALES AND ALL THESE THINGS AND HAVE RAISED THE MOST OF YOUR MONEY AND THE CITY OF NEWBURGH CAN FIND $5,000.
I WOULDN'T BE IN FAVOR OF IT BEING A WATER.
THE ONLY PROBLEM, ONE OF THE PROBLEMS I HAD, I GUESS IT'S MADE FROM THEIR KEY MEN FOR 120 FEET.
AND MY SUPPORT, BASICALLY, YOU JUST GO WITH THE KIDS TO 99 KIDS.
I WOULD HOPE THE SHAQ HOMES COULD AFFORD TO GO ON SALE, BUT I CAN SEE WHAT THE CITY CAN CHIP IN 40 KIDS.
UM, AND WELL, I DIDN'T EVEN THINK ABOUT HOTELS AND MEALS AND THE ZOO, UH, AND THAT COMES TO ABOUT $2,600.
UM, I DON'T KNOW HOW THE MOTHER BOARD MEMBERS KNOW THEY WOULD PROBABLY NEED SOME OTHER DISCUSSION, BUT OBVIOUSLY CARBON THAT I'VE SEEN SUPPORT $3,000 FOR THIS.
OKAY, WELL THEN, THEN, UM, WE, IF WE'RE GOING TO DO IT THAT WAY, THEN WHY DON'T WE SAY, UM, YOU KNOW, YOUR $5,000 WILL BE 40 KIDS.
THE MONEY THAT WE RAISED WILL BE FOR THE VOLUNTEER COACHES, WE DON'T GET PAID VOLUNTEER COACHES, CHAPERONE, YOU KNOW, WE, WE GOT PARENTS WHO ARE GOING TO FOLLOW US DOWN.
AND IF I GOT KID, IF I GOT PARENTS, WHO'S GOING TO FOLLOW ME DOWN AND PUT UP WITH SOMEBODY ELSE'S KID FOR A WHOLE WEEKEND AND DO WHAT I'D ASKED THEM TO DO OR WHATEVER WAS ASKED OF THEM TO DO.
AND WE CAN'T DO ANYTHING WRONG.
YOU KNOW? AND THEN, AND THEN OUR PROBLEM IS THIS.
YES, EVERY YEAR, EVERY YEAR, IT IS PUT IN THE BUDGET FOR THESE GUYS THAT HAVE MONEY.
IF THEY, IF IT'S PUT IN THE BUDGET EVERY YEAR FOR THESE GUYS TO HAVE MONEY, IF THEY MAKE IT TO A BOWL GAME, IF THEY DON'T, THEIR MONEY CAN BE TURNED OVER THE DIRECTOR, PUBLIC BUDGET, BUT EVERY YEAR.
SO THAT BRINGS US HERE BECAUSE THE MONEY IS CUT AT.
I JUST LIKE TO SPEAK ON THIS ISSUE ABOUT THE L ROBERT AROUND MR. BELL AND ASK ABOUT, DID THEY GO BEFORE THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS? AND THEY DID COME BEFORE THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS.
AND I, I MADE THE MOST NEVER GIVEN ANY MONEY.
I FELT SO TERRIBLE THAT THOSE GUYS LOOK, THOSE KIDS IN THE FACE AND SAID, NO.
NOW I REALIZED THAT WE SPEND ABOUT $38,000 A YEAR TO KEEP A PERSON IN PRISON.
AND WE CAN SPEND THREE TO $500, SEND ONE TO COLLEGE.
AND I THINK IT'D BE WELL WORTH IT TO SEE THAT THESE KIDS GOING THIS TRIP, SOME OF THEM HAVE BEEN ON A TRIP NOWHERE.
AND THESE THERE'S A LOT OF THOSE, SOME OF THOSE KINDS OF COMMISSION, NOT IN ON THE BOARD TODAY, BECAUSE, BECAUSE THEY LOOK THE KIDS IN THE FACE AND SAID, NO, BUT I DID HAVE ONE.
WELL, ONE OF THE LAWYERS TO FEEL SORRY FOR THE KID.
AND HE WROTE ME A CHECK OFF AT $3,500 TO GIVE TO THE KIDS TO HELP HIM ON THE WAY.
AND I THOUGHT THAT WAS VERY GRACIOUS BECAUSE I HAD
[00:45:01]
HAD THE MONEY OUT OF THE ROPE, THE BALANCE ON IT.BUT YOU KNOW WHAT? KIDS ARE THIS WANTING TO DO SOMETHING POSITIVE.
I WANT TO HELP THOSE KIDS, ALL THAT I CAN NOW SPEND THE REST OF MY LIFE, TRYING TO TRY TO HELP PEOPLE, BUT MAYBE THAT'S WHY I DON'T HAVE ANY MONEY, BUT THE LORD BLESSED ME ANYWAY.
AND WE NEED TO LOOK AT THIS THING IN A REALISTIC WAY.
THAT'S LIKE I TOLD MY BOSS, I WAS SO HURT WITH THOSE GUYS.
I KNOW WHAT TO DO, BUT THESE KIDS ARE PRECIOUS.
THAT'S THE MOST PRECIOUS GIFT TO GOD GIVES US.
AND IF WE CAN'T INVEST $5,000 IN KIDS, NO MATTER WHO KIDS ARE, I'LL THINK I HAVE A ONE.
I DON'T HAVE NO KIDS ON, ON THE TEAM, BUT I'VE BEEN FIGHTING.
I MEAN, I WAS OUT TO A BREAKFAST EARLY SATURDAY MORNING THAT THEY HAD TO TRY TO RAISE MONEY FOR THE KIDS.
AND THEY'D BEEN RAISING MONEY ALL THE TIME.
AND NOW THEY ASKED ME FOR 5,000.
AND I THINK THAT'S SHOWING THAT THEY'RE INTERESTED IN TRYING TO DO SOMETHING TO BUILD THE KIDS.
AND WHEN YOU BUILD THESE KIDS, YOU'RE GOING TO BE ABLE THE WHOLE COMMUNITY.
AND I JUST, I JUST LIKE TO SEE THE CITY, GET THESE, GIVE THESE KIDS $5,000.
I LOOK AT THIS AS AN INVESTMENT.
I DON'T LOOK AT THROWING ATTACK, PILL, MONEY AWAY, BUT I LOOK AT IT THE BEST MAN AND KIDS.
AND I FEEL STRONGLY THAT WE NEED TO HELP THESE KIDS TO GO OUT AND TAKE THIS TRIP AND SEE SOME POSITIVE IMAGES, RATHER THAN SEE ALL THESE NEGATIVE IMAGES STANDING ON THE STREET, CORNERS AND COST AND ALL THE TAXPAYER MONEY.
WE'RE NOT GOING TO AFFORD, BE ABLE TO AFFORD TO PAY THESE PRISON BILLS IN THE LONG WITH THE TAXPAYER TAKE THE, I GOT REALIZED AFTER AWHILE THAT YOU'RE THROWING GOOD MEN AT BAD MONEY, YOU DON'T SPEND SOME MONEY ON, ON THE FRONT END.
AIN'T NO NEED TO WAIT IN JAIL.
YOU CAN, YOU CAN LOOK AT THIS, THIS, THIS IS A PSYCHOTIC,
AND WE GOT TO KEEP ROLLING SPENDING MONEY.
WHY NOT SPEND SOME ON THE FRONT END? AND I THINK $5,000 WOULD BE A GREAT AND BEST.
HOW, HOW OLD ARE THESE KIDS? THE KIDS AGE FROM THE AGE OF EIGHT TO 13 YEARS OF AGE? WELL, WHY DID Y'ALL KNOW? I HAVE PERSONALLY IN MIND, DISCRETIONARY MONEY GIVEN INTO THE WARNER LEAGUE EVER SINCE I'VE BEEN THE MAYOR, BECAUSE I DO BELIEVE IN SUPPORTING THOSE KIDS.
AND I'VE SEEN NOW DISCIPLINED IN HOW MUCH WORK THEY DO AND, UH, DONATED SOME PERSONAL MONEY TO THIS THING TODAY.
AND, UH, LIKE MR. REINER, IF YOU GIVE ME A CALL IN THE MORNING, I'LL PERSONALLY DONATE SOME MORE MYSELF.
THEY ONLY, THE ONLY QUESTION THAT WAS ON THE BOARD WAS THEY WERE QUESTIONING WHETHER THEY HAD THE RIGHT TO USE TAX MONEY FOR IT AND DO USE TAX MONEY FOR IT.
NUMBER ONE, WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE IT IS LEGALLY.
THE SECOND THING IS THAT WE'RE DOING WHAT THE 22,000 CITIZENS OF NEWBURGH WOULD WANT US TO DO.
AND I FEEL LIKE WE OUGHT TO SUPPORT THE KIDS SOMEHOW BECAUSE THERE'S 97 KIDS THAT ARE IN AN ORGANIZED SITUATION, GETTING REWARDED FOR SOME HARD WORK.
AND I JUST DON'T KNOW THAT THEY'LL UNDERSTAND IT.
IF WE DON'T SUPPORT THEM, THOSE ARE TOO YOUNG AND THEY MIGHT TAKE IT AS THE WRONG MESSAGE.
YOU KNOW, THAT YOU WEREN'T HARD AND YOU DON'T MAKE IT.
SO I FEEL LIKE WE ALL SUPPORT THEM THE BEST WE CAN.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE BEST WE CAN IS THAT FALLS IN SOMEBODY ELSE'S LAP, BUT I'LL BE WILLING TO HELP AGAIN, IF YOU, RIGHT AFTER YOU CALLED HIM, YOU CAN CALL ME AND I'LL HELP YOU WITH SOME.
AND I STILL GO, I CAN'T HELP YOU WITH THAT MUCH, BUT I CAN HELP YOU WITH THE SONG FOR US TO FEEL LIKE, YOU KNOW, IT'S DOING THE RIGHT THING.
SO ANYBODY ELSE GOT COMMENTS AFTER HIS TELLER MAKES HIS CALLS? WHAT IS IT POSSIBLE? WE COULD HAVE YOU BE ABLE TO SEE THE MANAGER, LET IT HAVE WASN'T THE BALANCES AT THAT TIME.
AND THEN MAYBE WE WOULD CALL THE BOARD TO SAY, WE WERE CLOSE TO FIGURE THAT MAYBE IN OTHER WORDS, TAKE IT OFF TO 5,000, WHATEVER MADE MR. REINER AND OTHERS AND OTHERS, AND MAYBE THEY WOULD COME WITH A BALANCE WITH THAT.
WHEREAS WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO IS COME UP WITH $5,000.
I HAVE SEVERAL THINGS THAT I WANT TO MENTION.
[00:50:01]
THE CITY DOES SUPPORT THE KIDS RECREATION PROGRAMS TO THE TUNE OF HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS A YEAR THROUGH OUR RECREATION DEPARTMENT.SO WE DO CONTRIBUTE A SIZABLE AMOUNT OF MONEY, AND WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT $5,000 OF CITY MONEY.
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT MORE THAN THAT, BECAUSE YOU MENTIONED 2000 COMING FROM STANLEY WHITE, AND THAT'S ALSO CITY TAXPAYERS MONEY.
SO WE'RE TALKING ABOUT $7,000 THERE.
AND, UH, AND THEY'RE, AND THE MONEY THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT, GIVING YOU OUT OF THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT FUND.
ONCE AGAIN IS COMING OUT OF THE TAX FUND.
THE THING THAT BOTHERS ME MORE THAN ANYTHING ELSE IS WHICH GROUP DO I HAVE TO TURN DOWN? I WOULD HOPE OR WHATNOT.
WELL, I WOULD HOPE NONE TOO, BUT THE PROBLEM IS WE'VE GOT A LADY HERE WITH A DRAINAGE PROBLEM.
WE GOT PEOPLE ALL OVER TOWN THAT WON'T DRAINAGE, DITCHES FIXED.
ARE WE GOING TO TURN DOWN THE NEXT GROUP THAT COMES UP, WANTS TO GO ON A TRIP.
THE CITY I'VE SAID THIS A LOT OF TIMES, THE CITY HAS NO MONEY.
EVERY PENNY WE SPEND, WE TAKE OUT OF YOUR POCKETS, THE TAXPAYER'S POCKETS.
EVERY WE GET A LITTLE SALES TAX MONEY, ET CETERA, BUT THE CITY DOESN'T HAVE MONEY.
WE WERE SPENDING THE TAXPAYER'S MONEY WHEN WE SPEND THIS MONEY AND WE CAN SPEND IT UNTIL THEY GRAB US BY THE NECK AND CHOKE US FOR ANYTHING WE WANT TO SPEND IT FOR.
BUT WE'VE GOT TO CONSIDER THAT EVERY ONE OF THOSE PENNIES IS COMING OUT OF THE TAXPAYER'S POCKETS.
AND HOW MANY CAN WE TAX YOU? HOW MUCH CAN WE TAX YOU? WHERE, WHERE DOES THE MONEY GO? FIRST? DOES IT GO TO THE CLEANUP AND DRAINAGE PROBLEM, WHICH IS A HEALTH ISSUE.
DOES IT GO TO FUND ANOTHER POLICE CAR, WHICH IS A SAFETY ISSUE? AND I REALLY DON'T THINK THESE KIDS ARE GOING TO GO TO PRISON IF THEY DON'T GO TO FLORIDA.
AND, AND IT KEEPS SAYING, YOU KNOW, THIS KIND OF THING KEEPS ME OUT OF PRISON AND I WOULD LOVE TO BE ABLE TO VOTE TO GIVE THEM THIS MONEY.
BUT THEN DO WE TELL THE NEXT GROUPS? NO, BECAUSE THEORETICALLY THERE IS NO END.
THERE ARE OTHER GROUPS OUT THERE WHO WOULD LIKE TO COME TO THE CITY AND GET SOME OF THE MONEY.
YOU'VE DONE RAISING THE MONEY SO FAR, BUT IT'S TOUGH TO TELL SOMEBODY, WE CAN'T FIX A MOSQUITO FIELD DRAINAGE DITCH AND THEN SPEND THE MONEY FOR ONE WEEK TO PLAY FOOTBALL.
AND WHICH IS THE MOST IMPORTANT.
AND WE CAN'T, WE CAN'T DO ALL OF IT.
WE CAN'T BECAUSE WE CAN'T TAX YOU ENOUGH TO PAY FOR EVERYTHING.
SO WE HAVE TO DECIDE WHERE IT GOES.
WE JUST, WE JUST CAN'T PAY FOR EVERYTHING PEOPLE WANT US TO PAY FOR MS. MAY.
I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION THAT WE, UH, GIVE THEM THE, THE MONEY LESS, THAT, THAT THEY GET WITHIN THE NEXT FEW DAYS.
YOU KNOW? AND, AND I'D LIKE TO POINT OUT WHEN I'M IN MY, THAT, THAT, THAT THE PARENTS OF THESE 99 CHILDREN ARE TEXTS PAYERS AS WELL.
AND OFTENTIMES WHEN WE JUMP ON CERTAIN SOAP BOXES, WE DO THAT JUST TO INCITE A REACTION.
AND I THINK THAT I GIVE ALL TAXPAYERS A LITTLE BIT MORE CREDIT.
I BELIEVE THEY CARE ABOUT WHAT HAPPENS TO YOUNG PEOPLE.
AND I DOUBT IF THEY'LL FEEL THREATENED IF WE SEND SOME KIDS TO FOOTBALL GAMES.
SO I LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION THAT WE GIVE THEM THE MONEY, LESS, THE AMOUNT THAT THEY PLAN TO RECRUIT, UM, 5,000, WHAT I'M GOING TO GIVE HIM, MR. RYAN IS GOING TO BE, AND ANYBODY ELSE WE NEED TO HAPPEN.
AND I'LL GIVE YOU SOME OUT OF MY WARD MONEY.
WELL, I WOULD LIKE, I WOULD LIKE TO SAY BEFORE THE VOTE THAT I TAKE EXCEPTION TO THE SOAP BOX REP, I THINK THAT WAS TOTALLY UNCALLED FOR, BECAUSE I'M, WELL, YOU'VE ALREADY SAID IT NOW, BUT, UH, I THINK I WAS TOTALLY UNCALLED FOR, BECAUSE I WOULD LOVE TO BE ABLE TO SEND EVERY YOUNG GROUP TO EVERY GAME THAT THEY'RE INVITED TO PLAY LIKE THAT.
AND I BELIEVE, AND WE'RE GONNA, WE'RE GONNA, WE'RE GONNA VOTE.
I BELIEVE, I BELIEVE YOU MAX, BUT REALLY, AND FOR THE SAKE OF JUST REMARKS AND I REALLY DO BELIEVE YOU TURNED THEM OFF, BUT WE CAN'T YET, IN MY OPINION, THE ONES THAT WE CAN'T SEND, THAT WE CAN'T SEND ANYBODY, YOU KNOW, I MEAN, IT'S, IT'S LIKE A MAN SAID, WE HAVE TO TAKE THEM ONE AT A TIME, YOU KNOW? AND, AND ON TO THAT STATEMENT, I'D LIKE TO SAY THAT WHATEVER MONEY WE COME UP WITH, THIS
[00:55:01]
IS NOT TO BE A PRECEDENT SETTING ARRANGEMENT.PEOPLE HAVE TO, WHEN THEY COME UP WITH THESE SPECIAL EXCURSIONS, WE'LL HAVE TO DO MORE.
NOW I KNOW YOU'VE DONE A LOT, BUT WHEN YOU CAN'T COME UP AND ALWAYS GET THE BOARDS AND MAKE UP THE SHORTFALL.
SO WE DON'T WANT THIS TO BE A PRECEDENT.
WE WANT TO MAKE THIS A ONE-TIME SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT.
AND LET EVERYBODY KNOW THAT IN THE FUTURE, WE CAN'T SUPPORT EXCURSIONS REGARDLESS OF HOW BENEFICIAL THEY ARE FOR THE PEOPLE THAT GO ON THESE RETAIN AUTOMATICALLY.
I WANT TO SEE THE KIDS GO AND WIN AND THEN COME BACK AND TELL US, THANK YOU, MR. UH, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD FOR SUPPORTING US IN THIS ACTIVITY.
WE'D LIKE TO SUPPORT THE KIDS.
AND MY CONCERN IS WHAT DO WE TELL THE KIDS? IF WE SAY THEY CAN'T GO.
AND THAT'S WHY I WOULD LIKE TO CONTRIBUTE SOME PORTION OF THE SHORTFALL THAT WE HAVE TONIGHT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE KIDS CAN GO.
AND LET ME ADD TO WHAT HE'S SAYING.
IF I CAN, I'D LIKE TO MODIFY THAT DON'T THANK THE BOARD FOR ANYTHING.
THANK THE CITIZENS OF NEWBURN WHOSE TAX MONEY IS GOING TO SEND YOU SAY EVERY TIME YOU PASS A TAX PAYER ON THE STREETS, DOFF YOUR HAT AND THANK HIM.
SO, ANYWAY, THERE'S BEEN A MOTION.
THE SECOND ATHLETE HAS BEEN A SNACK.
I LIKE THE SECOND EMOTION WITH UNDERSTANDING THAT THE BOWL WILL BE PULLED BEFORE.
WHAT ARE YOU SAYING? NOW? HOLD THE BOARD.
NOW YOU MEAN AFTER THE MINE IS COLLECTED, ALL WE BEING PULLED FOR OUR APPROVAL OR POLL, JUST TO LET US KNOW.
WELL, BILL FOR FOUR FIELD, WHAT WOULD IT BE BEST FOR YOU IN TERMS OF THIS? WHATEVER YOUR MOTION SAYS, IF THE MOTION IS TO PAY WHATEVER IT IS, AND THEN NOTIFY YOU WHAT WE PAID AND THAT'S WHAT WE DO.
IF IT'S THE POLL YOU IN THE FIND YOUR BOAT OUT FOR WHATEVER THE AMOUNT LEFT IS, THAT'S WHAT WE'LL DO.
WE JUST NEED TO KNOW WHICH IS, WELL, THE MOTION IS TO PAY WHATEVER IS LEFT TO PAY.
AFTER WE HAD THE CONTRIBUTIONS HAVE BEEN GIVEN TO PROVE THAT IT'S NOT NECESSARILY PLUS THE POWERLESS FOR HOW MUCH WE DO.
SO NOW WHAT I'LL DO IS I'LL CALL YOU TOMORROW AND I'LL TELL YOU WHAT I GAVE.
AND ROBERT CAN TELL YOU WHAT, I GUESS, WHAT HE INTENDS TO YOU.
AND LIKE I SAID, I'M GOING TO CALL A COUPLE OF OTHER PEOPLE AND SEE IF I CAN GET SOME OUT OF SOME OTHER PRIVATE MONIES TO TRY TO REDUCE TO $5,000.
IF WE GET IT DOWN TO NOTHING, THAT'S FINE TO SAY THEY WON'T PAY ANYTHING.
WHAT WE'RE SAYING IS WE'LL MAKE UP THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE ZERO AND 5,000.
BUT I USED TO FILE, UH, JAY, I'M GOING TO CALL HIM ON AND SEE WHAT I'VE GOT SO I CAN, SO WE'LL JUST CALL IT
SO WHAT WE'RE VOTING, WE'RE NOT VOTING AT THIS POINT ON ANY GIVEN AMOUNT, BUT WE WILL VOTE BY PHONE AS TO WHETHER TO GIVE THE AMOUNT THAT THEY NEED WHEN THEY FIND OUT WHAT THAT AMOUNT IS CONVOLUTED, TO GET THE BALANCE.
IN OTHER WORDS, THERE SHOULD BE A MAXIMUM OF 5,000.
THAT WOULD MEAN THAT I DIDN'T GIVE ANY ROBERT DIDN'T GIVE ANY, WE DIDN'T RAISE ANY MORE, BUT IT CAN BE AS LOW AS HIS METH BECAUSE WE RAISED THE WHOLE 5,000.
WHY WAS THE CITY OF MAKEUP? THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN 5,000 MINUS WHAT HE AND I GIVE AND Y'ALL GIVE WHEN THE DIFFERENT MATTERS.
AS A MATTER OF FACT, I'M GOING TO CALL AND SEE IF I CAN GET SOME OTHER HELP.
WE'LL COME UP WITH FIVE GIRLS, ME AND MAMA PACK AND GIVE YOU A RIDE.
OKAY? WE NEED A VOICE VOTE ALL IN FAVOR OF THAT, SAY, AYE, ALL OPPOSED.
WELL, NOW I DON'T LIVE WHAT THAT WAS.
CAUSE I THINK IT WAS A FOUR, WHICH FOUR TO TWO, IT SOUNDED LIKE I CAN'T VOTE FOR BLANK CHECKS WITH TAX FUNDS.
I GUESS THAT'S THAT? THE NEXT THING WE HAVE IS THE AUDIT PRESENTATION.
AND AFTER THAT LAST MOTION, WE PROBABLY MESSED IT UP A LITTLE BIT, BUT YOU CAN COME AND Y'ALL WANT TO GO AHEAD.
AS YOU'RE DOING MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD
[01:00:01]
OR AUDIT FOR FLATTERING HAS COMPLETED OUR AUDIT FOR THE YEAR ENDED JUNE 30TH.YOU MIGHT HAVE TO PULL THAT MIC A LITTLE CLOSER.
I'M FIVE YEARS OLDER THAN I WAS HEAR.
SAY MY FRIEND WAS ON THE SOAP BOX.
HE WAS A NO MORE SO FAST AND I AM, WE GET ALONG MUCH BETTER THAN MOST BOYS CONVICTION MARY.
MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, OUR AUDIT FIRM, MCGLADREY AND PULLEN HAVE COMPLETED OUR AUDIT FOR THE YEAR, ENDED JUNE 30TH.
AND WE HAVE TONIGHT, UH, RANDY GRAY MANAGER AND, UH, DAVE BAKER IN CHARGE ON THE AUDIT.
THEY'RE HERE TO PRESENT THE AUDIT TO YOU TONIGHT.
GOT IT DOWN JUST A LITTLE BIT, THEN I'LL JUST TALK LOUD.
AS ALWAYS, IT'S A PLEASURE TO BE BEFORE THIS BOARD AND WE APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TONIGHT.
WE'LL TRY TO MAKE IT AS BRIEF AS POSSIBLE YET AS INFORMATIVE AS POSSIBLE.
AGAIN, THIS YEAR WE PERFORMED THE AUDIT AND, UH, WOULD LIKE TO START BY THANKING YOUR FINANCE DIRECTOR, MARY BRATCHER FOR THE FINE JOB THAT SHE AND THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT HAVE DONE FOR YOU AGAIN THIS YEAR.
AND I SAY FOR YOU ALSO FOR US, BECAUSE IT'S A JOINT EFFORT, THE PRODUCTION, THIS REPORT COULDN'T BE DONE WITHOUT HER STAFF AND MARY AND WITHOUT THE SUPPORT OF THE BOARD AND THE MAYOR.
AND WE ALSO APPRECIATE THAT SUPPORT THAT YOU GIVE THEM FOR THAT.
UH, WHAT WE'VE TRIED TO DO TONIGHT IS I WANT TO GO OVER A COUPLE OF ISSUES WITH YOU.
WE BROUGHT IT DOWN TO A PRESENTATION AT ANY TIME.
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, PLEASE FEEL FREE TO ASK.
AND IF WE CAN'T TONIGHT, WE'LL CALL YOU BACK WITH AN ANSWER.
UH, FIRST THING I WANT TO GO OVER WITH YOU IN YOUR REPORTS LOCATED ON PAGE ONE, AND THAT'S OUR AUDIT OPINION.
IT'S REALLY THE ONLY PART OF THIS REPORT THAT WE AS A FIRM OWN.
THE REST OF THIS REPORT IS YOUR REPRESENTATION TO US ON WHICH WE PERFORM AN AUDIT.
AGAIN, THIS YEAR YOU'VE RECEIVED THE HIGHEST FORM OF ASSURANCE.
WE CAN GIVE YOU ON YOUR FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, WHICH IS AN UNQUALIFIED OPINION.
IN OTHER WORDS, A CLEAN OPINION.
AND TO PREFACE EVERYTHING WE WANT TO SAY, WE FOUND EVERYTHING TO BE IN VERY GOOD SHAPE THIS YEAR.
SO IF THAT HELPS YOU UNDERSTAND WHAT WE GO THROUGH, UH, THERE'S JUST A COUPLE OF HIGHLIGHTS, WE'LL POINT OUT, BUT EVERYTHING WAS IN GOOD SHAPE.
AGAIN, HAVE A LOT OF COOPERATION.
IT MAKES A LOT EASIER ON US TO BE UP HERE TONIGHT, VERSUS IF THINGS WERE IN BAD SHAPE.
SO AGAIN, YOU RECEIVED AN UNQUALIFIED OPINION ON YOUR FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND THAT'S VERY GOOD.
WHAT WE'LL DO NOW IS GO OVER THE, THE GRAPHICS.
THESE REALLY REPRESENT THE NUMBERS THAT ARE IN THE REPORT AND I'D ENCOURAGE EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU TO READ THE FINANCIALS, AS LABORIOUS AS THAT MAY SEEM INCLUDING THE FOOTNOTES AS SOME REAL GOOD INFORMATION FOR YOU.
AND THOSE, UH, WOULDN'T SUGGEST DOING IT WHEN YOU'RE ALL TIRED OR ANYTHING, BUT JUST GO OVER THOSE AT YOUR EARLIEST CONVENIENCE.
AFTER WE GO OVER THE FINANCIAL INFORMATION, DAVE, WE'LL GO OVER SOME COMPLIANCE ISSUES WITH YOU.
UM, SO WE'LL KIND OF BREAK IT UP THAT WAY.
IT'S GOING TO START WITH THAT.
EACH ONE OF YOU HAS A GRAPH PACKAGE ALSO IN FRONT OF YOU.
IF IT'S EASIER TO SEE THAT VERSUS THIS, THIS IS REALLY FOR THE CITIZENS AND SPREAD.
UH, FIRST THING I WANT TO COVER IS YOUR GENERAL FUND BALANCE.
AND OVERALL THIS YEAR, YOU SEE THE INCREASE THERE.
AND I WANT TO PREFACE THAT WITH THE, THE RED IS A RESERVE FUND BALANCE AND YOU SEE THAT DECREASED, THE YELLOW IS YOUR UNRESERVED FUND BALANCE, AND THAT'S AN INCREASE.
THAT'S REALLY JUST A PLAY ON WHERE THE MONEY WAS LOCATED AT YEAR END.
IT'S REALLY NOT THAT YOU REALLY HAVE A LOT MORE UNRESERVED VERSUS LAST YEAR, LAST YEAR, YOU HAD MORE ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLES AND THE STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA
[01:05:01]
HAS A VERY TIGHT RULE AND THE MEASUREMENT OF UNRESERVED FUND BALANCE.IN OTHER WORDS, IT'S NOT AVAILABLE TO SPEND, IF IT'S NOT COLLECTED IN CASH.
AND LAST YEAR YOU HAD MORE RECEIVABLES, THE ISSUE YOU HAD LESS.
SO PART OF THAT INCREASE IS A COLLECTION OF THE RECEIVABLES IN OTHER WORDS.
AND PART IS BECAUSE YOU HAD EXCESS REVENUE OVER EXPENDITURES.
SO IT'S, IT'S ATTRIBUTABLE TO DIFFERENT THINGS.
WELL, WE'D LIKE TO SHOW YOU IS THE UNRESERVED PORTION, THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT COMMISSION, WHICH REGULATES ALL THE GOVERNMENTS IN NORTH CAROLINA SETS A BASE STANDARD OF 8%.
AND IF YOU GET DOWN TO 8%, AS YOU WERE IN 1993, YOU GET A NASTY LETTER THAT SAYS, HEY, WHAT YOU INTEND TO DO ABOUT THIS? BECAUSE THAT'S BASICALLY ONE MONTH OF EXPENDITURES THAT YOU HAVE ON HAND FOR THE NEXT YEAR THAT YOU COULD APPROPRIATE THIS YEAR.
AS YOU SEE, YOU'VE GOT AN INCREASE FROM THE PRIOR YEARS, YOU'RE UP TO 20%, WHICH SEEMS LIKE GOOD GROWTH, BUT I WANT TO GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE.
AND THAT REPRESENTS ABOUT TWO AND A HALF MONTHS.
IF SOMETHING HAPPENED, TAKE RANCH IN HURRICANE MITCH IN HONDURAS.
IF SOMETHING OF THAT MAGNITUDE HAPPENED HERE, IF YOU WERE IN OPERATION, YOU COULD ONLY GO TWO AND A HALF MONTHS WITHOUT CORRECT, WITHOUT COLLECTING ANY TAX PAYER FUNDS, WHICH CONCEIVABLY COULD HAPPEN WITH A BAD DISASTER.
SO THAT'S KIND OF HOW TO PUT THAT IN THE TERMS WE UNDERSTAND IN COMPARISON TO OTHER CITIES OF SIMILAR SIZE, YOU'RE AT 20% OTHER CITIES, WE'RE AT 35%.
SO WHILE YOU DO SHOW THAT INCREASE THIS YEAR, I DON'T THINK IT'S ANYTHING TO GET REALLY EXCITED ABOUT BECAUSE YOU'RE STILL NOT WHERE OTHER SIMILAR SIZED CITIES ALL UP AND STATEWIDE.
YOU'RE NOT EVEN MEETING THE STATEWIDE AVERAGES.
CERTAINLY CERTAIN CITIES HOLD MORE BACK THAN OTHERS.
YOU'VE BEEN VERY SMART OVER THE YEARS TO TRY TO INCREASE THAT.
AND I THINK YOU'RE DOING THE RIGHT THING BY CONTINUING TO DO IT, GO THAT ROUTE.
SO AGAIN, I JUST WANT TO COMPARE THOSE BECAUSE IT HAS INCREASED, BUT IT'S NOT TOO SIMILAR SIZE CITIES AT THIS POINT.
NEXT SLIDE IS ON THE PROPERTY TAX COLLECTION PERCENTAGE.
AND THIS IS THE OVERALL TAX COLLECTION PERCENTAGE FOR PROPERTY TAX.
AS YOU CAN SEE LAST YEAR, YOU WERE 97.43 THIS YEAR.
YOU JUST HAD A SLIGHT DECREASE, A VERY SLIGHT DECREASE, PROBABLY ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE MOTOR VEHICLE TAX IN THERE.
AND IF YOU CAN SEE YOU'RE RIGHT IN LINE, IF I HAD A LITTLE ABOVE WITH OTHER LETTER CITIES OF YOUR SIZE, SO THAT IS OKAY TO BE THERE.
I'LL LET YOU KNOW, THOUGH, THIS YEAR WE WERE ABLE TO BREAK IT OUT BETWEEN NON MOTOR VEHICLE TAX AND MOTOR VEHICLE TAX, YOUR REAL ESTATE, THE PROPERTY TAX ON NON MOTOR VEHICLE TAX.
YOU HAVE A 99.1% COLLECTION PERCENTAGE, WHICH IS EXCELLENT.
AND IT'S STILL JUST THE WAY THEY CHANGED THE MOTOR VEHICLE BILLING IN 1993, IT LAGS BEHIND YOU EVENTUALLY COLLECTED.
IT'S JUST TO COLLECT THE TIMING ISSUE WITH THAT, THAT BRINGS IT DOWN TO A LOWER PERCENTAGE.
SPECIAL FUNDS YOU DISCUSSED THAT PREVIOUSLY TONIGHT, UH, THAT REPRESENTS YOUR GRANT MONEY.
MOSTLY YOUR CDBG FUNDS YOUR COMMUNITY POLICING EFFORTS.
WE DIDN'T SEE PROGRAMS, THINGS OF THAT NATURE.
AS IN PAST YEARS, YOU'VE GOTTEN A LITTLE MORE MONEY.
IT SHOWS THAT YOU SPENT THAT DOWN.
YOU STILL HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF FUN BALANCED.
THAT'S JUST WHERE YOU HAVEN'T COMPLETED SOME PROJECTS.
AND YOU HAVE A LITTLE BIT TO SPEND DOWN ON THAT EVERY YEAR YOU GET NEW GRANTS AND YOU SPEND THOSE GRANTS.
SO THIS IS JUST THE RESIDUAL PIECE OF THAT THERE.
AND DAVE WILL SPEAK TO THE AMOUNT OF GRANT MONEY THAT YOU GOT LAST YEAR.
THIS GRAPH IS YOUR ENTERPRISE ON INCOME OR LOSS.
AND JUST A COUPLE OF POINTS TO HIT HERE WITH YOU.
AND IT'S THINGS WE TALKED ABOUT LAST YEAR AND TO LET YOU KNOW WHAT YOU'VE DONE ABOUT SOME OF THIS, AS YOU SEE THE, UH, THE RED PIECE IS ELECTRIC, AND THAT'S DOWN A LITTLE BIT THIS YEAR, PRIMARILY BECAUSE EVEN THOUGH YOUR MARGINS ARE UP AND WE'LL TALK ABOUT THAT, YOU CHANGE YOUR CAPITALIZATION POLICY ON FIXED ASSETS.
SO WE TOOK SOME ASSETS OFF OF BOOKS THAT WERE SMALL NUMBERS, BUT IN TOTAL WERE LARGE.
SO IT'S NOT A, SO MUCH A CASH DECREASE THERE AS IT LOOKS, IT'S MORE OF A BOOK, A GAP TYPE THING.
AS YOU SEE IT, IT'S, IT'S BEEN DOWN LOWER AND VARIES YOUR SEWER.
YOU HAD A LOSS THIS YEAR, AND WE TALKED ABOUT THE RATE SETTING LAST YEAR, AS I UNDERSTAND IT, YOU'VE ADJUSTED THOSE RATES THIS YEAR.
SO THAT SHOULD CORRECT ITSELF.
YOU DIP INTO SOME OF YOUR FUND BALANCE THIS YEAR TO SUPPORT THAT LOSS YOU'VE ADJUSTED YOUR RATE.
SO THAT SHOULD NEXT YEAR BECOME FAVORABLE AGAIN.
AND WE'LL CONTINUE TO WATCH THAT AS WE GO.
[01:10:01]
THE NEXT GRAPH IS A LETTER FUND MARGIN DID REALLY WELL THIS YEAR IN PARIS IN THE LAST YEAR, YOUR REVENUES UP, AND THEN YOUR IN ADDITION TO THAT, YOUR MARGINS UP.SO YOU'RE REALLY WATCHING YOUR COSTS AND COST LOSE POWER.
SO AGAIN, IN A NORMAL YEAR, YOU WOULD EXPECT YOUR INCOME TO BE INCREASING A LITTLE BIT, BUT YOU HAD A BOOK LOSS AND THOSE CAPITALIZATION DIFFERENCES, BUT YOU'RE B YOU'RE MAKING THEM IN THE WAY YOU RUN A LETTER TO THE APARTMENT FOR INCREASING THAT YOU'VE SEEN BACK IN 95 WAS 18.6.
THAT'S QUITE A BIG DIFFERENCE.
AND WITH THE STATE OF ILLINOIS THINGS NOWADAYS, AND TALK WITH DEREGULATION, THIS HAS TO HAPPEN.
YOU HAVE TO MONITOR THIS VERY CLOSELY.
THIS IS JUST ANOTHER SHOWING THEM THAT YOU CAN SEE ON THE ORANGE, WHERE YOUR REVENUE IS INCREASING OVER THE LAST YEAR.
THEN YOUR CALL IT FAILED PRETTY STABLE, A SMALL INCREASE, BUT WHAT'S REALLY HELPED YOUR MARGIN INCREASE THERE.
NEXT? WHEN I DON'T KNOW IF HE COULDN'T REALLY ALONE ABOUT, WE'VE TALKED ABOUT IT BEFORE YOUR DAY SALES AND ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE, YOU WOULD EXPECT ON YOUR UTILITY FUNCTIONS, YOU COLLECT PRETTY AN AVERAGE OF 30 TO 40 DAYS AFTER YOU DO YOUR BILLING.
THIS PERCENTAGE OR DAY SALES AND ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE INCREASED THIS YEAR ACROSS THE BOARD.
AND THAT WAS BECAUSE YOU INSTALLED A NEW SOFTWARE PACKAGE.
AND AT YEAR END, SOME OF THE BILLINGS WERE LATER THAN A PRIOR YEAR, AND THEY WEREN'T COLLECTED BY YEAR END.
THEY WERE COLLECTED SHORTLY AFTER YOU'RE IN.
SO WHILE THIS SHOWS AS AN INQUIRY, IT'S REALLY NOT A, THIS WILL COME DOWN NEXT YEAR.
YOUR CASHFLOW JUST TOOK A LITTLE BUMP FOR A FEW DAYS, BUT IT'S WHERE IT REALLY SHOULD BE.
AND IT'S JUST BECAUSE OF THE TIMING SEQUENCE OF THAT.
SO AGAIN, NOTHING YOU'D BE REAL CONCERNED ABOUT THERE, AND I'M SURE NEXT YEAR, WHEN WE COME BACK AND PRESENT TO YOU, WE'LL, WE'LL TELL YOU WHY DECREASE AND REMIND YOU OF THAT.
AGAIN, SOME THINGS YOU'VE BEEN ARRESTED IN THE PRIOR YEARS ON YOUR ENTERPRISE FUNDS SOURCES OF CASH FLOWS, AND YOU CAN SEE LIKE YOUR FUND PRETTY MUCH IS FUNDED BY OPERATIONS THIS PAST YEAR, A LITTLE BIT OF INTEREST, AND THEN YOU GOT MISCELLANEOUS OTHER AND A LITTLE BIT OF DEBT FINANCING.
LOT OF OPERATIONS ABOUT HALF WENT INTO YOU ALSO ISSUED A LOT OF NEW DEBT THIS YEAR.
AND THOSE IN OTHER WORDS, INSTALLMENT PROCEEDS WHERE YOU'VE GONE TO BUY FIXED ASSETS.
SO YOU WENT TO THE MARKETPLACE FOR INSTALLMENT LEASE PURCHASES.
SO THAT'S THE INFLOWS OF CASH.
AND THOSE FUNDS YOU'LL WANT TO COMPARE THAT TO THE OUTFLOWS OF CASH.
AS YOU CAN SEE, AGAIN, THE LETTER FUND, IT'S BEEN OVER HALF OF THIS INFLOWS OF CASH TO UPGRADE SYSTEMS, TO PROVIDE PROPER MAINTENANCE, TO PROVIDE SERVICE, SAME WITH WATER AND SEWER, WHICH YOU'D ALWAYS EXPECT THAT'S NORMAL.
THE YELLOW IS DEAD SOURCE, WHICH I KNOW YOU'VE BEEN INTERESTED IN THE PAST FEW YEARS.
YOU KNOW, YOU'VE GOT TO FIND THAT DAY AGAIN, THAT'S, LONG-TERM IN NATURE, BUT IT'S TIED TO THE LENGTH OF THE LIVES OF THE ASSETS AND HOW LONG THEY'LL BE USEFUL IF THAT GIVES YOU ANY, ANY HELP UNDERSTANDING OF THAT.
WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THAT? I THINK IT'S APPROPRIATE WHERE IT IS.
I THINK YOU REALLY HAVE TO BE CAREFUL AND WE WE'VE DONE SOME ANALYSIS ON THE DEBT, UH, BECAUSE IN THE PRIOR THING, WE'LL SEE THE GENERAL FUND OBVIOUSLY INCREASED THIS YEAR.
WAS THERE A LARGE ONE TO PUT IN PERSPECTIVE FOR YOU IN THE GENERAL FUND, A PENNY ON YOUR TAX RATE GENERATES APPROXIMATELY $115,000.
SO FOR EVERY MILLION DOLLARS OF DEBT YOU WOULD ISSUE, YOU WOULD INCREASE YOUR TAX RATE BY ONE PENNY ON THE CURRENT VALUATION.
AND THAT ALLOWS FOR NO GROWTH IN THAT VALUATION.
YOU CERTAINLY HAVE ROOM TO GROW THERE.
YOU HAVE TO WEIGH THE BENEFIT AGAINST THAT.
YOU, YOU REALLY DON'T HAVE A CHOICE.
I DON'T THINK IN THESE SYSTEMS TO KEEP THEM UP TO DATE, YOU'VE HAVE TO GO OUT TO THE MARKETPLACE TO GET THE DEBT AND STRUCTURED IN THE, IN THE TIMEFRAME YOU NEED TO PAY IT BACK.
AND NOW IS AN EXCELLENT TIME TO DO THAT FINANCING, ESPECIALLY WITH THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA BEING AS STRONG AS IT IS RIGHT NOW, INTEREST RATES, OR AS BOTTLES LOW AS THEY'RE GOING TO GET AND HAVE BEEN FOR THE PAST TWO YEARS.
SO NOW IT'S REALLY A FAVORABLE THING TO DO.
UM, WELL, THOSE KINDS OF THINGS YOU REALLY NEED TO DO TO MAINTAIN YOUR EFFICIENCY OR YOU'LL COME PAY FOR IT DOWN THE ROAD ANYWAY, THAT'S RIGHT.
AND I THINK A LOT OF THAT SHOWS GETTING THE MORTGAGE AND THE OVERALL DEBT.
I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DON'T, YOU KNOW, I DEBT RATIO GET TOO HIGH BECAUSE OF MIKE, THE THINGS THAT WE'RE DOING, WE'RE DOING POLICE STATIONS, FIRE STATIONS, ALL KINDS OF STUFF.
AND YOU KNOW, WE WANT TO JUST ASK WHY I ASKED YOU HAVE A YEAR TO, TO TAKE A LOOK AT THIS THING.
AND YOU KNOW, IF WE PUSH A LITTLE BIT TOO FAR OR TOO FAST, BLOW A HORN, YOU KNOW, WE NEED THESE THINGS BECAUSE, AND THEY'VE BEEN NEEDED FOR A LONG TIME, BUT YOU KNOW, WE WANT TO DO THEM AS FAST AS WE CAN, BUT WE DON'T WANT TO JUMP THE TRACKS ENGLAND.
UH, I THINK YOUR ASSESSMENT IS RIGHT ON KEY WITHOUT, I DON'T THINK YOU'RE JUMPING AHEAD AND
[01:15:01]
DOING TOO MUCH.IT'S JUST A DIFFERENT SITUATION THAN THE CITY HAS BEEN IN PREVIOUS YEARS, BUT YOU'RE ADDRESSING THOSE NEEDS.
AND VERY CONSERVATIVELY AT THIS POINT, GOT TO THE DECK, KIND OF GOES HAND IN HAND WITH THE ENTERPRISE FUND EQUITY.
WE TALKED ABOUT DIPPING INTO SOME OF THE EQUITY IN THE SEWER FUND.
AS YOU CAN SEE, THAT'S BEEN A VERY GRADUAL INCREASE.
IN OTHER WORDS, YOU'RE NOT, YOU'RE NOT STASHING ANY MONEY AWAY IN THESE PHONES.
YOU'RE USING IT TO THROW IT BACK INTO YOUR OPERATIONS, TO PROVIDE SERVICES, THE GROWTH, YOU WOULD WANT SOME GROWTH.
AGAIN, YOU MAY HAVE SOMETHING HAPPEN.
YOU MAY NEED TO DIP INTO THAT RESERVE.
THAT'S A VERY MODERATE INCREASE.
SO YOU, AGAIN, BEING VERY CONSERVATIVE FOR THAT.
THIS ONE IS JUST ANOTHER PRESENTATION TO SHOW THE INDIVIDUALLY, SEE THE, UH, THE ELECTRIC, THE WATER, AND IN THE SEWER, THE WATERS AND THE BOTTOM OF LETTERS TO THE LEFT, THE SEWERS, THE ONE YOU TAPPED INTO THIS YEAR BECAUSE OF THAT LOSS BEFORE YOU RESET THE RATES TO ADJUST FOR THAT.
SO WHY HAS THAT GONE MODELING INCREASING OVERALL? YOU DID HAVE ONE THAT DECREASED AND TO EXPAND A LITTLE FURTHER INTO THE TOTAL DEBT, REALLY UTILITY YOU HAVE, EXCUSE ME, COULD YOU GO BACK TO THAT? THE ONE PRIOR TO THIS? YES, SIR.
THAT'S ELECTRIC THAT RED IS ELECTRIC.
THE SEWER IS THE GREEN AND THE WATER IS YELLOW AND IT'S JUST, THEY'RE DIFFERENT ORDER HERE.
AND I WAS TRYING TO KEEP THEY'RE IN DIFFERENT ORDER AND I WAS TRYING TO MATCH THEM UP.
I SHOULD HAVE MY READING GLASSES WITH ME TONIGHT AND IT'S CREATING A PROBLEM.
SOMETHING ELSE I SHOULD HAVE THOUGHT ABOUT IT.
CAUSE I WAS HAVING A DIFFICULT TIME TO FOLLOW SOME OF THIS MYSELF WHEN I SAW THOSE.
THIS IS THE, THIS IS THE TOTAL DEBT WHICH WE TALKED ABOUT.
THE ELECTRIC, IS IT RED? THE SEWERS, THE GREEN WATER IS YELLOW.
AND YOUR GENERAL FUND, YOUR GENERAL LONG-TERM BED ACCOUNT ROUTE IS TO THE RIGHT THAT ORANGE COLOR.
AS YOU CAN SEE THE GENERAL INCREASE SIGNIFICANTLY BECAUSE OF WHAT MIRABELLA WAS TALKING ABOUT, THE FIRE AND POLICE STATION, THE SEVEN A HALF MILLION DOLLAR BOND ISSUE THAT YOU HAD, OR DEBT ISSUANCE WITH THAT, UH, STEEL YOU'RE WELL BELOW THE MAXIMUM YOU COULD BE AT, AND YOUR CASHFLOW IS VERY SUFFICIENT.
THE OTHER DECREASES OR YOUR NORMAL PAY DOWNS OF DEBT, SERVICE, PRINCIPAL, AND INTEREST ON YOUR COPY THAT THE BLUE IS ELECTRIC.
THE YELLOW IS WATER AND THE GREEN IS SILVER, JUST DIFFERENT ARRANGEMENT.
SO AGAIN, VERY NORMAL IN YOUR ENTERPRISE FUNDS, YOU DO HAVE ROOM TO GO GET MORE DEBT.
IF YOU NEED TO, YOU'LL HAVE TO LOOK AT YOUR RATE STRUCTURE WHEN YOU DO THAT.
AND WHEN YOU SAY
AND CAUSE IF YOU DON'T ADJUST THOSE PROPERLY, YOU'LL HAVE THAT LOFT ON TOP AND YOU DON'T WANT TO GET BEHIND.
THEY OUGHT TO BE SELF SUSTAINING.
ANYWAY, THAT'S CORRECT FUNDING, JUST LIKE A PRIVATE ENTERPRISE COMES DOWN.
AND THE NEXT ONE I'M GOING TO SHOW YOU IS JUST, AND I DO THINK THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT TO KNOW THIS IS YOUR CASH INVESTMENT BALANCE.
THAT'S UNRESTRICTED AND YOU'RE DIPPING DOWN.
AND I DID WANT TO POINT THAT OUT BECAUSE YOU'VE ALL DISCUSSED A LOT OF ISSUES OR NOT WITH VARIOUS PEOPLE.
YOU HAVEN'T STOCKPILED A LOT OF CASH.
AND I THINK IT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO SHOW THAT YOU HAVEN'T STOCKPILED A LOT OF CASH.
THIS IS ALL THE CASH OR THE CITY OF NEWBURGH, INCLUDING YOUR ENTERPRISE PHONES.
AND IT ONLY REPRESENTS THREE AND A HALF MONTHS OF OPERATIONS.
SO YOU SEE WHERE YOU'VE BEEN AND IT'S GENTLY DECREASING.
AND PART OF THAT'S BECAUSE YOU HAVEN'T ISSUED A LOT OF DEBT, YOU USED OPERATIONAL MONEY TO DO THAT.
AND YOU'VE GOT TO WATCH THAT, YOU KNOW, I, I WOULD NOT WANT TO SEE THIS GO DOWN TO 4 MILLION OR 3 MILLION NEXT YEAR.
I CAN'T SAY, WHAT IS IT, MAN? IT'S ALL ROUGHLY 6.3 METERS A SECOND.
AND IT'S LOW COMPARED TO SIT AS A SIMILAR SIZE AS IS THAT YES, ON AVERAGE AT SHURI IS LESS.
AND AGAIN, WELL, AVERAGE IS PROBABLY CLOSER TO SIX MONTHS, ANYWHERE FROM FOUR TO SIX MONTHS, BUT MOST TEND TO BE UPWARD ON SIX MONTHS CASH.
AND AGAIN, YOUR FUND BALANCE THAT WE TALKED ABOUT, IT GOES HAND-IN-HAND WITH YOUR UNRESERVED FUND FUND BALANCE.
[01:20:01]
UH, YOU JUST HAVE TO MAKE DETERMINATIONS ON HOW, WHEN YOU SPEND YOUR MONEY, ARE YOU GOING TO RAISE TAXES OR ARE YOU GOING TO GO OUT AND GET INSTALLMENT DEBT PROCEEDS OVER LONGER TERMS, VARIOUS WAYS TO HANDLE IT.THIS BOARD HAS CHOSEN AND PRIOR BOARDS HAVE CHOSEN TO BE VERY CONSERVATIVE AND TRY THE WHOLE LINE ON TAXPAYERS, OBVIOUSLY, BUT AS YOU CAN SEE, IT EATS AWAY YOUR CASH ACCESS, BUT WELL, DIDN'T YOU SAY THOUGH, THAT ONE REASON FOR THAT IS BECAUSE WE KEPT THE, THE LONG-TERM DEBT LOWER THAN WE COULD HAVE MORE AND MORE THAN THAT FUN WOULD HAVE HAPPILY BEEN HIGHER, MORE MONEY, AND THEN YOU, AND THEN YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT HOW LONG HAS IT BARRED FOR A HEART RATE AND WHAT IMPACT OR ROLE DOES I HAVE ON TAXES, BUT THAT'S PRETTY COOL.
THE THREE OF THESE CHARTS YOU'VE PULLED IT OUT THAT, UH, YOU KNOW, WE COULD BE IN SERIOUS TROUBLE IF WE HAD A BIG STORM OR SOMETHING WE HAD TO PUT IN THE MAIN TWO THAT HAPPENED RECENTLY.
BUT YOU'VE GOT TO ALWAYS BE PREPARED FOR THAT BECAUSE ALL OVER THE COUNTRY, IT SEEMS LIKE THE FLOODS AND THE STORMS AND TORNADOES AND ALL THESE THINGS ARE NORMAL FOR LAST YEAR, DANGEROUS TWO AND A HALF MONTHS, TWO AND A HALF MONTHS OF OFFERING.
SO IN LIGHT OF THIS, I THINK WE NEED TO GIVE SOME SERIOUS CONSIDERATION TO STOP THESE MID-YEAR APPROPRIATIONS AND RE SPECIAL REQUESTS, BECAUSE WE DO HAVE TO PUT A LIMIT TO THIS.
MAX WAS HAD A LOT OF VERY GOOD POINTS THAT HE MADE.
EVEN IF WE HAVE TO COME UP WITH A, AN ORDINANCE, JUST STOP THIS IN THE FUTURE.
I DON'T WANT TO BE IN A POSITION TO RAISE TAXES BECAUSE EVERYWHERE I GO, PEOPLE TALK ABOUT THE COST OF LIVING IN NEWTON.
AND, UH, I DON'T WANT TO BE THE ONE TO WORK CONTRIBUTED TO THE HIGH COST OF LIVING IN THIS TOWN.
AM I RAISING TAXES? WE NEED TO BE, WE NEED TO TRY TO GET THIS SUBSIDY IN A POSITION WHERE WE CAN ACTUALLY LOWER TAXES.
THAT'S THE HARD ONE, BECAUSE AGAIN, WE ARE COMPETING WITH OTHER CITIES FOR RESIDENCY AND, UM, IT'S, YOU KNOW, WE'RE COMPETING WITH TRENT WOODS AND MOST PEOPLE WHEN THEY COME TO THIS TOWN AND A BUNCH OF FOLKS, THEY LIKE TO BE MOVED TO TRENT WARS OR IN AN UNINCORPORATED AREA.
BUT I'M SORRY, I DON'T WANT TO GET OFF THE POINT.
NO, KNOW WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT.
A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT RETIRE AND THEY COME IN, THEY CHECK OUT THE TOWNS BEFORE THEY COME TO SEE WHAT CONDITION THEY'RE IN, WHAT KIND OF HOSPITALS AND FACILITIES THEY HAVE AND THE CONDITION TO THE CITY.
AND I'D LIKE TO POINT OUT THAT THE MONEY THAT WE HAVE SPENT I THINK IS MADE QUITE A CHANGE IN THE CITY.
IT HAS BEEN, BUT WHAT THEY WANT ME TO TELL A D ON THESE CHARTS IS THAT WE'VE GOT TO SORTA, UH, IMPROVE OURSELVES A LITTLE BIT IN OUR RESERVES AND ALL THAT MS. A POINT WELL TAKEN.
BUT YOU KNOW, AGAIN, HE'S NOT SAYING, UH, I MEAN, HE'S SAYING ON THE ONE HAND, WE'RE NOT ANYWHERE CLOSE TO, TO MEAN TO HAVE OVERSPENT.
WE ARE STILL FAR BEHIND A LOT OF CITIES OF SIMILAR SIZE CITIES AND SOME OF THE CHARTS WERE NOT UP IN THE CAR.
WHAT I'M SAYING IS, UH, I MEAN, DON'T MISUNDERSTAND WHAT I'M SAYING.
I'M SAYING WE SHOULD BE CONSERVATIVE, ET CETERA, ALL THIS TYPE OF THING.
BUT ALL I'M SAYING IS IF YOU WANT TO MAKE THAT CHART, GO BACK UP.
ALL YOU GOT TO DO IS TO HAVE MORE LONG-TERM DEBT.
AND THE LONG-TERM DEBT THAT WE HAVE YOU SAID WAS NOT ANYWHERE CLOSE TO WHAT IT COULD BE, OR EVEN BE A NO, IT'S NOT, IT'S NOT EXCESSIVE AT ALL.
AND I THINK YOU'VE DONE A GOOD JOB.
YOU DON'T HAVE ANY BIG SWINGS, WHICH I THINK IS IMPORTANT TO PICK OUT IT'S IT'S GRADUAL INCREASES OR DECREASES AND THINGS WHICH YOU WANT TO DO.
YOU DON'T, YOU DON'T WANT TO COME BACK EVERY YEAR.
AND CERTAINLY YOU WOULDN'T WANT YOUR SEWER RATE BILL TO JUMP 30% AND THEN DECREASE IT THE NEXT YEAR.
AND I, I THINK THAT'S WHAT YOU DO A GOOD JOB AT PROBABLY THE BEST IS DOING THINGS AS NEEDED BASIS.
SO YOU'RE NOT KNOW ANYWHERE CLOSE AND NOT TO PUT BRAKES ON ANYTHING.
WELL, ONE OF THEM SITTING UP HERE, WHAT, HOW THIS FINANCIAL PICTURE HAS CHANGED IN THE LAST 10 YEARS.
AND I WOULD LIKE FOR HIM TO GIVE US HIS OPINION OF WHAT HE FOUND 10 YEARS AGO AND WHAT WE HAVE NOW.
WELL, WHAT ARE YOU FINISHED? CAN I FINISH FIRST WITH EVERYTHING? BUT YOU CAN GO AHEAD.
WELL, IF YOU'RE ALL ON TOPICS, I'LL GO AHEAD.
WELL, I JUST MAKE A BRIEF STATEMENT.
AND WHEN, WHEN, UH, I BELIEVE MS. BRATCHER STARTED HERE IN 1986 AND I CAME SHORTLY THEREAFTER ABOUT 1987.
AND, UM, THE CITY WAS NOT IN VERY GOOD FINANCIAL
[01:25:01]
CONDITION AT THAT POINT IN TIME, WE HAD A LOT OF, UH, WE DIDN'T HAVE A LOT OF DEBT, BUT WE HAD A VERY LITTLE CASH ON HAND.I THINK OUR FUND BALANCE AT THAT PARTICULAR TIME WAS CLOSE TO $500,000.
THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT WE PROBABLY HAD IN THE BANK WAS PROBABLY, I WANT TO SAY ABOUT $2.7 MILLION WHERE IT'S ABOUT 6.3 NOW.
AND WE WERE GETTING A LETTER EVERY YEAR FROM THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT COMMISSION THAT GOES BACK TO 93 SHOWS 8%.
THAT WAS THE FIRST YEAR WE MADE IT.
WE WERE A DOWNLIGHT FIVE AND A HALF, 6% OF OPERATING EXPENSES AT THAT TIME.
AND SO IT'S BEEN A, UH, IF YOU DON'T WANT TO TAKE THE MONEY OUT EVERYBODY'S POCKET, IT SAYS, MAX IS SAYING ALL AT ONE TIME, IN ORDER TO MAKE THAT DEFICIT, THEN YOU HAVE TO DO IT A LITTLE BIT AS YOU GO ALONG.
SO I THINK YOU'LL SEE THAT THERE'S BEEN A GENERAL TREND TO GET BETTER.
AND AS YOU CAN SEE THIS YEAR, WE'VE IMPROVED FROM 16% TO 20%.
AND, UH, WE ANTICIPATE THAT WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO GROW SMALL AMOUNTS.
IT'S GOING TO BE A LONG TIME BEFORE WE GET UP TO THAT 35% MARK, BUT I DON'T THINK WE'D WANT TO TRY TO BE THERE TOMORROW BECAUSE IF WE DID, WE'D PROBABLY BE TAKEN TOO MUCH MONEY OUT OF THE COMMUNITY IN ORDER TO DO THAT.
SO, UH, WE WANT TO BE, UH, VERY, UH, DELIBERATE ABOUT IT.
WE WANT TO GET WHAT WE NEED, BUT WE DON'T WANT TO, UH, OVERSPEND.
AND THAT'S A BALANCE THAT YOU ALL HAVE BEEN VERY GOOD ABOUT HELPING US TO OBTAIN.
BUT IF YOU LOOK AT THE CITY'S CASH ON HAND AND FINANCIAL CONDITION TODAY, VERSUS WHAT IT WAS, UH, 10 YEARS AGO, UH, I'D SAY THAT THE BOARD HAS A LOT TO PAT ITSELF ON THE BACK FOR EACH BOARD HAS BEEN HERE DURING THAT TIME.
WELL, YOU KNOW, AND, AND TO ADD TO THAT BILL WHEN YOU CAME HERE AND I, AND I WAS JUST ON THE BORDER A COUPLE OF YEARS, THEN IT'S BEEN A WHOLE LOT OF CATCH UP.
A LOT OF OUR EQUIPMENT AROUND THIS TIME WAS HELD TOGETHER WITH THEM AND WHY.
AND I WAS ASHAMED TO SEE THE CITY SEAL ON A LOT OF OUR EQUIPMENT AND WE'VE IMPROVED IT.
AND I'M NOT REALLY SAYING THAT WE HAVEN'T IMPROVED ALONG OVER THE YEARS.
ALL I'M SAYING IS THAT WE'VE GOT TO KEEP THIS TREND, RIGHT, SO THAT WE CAN IMPROVE THE AMOUNT OF TIME THAT WE HAVE, UH, ALONG WITH OTHER SIMILAR CITIES, UTILITIES, WHAT'S A TOTAL 10 YEARS.
AND I CERTAINLY AGREE WITH THAT.
AND THAT'S WHAT WE INTEND TO DO IN A DELIBERATE MANNER.
AND YOU ALL HAVE BEEN VERY SUPPORTIVE OF STAFF IN MAKING THOSE CHANGES, AND YOU CAN SEE IT REFLECTED THERE ON THE, UH, CHARTS AS YOU GO THROUGH.
AND, UH, IF WE GET SOMETHING LIKE, UH, YOU GO OR MITCH, AND IT REALLY COMES HERE, THEN, UH, IT PROBABLY WOULD CAUSE US SOME FINANCIAL TROUBLE, BUT IT WOULD BE A LOT OF PEOPLE IN FINANCIAL TROUBLE.
WE'D BE GETTING SOME MONEY FROM SOMEWHERE BECAUSE I MEAN, IT WOULD HAVE TO, IT WOULD HAVE TO COME FROM OUTSIDE BECAUSE THE RESOURCES HERE ARE NOT SUFFICIENT TO TAKE CARE OF IT AND NEVER WILL BE SUFFICIENT TO TAKE CARE OF IT.
IF IT'S A YEAR OF SAYING, CAUSE I MEAN, JUSTIN, JUSTIN, BONNIE, WE SPENT CLOSE TO $600,700,000.
AND FORTUNATELY WE GOT A DECLARATION ON THAT.
SO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT'S GOING TO REIMBURSE US FOR MOST OF THAT MONEY.
AND THAT, AND THAT'S THE GREAT THING ABOUT OUR COUNTRY IS THAT IT CAN HELP WHEN PEOPLE HAVE PROBLEMS, BUT WE TRY NOT TO SPEND IT UP FRONT.
IF WE DIDN'T, IF WE HAD HAD THAT HURRICANE OR FRAN OR A BIRTH TO COME IN IN 1987, WE PROBABLY WOULD STILL BE IN THE PROCESS OF DIGGING OURSELVES OUT BECAUSE WE WOULDN'T HAVE HAD THE MONEY OR THE EQUIPMENT TO HAVE TAKEN CARE OF IT.
AND THAT'S THE THING I FEAR IS PEOPLE WILL SEE THAT, THAT AMOUNT OF UNRESERVED FUND BALANCE AND SAY, OH, WE GOT A TON OF MONEY.
WE'D GO OUT AND DO ANYTHING WE WANT TO.
AND, UH, WHEN I THINK WHAT IT WAS LIKE 10 OR 12 YEARS AGO, I THINK PROBABLY BILL AND MARY ARE BEING A LITTLE BASH OR WHEN THEY DON'T TELL YOU, THEY SOMETIMES THEY HAD TO CHECK THE BANK BALANCE, SEE IF THEY COULD MAKE PAYROLL ON THOSE.
YEAH, FOR THE FIRST, FOR THE FIRST YEAR, I THINK WE WERE PRETTY MUCH LOOKING AT HOW CASH FLOW FROM ONE PLACE TO THE OTHER, NOT JUST ON A WEEKLY BASIS, BUT ON A DAILY BASIS.
AND THEN PETE THE IS IN APPEARS TO BE IN GOOD FINANCIAL SHAPE.
I WANT IT TO STAY THERE WELL, AND I, WELL, I THINK WE ALL AGREE.
THE THING THAT I LIKE TO SAY, AND, UH, IT'S REALLY BEEN REMARKABLE, I THINK, IS IT, YOU MENTIONED ELECTRIC CAR IN ALMOST EVERY DEPARTMENT, THE CITY, THE STREETS, FIRE STATION, POLICE STATION, EVERYTHING WAS IN A STATE OF DISREPAIR.
SHALL WE SAY THE NEED IS FOR A LONG TIME, LUCKILY, LUCKILY, OR ANY OTHER WAY YOU WANT TO CALL IT, PAY US MORE TO, SO IT'S KIND OF SPLIT THIS THING OF EITHER MOVING ON OR JUST LET IT ALL ROLL STAGE PROBLEMS AND SOMEHOW, LUCKILY STILL COME OUT OF IT.
AND UH, SO I THINK DON'T REALLY TRY TO UNDERSTAND THIS.
[01:30:02]
THANK YOU.I'M SORRY I INTERRUPTED, BUT THAT'S NO PROBLEM.
THAT'S THIS BALANCES THESE, OKAY.
I'M GOING TO SKIP AHEAD A DAY.
SO WE DON'T TAKE UP MUCH MORE TIME.
I'LL SKIP AHEAD OF DAVID A. LITTLE BIT.
YOU HAVE A SEPARATE LETTER IN FRONT OF YOU AND IT'S, IT'S A STATEMENT OF ONYX STANDARDS.
NUMBER 61, THIS LETTER IS REQUIRED BECAUSE OF THAT.
IT BASICALLY TELLS YOU WHAT OUR AUDIT RESPONSIBILITY WAS.
AND WE HAVE TO REPORT THAT TO YOU.
WHAT STANDARDS WOULD HE PERFORM? THE AUDIT UNDER? IT TALKS ABOUT SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES, UH, MANAGEMENT JUDGEMENTS AND ACCOUNTING ESTIMATES, PROPOSED ACCOUNTING ADJUSTMENTS, WHICH I'M GLAD FOR YOUR FINANCE DEPARTMENT.
WE HAD NO LARGE ACCOUNTING ADJUSTMENTS, ALWAYS, YOU KNOW, SMALL THINGS THAT GET FERRETED OUT IN THE AUDIT PROCESS.
AND THEY USUALLY GIVE US THOSE ENTRIES ANYWAY, BUT NOTHING OF A MATERIAL CONCERN, WE HAD NO DISAGREEMENTS WITH MANAGEMENT ON THE REPORTING OF ANY ITEMS, WHICH IS A VERY POSITIVE SIGN.
UH, WE DIDN'T SEE THAT THEY COULD SOLD IT TO WILLIAM, TO ACCOUNTANTS, WHICH IS ALSO VERY GOOD BECAUSE SOME COMPANIES OR PLACES GO OPINION SHOPPING, YOU KNOW, HOW WILL YOU TREAT THIS IN OUR FINANCIALS? IF WE DO THIS, HOW WILL YOU A PINE? AND WE DON'T LIKE THAT WHEN THAT HAPPENS, BECAUSE YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO DO IT THE RIGHT WAY.
AND WE SAW NO EVIDENCE THAT OCCURRED.
WE DIDN'T HAVE ANY MAJOR ISSUES DISCUSS WITH US ON THOSE SUCH ITEMS EITHER BEFORE THE AUDIT, WHICH WAS GOOD.
AND WE DIDN'T ENCOUNTER ANY DIFFICULTIES DURING ALL THAT.
AGAIN, THEY WERE VERY HELPFUL AND THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO US THROUGH OUR AUDIT PROCESS.
ONE THING WE'RE REQUIRED TO REPORT TO YOU IS A YEAR 2000 ISSUES, WHICH I'M SURE EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU HEARD ABOUT READ ABOUT TIRED OF HEARING ABOUT, UH, YOU HAVE PEOPLE HERE DOING CERTAIN THINGS.
I KNOW PEOPLE ARE LOOKING AT YOUR SYSTEMS. WE WERE NOT ARCHING THAT SYSTEM.
UH, YOU DON'T HAVE A FORMAL PLAN IN PLACE WITH THOSE, ALTHOUGH I KNOW THE SOFTWARE IS BEING LOOKED AT AND THAT'S WHY YOU'RE UPGRADING CERTAIN SOFTWARE.
THAT INFORMATION IS IN HERE FOR YOU TO READ.
ARE YOU SUGGESTING THAT WE SHOULD PUT A FORMAL PROCEDURE IN PLACE? WELL, IT DEPENDS ON HOW MUCH AGAIN YOU WANT TO SPEND TO DO THAT.
AND I THINK YOU'RE PROBABLY ASSESSING THE SYSTEMS AND DOING THINGS ABOUT IT WITHOUT HAVING A LOT OF FORMALITY INVOLVED IN THAT PROCESS.
MAYBE YOU'RE SAYING, WELL, MAYBE WE SHOULD PUT SOME FORMALITY EMPTY, EVEN THOUGH, EVEN IF WE DON'T HAVE A VERY SMALL PROBLEM.
I THINK THAT WE NEED TO ITEMIZE WHAT WE RECOGNIZE AS A PROBLEM AND INSIGHT WHAT WE DID AND TRONICS CURE.
I WOULD AGREE WITH THAT SOME TYPE OF A WRITTEN ASSESSMENT THAT EXIST TO DO THAT AND SAY, HERE, HERE'S WHAT WE'RE DOING.
SO YOU FEEL VERY COMFORTABLE WITH, CAN I ASK THE QUESTION IS I ASKED WHAT DID YOU DO MY ANSWER? THAT'S CORRECT.
ONE OF THE PLAN DID YOU PUT ANY SUGGESTIONS IN HERE IS DOING ALL THAT WEIRD.
I'M SURE THIS QUIET ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT THEN, DID YOU HAVE ANYTHING IN THERE THAT WOULD SUGGEST SOME, SOME IMPROVEMENTS OR SOME THINGS THAT WE NEED TO DO? UM, NO, SIR.
WE HAD NOTHING THAT WE SAW THAT, THAT STOOD OUT.
DAVE, WE'LL TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT COMPLIANCE AND ALL OF THAT WAS ALSO VERY CLEAN.
THERE WERE A COUPLE ITEMS THERE, BUT IN OUR MIND, VERY SMALL ITEMS, UH, YOUR CITY'S BEING RUN VERY WELL.
I DON'T THINK THAT'S VERY GOOD NEWS.
WHAT DO YOU THINK HE CAN GET DOWN TO TEAS FOR YOU GET BACK NEXT YEAR? HOW MANY CENTS WE CHECKING IN ONCE A YEAR? I KNOW I'D SAY NOT BASED ON MY OWN QUALIFIED OPINION.
WE WOULD HAVE A QUALIFICATION IF WE THOUGHT THAT WERE THE CASE.
I THINK YOU'RE DEFINITELY SAFE FOR ANOTHER YEAR.
THIS MIGHT BE, HE SAID, NOW THE DATA WILL TAKE CREDIT FOR THE WEATHER.
A THING I DID A, UH, WELCOME FOR.
AND I TOLD HIM THAT AFTER THE, WE TOOK CREDIT, WE USED TO TAKE CREDIT FOR THE WELL UNTIL THE TWO HURRICANES IF YOU DON'T MIND, CAUSE I KNOW WHAT CAN BE COMING WELL, IT WOULD BE TAKING CREDIT FOR SOMETHING.
HATS OFF TO MARY BRATCHER AND BILL HARTMAN.
THIS QUESTION MIGHT BE PREMATURE, BUT I NOTICED IN YOUR AUDIT REPORT, YOU MENTIONED A PROBLEM WITH INTERNAL CONTROLS OVER WORK ORDERS AND THEY WILL SPEAK TO THAT FOR YOU ACCESS ACCESS.
LET ME ASK, IS THIS SOMETHING THAT A PURCHASING AGENT COULD HELP REMEDY? UH, ACTUALLY, UM, WHEN WE GO IN TO DO OUR COMPLIANCE I'LL I'LL JUST START ON THAT.
AS A PART OF THIS AUDIT, WE NOT ONLY DO THE TRADITIONAL FINANCIAL STATEMENT AUDIT, WE ALSO ASSESS INTERNAL CONTROLS, WHICH ARE YOUR INTERNAL POLICIES AND PROCEDURES OF CHECKS AND BALANCES AMONG DEPARTMENTS AND DIFFERENT DEPARTMENT HEADS AND OTHER PEOPLE WORKING WITHIN THE CITY TO MAKE SURE THAT NO MISSTATEMENTS INTO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS COULD HAPPEN, NOT GET DETECTED IN THE NORMAL COURSE OF BUSINESS.
[01:35:01]
WHEN WE GAINED OUR UNDERSTANDING OVER THE INTERNAL CONTROLS FOR FINANCIAL REPORTING, WE CAME ACROSS AN ISSUE WHERE THE PURCHASING DEPARTMENT WAS NOT REVIEWING WORK ORDERS.AS THE INTERNAL CONTROL SYSTEM WAS DESIGNED TO.
AND AS SUCH, THERE COULD BE A MISSTATEMENT IN THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
WE DIDN'T, WE DID NOT THINK IT WAS MATERIAL.
IT DID NOT CAUSE, UH, AN ADJUSTMENT TO YOUR FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AT ALL.
UM, BUT WE WERE REQUIRED TO DISCLOSE THAT TO YOU.
I WILL TELL YOU THAT THE MA YOUR MANAGEMENT IS AWARE OF THAT.
AND LIKE I SAID, THIS WAS ALREADY IN PLACE WITHIN THE INTERNAL CONTROL STRUCTURE AND IT IS BEING ADDRESSED.
AND I THINK PROCEDURES ARE ALREADY IN PLACE FOR IT TO BE FOR THE REMEDY TO BE DONE FOR THAT.
THE PERSON IN THE APARTMENT, WE OBVIOUSLY DON'T MEAN WHO WAS NO, I JUST WANT TO KNOW FROM MY INFORMATION, WE UTILIZE THE WAREHOUSE TO SCREEN OUR PURCHASES AND TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE PURCHASING LAWS AND ALSO TO MAKE SURE THAT WHEN THEY NEED TO BE CAPITALIZED, THEY CHECK ON THOSE THINGS.
THAT'S WHAT HE'S TALKING ABOUT.
BUT THEN THEY DON'T NECESSARILY TRY TO ASCERTAIN WHETHER OR NOT WE GOT THE BEST PRICE FOR A PARTICULAR PRODUCT.
WELL, IN SOME INSTANCES THEY DO FORM THINGS LIKE, UH, OFFICE SUPPLIES AND SOME THINGS THAT THEY'LL PURCHASE THEMSELVES FOR THE CITY.
AND THEN OTHER THINGS, IF IT'S A SPECIALIZED PRODUCT FOR ELECTRIC OR FOR A WATER SEWER OR WHATEVER DEPARTMENT THAT IT IS, THEN THEY REVIEW THE PROCEDURES THAT THE DEPARTMENT HAS GONE THROUGH TO MAKE THE PURCHASES, MAKE SURE THEY'RE IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE LAW CHECK SPECS, MAKE SURE THEY'RE NOT EXCLUSIONARY THOSE KINDS OF ISSUES.
THEY TRY TO COVER THOSE, EVEN THOUGH WE DON'T HAVE A PURCHASING AGENT PER SITE.
AND WE DO THAT THROUGH, WE HAVE A LIMIT TO WHERE WE REQUEST A QUOTE.
YES, WE'RE REQUIRED TO REQUEST QUOTES AT SPECIFIC LEVELS.
UNDER STATE LAW WAS $20,000, I THINK FOR EQUIPMENT OR HAS IT GONE UP TO 50 NOW? OKAY.
SO 50,000 FOR, UH, EQUIPMENT IT'S, UH, HELPED ME, MARY, I CAN'T, IT'S A HUNDRED THOUSAND FOR CONSTRUCTION.
ANYTHING OVER A HUNDRED THOUSAND FOR ANY KIND OF CONSTRUCTION PROJECT HAS TO HAVE A GENERAL CONTRACTOR AND WELL, 12 SEPARATE SUBCONTRACTS PER SO YOU GET HEATING AIR CONDITIONING.
AND SO YOU CAN BUY SOMETHING FOR 20,000 AND THAT HAD TO HAVE NO ONE TO QUOTE WE COULD, BUT WE GET QUITE INFORMAL POLICY UP TO THAT 50,000, UH, THAT YOU HAVE TO GET THREE.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO GO FOR BID, BUT YOU DO GET QUOTES.
AND WE DO GET THREE QUOTES FROM VARIOUS PLACES TO MAKE SURE WE'RE GETTING A COMPETITIVE PRODUCT.
AND THAT'S WHY THAT'S ANOTHER THING THAT THE WAREHOUSE IS RESPONSIBLE FOR.
JUST CHECKING OVER, MAKING SURE THAT THE QUOTES THAT ARE ALL GOTTEN IN THAT KIND OF THING.
NOW, WHEN YOU POINTED OUT THAT FAILURE TO COMPLY, IF YOU WILL DO YOU ALL CLOSE THE LOOP BY CHECKING BACK TO SLEEP, IT'S NOW BEING COMPLIED WILL BE WAITING NEXT YEAR.
WE'VE GOT TO STAY IN CONSTANT CONTACT, VERY CHECKUP.
AND AFTER WHAT'S BEING DONE AND MAKING SURE THAT THEY ARE WHERE THEY DO THAT, WHAT'D YOU DON'T LEAVE IT FOR A YEAR COMING UP.
AND AGAIN, LIKE BILL POINTED OUT, IT WAS REALLY ONE OFF CATALOGS WITH WHAT YOU HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH THE MONEY BEING SPENT IN HOME.
NOW, WHETHER OR NOT HE GOT CATALOGS OR RAN OUT CATEGORY, I GUESS IT COULD GO AS A REPAIR AND NOT ENHANCE THE VALUE OF THE ASSET.
AND SO THAT'S WHAT THEY ARE RESPONSIBLE TO CHECK FOR.
AND THEY WERE NOT CHECKING IT IN ALL INSTANCES THAT, WELL, IT WAS JUST A CONVERSION TO LIQUIDITY IN THE ASS.
AND I MEAN, I WANT TO SAY THAT THIS IS PROBABLY THIS THE FIRST TIME THAT I CAN REMEMBER US HAVING ANY KIND OF REPORTABLE CONDITION LIKE THIS.
UH, SO I WOULD CERTAINLY WOULDN'T GET TOO ALARMED.
THAT CAN BE A SIMPLE MS. CATEGORY RIGHT NOW.
UM, I MEANT TO TELL YOU GUYS, THIS, THE REPORT IS ON PAGE 79 OF YOUR FINANCIAL REPORT.
THERE'S ACTUALLY THREE REPORTS IN THE BACK OF THE COMPLIANCE SECTION.
SINCE THE CITY RECEIVED OVER $25,000 OF FEDERAL AND STATE AWARDS, WE WERE REQUIRED TO TEST EXPENDITURES IN SOME OF YOUR LARGER PROGRAMS FOR COMPLIANCE WITH THE REGULATIONS OF THOSE GRANTS.
BASICALLY THESE TWO REPORTS TELL YOU THAT THERE WERE NO COMPLIANCE FINDINGS.
WE FOUND NO EXPENDITURES THAT WERE NOT ALLOWED.
WE FOUND NO INTERNAL CONTROL POINTS WITHIN YOUR FEDERAL AND STATE PROGRAMS. SO THAT'S VERY CLEAN.
[01:40:03]
WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO DO, UH, IS TO HAVE YOU TURN TO PAGE 90, RANDY TOUCHED ON THIS A LITTLE BIT EARLIER.THIS IS YOUR SCHEDULE OF EXPENDITURES OF FEDERAL AND STATE AWARDS.
AND THIS WILL GIVE YOU A GOOD INDICATION AS TO HOW MUCH GRANT MONEY YOU SPEND DURING A FISCAL YEAR.
AND IF YOU LOOK AT THE BOTTOM OF PAGE 91, YOU WILL SEE CITY SPENT APPROXIMATELY $1.7 MILLION IN FEDERAL AND STATE GRANT MONIES.
AND I CAN SAY BY BEING INVOLVED WITH THESE GRANTS, UH, YOU WERE ABLE TO PROVIDE MORE AND MORE SERVICES FOR THE CITIZENS OF THE CITY, JUST LIKE WE WE'VE SEEN IN.
YEAH, I THINK IT WAS THE VERY ACTIVE SEARCHING OUT DYNAMITE AND A VERY LOW.
THE LAST THING THAT I WANTED TO TALK ABOUT IS A, IS ANOTHER LETTER UNDER A SEPARATE COVER THAT I THINK WAS DISTRIBUTED TO THE BOARD MEMBERS IN THEIR, IN THEIR PACKETS.
THIS IS A NON-TRADITIONAL TYPE SERVICE.
AND IT'S BASICALLY GENERAL BUSINESS ADVICE THAT WE WOULD GIVE TO ANYBODY DURING OUR AUDIT.
WE INQUIRED ABOUT YOUR SELF-INSURED HEALTH PLAN, WHEREBY A THIRD PARTY ADMINISTRATOR PAYS YOUR EMPLOYEE HEALTH CLAIMS ON BEHALF OF THE CITY.
WHEN WE INQUIRED OF YOUR THIRD PARTY ADMINISTRATOR, NORMALLY WE ASKED THEM, DO THEY HAVE AN INDEPENDENT FIRM TO COME IN AND ASSESS THEIR INTERNAL CONTROLS OVER HOW THEY SPEND YOUR MONEY? THE SAME AS WHAT WE WOULD DO OVER IN HOUSE EXPENDITURES.
THEY INFORMED US THAT THEY DID NOT HAVE AN INDEPENDENT REVIEW OF THEIR CONTROLS.
WE WANTED TO BRING THAT TO YOUR ATTENTION BECAUSE WE PROBABLY, WE THINK YOU WOULD WANT TO KNOW ABOUT THAT.
UH, WE RECOMMEND THAT YOU ALL ASSESS THE IMPACT THAT YOU THINK IT WOULD WOULD MAKE.
WE HAD NO IDEA OF KNOWING IF ANYTHING'S GOOD, BAD WITHIN THAT THIRD PARTY ADMINISTRATOR, BUT WE WANTED YOU TO KNOW THAT MAYBE YOU COULD RECOMMEND OR, OR ASK THAT THEY HAVE SOMETHING DONE INDEPENDENT TO ASSESS THOSE INTERNAL CONTROLS OVER THE USE OF THE CITY'S FUNDS.
AND WE'RE GOING TO WORK WITH HIM TO GET IT AND MAKE SURE THEY GET AN INDEPENDENT REVIEW.
WE HAVEN'T GOT IT YET, BUT WE WILL HAVE IT VERY SHORT.
SO THIS IS THE FIRST YEAR WE WERE SELF-INSURED.
WELL, NOW THIS IS THE FIRST YEAR THEY'VE BEEN OUR VENDORS, BUT WE'VE BEEN SELF-INSURED FOR ABOUT 10 YEARS, BUT THE OTHER VENDOR WAS BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD.
THEY HAD AN INCENTIVE ALREADY, BUT WE'LL MAKE SURE THAT THIS ONE DOES BY THAT PERIOD.
JUST MAKE SURE AS AN, AS A LITMUS TEST THAT YOU LET US KNOW THAT IF YOU SAY ANYTHING EVEN HEADING IN THE WRONG DIRECTION, CAUSE WE'D LIKE TO SEE YOU.
LOOKING AT IT IN ME WITH AN INTEGRAL CALCULUS, TAKING THAT DERIVATIVE FROM WHEN YOU SAY, YOU SAY THAT, YOU KNOW WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT, BUT YOU, YOU KNOW, UM, BEFORE YOUR AUDIT REPORT, I RECEIVED THE LETTER REGARDING FROM YOUR OFFICE REGARDING WHETHER OR NOT I KNEW OF MANY INSTANCES WHERE FRAUD COULD BE PERPETRATED.
BUT, UH, SINCE WE ALL POLICYMAKERS AND AS A RESULT, YOU KNOW, I REALLY WOULDN'T KNOW.
I WOULDN'T KNOW THE ANSWER TO THAT.
THAT WOULD BE PROBABLY A PROPERLY SUBMITTED TO THE CITY MANAGER OR HIS DEPARTMENT HAS MADE MAKING.
AND THEY HAVE, THEY'VE BEEN ASKED THE SAME THING.
EVERY PERSON IS WITH THE MANAGER AND FINANCE DIRECTOR AND BEEN ASKED THE SAME QUESTIONS THAT WERE THE RESULT OF ANOTHER STANDARD STATEMENT, ONLY SANDERSON AND RIGHT TO WHICH PRETTY MUCH IS JUST THERE TO THE PUBLIC NOTES.
WHO'S RESPONSIBLE FINDING PROBLEM.
DO YOU RECALL WHETHER OR NOT YOU RECEIVED THEM RESPONSE FROM ANY ALL RECEIVED THOSE? WE, THERE WERE A COUPLE THAT WE DID NOT RECEIVE.
HOWEVER WE DID RECEIVE AND KIND OF GOING WITH YOUR STATEMENT.
WE RECEIVED FROM THE CITY MANAGER, THE FINANCE OFFICER AND OTHER MEMBERS THAT, THAT HAVE DAY-TO-DAY CONTROL AND TOLD THEM TO KEEP AN EYE ON YOU.
WELL, IS MY QUESTIONNAIRE IS STILL ON MY DESK.
I DIDN'T, I DIDN'T KNOW IF I HAD RECEIVED YOURS.
JUST SAY I SAW A SECOND REQUEST, BUT REALLY
[01:45:01]
WHAT THAT ALLOWS FOR, TO DO MS. BRINER IS IN FACT, IF, IF, IF YOU KNEW OF SOMETHING THAT YOU WOULD HAVE RESPONDED, SO IT WOULD ALLOW THOSE TO SAY, YEAH, HE KNOWS SOMETHING THAT WE SHOULD BE AWARE OF.AND BY NOT REALLY GETTING IT, IT SHOWED THAT THERE WASN'T ANYTHING THERE TO YOUR KNOWLEDGE.
I THOUGHT IT WAS GREAT TO BE ABLE TO SAY NO, NO, NO.
FOR SANITY, FOR SOMEBODY TO GET, YOU KNOW, TO, TO, TO HELP THEM LOOK SOMEWHERE.
IF IT'S SOMETHING THAT'S NOT OBVIOUS, IT'S REALLY DESIGNED TO HELP YOU.
AND MR. MAYOR MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, I HAVE A ONE YEAR EXTENSION TO THEIR CONTRACT FOR THEM TO PERFORM SERVICES FOR.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION THE LAND.
I THINK WE'RE ALL REALLY A RESOLUTION.
CAN I, I WANT TO SAY ONE THING BEFORE I LEAVE.
I THINK YOU FOLKS DO A GOOD JOB.
AND IF THERE'S ANYTHING EVER WE CAN DO TO DO ANYTHING DIFFERENTLY, PLEASE FEEL FREE.
WE WORKED FOR THIS PORTAL AND THIS CITY, SO ARE LIKE YOUR PHONE.
YOU CALL A LOT, PLEASE FEEL FREE TO CALL UP.
WELL, I APPRECIATE THE JOB YOU ALL DO.
AND I'LL REMIND YOU AGAIN, EXCUSE ME.
WE DON'T REALLY HAVE A NEED TO FIX ANYTHING.
SO WE'RE ASKING YOU IF YOU'VE SEEN ANYTHING, PLEASE POINT IT.
I THINK THAT WE SHOULD HAVE MS. BRECCIA TO STAND AND THAT EVERYBODY SEES A FINANCE DIRECTOR IS IT'S SUCH A WONDERFUL JOB.
PEOPLE WERE EAGER TO COMPLAIN WHEN THEY THOUGHT WE WERE BROKE.
WE USED TO HAVE, SO WE'D LIKE TO APPLY TO A VERY GOOD JOB.
I SAID IT WAS CHEAPER THAT WAY.
THE NEXT THING WE HAVE IS THE CONSENT AGENDA MOVE.
WE APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA.
THERE'S ONE ITEM, WHICH IS NOT HERE AND THAT'S A RESOLUTION APPROVING AND YOU TEND TO D TO ME, MR. MISERY, OUT THERE AT THE END, THE PHILIP ROAD, THAT WAS THE REASON THAT WAS PULLED AT THE LAST MEETING.
I'D LIKE TO HAVE THE FULL CONSIDER THAT EITHER PRIOR TO THE CONSENT AGENDA OR WITH IT AT A PARTY.
MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA.
YOU WANT TO LEAVE OUT THE MOUTH THEN? FIRSTLY, IF YOU'RE GOING TO APPROVE IT, WELL, MAX HAS ALREADY PULLED IT OUT.
I CALL THE ROLL ALONG THE CONSENT AGENDA.
I'M FEELING LIKE I'M HAVING A FLASHBACK FROM BEING ON THE SELF CLEANING OVEN OR SOMETHING, MAN.
IS THERE ANY REASON TO GO INTO THIS OR IN ANY DETAIL? NO, THIS IS A
MOTION TO APPROVE THE ORDINANCE CLOSE PHILLIPS ROAD, ADOPT THE RESOLUTION, INCLUDING THE DEEDS OF DWC.
UH, YEAH, WE, WE CHECKED THIS OUT.
I DON'T THINK WE GOT A BIT OF PROBLEM WITH THOSE, THOSE TWO FOLKS THAT WAS HERE LAST TIME.
THAT WOULD BE APPROPRIATE TO ADOPT THE, TO CLOSE PHILLIPS ROAD.
COME ON, ROLL ON THAT PLEASE, MAN.
[01:50:02]
YES, YES.LOOK AT A CONTRACT WITH THE BREWERS AND ASSOCIATES.
UM, JUST, JUST QUESTIONED ME ON HERE WITH AN EMPLOYEE ENGINEER IN-HOUSE ENGINEERS DON'T DO ANY OF THIS.
IN CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES, WE MIGHT HAVE AN IN-HOUSE ENGINEER TO DO THE INSPECTION OF THE CONSTRUCTION.
HOWEVER, UH, WE MAY OR MAY NOT DO THAT AT SOME OR ALL OF THAT AS WE GO ALONG, WE HAVEN'T ACTUALLY MADE THAT DETERMINATION YET.
BUT IN THE CASE OF A PROJECT, LIKE THE COMPLETE RENOVATION OF THE WASTE TREATMENT PLANT, I THINK WE WOULD PROBABLY NUMBER ONE, WE'D PREFER AN OUTSIDE FIRM TO DO IT BECAUSE THE RESOURCES THAT IT WOULD TAKE TO DO IT OR NOT HERE IN THE CITY, WE JUST DON'T, WE CAN'T DO A BIG JOB THAT, THAT, WELL, THAT, THAT WOULD TAKE THAT MUCH RESOURCES WITHOUT BRINGING ON A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF STAFF.
SECONDLY, UH, IT'S BETTER TO HAVE AN OUTSIDE FIRM TO DO IT BECAUSE THEY CARRIED LIABILITY INSURANCE.
THERE'S JUST, SOMETHING GOES WRONG.
WE'RE NOT, IF IT'S OUR PEOPLE HERE, WE GOT NOBODY TO GO AFTER BUTTER SALES.
AND SO WE DEFINITELY WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT, UH, NUMBER ONE, WE GET A FIRM WHO HAS THE EXPERTISE AND THE STAFF TO TAKE CARE OF IT.
AND THEN THE SECOND THING IS IF IT DON'T GET TAKEN CARE OF, WE WANT SOMEBODY THAT WE CAN TURN TO AND SAY, YOU DID THIS AND YOU'RE GOING TO MAKE IT RIGHT.
AND SO THAT'S, THAT'S THE REASON THAT WE WOULD PREFER TO HAVE A LARGE PROJECT LIKE THIS DONE OUTSIDE BY CONSULTANTS RATHER THAN BY OUR INSIDE STAFF.
AND IT'S TOTALLY COMMON IN THE INDUSTRY.
AND THE HOUSE ENGINEERS BASICALLY ARE SORT OF SUPERVISE OR PROJECT MANAGE, I GUESS YOU'D SAY BECAUSE THEY OVERSEE THE CONSULTANT.
IT'S GOING TO TAKE TEAM AND THE TEAM OF ENGINEERS PROJECT.
THIS IS NOT A PROJECT THAT RANDY'S GOING TO SIT DOWN AT HIS DESK AND DO MYSELF.
THIS IS GOING TO HAVE A NUMBER OF ENGINEERS WORKING ON IT FROM A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT SPECIALTIES.
AND IT WOULD JUST REALLY NOT BE PRACTICAL FOR US TO TRY TO BRING IN HOUSE ALL OF THOSE SPECIALTIES JUST FOR THAT PROJECT AND THEN TURN THEM LOOSE AFTER IT WAS OVER, BECAUSE WE WOULDN'T HAVE ANY MORE USEFUL.
SO IT'S EASIER FOR US TO DO THAT, THAT WAY.
THAT, THAT PARTICULAR, THAT AND THE LIABILITY ISSUE.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION ON IT? PONDERING? YEAH.
AND THE SECOND, ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? YES.
DO YOU HAVE ANY, NO APPOINTMENT, SIR? ARE YOU CLOSE TO THE THERMOSTAT? I ALREADY GOT IT.
I WOULD LIKE TO APPOINT A NOMINEE AND TRISHA KNAPP, PLEASE.
MR. KNAPP, YOU HAVE AN ADDRESS, BUT SHE OWNS A CLOTHING STORE, DOWNTOWN NEWBURGH CALLED PANACHE.
SHE SELLS CUTTING EDGE FASHION FOR WOMEN.
I AM, UH, HELP THEM IN ORDER TO NOMINATE FRANK AIRBUS TO THE UCL SERVICE.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE.
MR. WARD HANDED OUT EARLIER, HEY RESOLUTION, WHICH APPROVES ANOTHER AGREEMENT, YOU WOULD BE ABLE TO TAKE A PORTION OF THE CURRENT ALLOCATION, A LOAD SIDE GENERATION FROM ANOTHER SMALL COMMUNITY.
SOMEBODY'S DONE SEVERAL TIMES.
[01:55:03]
THE CONTROL FACTOR WE ARE AT OUR THERE'S ONLY UNDER THE CONTRACT WITH CP AND L THERE'S ONLY A CERTAIN AMOUNT THAT EACH CITY CAN GENERATE IN ORDER TO OFFSET FEET.AND SO WHAT HAPPENS IS CITIES THAT ARE GROWING AND UTILIZING IT, UTILIZE ALL THAT THEY'VE GOT.
AND THEN THEY LOOKED TO OTHER CITIES TO SEE IF THEY'VE GOT SOME ADDITIONAL CAPACITY THAT THEY CAN BUY UP.
SO IT WILL ALLOW US TO DO OTHER THINGS LIKE WE DID WITH LOWE'S OR WITH THE FOOD LINE, THIS OUT, UH, THE NEW FOOD LINE HAS BEEN BUILDING OUT THE TOWN.
SO THAT'S WHAT THE, ALL OF THESE THINGS IS.
IT ALLOWS US ADDITIONAL GENERATING SO WE CAN CUT THE PEAK MORE SO THAT YOU, AS YOU SAW, THE MARGINS WERE GETTING GREATER.
THAT'S WHY MARKETS ARE GETTING GREATER BECAUSE WE'RE ABLE TO CUT THAT PACE, RIGHT? CORRECT.
I NEED TO CALL THE ROLL ON THAT ONE AGAIN.
DOES ANYBODY EVER MADE A MOTION AND THEN TURNED AROUND AND VOTED AGAINST IT? I MEAN, THEY JUST CAME TO ME.
I MADE THE MOTION TO DO IT, AND THEN I HAD TO VOTE ON IT JUST TO GET RID OF, SORRY TO BRING IT UP.
UH, I JUST WANT TO, I NOW SIT WITH THE BOARD'S APPROVAL.
WE'LL HAVE A WORK SESSION ON TUESDAY OF NEXT WEEK, RATHER THAN ON MONDAY.
COULD YOU LET THAT LADY KNOW THAT I'M MOVING TO GERMANY ALL IN FAVOR OF A JOURNEY AND SAY, HI, ALL OPPOSED? NO.