[1 . Meeting opened by Mayor Odham. Prayer Coordinated by Mayor Odham. Pledge of Allegiance.]
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GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO THE MARCH 14TH, 2023 NEWBURN BOARD OF ALDERMAN MEETING.
IF YOU WOULD PLEASE BOW YOUR HEAD FORWARD.
HEAVENLY FATHER, WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR TRAVELING MERCIES.
YOU GRANTED EACH AND EVERY ONE OF US HERE TONIGHT.
WE THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO GATHER AGAIN, TO CONDUCT YOUR BUSINESS, AND WE ASK THAT YOU LEAD, GUIDE, AND DIRECT OUR CONVERSATION, OUR DISCUSSION, DECISION MAKING.
WE ASK THESE THINGS IN YOUR NAME.
IF YOU WOULD PLEASE STAND FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE, FLAG PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, WHICH IS ONE NATION IN INDIVISIBLE WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE.
MADAM CLERK, IF YOU WOULD PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
[3. Approve Agenda.]
A MOTION TO APPROVE THE AGENDA IF THERE'S NO CHANGES, SO MOVED.UH, JUST FOR THE RECORD, ALDERMAN PRI IS PARTICIPATING, UH, VIA TELEPHONE FOR THIS EVENING.
[4. Request and Petition of Citizens.]
BOARD IS ITEM NUMBER FOUR.DO WE HAVE ANY PETITION OF CITIZENS? MS. CLERK? OKAY.
FIRST UP IS VICTOR J TAYLOR OF 28.
WALTER DRIVE, ALDERMAN TAYLOR.
THEY SAY YOU NEVER LOSE THE TITLE.
MY NAME IS VICTOR TAYLOR, 28 17 WALTON DRIVE, NEW VERNON, NORTH CAROLINA.
UH, GOOD EVENING TO THE MAYOR, BOARD OF ALTMAN, CITY MANAGER AND ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER, AND EVERYONE ELSE HERE.
I JUST WANT TO TALK ABOUT, I WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR THE ENDORSEMENT FOR THE, UH, SPONSORSHIP, CITY SPONSORSHIP FOR OUR PARADE.
AND I ALSO WANT TO THANK THE MAYOR, OUR ALTMAN PR ALTMAN, ROYAL CITY MANAGER AND ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER FOR COMING OUT TO THE PARADE.
UH, I GOT A LOT OF VIEWS FROM THE PARADE.
UH, WE HAD OVER 500 VEHICLES IN THIS PARADE, SO WE HAD A WONDERFUL, WONDERFUL PARADE.
I GOT A LOT OF COMMENTS FROM THE PE, THE SPECTATORS THAT THEY LOVED, THAT YOU ALL WALKED AND WAS PERSONAL, UH, WITH THEM AND SHOWED LOVE FROM THE CITY.
SO AGAIN, I JUST COME HERE TO SAY THANK YOU ALL FOR ALL Y'ALL SUPPORT AGAIN.
AND ALSO, I DIDN'T WANNA LEAVE THIS OUT.
THIS BOARD OF MAYOR AND THE CITIZENS OF NEWBURN, YOU ALL HAVE THE GREATEST CITY CLERK IN THE, IN THE HISTORY.
AND THAT'S AN EXAMPLE OF CUSTOMER SERVICE, THIS YOUNG LADY RIGHT HERE.
SO I WANTED TO SHARE, I'LL, I'LL PAY YOU
I DON'T TAKE GOOD MONEY, BUT THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
APPRECIATE YOUR EFFORTS IN PUTTING THAT TOGETHER, MR. TAYLOR.
NEXT IS SHARON BROK OF 29 0 6 BETTY GRESHAM LANE.
I HOPE I PRONOUNCED THAT RIGHT.
THANK YOU ALL FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK WITH YOU THIS EVENING.
I AM ADDRESSING THE CONTINUED EMINENT DANGER OF FLOODING AT THE HOME.
ALONG THE NORTH SIDE OF BETTY GRESHAM LANE IN THE LAKEVIEW SUBDIVISION, 2,900 THROUGH 29 0 8.
SINCE OUR LAST DISCUSSION, THE HOMEOWNERS HAVE CONTINUED TO REACH OUT TO NOLAN W SITES AND THEIR TEAM TO REGRADE THE BACKYARDS OF THE AFFECTED HOMES TO NO AVAIL.
MOST EMAILS GO INTO THE COSMOS, NO REPLY WHATSOEVER IN MOST CASES.
WE DID HAVE ONE EMAIL THAT WAS RETURNED TO ONE OF THE HOMEOWNERS THAT N C C.
I WAS WORKING WITH THOMAS ENGINEERING TO RESOLVE THIS ISSUE.
WE HAVE SEEN NO PROOF OF THIS, NOR HAS A DATE BEEN SENT TO US WHEN WORK WILL BEGIN.
THIS IS OF UTMOST IMPORTANCE AS THE RAINY SPRING SEASON APPROACHES WITH THE HURRICANE SEASON STARTING JUNE 1ST, 2023.
THE LAKEVIEW SUBDIVISION IS IN THE ZONE X AREA FOR FLOODING, WHICH MEANS EXTREMELY LOW DANGER OF FLOODING.
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BY FEMA DETERMINATION, AND ONE IS NOT REQUIRED TO OBTAIN FLOOD INSURANCE.YET I AND OTHERS HAVE AND MUST OBTAIN FLOOD INSURANCE.
THIS HAS BEEN OBSERVED BY ALMOST EVERY CITY OFFICIAL, CONCERNED WITH THE BUILDING OF NEW HOMES.
I HAVE ALREADY SPENT THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS DOING WHAT I CAN TO PREVENT WATER FROM COMING INTO THE BACK OF THE HOME.
BUT IT IS NOT ENOUGH WHEN THE ENTIRE BACKYARD TILT TOWARDS THE BACK OF THE HOUSE.
I HAVE DISCUSSED WITH MY INSURANCE AGENCY WHAT IS HAPPENING AND THE LACK OF CONCERN FROM THE BUILDER AND THE CITY.
THEY ASSURE ME THAT THEY WILL HELP ME, BUT THEY WILL EXPECT TO BE COMPENSATED BY THE RESPONSIBLE PARTIES THAT HAVE BEEN DULY NOTIFIED.
HOW CAN THE CITY OF NEWBURN WHO SIGNS OFF ON THIS CERTIFICATE OF OCCUPANCY ALLOW THIS TYPE OF BEHAVIOR TO CONTINUE FROM BUILDERS? WHY IS THE BUILDER NOT HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THE LACK OF PROVIDING A SAFE AND CAPITAL HOME FOR THE PURCHASERS? PER WIKIPEDIA? A CERTIFICATE OF OCCUPANCY IS A DOCUMENT ISSUED BY A LOCAL GOVERNMENT AGENCY OR BUILDING DEPARTMENT CERTIFYING A BUILDINGS INCLUDING THE PROPERTY.
IT SITS UPON COMPLIANCE WITH APPLICABLE BUILDING CODES AND OTHER LAWS, AND INDICATING IT TO BE IN A CONDITION SUITABLE FOR OCCUPANCY AND THAT THE RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY OR HOME IS APPROPRIATE FOR OCCUPANCY AND ADHERES TO ALL SAFETY STANDARDS.
HOW CAN OUR HOMES BE CONSIDERED SAFE? IF WE ARE IN SUCH A GRAVE DANGER OF FLOODING? THERE WILL BE MUCH LOSS OF PROPERTY AND THE COST WILL BE EXTRAORDINARY.
WILL THE CITY OF NEWBURN GUARANTEE ME AND OTHERS THAT YOU'LL COVER ALL THE COST ASSOCIATED WITH THE FLOODING OF THE HOMES? THERE ARE OTHER DEVELOPMENTS.
NOLAN W SIDES AND THE SIDE FAMILY HAVE BUILT IN NEWBURN WITH SIMILAR DRAINAGE ISSUES.
THIS HAS BEEN INCURRING FOR APPROXIMATELY THE LAST 20 YEARS.
APPARENTLY, THE CITY CONSIDERS THESE ISSUES OF NO CONCERN AND CONTINUES TO LET NOLAN SIDES AND OTHERS BUILD IN THE CITY OF NEWBURN WITH NO RECOURSE FOR THE CITIZENS PURCHASING THE HOMES CAN.
HOW CAN THIS BE ALLOWED TO CONTINUE? WE HAVE BEEN ABANDONED.
MY NOLAN SIDES LOOK AT OUR DEVELOPMENT.
IT IS A MESS LEFT, UNFINISHED AND UNKEPT.
NEW BRUN HAS BECOMING A CITY LOOKING FOR AN INCREASED TAX BASE WITH NO THOUGHT TO WHO BUILDS IN THE CITY LIMITS SEEM TO CARE WHO IS HURT.
I INVITE EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU, PLUS ANY OTHER DEPARTMENTS THAT ARE APPLICABLE TO THIS SITUATION, TO TOUR THE DEVELOPMENT WITH ME AND OBSERVE AND DISCUSS THE CHALLENGES FACED BY THE HOMEOWNERS OF LAKEVIEW.
THIS IS YOUR CITY AS WELL AS OURS.
PLEASE BE RESPECTFUL AND RESPONSIBLE FOR THE ACTIVITIES THAT THE CITY HAS ALLOWED TO OCCUR.
THE CITY IS THE MOVING FORCE HERE.
I CHALLENGE THE CITY, YOU THE CITY REPRESENTATIVES, TO DO THE RIGHT THING BY YOUR CITIZENS.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME IN THE UPCOMING BEING EFFORTS ON OUR BEHALF.
AND THOSE ARE PICTURES OF FLOOD ZONES IN OUR BACKYARD.
ONE PICTURE WAS OF THE ZONE X VERIFICATION BY FEMA AND OTHER PICTURES SHOWING THE BASICALLY INHABITABLE ZONES IN AREAS LIKE THAT PICTURE OF A POST PUT INTO THE GROUND.
IT'S NOT EVEN BACKFILLED SERIOUSLY, YOU KNOW, THAT JUST GOES RIGHT OVER.
NEXT IS CHRISTOPHER AND CAROLYN ADAMS OF 29 0 4 BETTY GRESHAM LANE.
UH, THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING US THE OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS OUR ISSUES OF CONCERN WITH YOU THIS EVENING REGARDING A FLOODING OF OUR BACKYARDS AND ON KEMP AREAS WITHIN OUR SUBDIVISION.
WE EXPRESSED OUR CONCERNS WITH YOU REGARDING THE FLOODING OF OUR BACKYARDS AT LAST MONTH'S MEETING ON FEBRUARY 14TH.
SO WE WON'T REVISIT THAT SUBJECT AGAIN IN ITS ENTIRETY.
HOWEVER, DURING THE THAT MEETING, THE CITY'S LEGAL COUNCIL AND MANAGING DIRECTOR ADVISED US THAT THE CITY OF NEW BERN HAS NO WORKING RELATIONSHIP WITH NOLAN COMMERCIAL CONSTRUCTION COMPANY, EVEN THOUGH NOLAN TOLD US THAT YOU WERE WORKING WITH THEM.
AS A RESULT OF THAT INFORMATION, WE LEARNED THAT N C C WAS DISHONEST WITH US.
HOWEVER, N C C ALSO NOLAN COMMERCIAL CONSTRUCTION COMPANY CONTINUES TO BE DISHONEST WITH US TODAY.
FROM THE ONSET, N C HAS NOT BEEN A COMPANY OF ITS WORDS.
HOWEVER, AS NEW HOMEOWNERS IN THE NEW BURN AREA, WE DO WANT TO REMIND YOU OF HOW DISAPPOINTED WE ARE THAT OUR VOICES ARE NOT BEING HEARD BY N C C I REGARDING THE FLOODING OF OUR BACKYARDS WITH LAKEY SUBDIVISION.
AT THE MEETING ON FEBRUARY 14TH, WE ALONG SOME OF OUR NEIGHBORS WHO ARE PRESENT HERE THIS EVENING FROM THE LAKEY SUBDIVISION, WERE TRYING TO CONFIRM WHETHER THE CITY OF NEW BERN WAS WORKING WITH N C AS, UH, ALONGSIDE THOMAS ENGINEERING AND N C'S LANDSCAPER FOR THE PURPOSE OF THE CLEARING ASWELL ALONG THE BACK OF OUR YARDS, WHICH IS CURRENTLY BEING BLOCKED WITH DEBRIS, THUS CAUSING OUR BACKYARDS LOTS.
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FLOOD WITH EACH SUBSTANTIAL RAINFALL.THAT TAKES ABOUT SEVEN TO 10 DAYS FOR THE WATER TO DRAIN AFTER IT STOPS.
AND BY THAT TIME, ANOTHER RAINFALL HAS BEEN FORECAST.
EACH EFFECTED BACKYARD IS GRADED IMPROPERLY, WHICH RESULTS IN SIGNIFICANT FLOODING AND PONDING OF GREAT RAINWATER FOR DATES.
WE PROVIDED YOU WITH PICTURES LAST MONTH SHOWING YOU OUR FLOODED BACKYARD, WHICH IS LOT NUMBER 11, AND WE ARE UNABLE TO USE IT FOR THE PURPOSES THAT WE HAD INTENDED FOR THE PAST THREE MONTHS.
WE HAVE BEEN TOLD BY N CCI THAT THEY ARE WORKING WITH THE CITY OF NEW BERN THOMAS ENGINEERING AND N C'S LANDSCAPER TO HAVE THE SWELL BEHIND OUR YARDS CLEAR.
N C HAS REFUSED TO PROVIDE US WITH A TIMELINE FOR WHEN THE WORKERS TO BEGIN, AND THEY WILL NOT PROVIDE US WITH ANY CONTACT INFORMATION FOR THE ENGINEERING FIRM OR THE NAME OF THE REPRESENTATIVE TO WHOM THEY HAVE SAID THEY HAVE SPOKEN TO AT THE CITY LEVEL.
DUE TO OUR NOT BEING ABLE TO ATTAIN ANY INFORMATION FROM N C C IS WHAT PROMPTED US LAST MONTH TO ASK FOR YOUR ASSISTANCE WITH THIS MATTER.
WE WERE TOLD THAT WE WOULD BE MAKING SETTLEMENT ON OUR HOME WITHIN EIGHT WEEKS OF SIGNING OUR CONTRACT ON AUGUST 9TH, 2021 BECAUSE THE HOME WAS ALREADY BEING BUILT INSTEAD OF EIGHT WEEKS, IT TOOK NEARLY 12 MONTHS.
BY THEN, OUR INTEREST RATE HAD NEARLY DOUBLED AND THE RENT ON OUR PROPERTY HAD INCREASED BY $400.
AND WITH THE HOUSING MARKET BEING IN SCRAMBLES DURING THE FALLOUT OF THE PANDEMIC, WE WERE AT THE MERCY OF OUR BUILDER, BUT WE'RE NOT THE ONLY ONES WHO N C C I HAD KEPT ON HOLD TO HAVE THEIR HOME COMPLETED.
AND IT WASN'T ALL DUE TO THE BUILDING INDUSTRY HAVING LABOR ISSUES OR PROBLEMS GETTING SUPPLIES DURING THE PANDEMIC.
IT IS AS THOUGH THE BUILDERS HAVE NO OVERSIGHT.
ONCE THEY HAVE OBTAINED THEIR BUILDING PERMITS, THEY SEEM TO BE USED IN THE CITY AS A SCAPEGOAT, AND WE ARE HOPING THAT YOU COULD AT LEAST GET THEM TO STOP LYING TO US ABOUT YOUR INVOLVEMENT IN THIS MATTER.
AND A LETTER TO N C C I DATED DECEMBER 6 16, 20 22 FROM OUR LEGAL COUNSEL, ME WEBB, N C C WAS ADVISED THAT THEY WERE NON-COMPLIANT PURSUANT TO THE TERMS OF OUR BYLAWS AND THE STORMWATER PROVISIONS AS OUTLINED IN OUR CONTRACT, NNC C IGNORED OUR ATTORNEY'S LETTER AND ALL SUBSEQUENT COMMUNICATION FROM HIM AND FROM US CONCERNING OUR HOME.
IN FACT, THEY TOLD US THAT THEY REFUSED TO SPEAK TO US BECAUSE WE WERE CONSULTING WITH AN ATTORNEY TO DETERMINE, I'M SORRY, THEY SAID THEY REFUSED TO TALK TO US BECAUSE WE WERE CONSULTING WITH AN ATTORNEY.
IT WASN'T UNTIL I ADVISED THEM THAT WE WERE ONLY CONSULTING WITH AN ATTORNEY TO DETERMINE IF WE HAD ANY RIGHTS AS IT PERTAINED TO OUR BYLAWS BECAUSE THEY HAD INITIALLY PUSHED BACK ON ADDRESSING THE ISSUE I DIDN'T GET.
WOULD WOULD YOUR HUSBAND LIKE TO CONTINUE? I'M SORRY, WHAT DID YOU SAY? I CAN'T, WOULD YOUR HUSBAND LIKE TO CONTINUE? HE CAN HAVE FOUR MINUTES AS WELL, YOU SAID NOT TO CONTINUE.
NEXT IS MARGARET PHILLIPS OF 1003.
ABBY LEE AVENUE, MARGARET PHILLIPS.
DANIEL AND AMY MARTIN OF 30 91.
I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING WRITTEN DOWN, BUT THIS HAS GONE ON FOR SO LONG.
I'VE MEMORIZED ALL OF IT, BUT, UM, I SHARE WITH ALL THESE PEOPLE, I THINK HELPLESSNESS BECAUSE THIS BUILDER FROM THE BEGINNING WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THESE INFRASTRUCTURE PROBLEMS, DRAINAGE AND GRADING, THEY SAID THE HOA WILL TAKE CARE OF IT AND THERE IS NO HOA.
THEY'VE COLLECTED THE HOA FEES AT CLOSING OF EVERY ONE OF THESE HOMEOWNERS AND THE ONES THAT AREN'T HERE.
AND THEY'VE MADE NO EFFORT TO FIX THESE PROBLEMS. I'VE GOT A DRAINAGE DITCH.
I'M AT 30 91 BETTY GRESHAM LANE.
THERE'S A DRAINAGE DITCH RIGHT BESIDE OUR HOUSE AND THE ROAD, BETTY GRESHAM, FROM BOTH WAYS FALLS INTO TWO DRAIN TRAPS THAT GO DOWN THIS DITCH.
AND I DON'T HAVE PICTURES, BUT IT IS ERODED OUT FOR THE SECOND TIME.
WELL OVER THREE FEET DEEP AND ABOUT FOUR FEET WIDE TO THE POINT THAT THERE'S A MUD FLAT WASHED OUT INTO THE LAKE.
AND THIS BUILDER HAS HAD NO EFFORT AND MADE NO EFFORT TO RESPOND TO ANYBODY.
AS I'M SURE YOU'LL CONTINUE TO HEAR FROM EVERYBODY HERE.
UM, AND MY THING THAT I WANT TO EMPLOY TO Y'ALL IS WE, I FEEL VERY HELPLESS BECAUSE THERE'S NOTHING BEING DONE AND IT CONTINUES TO WORSEN.
AND HERE COMES THE HURRICANE SEASON AND THIS IS THE FIRST HOME I'VE EVER OWNED AND THIS HAS BEEN A NIGHTMARE TRYING TO GET THIS
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PROPERTY TAKEN CARE OF.NEXT IS VIRGIL AND BARBARA KRUK OF 1009 C DALE COURT.
I'M ONE OF THEIR DAUGHTERS OKAY.
THAT HAVE BEEN HELPING THEM THROUGH ALL OF THIS, UH, FIASCO.
THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK.
UM, FORTUNATELY, UNLIKE SOME OF THE, UM, PRIOR SPEAKERS, MY PARENTS HAVE NOT EXPERIENCED ANY FLOODING ISSUES BECAUSE OF WHERE THEIR HOUSE IS IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
HOWEVER, THEY EXPERIENCED, UH, NUMEROUS ISSUES WITH THIS BUILDER.
UH, ONE, THEY KEPT ON GETTING, UM, EXCUSES AFTER EXCUSES AS TO WHY THEY COULDN'T START THEIR HOME, WHY PROGRESS WASN'T GOING FORWARD.
AND THEY KEPT USING THE SUPPLY CHAIN ISSUES.
HOWEVER, FOUR HOUSES THAT WENT UNDER CONTRACT AFTER MY PARENTS, SOME OF THEM LARGER, CLOSED AND WENT, WENT TO SETTLEMENT BEFORE MY PARENTS.
MY PARENTS, UM, SETTLED ON THEIR HOUSE IN VIRGINIA.
THEY MOVED DOWN HERE WITHOUT A PLACE TO STAY.
WE FOUND A RENTAL FOR THEM IN FAIRFIELD HARBOR.
THEY HAD TO PUT EVERYTHING IN STORAGE.
THEY HAD TO PAY RENT, THEY HAD TO MOVE CONDOS WITHIN, UH, FAIRFIELD HARBOR.
THEY HAD TO EXTEND THEIR RATE LOCK.
UM, OH, WELL OVER $20,000 THEY'VE SPENT OUT OF THEIR NEST DAY FROM THE SALE, THE SALE OF THEIR HOME IN VIRGINIA.
TO THIS DAY, THEY'RE STILL WAITING ON WORK TO BE DONE IN THEIR SHOWER.
THEY HAVE HAD TO HAVE THEIR FLOOR JACK HAMMERED UP BECAUSE OF PLUMBING ISSUES WITH THIS BUILDER.
THEY FOUND CONSTRUCTION DEBRIS IN THEIR PLUMBING.
UM, THEY INSTALLED A WATER CLOSET THAT WAS NOT IN THE CONTRACT.
THEY INSTALLED A TUB THAT WAS NOT IN THE CONTRACT.
IT, I MEAN, THE LIST JUST GOES ON AND ON.
UM, ONE OF, ONE OF THE ISSUES THAT, UM, N C C I BUILDER KEPT QUOTING WAS THE SUPPLY CHAIN ISSUES.
WE, UM, THEY DIDN'T KNOW THAT MY HUSBAND, MYSELF AND MY YOUNGER SISTER MOVED TO NEWBURN BACK IN JUNE, 2021.
MY PARENTS WHO ARE IN THEIR EIGHTIES, THEY LIVED ON THE SAME STREET IN SPRINGFIELD, VIRGINIA SINCE 1967.
THIS IS THE VERY FIRST HOME THAT, UM, THEY'VE EVER MOVED IN THAT WAS BRAND NEW.
AND THE EXPERIENCE, UNFORTUNATELY, HAS BEEN JUST HORRIFIC.
UM, JUST THE DELAYS IN CLOSING, THE AMOUNT OF MONEY, THE THINGS THAT ARE STILL OUTSTANDING.
UM, I, THOSE ARE THE THINGS I, I BELIEVE THAT OTHER NEIGHBORS HAVE EXPERIENCED.
AND I, I DON'T KNOW WHAT CAN BE DONE TO HOLD THIS BUILDER ACCOUNTABLE OUTSIDE OF A PERSONAL LAWSUIT THAT MY PARENTS, UM, WOULD HAVE TO FILE AND AGAIN, SPEND MORE MONEY TO HOLD SOMEBODY ACCOUNTABLE FOR SOMETHING THAT SHOULD HAVE NEVER HAPPENED.
SO I DON'T KNOW WHAT, UM, THE COUNCIL CAN DO TO HELP, BUT WE HAVE AN ENTIRE NEIGHBORHOOD.
UM, MY SISTER AND I AND MY HUSBAND LIVE THREE MINUTES, UM, FROM THEM.
AND WE VISITED THE SITE NEARLY EVERY DAY, GIVING MY PARENTS AN UPDATE.
AND EVERYBODY WE RAN INTO ONCE THE HOUSES WERE BUILT HAVE COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS BUILDER.
AND IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THEY ARE BUILDING ANOTHER SUBDIVISION ACROSS ROUTE 70, UM, VERY CLOSE TO LAKEVIEW.
AND I, I THINK ALLOWING THIS BUILDER TO CONTINUE IN THIS MANNER WITHOUT HOLDING THEM ACCOUNTABLE AS SOME LEVEL IS JUST GOING TO PERPETUATE CITIZENS LIKE US STANDING IN FRONT OF YOU PLEADING FOR HELP.
SO ANYTHING YOU CAN DO TO GET THIS BUILDER HELD ACCOUNTABLE, I THINK WOULD BE MUCH APPRECIATED BY NOT ONLY MY PARENTS, BUT EVERYBODY IN THE DEVELOPMENT.
NEXT IS DAVID LECHER OF 29 0 6 BETTY GRESHAM LANE.
THANK YOU FOR THE PRIVILEGE OF ADDRESSING THE TOWN COUNCIL TONIGHT.
AS I HAVE ATTENDED AND FOLLOWED THE PROCEEDINGS WITH COUNCIL MEETINGS OVER THE PAST SEVERAL MONTHS, I'M STARTING TO SEE A DEVELOPING TREND.
IN THESE MEETINGS, THE CITIZENS OF NEWBURN ARE ASKING FOR MORE TRANSPARENCY AND RESPONSIBILITY FROM THEIR ELECTED OFFICIALS.
IN MID-NOVEMBER OF LAST YEAR, THE CITY MANAGER IN SEVERAL DEPARTMENT HEADS VISITED MY PROPERTY TO OBSERVE FIRSTHAND THE POOR GRADING CONDITIONS LEFT BY THE DEVELOPER N C I CONSTRUCTION, AS WELL AS THE POTENTIAL FOR DEVASTATING FLOODING CAUSED BY THESE CONDITIONS.
AS THE VISIT CONCLUDED, I WAS ASKED IF I LIKED LIVING IN NEWBURN.
I REPLIED THAT I WAS GETTING USED TO IT
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IN A TONE THAT WAS NOT EXACTLY SPOKEN IN A POSITIVE MANNER.BEING SOMEWHAT SURPRISED WITH MY ANSWER, MR. HUGHES TOLD ME HIS GOAL WAS FOR NEWBURN TO BE A PLACE THAT PEOPLE WOULD WANT TO COME TO AND NOT LEAVE.
A FEW DAYS LATER, I SENT AN EMAIL EXPRESSING MY THOUGHTS AND CONCERNS ABOUT NEWBURN.
MY ALDERMAN CALLED ME A FEW NIGHTS LATER SAYING THAT THIS EMAIL HAD RUFFLED A FEW FEATHERS AT CITY HALL.
THESE CONCERNS RANGED FROM PLACEMENT OF SIDEWALKS AND CROSSWALKS WITHIN THE NEIGHBORHOOD TO IMPROPERLY PLACED AND POORLY PLACED STREETLIGHTS, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, SPEEDERS, LONG BED EGRESSION LANE.
THIS ISSUE, THESE ISSUES HAVE SINCE BEEN ADDRESSED BUT NOT YET CORRECTED.
WELL, TONIGHT I'M HERE TO RUFFLE A FEW MORE FEATHERS.
LAST FEBRUARY 14, A FELLOW NEWBURN RESIDENT STOOD BEFORE YOU ASKING FOR TRANSPARENCY FROM CITY GOVERNMENT.
OTHER CITIZENS SPOKE UP ABOUT WATER AND SEWER SEWER SYSTEMS IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS THAT HAVE NOT FUNCTIONED FOR OVER SIX YEARS.
AT THE CONCLUSION OF THE MEETING DURING THE NEW BUSINESS SESSIONS, SEVERAL OMEN SPOKE ABOUT CITY RESPONSIBILITIES.
THESE WERE SOME OF THE COMMENTS MADE DURING THAT TIME.
IT IS CONCERNING THAT THERE ARE SO MANY RESIDENTS WHO ARE FRUSTRATED AND DISHEARTENED.
THE BOARD NEEDS TO COME TOGETHER TO ADDRESS SOME OF THE ISSUES.
EVERYONE IS ELECTED BY THE CITIZENS.
ANOTHER, ANOTHER ALDERMAN STATED IN RESPONSE TO THE DRAIN DRAINAGE AND FLOODING SITUATION EXPERIENCED BY MY NEIGHBORS AND BY EXTENSION MYSELF AND MY WIFE, THAT THERE SHOULD BE SOMETHING THE CITY COULD DO TO HOLD THE DEVELOPERS RESPONSIBLE.
THE FIGHTER FINAL ALDERMAN TO SPEAK STATED THAT THE CITY NEEDS TO DECIDE WHETHER IT IS GOING TO CONTINUE A STRUCTURE OF MAINTENANCE OR TO RESTRUCTURE AND MANAGE GROWTH WHILE ALSO MAINTAINING INFRASTRUCTURE.
HE ALSO STATED THAT THE CITY DOES NOT PO POSSESS THE ENGINEERING EXPERTISE OR CAPACITY TO LOOK AT PLANS, TRAFFIC, GRADING, ET CETERA, DUE TO SHEER VOLUME.
BUT THEN I'M CONFUSED BY THE NEXT STATEMENT OF BRINGING THESE STATEMENTS IN HOUSE.
WHY THEN BRING THEM ON BOARD? IF YOU CANNOT ALREADY HANDLE THE VOLUME, WOULD IT NOT BE SMARTER TO SLOW DOWN OR STOP GROWTH AND TAKE CARE OF WHAT YOU HAVE? REFUSE TO BLINDLY SIGN OFF ON THINGS UNTIL THEY HAVE MET PLANS.
DO NOT GRANT CERTIFICATES OF OCCUPANCY UNTIL EVERYTHING MEETS CODE THREE.
ALDERMAN PUBLICLY STATED LAST MONTH THAT THEY ARE IN FAVOR OF WORKING WITH AND FOR THE CITIZENS OF NEWBURN TO CORRECT PROB PROBLEMS IN PLACE, MORE RESPONSIBILITY ON THE BUILDERS AND DEVELOPERS.
TWO, ALDERMAN DID NOT SPEAK TO THIS EITHER DUE TO ABSENCE OR CHOICE.
THE FINAL ALDERMAN WAS QUITE CONTENT TO DO NOTHING.
MY OWN ALDERMAN HAS DONE A GOOD JOB OF REPRESENTING HIS WARD, AND I THINK I KNOW HOW HE FEELS, BUT I DON'T WANT TO PUT WORDS INTO HIS MOUTH THAT HE MAY OR MAY NOT HAVE SAID PUBLICLY.
WITH THE SPORT OF ONLY ONE OF THEM, THIS NUMBER WOULD BE A MORE MINIMUM OF FOUR.
EVEN A FEW OF THE CITY WORKERS WHOM I'VE RANDOMLY SPOKEN WITH HAVE STATED THAT NEWBURN IS GROWING TOO FAST AND NEEDS TO SLOW DOWN AND TAKE A HARD LOOK AT THINGS.
AND I'M GONNA SKIP AHEAD A LITTLE BIT CAUSE I'M RUNNING OUT OF TIME.
BUT I WANT TO USE A QUOTE FROM OVER 2000 YEARS AGO WHEN A VERY FAMOUS AND INFLUENTIAL MAN WAS SPEAKING TO RELIGIOUS AND POLITICAL LEADERS OF HIS TIME.
YOU WERE LIKE WHITEWASHED TOMBS, WHICH LOOK BEAUTIFUL ON THE OUTSIDE, BUT ON THE INSIDE ARE FULL OF DEAD MAN'S BONES AND EVERYTHING UNCLEAN.
YOU WANT TO PRESENT A NEW BERN AS A NICE QUAINT.
YOU WANT TO PRESENT NEWBURN AS A NICE, QUAINT, PRETTY LITTLE HISTORICAL TOWN ON THE OUTSIDE, BUT UNDERNEATH IT IS RAPIDLY TURNING INTO ASSESSED POOL OF DISASTERS.
IT'S TIME TO CLEAN UP THE GRAVEYARD AND PROPOSE AND PASS ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS TO HOLD DEVELOPERS AND BUILDERS ACCOUNTABLE FOR THEIR ACTIONS BEGINNING WITH N C C I.
NEXT UP IS PAMELA GAY HART AND BJ HONEYCUTT OF 1007.
FIRST OF ALL, I'D LIKE TO THANK Y'ALL FOR YOUR TIME.
I DON'T HAVE A PRES PREPARED SPEECH.
I MOVED TO NEW BERN IN JUNE OF 2022 FROM GARNER, NORTH CAROLINA.
GARNER HAD NOTHING TO OFFER AS RETIREES FOR BOTH MY PARTNER AND I.
AND I'M SURE FOR MANY PEOPLE HERE, GARNER HAD NOTHING TO OFFER.
WE VISITED NEWBURN ONCE AND DECIDED THIS IS WHERE WE WANTED TO LIVE OUR RETIREMENT YEARS.
WE FOUND A LOT IN THE SUBDIVISION THAT WE THOUGHT WOULD BE NOT PERFECT, BUT GOOD ENOUGH.
UM, NOBODY HAS USED THE WORD LIES, BUT I WANT TO, I WANT TO TELL YOU ABOUT THE LIES THAT WE WERE TOLD BY N C C
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I.AND I'M SURE EVERY PERSON HERE THAT LIVES IN N C C I, I MEAN IN LAKEVIEW SUBDIVISION, WE'LL ATTEST.
THEY WERE TOLD THESE SAME LIES.
IT'S NOT THAT, I MEAN THAT I LIKE LIVING IN NEW BRUN ANY LESS.
I DO NOT APPRECIATE THE LIES THAT THIS BUILDER WAS ABLE TO IMPOSE ON THE HOMEOWNERS AND THAT WILL CONTINUE TO IMPOSE ON THEIR NEXT SUBDIVISION.
OFF HIGHWAY 70, BEHIND ACE HARDWARE, WE WERE TOLD THAT THERE WAS GONNA BE LAKE ACCESS.
WE LIVED DIRECTLY ACROSS THE STREET FROM THE LAKE.
I DON'T FEEL THAT WALKING OVER ROCKS TO GET TO THE LAKE IS LAKE ACCESS.
THAT'S ONE, RIGHT? WE WERE TOLD THAT IT WAS GONNA COST X AMOUNT OF DOLLARS FOR UPGRADES.
WE UPGRADED OUR FLOORING, WE UPGRADED OUR STOVE.
TWO MINOR THINGS, BUT WE HAVE IT IN WRITING FROM N C C I.
THIS IS HOW MUCH IT WOULD COST.
THEY REN RENEWED, THEY LIED TO US.
AND UNLESS WE AGREED TO WALK AWAY FROM $10,000, WE HAD TO ACCEPT THEIR LIES.
I DON'T HAVE $10,000 TO JUST THROW AWAY.
COMMUNICATION BETWEEN THEIR REALTOR, THE BUILDER IN OUR REALTOR, NONE FOR 13 MONTHS.
TELL 'EM WHAT THEY WANT TO HEAR.
DO NOT HOLD N C C I ACCOUNTABLE.
THEY WOULDN'T HONOR WHAT THEY, THEIR SUPERINTENDENT TOLD US WOULD BE TAKEN CARE OF.
THE DAY WE MOVED INTO OUR HOUSE, IT HAD NEVER BEEN CLEANED, HAD NEVER BEEN POWER WASHED.
THEY TOLD US IT WOULD, AND THEY LIED TO US.
AND I ASKED HOW MANY HOMEOWNERS HERE WERE LIED TO, LIED TO.
THEY WERE LIED TO, BUT THEY STILL BOUGHT THE HOUSE BECAUSE N C C I HAD THEM JUST LIKE THEY HAD US.
DOES ANYBODY HERE HAVE $10,000 TO THROW AWAY? I DIDN'T.
BUT SOMEBODY HAS TO HOLD THIS BUILDER ACCOUNTABLE AND THEY'RE STILL BUILDING IN.
NEWPORT NEWBURN IS WHERE WE WANTED TO RETIRE, AND WE LOVE IT HERE, BUT DON'T CONTINUE TO ALLOW SOMEBODY AS UNSCRUPULOUS AS N C C I TO CONTINUE BUILDING BECAUSE YOU'RE GONNA HAVE A LOT OF UNSATISFIED CITIZENS AND THIS IS A GREAT PLACE TO LIVE.
DON'T GET ME WRONG, I'M JUST SORRY, I BOUGHT FROM N C C I, BUT WAIT, THERE'S MORE MA MA'AM.
WHAT SUBDIVISION DO YOU LIVE IN? LAKEVIEW.
NEXT IS PETE FRY, 4 0 6 FORBES ALLEY.
UH, DO DOES IT, DID IT, DID YOU GUYS ALL GET A COPY OF MY LATEST PLAN FOR THE JONES STREET? YES.
UM, WELL, YOU GUYS KNOW, I'VE, UH, STARTED THE PROCESS BACK IN OCTOBER AND, UM, IT'S STILL GOING ON.
AND, UM, I'VE LEARNED A LOT FROM THE, UM, GOING TO THE RDC MEETINGS AND, UH, UM, ALDERMAN MEETINGS.
SO I'VE CHANGED MY PLAN A LITTLE BIT AND I'VE, AND IT'S MORE IN LINE WITH WHAT THE RDC THE REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION IS INTENDED TO, TO DO, WHICH WOULD BE TO INCREASE HOME OWNERSHIP AND, UM, ALSO AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
SO I, UH, THE BID THAT I HAS BEEN HERE, THAT I PUT IN, UM, THAT, THAT'S, THAT'S WHAT I INTEND TO DO.
I WANT TO BUILD A, A HOUSE FOR MYSELF, FOR MY FAMILY.
IN THIS NEIGHBORHOOD THAT I'VE LIVED IN FOR, UM, 10 YEARS.
AND I REALLY LOVE THIS NEIGHBORHOOD.
I LOVE, I LOVE, I LOVE IT THAT IT'S CLOSE TO MY BUSINESS AND I WANT TO CONTINUE TO LIVE HERE AND BUILD A HOUSE FOR MY FAMILY.
AND, UH, AND ALSO AN AFFORDABLE HOME THAT, UM, I WILL, I PLAN ON DONATING, UH, UP TO $10,000 A YEAR
[00:30:01]
FROM THE RENTAL PROPERTY TO THE STANLEY WHITE REC CENTER.AND, UM, SO I JUST WANTED TO, I JUST WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW THAT THE RDC HAS A REALLY GOOD OPPORTUNITY NOW TO ACHIEVE, UM, ACHIEVE SOME OF THEIR GOALS.
IF THEY, IF THEY ALLOW ME TO BUILD MY BUILD, UH, DO THIS CONSTRUCTION AND BUILD THERE, AND, UH, AT THE SAME TIME THEY HAVE HUNDREDS OF OTHER PROPERTIES THAT THEY COULD BUILD ON AT THE SAME TIME, WE COULD, IT COULD BE A WIN-WIN FOR, FOR RDC AND PETE FRY AND THE CITY OF NEWBURN.
SO I HOPE YOU, UH, TAKE A GOOD LOOK AT THE, UH, PRESENTATION AND, UH, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
NEXT IS DOUGLAS MCKEEVER OF 1005 LORETTA LANE.
HELLO, MY NAME'S DOUG MCKEEVER.
MY FAMILY RECENTLY RELOCATED FROM WILSON, NORTH CAROLINA.
THE PROBLEM WHY I'M HERE IS TWO WRONGS DON'T MAKE A RIGHT.
UM, ONE, YOU KNOW, WE HEAR FROM THE BUILDER.
YOU KNOW, I, I HAVE SOME ISSUES WITH DRAINAGE AS WHAT HAS BEEN DOCUMENTED IN MY CONSTRUCTION INSPECTION.
IT IS PART OF NORTH CAROLINA CODE THAT YOU CAN'T HAVE A NEGATIVE GRADE.
SO WHERE'S YOUR BUILDING DEPARTMENT ON THAT? IT WAS CHANGED IN 2021.
ALSO, IF THERE'S RAPID EXPANSION HERE, MY EMERGENCY GAS SHUTOFF VALVE IS LOCATED IN THE ACTUAL FIREPLACE.
SO IF YOU HAVE A PROBLEM WITH YOUR FIREPLACE AND YOU HAD TO SHUT IT OFF, YOU HAD TO REACH IN INTO THE FIREPLACE TO SHUT IT OFF.
AND WHEN I CALLED THE GAS COMPANY, THEY COULDN'T BELIEVE IT.
THEY SAID, WELL, YOU BETTER KEEP A PAIR OF CHANNEL LOCKS READY AND RUN OUTSIDE AND TURN IT OFF ON THE METER.
SO SOME THINGS ARE VERY BEHIND, UH, ESPECIALLY ON THE GAS PROCESS.
UM, 13 TO 15 STATES DON'T ALLOW VENT FREE PLACES AND CANADA OUTLAWED THEM.
AND WHEN WE DID USE IT FOR THE FIRST TIME, IT SET OFF THE CARBON MONOXIDE DETECTOR.
I HAVE MY YARD FLOODS AND IT WAS DOCUMENTED BEFORE THE CLOSING THAT THERE'S A NEGATIVE GRADE.
UM, ALSO, I HAVE SOME STRUCTURAL ISSUES ON THE HOUSE.
AND WHEN I WENT TO YOUR BUILDING DEPARTMENT, I WAS TOLD THAT THEY GET FOUR OR FIVE COMPLAINTS EVERY DAY AND YOU COULD ALWAYS WALK AWAY.
AND, UM, THAT WAS, I WASN'T VERY HAPPY.
AND THEN I PHYSICALLY SHOWED HIM THE PICTURE, WHAT THE STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA MECKLENBURG COUNTY PUTS OUT A HANDBOOK, WHAT NOT TO DO.
AND THEN I TOOK A PICTURE OF MY FRAMING AND IT WAS EXACTLY WHAT THEY SAID NOT TO DO.
AND, UM, I SHOWED IT TO, UM, A STRUCTURAL ENGINEER.
HE SAID, I, I SEE YOUR CONCERNS WENT BACK TO YOUR DEPARTMENT.
WELL, SINCE IT'S SH SINCE IT'S SHEED ON THE OUTSIDE, YOU KNOW, WITH OSB, YOU KNOW THAT IT'S OKAY.
AND I WAS TOLD, YOU KNOW, PART OF THE PROBLEM IS YOU'RE NOT LETTING THE THE BUILDER DO ITS JOB.
HE LOOKED AT THE PICTURE AND, UM, I SAID, WELL, WE GOT THE CO TWO DAYS AGO.
AND HE SAID, LET ME SEE THAT PICTURE AGAIN.
YEAH, THAT MEETS CODE THAT'S JUST NOT GONNA CUT IT.
AND I'M GOING TO HAVE TO END UP PULLING OUT ONE BATHROOM.
THEY STACKED ANOTHER BATHROOM ON TOP OF IT BECAUSE IT IS STRUCTURAL.
THE OTHER THING IS MY ROOF OVERHANGS THREE INCHES.
AND ONE THING I COULD TELL YOU, IT'S PRETTY WINDY HERE.
I HAD TO PAY $1,600 EXTRA FOR A SEPARATE WING POLICY, WHICH IS ACTUALLY MORE THAN MY HOMEOWNER'S INSURANCE.
SO, YOU KNOW, MY INSPECTOR SAID THE ROOF IS GONNA FAIL, THE WIND IS GONNA TAKE IT, OR IT'S GONNA CURL OVER AS IT'S DOING IN THE PICTURE AND CRACK.
SO PART OF THIS FALLS ON THE INSPECTION PROCESS.
AND, UM, YOU KNOW, I, I DID MY DUE DILIGENCE.
I CHECKED WITH THE LICENSING BOARD.
THERE WAS A COUPLE OF ISSUES WITH
[00:35:01]
THE BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU, BUT THAT'S IT.WHAT'S SUBDIVISION AGAIN? UM, LAKE.
NEXT AND LAST PETITION IS FOR DANIEL GLASSON OF 1004.
I USED TO LIVE IN LONG LEAF PINE, WHICH IS JUST ACROSS ROAD, BRAND NEW HOUSE.
THERE WAS BUILT BY A DIFFERENT BUILDER.
I HAD PROBLEMS AND I WOULD GET HIM CORRECTED.
AS I TOLD BUILDER, THIS GUY IS UNBELIEVABLE.
THEY CAN'T GET AHOLD OF PEOPLE THROUGH, THROUGH MY REPAIRS.
I HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE TRIM AROUND THE GARAGE.
IT'S BEEN THAT WAY SINCE I BOUGHT THE HOUSE.
CONTRACTOR FOR THIS TRIM WORK CAME BY ONE DAY, LOOKED AT YOU OBVIOUSLY YOU SATURDAY NO SHOW.
WELL, WE CAN'T GET AHOLD OF HIM.
YOU, YOU PEOPLE JUST CONSTANTLY GO ON WITH THIS STORY OF CAN'T GET AHOLD OF PEOPLE.
THE OTHER THING IS, MY, MY FRONT DOOR IS WARPED.
I'VE TOLD 'EM THE TIME AND TIME AGAIN.
I'VE SHOWN 'EM PICTURES, SENT NUMEROUS PICTURES.
THEY'VE BEEN OUT TWICE TO FIX IT.
THEY MICKEY MOUSE IT TO GET IT SOMEWHERE CLOSE.
MY MOTHER-IN-LAW HAS ARTHRITIS, PARA TRACEE.
SHE CAN HARDLY UP AND TURN THE HANDLE ON TO GET OUT THE DOOR.
THE OTHER THING IS DRYWALL UPSTAIRS WHERE THEY DID MUDDY IS NOT FINISHED ALL IN THE SEWER.
THE DRAINAGE SYSTEM THAT HAS NOT BEEN CLEANED SINCE I'VE BEEN THERE.
I HAVE TAKEN MY OWN PERSONAL MOWER, GO OUT THERE AND MOW IT.
I WENT OUT THERE WITH A MOWER, TOOK IT ALL DOWN.
IT TOOK ME OVER FOUR HOURS TO DO THE LITTLE AREA.
THAT WAS A PROBLEM IN THE DITCH.
THE, UM, METAL STEAK THEY WOULD PUT IN FOR DRAINAGE.
IT KEEPS THE DEBRIS OUTTA THE DRAIN.
THEY'RE ARE LITTLE KIDS IN THIS NEIGHBORHOOD.
IF THEY COULD FALL 'EM BY THEM, IT WILL GO THROUGH 'EM.
I TOOK MY TRUCK, HOOKED UP A CHAIN WITH MY NEIGHBOR AND WE YANKED THEM OUT.
I CAN'T HAVE ONE OF THESE KIDS GET HERE BECAUSE THEY'RE THEM BEING NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR WHAT THEY DO.
UM, LET'S SEE WHAT ELSE TO, YEAH, THE METAL POLE IS THE BIGGEST THING WITH ME AND THEM NOT DOING THEIR JOB AND PAWNING IT OFF TO SOMEBODY ELSE IS NOT RIGHT.
I'M NOT A CARPENTER MYSELF, BUT I'LL TELL YOU WHAT, I CAN DO A LOT BETTER JOB THAN WHAT THEY SEEM TO BE DOING.
UM, MR. CITY MANAGER, CITY ATTORNEY, WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE HEARING THIS.
UM, YOU AND I HAVE BEEN ON SITE.
WE'VE LOOKED AT SOME OF THE DRAINAGE PROBLEMS THEY HAVE.
UH, I KNOW THAT ONE OF THE, UH, RESIDENTS MADE THE COMMENT THAT, UM, SIDES OR A REPRESENTATIVE SIDES THAT'S BEEN IN TOUCH WITH US.
ARE YOU AWARE OF ANYONE FROM SIDES CALLING ANYBODY HERE? NO, I AM NOT.
AND WHEN I MET, MET WITH, UM, DAVID LEISURE AND, UH, AND SOME OF THOSE RESIDENTS OUT THERE LAST YEAR, UM, THEY ASKED IF I WOULD SEND A LETTER TO, TO SIDES CONSTRUCTION.
I NEVER RECEIVED, I NEVER RECEIVED A RESPONSE.
UM, UH, A MONTH AFTER I SENT THAT EMAIL, I, I REALIZED THAT, THAT IT WENT TO A WRONG EMAIL ADDRESS.
THERE WAS A, A LETTER MISSING.
SO I RESENT THAT INFORMATION, BUT IT WENT TO THEIR ENGINEER NONETHELESS.
AND, UM, THEY NEVER RESPONDED TO US.
SO, UM, GEORGE, HAVE YOU BY ANY CHANCE YOU DON'T HAVE, HAVE YOU HAD ANY COMP? NO.
UM, A LOT OF THIS STUFF THAT I'M HEARING TONIGHT HA IS COSMETIC.
UH, THE, AND THERE'S A LOT OF IT, THE STRUCTURAL YEAH.
UM, THE STR THE STRUCTURAL PART.
I'VE CAN, I ONLY CAN ASSUME THAT THEIR, UM, THEY CAN COMPLAIN TO THE NORTH COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF INSURANCE AND THEIR LICENSING DIVISION.
AND I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU TO DO THAT.
UM, THAT HE, IF YOU, IF HE GET, THEY GET COMPLAINTS, THEY'RE GOING TO CALL ON MR. SIDES TO ANSWER THESE COMPLAINTS.
UM, WHAT CAN THE CITY OF NEWBURN DO TO HOLD
[00:40:01]
THIS BUILDER ACCOUNTABLE FOR THIS ROOM FULL OF PEOPLE SITTING IN HERE THAT'S NOT VERY SATISFIED WITH HIS ACTIONS? I'M AFRAID THAT ONE'S YOURS.I, I, I WISH I HAD A CIVIL BULLET FOR YOU, BUT, BUT I DON'T, UM, I, I'M TRYING TO THINK OF A SPEECH THAT'S SHORT AND HELPFUL.
MANY OF YOU KNOW THIS FROM THIS BOARD.
THE LOCAL GOVERNMENTS, CITIES AND COUNTIES ONLY HAVE THE POWER AND AUTHORITY THAT'S GIVEN TO YOU BY STATE STATUTES, RIGHT? IF THERE'S NOT A STATE STATUTE THAT GIVES A CITY THE POWER TO REGULATE, THERE IS NO SUCH POWER WHEN IT COMES TO THE STATE BUILDING CODE.
IT IS A NORTH CAROLINA STATE BUILDING CODE.
THE ONLY AUTHORITY LOCAL GOVERNMENTS HAVE IS TO ENFORCE THAT PARTICULAR BUILDING CODE.
AND IT'S A MINIMUM BUILDING CODE.
IT'S NOT THE BEST BUILDING CODE, IT'S THE MINIMAL THAT THE STATE THINKS IS SAFE.
AND CITIES CAN AND HAVE TO ENFORCE THAT CODE.
IF A LICENSE CONTRACTOR APPLIES FOR A BUILDING PERMIT, THE CITY HAS A LEGAL OBLIGATION TO GIVE THAT BUILDER THE PERMIT.
WE CAN'T PICK AND CHOOSE WHO WE THINK THE BETTER BUILDERS ARE.
THE STATE MAKES THAT DECISION WHEN IT GIVES 'EM A LICENSE.
THE CITY'S LEGAL AUTHORITY IS TO MAKE SURE THEY HAVE A LICENSE.
AND IF THEY DO, WE HAVE A LEGAL OBLIGATION TO GIVE THEM THAT PERMIT.
WE CAN'T WITHHOLD PERMITS IF WE GET TOO MANY COMPLAINTS.
WHATEVER REASON, WE MUST GIVE THE BUILDING PERMIT.
IF THEY HAVE A GENERAL CONTRACTOR LICENSE, THEY APPLY FOR THE PERMIT AND THEY PAY THE FEE THEREAFTER, THE CITY INSPECTS AND THEY'RE INSPECTING FOR COMPLIANCE WITH THE MINIMUM BUILDING CODE.
A LOT OF THINGS HAVE BEEN SAID HERE THAT FACTUALLY WE SIMPLY DON'T KNOW.
I I, I CAN'T TELL YOU THAT THE BUILDING CODE HAS BEEN MET OR NOT ON SOME OF THESE STRUCTURAL ISSUES.
I, I WOULD INVITE FOLKS TO GET AN ENGINEER TO GIVE IT A LOOK, UM, AND THEN REPORT BACK TO THE CITY INSPECTIONS DEPARTMENTS SO THAT THEY CAN REFLECT ON WHAT WAS GIVEN TO THE CITY.
NEVERTHELESS, MORE SAD NEWS, LOCAL GOVERNMENT INSPECTIONS DEPARTMENTS ARE NOT GUARANTORS OF PERFECT CONSTRUCTION.
THEY'RE THERE TO REVIEW AND INSPECT, ENFORCE COMPLIANCE WITH THE CODE.
BUT IF MISTAKES ARE MADE BY A LOCAL GOVERNMENT, THERE IS NO LIABILITY FOR MISSING SOMETHING WITH COMPLIANCE WITH THE BUILDING CODE.
SO IT'S THERE, IT'S SOMETHING, IT IS HELPFUL, BUT IT, IT IS NOT AN INSURANCE POLICY OR A GUARANTEE THAT YOUR HOUSE HAS BEEN BUILT CONSISTENT WITH THE CODE, UM, ON THE FLOODING ISSUES, THE BEST THE CITY CAN DO.
AND AGAIN, WE'RE LOOKING AT OUR, WHAT, WHAT DO OUR STATE STATUTES ALLOW? THE STATE STATUTES ALLOW US TO HAVE A STORM WATER, UM, REGULATORY ORDINANCE, WHICH WE DO.
UM, THE CITY IMPLEMENTS THAT MONITORS IT, REGULATES IT, INSPECTS IT.
THE BULK OF THAT WORK THOUGH, IS ULTIMATELY DONE BY THE STATE.
AND I KNOW IN THIS PARTICULAR CASE, STAFF HAS REACHED OUT TO THE STATE TO GO BACK AND DOUBLE CHECK, TRIPLE CHECK EVERYTHING TO MAKE SURE THAT ALL THE STORM WATER REGULATIONS HAVE BEEN COMPLIED WITH.
AND IF THEY HAVE, THAT'S SIMPLY ALL THE CITY CAN DO.
MY UNDERSTANDING IS THIS WATER MAY BE COMING OFF ADJOINING PROPERTY AND NOT WITHIN THAT SUBDIVISION.
AND AGAIN, WHEN THE CITY IS REGULATING A STORM WATER PLAN, IT IS FOR THAT SUBDIVISION.
IT IS NOT ADDRESSING WHAT OTHER WATER MAY BE PUT ON THAT PROPERTY BY SOME OF THEIR PROPERTY.
OR THAT WOULD BE A PRIVATE LAWSUIT TO GO UNTANGLE THAT.
SO, UM, I DON'T KNOW IF THE STATE'S, GEORGE, IF THE STATE'S BEEN BACK RECENTLY TO LOOK.
BUT THEY WERE, THEY WERE HERE HOW LONG AGO WAS IT GEORGE? UM, FROM OUR LAST CORRESPONDENCE.
SO I, I THINK THE STATE HAS EXHAUSTED ITS REGULATORY AUTHORITY TO, TO ENSURE COMPLIANCE THE CITY HAS AS WELL.
AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT, WHAT MORE, ANY MORE, UM, YOU KNOW, TOOLS THAT WE HAVE IN OUR TOOLBOX TO BE HELPFUL.
UM, AND JUST AGAIN, JUST TO NOTE, UH, LAKE TYLER.
IS THAT LAKE TYLER, RIGHT? THAT'S WHERE YOU LIVED THERE.
AND, AND SEVERAL, I THINK SOME OF THE OTHER SUBDIVISIONS OVER THERE.
IT'S NOT CITY PROPERTY, IT'S STILL BELONG.
IT'S PRIVATE PROPERTY STILL OWNED BY THE DEVELOPER.
RIGHT? SO THE ROADS, THE STORM WATER, THE, UM,
[00:45:01]
STREET LIGHTS, RIGHT? AND ALL THAT STUFF IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE DEVELOPER, CORRECT? YES, SIR.AND, AND ONE, ONE TOOL THAT WE DO HAVE AT THE STAFF LEVEL IS TO MAKE SURE UNTIL THO THAT INFRASTRUCTURE IS TURNED OVER TO THE CITY TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE A PERFORMANCE BOND AND CASH IN PLACE TO COVER REPAIRS OR CONSTRUCTION IN THE EVENT THE CONTRACTOR DOESN'T FINISH.
AND I KNOW THAT THERE ARE MANY PHASES, SIDEWALKS, GUTTERS, CURBING, THAT HAVE NOT BEEN TURNED OVER TO THE CITY FOR WHICH WE HAVE FUNDS THAT WE'RE HOLDING AND WILL NOT RELEASE UNTIL THEY'RE BROUGHT INTO COMPLIANCE AND GIVEN TO THE CITY.
UH, AND DAVID AND ALL THE OTHERS FROM, UH, THIS NEIGHBORHOOD, UM, I, I KNOW THERE'S SOME OF THE STUFF THAT YOU REALLY DON'T WANT TO HEAR BECAUSE WE REALLY DO NOT HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO PUT A STOP TO THIS CONTRACTOR.
NOW I'VE ASKED, YOU KNOW, WE DON'T HAVE THE AUTHORITY, BUT I'M GONNA TELL YOU ONE OF THE MOST POWERFUL TOOLS THAT YOU HAVE RIGHT NOW IS WHEN YOU STAND UP HERE AND YOU START TALKING ABOUT THIS BUILDER AND THE SUBDIVISION YOU LIVE IN, AND THIS LADY, YOUNG LADY FROM THE PRESS PICKS IT UP AND A LOT OF THE OTHER PRESS PICKS IT UP.
SO MAYBE SOMEBODY, YOU'LL GET SOMEBODY'S ATTENTION.
MAY I ASK A QUESTION? UM, I'M SORRY.
THE, THE PETITION OF CITIZENS HAS CLOSED, BUT I, I DID WANNA MAKE A COMMENT.
UM, WE'VE GOT A LIST HERE OF FOLKS THAT SPOKE TONIGHT AND WE HAVE A RECORD NOW OF WHAT THEIR CONCERNS AND COMPLAINTS ARE.
UH, IF, IF THE BOARD IS NOT OPPOSED TO IT, WHAT I WOULD LIKE, I WOULD LIKE FOR STAFF TO TAKE THESE PETITIONS, REVIEW THE ADDRESSES AND WHATEVER TOOK PLACE DURING THE BUILDING PROCESS.
IF THERE ARE NOTES THAT WERE MADE ABOUT THINGS THAT WERE INADEQUATE THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN ADDRESSED, THAT SHOULD ALL BE IN THE RECORD, I'M ASSUMING.
UH, I WOULD LIKE ALL OF THAT PULLED FOR EACH ONE OF THESE ADDRESSES THAT HAS A STRUCTURAL OR A STORM WATER DRAINAGE ISSUE.
WE CAN'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT, UM, THE TILE IN THE BATHROOM OR, OR SOME OF THE OTHER THINGS THAT I SAW THAT'S OUTSIDE OF OUR PURVIEW.
BUT IF IT'S A STRUCTURAL CONCERN OR A STORMWATER CONCERN, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THAT RECORD.
AND THEN WHAT I WOULD LIKE IS ALDERMAN ASTOR, MYSELF, CITY MANAGER, CITY INSPECTOR, AND IF SOMEBODY ELSE ON THE BOARD WANTS TO JOIN US, US, I WOULD LIKE TO GO OUT AND PHYSICALLY LOOK AT THESE SO WE CAN HAVE A VISUAL REPRESENTATION.
I KNOW YOU'VE DONE THIS, I KNOW STAFF HAS DONE THIS BEFORE, BUT WE, WE NEED TO BE VERY CLEAR AND SUCCINCT IN WHAT WE'RE SAYING OF WHAT'S WITHIN OUR PURVIEW AND WHAT'S NOT.
AND I THINK THAT'S THE BEST WAY TO HANDLE THIS, BECAUSE THERE'S NO REASON FOR THESE FOLKS TO TAKE THEIR TIME TO COME HERE.
I UNDERSTAND WHAT ALDERMAN ASTRA SAYING IT'S GONNA BE ON THE NEWS MEDIA.
BUT THERE'S NO REASON FOR THEM TO COME MONTH AFTER MONTH WHEN THERE'S NOTHING THAT WE CAN DO.
WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE CLEAR WITH THEM ON WHAT'S IN OUR PURVIEW AND WHAT DIRECTION WE CAN GIVE THEM THAT THEY MAY CAN SEEK SOME HELP.
SO IS THE BOARD OPPOSED TO WHAT I JUST RECOMMENDED? NO, I AGREE.
I'D LIKE TO ADD ONE OTHER THING TOO.
THE CITY ATTORNEY, UH, SUGGESTS THAT WHEN IT CAME TO THE STRUCTURAL ISSUE, UH, FOR YOU TO ENGAGE IN ENGINEER AND THEN, UH, GO BACK TO INSPECTIONS TO SEE IF IT WAS IN COMPLIANCE.
AND YOU WENT BACK TO INSPECTIONS.
WHAT WAS THE RESULTS? THEY TOLD ME CAUSE IT WAS, HAVE CHEATING ON IT.
IT WAS, IT WAS OKAY, BUT I HAVE THE ACTUAL WRITTEN CODE RIGHT HERE, SO YOU WANT NOT TO DO, AND THEY DID IT.
AND IT ALSO TELLS YOU HAVE REPAIR IT.
SO THAT, THAT'S ONE OF THOSE ISSUES THAT I THINK WOULD BE ADDRESSED WHENEVER WE CAN GET OUT THERE AND ACTUALLY LOOK AT IT WITH THE INSPECTOR AND THE HOMEOWNER FACE-TO-FACE.
BECAUSE THERE ARE CERTAIN THINGS, THERE'S THE, THE CODE IS DIFFERENT.
IF YOU'RE PUT A BRICK FACADE VERSUS A WOOD OR VINYL FACADE, THE CODE CHANGES.
SO THAT COULD HAVE SOMETHING TO DO WITH IT.
YOU KNOW, THE LAST COMMENT I'LL MAKE, AND I WAS GONNA SAVE IT FOR NEW BUSINESS, BUT I'LL SAY IT NOW.
UM, I WOULD JUST BE VERY CAUTIOUS WHEN ANYONE COMES BEFORE THE BOARD AND YOU MAKE STATEMENTS.
UM, IT'S CERTAINLY YOUR FOUR MINUTES.
AS LONG AS YOU FOLLOW OUR RULES AND PROCEDURES, WE'RE GONNA ALLOW YOU THAT FOUR MINUTES.
BUT YOU KNOW, THE COMMENT WAS MADE ABOUT A WATER AND A SEWER NOT WORKING IN SOMEONE'S HOUSE FOR SIX YEARS.
I REMEMBER WHEN THE STATEMENT WAS MADE, I REMEMBER WHO MADE THE STATEMENT.
OUR STAFF HAS VERIFIED THAT WAS NOT A FACTUAL STATEMENT.
SO THAT'S THE ONLY REASON I CAUTION YOU IS WHENEVER YOU COME BEFORE THE BOARD AND YOU SAY SOMETHING, BE CAREFUL THAT YOU'VE GOT THE FACTS CORRECT AND YOU'RE NOT SPEAKING ON A MOTION.
WE'RE GONNA DO EVERYTHING WITHIN OUR POWER THAT WE CAN.
BUT AS A CITY ATTORNEY SAID, WE CAN'T LEGALLY TELL A BUILDER WE DON'T LIKE YOU BECAUSE WE DON'T LIKE HEARING FEET NEGATIVE FEEDBACK THAT WE'RE DENYING YOU A PERMIT AS LONG AS THEY'RE MEETING THE STATE CODE.
SO HOPEFULLY THAT WAS HELPFUL INFORMATION FOR Y'ALL.
AND THANK YOU ALL FOR COMING THIS EVENING.
UM, MAYOR, I'D LIKE TO SAY SOMETHING, PLEASE.
[00:50:01]
YES, WHILE WE ARE ON THIS SUBJECT, UM, A AS, AS AN ALDERMAN REPRESENTING THE CITY, I I'M, I'M GOING TO MAKE THIS STATEMENT NOT KNOWING ALL THE FACTS, BUT ONE GENTLEMAN STOOD UP HERE AND SAID THAT HE WENT TO, UH, THE DEPARTMENT WITHIN THE CITY AND HE, UM, SPOKE WITH EMPLOYEES AND RECEIVED SOME NEGATIVE FEEDBACK FROM THAT EMPLOYEE.NOW, I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S TRUE OR NOT, BUT FOR THE GENTLEMAN TO MAKE THAT STATEMENT, I DON'T CONCUR WITH OUR EMPLOYEES WHEN THEY ARE APPROACHED BY OUR CITIZENS TO OPEN THEIR MOUTHS AND MAKE ANY NEGATIVE COMMENT TO A CITIZEN.
IF YOU DON'T HAVE A, AN, AN, A POSITIVE ANSWER TO GIVE THEM OR YOU DON'T KNOW A A ANSWER TO A QUESTION, YOU NEED TO SEEK THAT INFORMATION AND RESPECT THAT CUSTOMER.
AND ESPECIALLY WITH THESE CITIZENS GOING THROUGH WITH WHAT THEY'RE GOING THROUGH WITH THEIR PROPERTIES.
I WOULD NOT WANT TO BE IN ANY ONE OF YOU'S PLACE RIGHT NOW HAVING TO DEAL WITH THIS.
IT'S UNACCEPTABLE BY THAT EMPLOYEE.
IF THAT'S WHAT HAPPENED, IT'S UNACCEPTABLE AND MOVING FORWARD, I DO NOT ALLOW AND WILL NOT BE A PART OF ANY EMPLOYEE TALKING TO A CITIZENS IN THAT MANNER.
AND I'M QUITE SURE THE REST OF THIS BOARD FEELS THE SAME WAY.
[Consent Agenda]
THE CONSENT AGENDA.DO WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA? SECOND.
HAVE A MOTION TO SECONDING INTO DISCUSSION.
LETS HAVE A ROLL CALL STARTING WITH ALDERMAN PRI ALDERMAN PRI ALDERMAN ROYAL.
[9. Presentation by Craven 100 Alliance.]
ITEM NUMBER NINE, PRESENTATION BY CRAVIN 100 ALLIANCE.I'M GONNA INVITE, UH, JEFF WOOD AND NOT OWEN ANDREWS, BUT WE'RE HAPPY TO HAVE OWEN ANDREWS HERE, UH, TO GIVE US AN UPDATE ON THE C ONE A.
AND THIS REALLY CAME ABOUT DURING THE BOARD'S WORK SESSION THAT WE HAD.
THERE WERE SOME COMMENTS AND SOME CONCERNS EXPRESSED ABOUT, UM, YOU KNOW, HEARING FROM THE VARIOUS ENTITIES THROUGHOUT THE CITY, BOTH RESIDENTS AS, AS WELL AS THE INDUSTRY ON WHAT THEY WERE SEEING AS CONCERNS AND NEEDS WITHOUT THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY.
NOW I RECOMMENDED THAT, UH, JEFF AND C ONE A COME AND TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT IT.
CAUSE I KNOW YOU HAVE FREQUENT COMMUNICATION WITH THOSE FOLKS ALL THE TIME.
I'M THE DIRECTOR OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FOR CRA COUNTY, AND THEN BY THAT, BY, UH, FELLOW C THREE, NONPROFIT C CRAVE 100 ALLIANCE, UH, DEFACTO THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE CRAVE 100 ALLIANCE.
UM, BEEN IN NEW BERN SLASH CRA COUNTY FOR A LITTLE OVER FOUR YEARS, COMING FROM THE GREAT STATE OF WEST VIRGINIA WHERE IT'S SNOWING RIGHT NOW.
SO, REALLY GLAD TO BE HERE THIS EVENING.
A LOT OF TIMES PEOPLE WONDER WHAT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IS.
UH, THE WAY THAT I EXPLAIN IT VERY SIMPLY IS I AM FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO GO IN FRONT OF PEOPLE AND BRAG ABOUT WHERE I LIVE, SO THEY'LL MAKE INVESTMENTS INTO WHERE I LIVE.
SO JAWS WILL BE CREATED FOR MY FRIENDS AND MY FAMILY.
UH, AND I'VE BEEN DOING THIS FOR ABOUT 20 YEARS, UH, AND IT'S BEEN A PLEASURE TO DO THIS, UH, IN THE LAST FEW YEARS HERE, CRAVE 100 ALLIANCE IS A 5 0 1
UM, HAPPY TO SAY ON THE PRIVATE SIDE, THEY, THEY'VE REALLY DONE A PHENOMENAL JOB IN FUNDRAISING, UH, FOR THIS ORGANIZATION TO BRING IN THE DOLLARS THAT WE'VE NEEDED TO BE ABLE TO MAKE SOME STRATEGIC INVESTMENTS TO BRING IN THOSE PRIVATE DOLLARS.
AND THEN ALSO WANT TO THANK THE CITY OF NEWBURG, UH, THAT OVER ABOUT NON-ST INSTALLMENTS, THERE'S BEEN ABOUT $121,000 DURING THE CRA ONE IRON ALLIANCE FROM THE CITY OF NEWBURN.
UH, THAT'S ALSO BEEN, UH, UH, MATCHED TO A DEGREE BY HAVELOCK AS WELL AS CRAVEN COUNTY.
SO IT REALLY HAS TRULY BEEN A PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP.
UM, SINCE THAT TIME, SINCE 2014, UH, THE C ONE A HAS BEEN INVOLVED IN PROJECTS THAT HAVE BROUGHT IN ABOUT ALMOST $200 MILLION WORTH OF INVESTMENT.
UH, 197,900,000 AND 1,558 JOBS EITHER CREATED OR RETAINED.
MOST OF THOSE HAVE BEEN CREATED, BUT THERE HAVE BEEN A COUPLE OF PROJECTS WHERE WE STOPPED, UH, THE COMPANY FROM LEAVING THE COUNTY.
UM, A COUPLE TO NOTE, AND I GAVE YOU GUYS A PAMPHLET TO GO OVER SOME OF THE, UH, ACTIVITIES THAT THE C ONE A HAS BEEN INVOLVED IN, UM, IN PARTICULAR WHEN IT COMES TO THE CITY OF NEWBURN AND THE AREA HERE.
A FEW AREAS THAT I THINK THAT WOULD BE OF INTEREST OF YOURS IS RIGHT NOW WE'RE WORKING HEAVILY WITH THE AIRPORT, A COUPLE DIFFERENT AREAS.
ONE, WE'VE SET ASIDE FUNDS, PARTICULARLY ON THE PUBLIC
[00:55:01]
FUNDS SIDE, UH, TO HELP THEM WITH, UH, ENTICING AIRLINES, UH, TO LOOK AT NEW FLIGHTS INTO THE AREA.IF YOU PROBABLY SAW THAT, UH, LAST YEAR, UH, THE AIRPORT MADE AN ANNOUNCEMENT.
THEY RECEIVED A FEDERAL GRANT.
THE CM A WAS A PART OF THAT MATCH ALONG WITH CRAVEN COUNTY TO GET THOSE FUNDS HERE, UH, IN PLACE.
UH, ANOTHER THING THAT WE'RE DOING IN THAT AREA IS THEY HAVE ABOUT 90 ACRES ALONG THE RUNWAY.
WE RECEIVED A GOLDEN LEAGUE GRANT OF $753,000 THAT THE AIRPORT AUTHORITY DID TO PUT WATER AND SEWER INTO THAT AREA, TO OPEN IT UP FOR DEVELOPMENT.
UH, AND THEN, UH, LOOKING FOR OTHER FUNDS TO, TO BE ABLE TO BRING IN NEW OPPORTUNITIES IN AEROSPACE, UH, RELATED ACTIVITIES.
ONE OF OUR TARGET INDUSTRIES, UH, ANOTHER AREA THAT WE, UH, THAT I WAS VERY HAPPY TO HELP OUT WITH SWISS BAY DURING THE PANDEMIC CREATED A RESILIENCY LOAN FUND THAT HELPED SEVERAL DIFFERENT BUSINESSES.
UH, THE C ONE A WAS AN INVESTOR INTO THAT PROJECT.
THE C ONE A WAS AN INVESTOR IN, UH, ONE OF THE INITIAL INVESTORS INTO THE VAULT CENTER.
UM, THE, UH, PROJECT PROBABLY THAT, UH, THAT CAUGHT MOST PEOPLE'S ATTENTION, UH, THAT WAS INVOLVED WITH NEWBURN IN PARTICULAR WOULD BE THE, UH, UM, UH, ANNOUNCEMENT THAT WAVER MARINE HAD PURCHASED HATS.
UH, IT WAS A SITUATION WHERE THEY BROUGHT IN TWO OTHER BUSINESSES, MAKO AND RANGER BRAND, TO, TO COMBINE INTO ONE FACILITY, WHAT THEY CALL THEIR SALT WATER OPERATIONS.
UH, HAPPY TO ANNOUNCE THAT THEY'RE DOING WELL, THEY'VE INCREASED THEIR EMPLOYMENT, UM, AND, UH, OR HAVE CONTINUED TO MAKE THAT INVESTMENT OVER THE NEXT FEW YEARS.
SO WE'VE, UH, I FEEL, UH, VERY CONFIDENT THAT, THAT YOUR DOLLARS HAVE BEEN INVESTED WISELY.
UH, FOSTERS ON THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE ALONG WITH OWEN, UH, AND, UH, IT'S BEEN, UM, AN AMAZING EFFORT, UH, TO SEE SOME OF THE COMPANIES THAT WE'VE BROUGHT INTO THE AREA.
UH, IF YOU'RE NOT FAMILIAR WITH ANNIE SCHNEIDER AT KMAC, HE'S BEEN IN OUR INDUSTRIAL PARK.
UH, HE ACTUALLY MOVED HIS COMPANY HERE FROM NEW JERSEY WHEN, UH, THE PANDEMIC HAD JUST STARTED.
HE CALLED ME ON HIS CELL PHONE ON A TRUCK ON THE WAY HERE AND ASKED ME WAS HE AN ESSENTIAL EMPLOYER? UH, I SAID, WELL, YOU'RE ESSENTIAL TO US, SO WE'LL, WE'LL TAKE YOU AS SOON AS WE CAN.
UM, HE, UH, HE, HE WAS THINKING ABOUT MOVING TO WILMINGTON AND A FRIEND OF HIS SAID BEFORE YOU MOVED TO WILMINGTON TO MOVE YOUR BUSINESS, UH, TO WILMINGTON, UH, CHECK OUT THIS TOWN, NEWBURN.
UH, AND HE DID, HE FELL IN LOVE WITH IT.
HE SAID, BECAUSE AMERICANA STILL EXISTS IN NEWBURN, THAT IT HAS THE ABILITY FOR HIM TO BE ABLE TO GROW HIS COMPANY, LOVE WHERE HE LIVES, AND HE BRAGS ABOUT IT ON A REGULAR BASIS.
HE'S ACTUALLY BROUGHT ME A FEW LEADS AT TOM'S, AND, AND THERE'S SOMETHING SPECIAL ABOUT THAT, THAT I'VE SEEN OVER AND OVER AGAIN, PARTICULARLY, YOU KNOW, THE, THE BIGGER ANNOUNCEMENTS GET TO, UH, GET THE HEADLINES.
BUT WHEN YOU LOOK AT WHAT'S HAPPENED IN THE CRITON COUNTY INDUSTRIAL PARK OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS, THERE'S BEEN ABOUT 250 JOBS SAVED IN AND CREATED IN THAT AREA.
UH, OVER A HALF A DOZEN COMPANIES, EVERYTHING FROM THREE EMPLOYEES UP TO ABOUT 30, UH, WHICH IS THE KIND OF DIVERSITY THAT YOU WANT ACROSS SEVERAL DIFFERENT INDUSTRIES AS WELL.
UH, TO NOTE ON THAT, EVEN THOUGH IT'S NOT WITHIN THE CITY LIMITS, WE DO APPRECIATE THE, THE, UH, THE, UH, STOOD AT THE WATER AND THE SEWER, UH, THAT YOU GUYS HAVE, UH, HAVE BROUGHT INTO THE INDUSTRIAL PARK.
I'M HAPPY TO SAY THAT MOST OF THAT PROPERTY THAT'S OWNED BY THE COUNTY HAS BEEN SOLD.
UH, WE HAVE ABOUT 48 ACRES LEFT ON THE NORTHERN SIDE OF THE, THE PARK, UH, ON THE MOEN SIDE.
UH, WE'VE SOLD EVERYTHING ON THE SOUTHERN SIDE OF US, 70.
UM, WE'RE CURRENTLY HAVING AN ENGINEERING FIRM THAT'S DESIGNING AND DOING THE ENVIRONMENTAL WORK TO HELP US DIVIDE OUT THAT PROPERTY SO WE CAN CONTINUE TO CREATE JOBS.
SO, UM, THANK YOU GUYS, UH, FOR THIS EVENING.
I'M A BOARD THAN HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
UM, AS A GOOD ECONOMIC DEVELOPER, I PROMISE YOU THAT IF I DON'T HAVE AN ANSWER, I'LL MAKE IT UP.
THAT'S WHAT WE DO WITH PROSPECTS ALL THE TIME.
SO, UH, BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO ANSWER THE QUESTIONS.
ALDER MCKINZIE THERE, SPACE PROGRAM THAT'S AT THE AIRPORT.
HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE YOU LOOKING TO BRING IN TO START THAT PROGRAM? ARE YOU WAITING FOR THE BASE OR GIMME SOME UPDATE ON THAT? SURE.
UH, RIGHT NOW WE DO NOT HAVE PROSPECTS BECAUSE OF THE FACT, FACT OF HOW LONG IT'S GOING TO BE ABLE TO TAKE TO GET THAT WATER AND SEWER.
IT'LL TAKE A FEW YEARS FOR US TO DEVELOP OUT THAT PROPERTY.
HOWEVER, UH, WE DO HAVE INTEREST IN AEROSPACE DEFENSE RELATED ACTIVITIES.
WE PROJECT SOMEWHERE AROUND A HUNDRED JOBS BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT WE'VE SEEN IN THE INDUSTRIAL PARK IN A SIMILAR KIND OF INVESTMENT.
IT'S PROBABLY EVEN A LITTLE BIT OF A CONSERVATIVE ESTIMATE OF WHAT WE COULD LOOK AT DOING.
SO DEFINITELY AEROSPACE, DEFENSE RELATED CONTRACTING, UH, UH, UH, WORKING WITH FOLKS LIKE, FOR INSTANCE, ASI WHO MADE A FIVE AND A HALF MILLION DOLLAR INVESTMENT IN THE INDUSTRIAL PARK, CREATED 30 JOBS.
THERE ARE SUPPLY CHAIN MANUFACTURER FOR THE DEFENSE INDUSTRY.
SO COMPANIES LIKE THAT ALSO, UM, PROBABLY A LITTLE BIT OF A LONG
[01:00:01]
SHOT, BUT I'M ALSO A GREAT INTEREST INTO MAINTENANCE OR REPAIR FOR COMMERCIAL AIRCRAFT.UH, YOU HAVE AN INTERESTING, UH, UH, CHANGE IN THE AIRLINE INDUSTRY.
WE ALL KNOW THE BIG THREE, BUT THERE'S ALWAYS THESE NEW EXCITING COMPANIES THAT ARE STARTING UP LIKE BREEZE THAT, UH, ARE MORE LEISURE RELATED.
AND THESE COMPANIES ARE JUST GETTING STARTED.
AND SO THE OPPORTUNITY TO NOT ONLY ASK THEM TO MAKE AN INVESTMENT INTO DOING NEW FLIGHTS INTO THE AREA, BUT TO ALSO LOOK AT US FOR MAINTENANCE OR REPAIRS.
SO THOSE WOULD BE THE TWO TARGET INDUSTRIES THAT I WOULD SAY THAT WE'RE GONNA BE GOING AFTER WITH THAT, WITH THAT AREA.
WOULD IT BE SAFE FOR YOU TO SHARE WITH US WITH ANY COMPANIES THAT YOU'VE BEEN COURTING TRYING TO BRING TO THIS AREA?
UM, UH, SIMPLY BECAUSE WITH COMPANIES, UH, THEY DO HAVE BUSINESS PLANS AND INVESTORS, AND ESPECIALLY IF THEY'RE PUBLICLY TRADED COMPANIES, MOST OF THE TIME I'M ASKED TO GO UNDER A NON-DISCLOSURE AGREEMENT OR AT LEAST ACT THAT I AM.
BUT I PROMISE YOU THAT, UH, UH, WE DO HAVE A PROCESS TO MOVE FORWARD, UH, WHERE WE'LL BE ABLE TO RELAY INFORMATION WHENEVER IT WOULD BE MOST APPROPRIATE.
SO THE LINE THAT YOU, UH, HAVE, SO, UH, ARE YOU EXPECTING, UH, UH, A, A LARGE, UH, EMPLOYMENT, UH, TO COME IN TO FILL THAT, THAT VOID THERE? THE A HUNDRED JOBS? MM-HMM.
SO INSTEAD OF ONE LARGE EMPLOYER, IT'D PROBABLY BE A SERIES OF EMPLOYEES THAT WOULD COME IN, UH, AND, UH, BE ANYTHING FROM FREE TO 30 JOBS.
THAT'S WHILE, WHILE THE, THE BIGGER PROJECTS GET A LOT OF NOTORIETY, THAT'S THE BREAD AND BUTTER OF WHAT WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO SEE.
AS A MATTER OF FACT, AFTER THE BASS PRO SHOP ANNOUNCEMENT, UH, HAD THE SUN JOURNAL GO OVER AND TALK TO SOME OF THESE COMPANIES, UH, THAT, UH, WHEN YOU COMBINE THEM TOGETHER, THEY ARE A LARGE EMPLOYER.
UH, AND TO AN EXTENT, UH, THEY'VE, THEY'VE TAKEN GREAT RISK.
UH, A COUPLE OF COMPANIES EVEN DURING THE PANDEMIC MOVING THEIR COMPANY HERE LIKE ANDY.
SO, UM, I WOULD EXPECT IT TO BE THAT WAY, BUT DON'T GET ME WRONG, ALDERMAN.
IF IT'S A LARGE COMPANY, I WON'T TURN THAT AWAY EITHER.
WHAT TYPE OF CONNECTION DO YOU HAVE WITH THE HIGH SCHOOLS AND THE COMMUNITY COLLEGE IN PREPARING PEOPLE FOR THESE COMPANIES THAT'S COMING IN? CAN YOU SHARE A LITTLE BIT WITH US WHAT YOU ARE GETTING FROM THEM? SURE, SURE.
UH, THE C ONE A INVESTS REGULARLY IN THE CTE EXPO.
THAT HAPPENED AT THE COMMUNITY COLLEGE OR AT THE, UH, CONVENTION CENTER EVERY YEAR.
UH, I ACTUALLY SAT ON THAT ADVISORY BOARD FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS.
I'M ACTUALLY MOVING OFF OF THAT IN SEPTEMBER.
IT'S BEEN A FANTASTIC PROGRAM TO HELP FOLKS GET READY FOR THAT, THAT PREPARATION, UH, TO GO INTO A CERTIFICATION PROGRAM AT THE COMMUNITY COLLEGE OR SOMEWHERE ELSE.
UM, DEFINITELY IN MY 20 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT HAS MOVED AWAY FROM JUST REAL ESTATE TO WORKFORCE.
UH, I'VE HAD SITE SELECTORS ASK ME WHAT KIND OF TRADING PROGRAMS OR WHAT KIND OF EDUCATION PROGRAMS WE HAVE AS EARLY AS EIGHTH GRADE.
SO THOSE THINGS ARE ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY.
CANNOT SPEAK HIGHLY ENOUGH OF CRAVE COMMUNITY COLLEGE.
UH, THE VOLT CENTER HAS BEEN, UH, PHENOMENAL.
I THINK AT THIS POINT IN TIME, THEY HAVE REPORTED AROUND 800 JOB OFFERS FROM, UH, THEIR, THEIR GRADUATES, THOSE WHO HAD THEIR CERTIFICATION.
UH, ALL OF OUR INDUSTRY, WE HAVE AN INDUSTRY COUNCIL MADE UP OF MOST OF OUR MANUFACTURERS THAT WE CAN GET FEEDBACK AND WHAT WE NEED TO MAKE INVESTMENTS ON.
THEY'VE ALL BEEN VERY PLEASED WITH THE VOL CENTER.
I'M JUST CURIOUS, WHAT, WHAT, WHAT, WHAT, UH, UH, PROGRAMS DO THEY GRADUATE FROM? THAT WAS, UH, UH, UH, UH, UH, A KNOCKOUT.
COULD YOU SHARE A LITTLE BIT OF THAT? I'M JUST CURIOUS.
WITH, WITH MOEN AND BOSCH, THEY BOTH ACTUALLY HAVE LAWNS AT THE VOL CENTER, SO PEOPLE ARE ABLE TO TRAIN THEIR, SPECIFICALLY, WHAT THEIR JOB IS GOING TO BE.
UM, THEY'RE ALSO, UM, UM, LOOKING AT SPECIFIC TRADES, MAYBE NOT SPECIFIC, UH, TOWARDS MANUFACTURING, WHICH IS TYPICALLY WHAT I LOOK AT.
BUT ALL OF YOUR TRADES, SUCH AS PLUMBING, UH, AND, AND, UH, OTHER PROFESSIONS LIKE THAT, THAT ARE IN NEAT, IN DEMAND, UH, THOSE WOULD BE TWO THAT I CAN TELL YOU, UH, THAT HAD BEEN, UH, VERY HELPFUL.
BUT WHAT YOU DO, IS IT ANYTHING THAT YOU SEE THAT WE AS A BOARD COULD DO TO HELP OUT ALONG WITH WHAT YOU ALREADY KNOW THAT THEY'RE SHORT OF, THAT THEY, THEY CAN IMPROVE ON? RIGHT NOW, EVERYTHING THAT I'M HEARING FROM OUR EMPLOYERS IS MORE ABOUT NUMBERS THAN IT IS QUALITY, UH, THAT THEY'RE JUST NOT ENOUGH PEOPLE TO FILL THE JOBS THAT THEY HAVE.
I TALKED TO A COMPANY TODAY, SMALLER COMPANY, ABOUT 45 PEOPLE COULD USE TWO PEOPLE TOMORROW, UNSKILLED LABOR.
UH, WE WORK WITH, UH, UM, INTERFAITH MINISTRIES TO, UH, MAKE
[01:05:01]
SURE ABOUT THE BURMESE POPULATION AND THE REFUGEE POPULATION THAT'S HERE.THEY'VE BEEN FANTASTIC, UH, UH, FOLKS TO BE ABLE TO GET INTO, UH, FOLKS LIKE BS, H AND MOEN, UH, INTEGRAL PART OF THEIR WORKFORCE STRATEGY, UH, AND, AND HAVE BEEN CRITICAL FOR THEM MANY TIMES.
SO, UH, EVERYTHING FROM, UH, UH, THAT TO PRISONER RELEASE PROGRAMS TO, UH, UH, WHAT IS THE PERCENTAGE OF THAT? I'M JUST CURIOUS WHAT THAT REFUGEES, WHAT IS THE PERCENTAGE OF THAT, UH, POPULATION THAT YOU FROM? UH, I'M NOT SURE ABOUT PERCENTAGE AS FAR AS THEIR WORKFORCE POPULATION.
I'M NOT ASKED THAT SPECIFIC QUESTION.
I JUST KNOW FROM A QUALITY STANDPOINT, ALL OF MY EMPLOYERS ARE EXTREMELY PLEASED WITH THAT, WITH THAT POPULATION COMING IN AND THE QUALITY OF WORK THAT THEY'RE GETTING FROM, I THINK THAT THE POPULATION ITSELF, MAYOR, YOU MAY BE ABLE TO, THIS IS TWO TO 3000 PEOPLE.
WHAT ABOUT THE PRISON? WHAT IS IT'S A PERCENTAGE OF GUYS THAT YOU'RE PULLING FROM THERE? I'M JUST CURIOUS.
I I CAN SAY THAT THE COMPANY THAT I TALKED TO TODAY, THEY PROBABLY HAVE HAD ABOUT 10% OF THEIR WORKFORCE THAT CAME FROM THAT, THAT, UH, THAT PROGRAM.
I USED TO BE A JOB SPECIALIST FOR THE NEW RIVER COUNCIL GOVERNMENTS, AND THAT'S JUST THE REASON WHY I'VE JUST ASKING THOSE NUMBERS.
JUST TRYING TO LEARN SOMETHING.
AND, UH, AND I'M DEFINITELY NOT THE WORKFORCE SPECIALIST.
THAT'S OUR FOLKS AT THE COMMUNITY COLLEGE, OR NC WORKS.
UH, BUT WE ARE THE INVESTING PARTNER IN THAT.
UM, AND SO, BUT, AND THEY HAVE BEEN, UH, PHENOMENAL TO WORK WITH HER THE PAST FEW YEARS AS WELL.
UH, UM, UH, HAPPY TO HAVE THEM AS PART OF OUR TEAM.
THEY'VE GIVEN US, UH, WHAT WAS IT, FOSTER YOU? I DON'T THINK HE WAS MANAGER THEN.
THEY'VE GIVEN US THREE GUYS TO WORK FOR US IN THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT.
AND, UH, THEY PAID FOR EVERYTHING.
ONLY THING WE GONNA DO IS GIVE THEM SOMEONE TO WORK WITH BECAUSE, UH, THE FUNDS WAS PAID THROUGH FEMUR AT THAT TIME.
ALLMAN BRISON, UH, JUST A SIMILAR QUESTION TO WHAT OLIVER MCKENZIE ASKED ALREADY, BUT, UM, SINCE WE'RE GETTING INTO LONG RANGE PLANNING AND WHERE WE WANT TO GO AS A CITY, THE QUESTION I WANT TO POSE TO YOU IS MORE OF WHAT IS THE CITY OF NEWBURN MISSING? WHAT DO WE NEED TO WORK ON FROM A C ONE, A BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT INDUSTRY, UH, PERSPECTIVE, YOU KNOW, IN THE COUNTY, AT THE COUNTY LEVEL, THE, UH, THE AREAS THAT I'LL HEAR FROM OUR EXISTING INDUSTRY.
AND I WILL TELL YOU THAT MOST OF YOUR JOB GROWTH COMES FROM THE COMPANIES THAT ARE ALREADY HERE.
UM, THE, AGAIN, THE, THE EXCITEMENT COMES FROM BRINGING A NEW COMPANY IN.
MOST OF YOUR, YOUR JOBS ARE GONNA BE CREATED BY THE PEOPLE WHO'VE ALREADY MADE AN INVESTMENT HERE.
AREAS THAT I WOULD BE PREPARED FOR OTHER THAN YOUR WORKFORCE EDUCATION THAT WE'VE ALREADY TALKED ABOUT, WOULD BE HOUSING.
UH, EVERYTHING FROM ENTRY LEVEL POSITIONS ALL THE WAY THROUGH, UH, UH, RECRUITMENT OF, UH, YOUR SKILLED LABOR AND YOUR ENGINEERING MANAGEMENT POSITIONS.
ACROSS THE BOARD, THAT HAS BEEN SOMETHING THAT HAS BEEN BROUGHT UP SEVERAL DIFFERENT TIMES.
SO, YOU KNOW, IT'S ONE OF THOSE WHERE, LIKE I SAID, IT USED TO BE AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, PUT SOME WATER AND SEWER NEXT TO A FLAT PIECE OF LAND AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
AND IT'S BECOME VERY MUCH MORE IN THE WEEDS NOW OF, OF EXACTLY HOW DO YOU GET THEM THE MOST VALUABLE THING THAT THEY HAVE, WHICH IS THEIR WORKFORCE.
AND WE'RE COMPETING WITH EVERYBODY ELSE IN THE COUNTRY WHEN IT COMES TO THESE ISSUES.
UH, WILL SAY THAT WE DON'T ALWAYS HAVE TO HAVE IT PERFECT.
WE JUST HAVE TO LISTEN TO WHAT THEIR NEEDS ARE, AND THEN DO OUR BEST, PUT OUR BEST FOOT FORWARD, LIKE A WHOLE SET.
UH, OR, UH, THEY TOLD US WE NEED MORE FLIGHTS INTO NEWBURN, SO WE MADE AN EFFORT TO TRY TO MAKE THAT.
THAT'S THE KIND OF THINGS THAT THEY, THEY WANT TO SEE.
THEY KNOW WE'RE NOT GONNA SOLVE ALL OF THESE PROBLEMS, BUT WE CAN MITIGATE SOME OF THESE ISSUES.
BUT THOSE ARE SOME OF THE ISSUES THAT I WOULD BE LOOKING FOR.
ANY MORE QUESTIONS? JEFF, I WANT TO THANK YOU, UH, FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP.
HEY, YOU'VE BEEN IN THIS POSITION HOW LONG NOW? A LITTLE OVER FOUR YEARS.
UM, I WANT TO THANK YOU, YOU KNOW, FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP AND WHAT YOU'VE DONE.
I'VE BEEN EXTREMELY INSTRUMENTAL IN, IN, AGAIN, NOT ONLY BRINGING NEW MANUFACTURING AND AND JOBS HERE, BUT RETAINING WHAT WE HAVE.
UH, WE WERE ALL, MOST OF US WERE AT THE, UM, 25TH ANNIVERSARY FOR BS H.
UM, JUST A TREMENDOUS EVENT THERE.
THEIR GLOBAL CEO, I THINK, HAD BEEN IN PLACE FOR A MONTH OR TWO.
UH, BUT EVERYONE HAD VERY POSITIVE THINGS TO SAY ABOUT NEWBURN, AND SO WE APPRECIATE YOU BEING AN AMBASSADOR FOR US IN THAT COUNTY.
[01:10:01]
AND, UH, I, I'M EXCITED TO WORK WITH CHRIS.I THINK YOU'VE GOT, UH, STRONG, UH, FOLKS THAT HAVE COME INTO YOUR, YOUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT.
I'M EXCITED TO WORK WITH HIM AND, AND THE LEADERSHIP THAT'S OVER THERE.
AND, UH, BETWEEN HIM AND, AND MELISSA AT THE TDA, UH, AND THE CHAMBERS, ALL THE FOLKS THAT ARE INVOLVED WITH THE CRAVE ONE ALLIANCE AS WELL, UH, I FEEL LIKE WE'VE GOT A REALLY GOOD TEAM AND, UM, I'M AN OPTIMIST.
[10. Consider Adopting a Resolution Approving a Lease Agreement with State Employees Credit Union for the ATM in the Parking Lot at 302 Craven Street.]
NEXT UP IS ITEM NUMBER 10, CONSIDERED ADOPTING RESOLUTION OF PROVEN A LEASE AGREEMENT WITH STATE EMPLOYEES CREDIT UNION FOR THE ATM AND THE PARKING LOT AT 3 0 2 CRAVEN STREET.I BELIEVE GEORGE CHIS IS GONNA MAKE THIS PRESENTATION.
YOU STAND UP AND THEY ALL LEAVE.
I KNOW
UM, WHAT YOU HAVE BEFORE YOU IS A RENEWAL OF THE ATM LEASE FOR STATE EMPLOYEES CREDIT UNION CURRENTLY SITUATED ACROSS THE STREET AT 3 0 2 CRA STREET.
IN OUR CURRENT PARKING LOT, THE LEASE HAD BEEN ARRANGED TO BE RENEWED AT THE TIME OF TERMINATION.
AT THAT TIME, THE CITY OPTED THE TABLE, THE EXECUTION OF THE LEASE WHILE PARKING ARRANGEMENTS AND DISCUSSIONS WERE HAD ON HOW THE LEASING OF THOSE PARKING SPACES, UM, WOULD BE HANDLED AND IF THAT WOULD AFFECT ANY OF THE ATM LEASE.
NOW THAT THAT'S BEEN CLARIFIED, UM, WE'RE, WE'RE BACK BEFORE YOU WITH THIS LEASE.
WE HAVE, UH, HAD IT REAPPROVED BY STATE EMPLOYEES CREDIT UNION DURING THAT TIME PERIOD WHILE THE CITY WAS DISCUSSING THE PARKING ISSUES AND LEASE TERMS OF THE PARKING SPACES, STATE EMPLOYEES CREDIT UNION ACTED IN GOOD FAITH AND CONTINUE TO MAKE THE, THE AGREED MONTHLY PAYMENT AS IF THE, THE LEASE WAS STANDING.
SO IT IS MY RECOMMENDATION AT THIS TIME THAT, THAT, UM, IF YOU WOULD, TO APPROVE THE RESOLUTION FOR THE EXECUTION OF THIS CONTINUED CONTRACT.
UM, IT IS A 12 MONTH CONTRACT, SO WE'LL BE BACK BEFORE YOU THIS SUMMER WITH THE NEW RENEWAL OF 12 MONTHS.
UH, BEFORE THE BOARD, UH, DISCUSSES THIS, I JUST WANNA MAKE A COUPLE COMMENTS.
I BELIEVE THAT WHEN THIS WAS INITIALLY INSTITUTED MANY, MANY YEARS AGO, UM, WE HAD A LOT OF EMPLOYEES, A LOT OF ACTIVITY AT CITY HALL.
A LOT OF OUR EMPLOYEES USE THAT, AND I BELIEVE THEY DID NOT CHARGE A ATM FEE, WHICH IS NOT NECESSARILY THE CASE NOW.
UM, I, I GUESS MY ISSUE HERE IS, NUMBER ONE, UM, WE'RE REDOING THE PARKING LOT.
WE LOOKED TO SEE OR ASKED TO SEE IF THERE WERE ADDITIONAL SPACES THAT COULD BE HAD IN LIEU OF THIS.
DID STAFF LOOK INTO THAT? YES, WE DID.
AND BY REMOVING THE ATM WHERE IT'S SITUATED RIGHT NOW ON THE HEAD OF THE ISLAND, WE WOULD ONLY GAIN POSSIBLY ONE SPACE.
SO THE, THE REMOVAL OF IT WAS NOT, NOT A HUGE GAIN IN PARK TERMS OF PARKING SPACES.
AND THEN MY, MY LAST COMMENT WOULD BE, UM, MR. DAVIS, IS THERE AN UNFAIR ADVANTAGE TO THE CITY ONLY LEASING THIS AND NOT GIVING OTHER BANKS AN OPPORTUNITY TO LEASE THIS AT THIS PARTICULAR RATE? UM, COULD CERTAINLY OPEN THAT UP TO, TO, TO ANY OTHER BANK THAT WANTED TO, TO BUY FOR THE, FOR THE LEASE, FOR SURE.
THIS ONE, BECAUSE WE'RE SIX MONTHS INTO IT, IF THAT WAS THE THINKING TO TO, TO REIMAGINE WHAT WE MIGHT DO, I WOULD SUGGEST LET'S START THINKING ABOUT IT DURING THE BUDGET SEASON NOW, AND HAVE A NEW PLAN IN PLACE COME JULY ONE, RATHER THAN TRY TO REJIGGER IT NOW.
CERTAINLY, AND I DON'T KNOW IF STAFF'S HAD A CHANCE TO, OR EVEN CONSIDERED, EVEN THOUGH IT ONLY GAINS ONE SPACE, IS THERE ANY PLACE ELSE WHERE A SMALLER KIOSK OR SOMETHING MIGHT GO GIVEN MODERN TECHNOLOGY THAT MIGHT, MIGHT BE MORE SUITABLE FOR THAT BEAR PLAZA? I MEAN, I CAN THINK OF A LOT OF PLACES OTHER THAN, I MEAN, PARKING IS AT A PREMIUM AND FOR US TO RIGHT, GIVE A, A DEAL TO ONE PARTICULAR BANK WITHOUT OFFERING UP FOR OTHERS.
I MEAN, I PERSONALLY WOULD TAKE THE ATM OUT.
I'M PROBABLY GONNA VOTE NO, CAUSE I DON'T THINK IT SHOULD BE IN THE PARKING LOT.
I THINK THEY COULD FIND SOMEWHERE ELSE TO PUT THEIR OWN ATM.
DOES THE BOARD HAVE QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? I THINK IT'S A BENEFICIAL FOR THE FOLKS.
UH, FINDING A LOCATION FOR IT IS, IS, IS IS SOMETHING THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT.
UM, PARKING IS ANOTHER THING, BUT A LOT OF THE
[01:15:01]
EMPLOYEES AND PEOPLE THAT'S DOWNTOWN USES THAT A, A, THAT MACHINE A LOT.SO, UM, I THINK IT'S BENEFICIAL.
MEMBERSHIPS HAS ITS PRIVILEGES.
UM, EACH MADE CHARGES AND, UH, I THINK MAJORITY OF THE PEOPLE THAT USE THIS, THIS MACHINE HERE ARE MEMBERS.
IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN, FROM MY UNDERSTANDING, I, I, I DON'T KNOW THAT'S FOR A FACT, BUT THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT I ASKED AND THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT I WAS TOLD.
SO I GUESS JUST FINDING A PLACE FOR IT, YOU KNOW, WITHIN THE AREA THAT WOULD BE PRETTY MUCH CONVENIENT FOR EVERYONE, UH, DUE TO TIME AND PARKING, TRYING TO GET TO THE UNIT TO USE IT.
I THINK THAT WOULD BE THE ISSUE.
UM, MR. HUGHES, HOW, HOW FAR? I KNOW WE, AS A BOARD, DISCUSSED ABOUT THE KIOSKS, UM, FOR THE PARKING LOT AND EVERYTHING.
HOW FAR ARE WE OUT FROM ACTUALLY SEEING ANY, ANY, ANY PLANS WORK OR WHATEVER ON THAT? UM, REVAMPING THAT PARKING LOT, OUR GOAL WAS TO SEE THAT COME IN APRIL 1ST.
BUT WHAT WE'VE EXPERIENCED WITH ALL CONSTRUCTION GOING ON AT CITY HALL, WE CAN'T TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS PARKING.
SO WE'RE, WE'RE ACTUALLY USING QUITE A BIT OF THE PARKING OVER THERE.
SO IT'S GONNA BE A FEW MORE MONTHS.
ONCE, ONCE THE ELEVATOR PROJECT IS COMPLETED, THAT'S GONNA FREE UP SOME MORE PARKING SPACES.
SO IT'LL BE AT SOME POINT DURING THE SUMMER.
SO, I MEAN, THIS IS, WE'RE ASKING FOR THIS TO BE, UH, TO RENEW THIS LEASE FOR A YEAR.
THE, THE, THIS, THIS LEASE WOULD EXPIRE IN IN JUNE 30TH, JUNE, JUNE, JUNE 30TH, JUNE, JUNE 20TH OF THIS YEAR.
SO WE'RE NOT ASKING FOR THIS LEASE TO BE RENEWED BECAUSE OF OUR PLANS WITH THE WELL, NO, WE WOULD COME BACK TO YOU IF, IF THE BOARD WANTS, WANTS TO LOOK AT RENEWING THIS AGAIN FOR ANOTHER YEAR, WE WILL COME BACK TO YOU, UM, IN JUNE FOR THIS.
BUT THIS WOULD JUST GET THIS LEASE THROUGH JUNE 20TH, 2023.
YOU, YOU KNOW, FOSTER THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT CREDIT UNION, WHICH IS WHAT CITY EMPLOYEES ARE A MEMBER OF, UH, NOT THE STATE, UH, CREDIT UNION, BUT YOU KNOW, THERE'S A SEPARATION TAKING PLACE.
AND I'M NOT SURE, UM, I REMEMBER WHEN THAT THING WAS PUT IN OVER THERE, THE TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF CITY EMPLOYEES, OF COURSE, THEY WERE ALL A LOT OF MORE BASED OUT OF THIS BUILDING THAN ACROSS THE STREET.
UH, I'M NOT EVEN SURE TO BE HONEST WITH YOU, IF A LOCAL GOVERNMENT, WE MIGHT NEED TO FIND OUT IF A LOCAL GOVERNMENT CREDIT UNION MEMBER WOULD BE ABLE TO USE THE STATE EMPLOYEES, YOU KNOW, ATM SERVICES.
SO, SO L G F C DID, DID SEND SOME INFORMATION OUT.
AND WHAT THEY'RE DOING IS THEY'RE GONNA BE TRANSITIONING OVER THE NEXT YEAR OR TWO, STRICTLY ONLINE BANKING.
SO IF YOU WANT TO GET A LOAN OR WHATNOT, YOU'D HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE ONLINE PROCESS.
AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THEY, THEY WANT TO DO IS HAVE A RELATIONSHIP WITH A VARIETY OF ATM UH, MACHINES THROUGHOUT THE STATE WHERE, UH, ANY OF THE L G S C U CUSTOMERS DO NOT HAVE TO PAY A SERVICE CHARGE FOR THAT, WHICH BANKS THEY'RE GONNA BE ABLE TO USE.
THEY HAVEN'T RELEASED THAT YET, BUT THEY, THEY'VE GOT PRETTY MUCH A YEAR TO, TO IMPLEMENT THEIR, THEIR PLAN.
SO THEY WON'T HAVE A OFFICE OR BANK IN NEWBURN ANYMORE.
AS OF RIGHT NOW, THERE WILL NOT BE A, A LOCATION WHERE YOU CAN WALK INTO DEAL WITH SOMEONE.
IT WILL BE ONLINE OR, OR BY TELEPHONE.
OR I KIND OF, I KIND OF THINK THAT I'M GONNA VOTE YES ON THIS BECAUSE WE'RE ALREADY EIGHT, NINE MONTHS TO MR. DAVIS'S POINT INTO THIS CONTRACT.
AND AS A GOOD FAITH, WE NEED TO HONOR OUR PROMISES.
AND, UH, BUT MY THOUGHT IS, I THINK YOU'VE HEARD PRETTY MUCH THE DIRECTION FROM STAFF THAT WE MAY NOT EXTEND THIS BEYOND JUNE.
AND SO THERE'S SOME QUESTIONS THAT, UH, WE NEED TO HASH OUT BEFORE YOU BRING ANOTHER ONE.
IF THERE'S NO FURTHER DISCUSSION, I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO ADOPT A RESOLUTION, APPROVE AN A LEASE AGREEMENT WITH STATE EMPLOYEE CREDIT UNION FOR THE ATM IN THE PARKING LOT AT 3 0 2 CRAVEN STREET.
SECOND, HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.
ANY MORE DISCUSSION? I JUST HAVE ONE QUESTION.
ARE WE THE PREVIOUS LEASE THAT WE'RE OPERATING UNDER, WAS IT A MONTH TO MONTH? IF WE DID NOT RENEW? PROBABLY SIR.
NOT CHECKED IT, BUT THAT WOULD BE MY EXPECTATION.
IF THERE'S NO FURTHER DISCUSSION, WE'LL HAVE A ROLL CALL STARTING WITH ALDERMAN ROYAL.
[01:20:01]
ALDERMAN ASTOR.[11. Consider Adopting a Budget Ordinance Amendment for Fiscal Year 2022- 23.]
11, CONSIDER ADOPTING A BUDGET ORDINANCE AMENDMENT FOR FY 2223.SO, MAYOR AND ALDERMAN, UH, AS YOU'VE NOTICED OVER THE LAST SIX WEEKS, THE LANDSCAPE OF THE CITY HALL HAS CHANGED.
WE'VE HAD SCAFFOLDING ON THE WEST SIDE OF THE BUILDING THAT THAT HAS GONE DOWN.
AND WE'VE HAD SCAFFOLDING ON THE EAST SIDE OF THE BUILDING TO GO UP.
AND THAT IS FOR THE BRICK RE POINTING PROJECT.
AND AS OUR CONTRACTORS HAVE BEEN WORKING TO GRIND THE MORTAR JOINTS OUT, THEY HAVE NOTICED A LOT OF THE GLAZING AND ALL OF OUR WINDOWS HAVE BEEN POPPING OFF OR, OR MISSING.
AND SO THAT'S CREATED THE SITUATION WHERE WE'VE GOT TO REGLAZE THESE WINDOWS AND REPAINT THEM, UH, SO WE CAN PROTECT THE STRUCTURE.
AND SO THIS IS WHY WE'RE ASKING FOR THE BUDGET AMENDMENT AND THE AMOUNT OF $60,000 TO START THIS WORK BOARD.
MR. HUGHES, WHAT IS GLAZING? GLAZING IS BASICALLY THE MATERIAL THAT HOLDS THE WINDOWS IN PLACE.
A LOT OF THE, ON THE EXTERIOR OF THE WINDOWS, YOU'RE NOT GONNA SEE WOOD HOLDING THE, THE, THE, THE GLASS IN LIKE YOU DO ON THE INSIDE.
AND SO WE'VE GOTTA HAVE A MATERIAL IN THERE TO HELP US OUT WITH THAT.
OFFICER, IS THERE ANY CONTINGENCY BUILT INTO THIS? BECAUSE I'M SURE THEY'RE PROBABLY GONNA FIND SOME WINDOWS THAT ARE ROTTEN THAT HAVE TO BE REPLACED.
THERE IS A LITTLE CONTINGENCY IN THIS, YES.
ANY MORE QUESTIONS? WE SEE A LITTLE CONTINGENCY.
HOW MUCH IS A LITTLE
I'M, I'M CERTAINLY GOING TO DEVOTE FOR THIS CAUSE WE NEED TO IMPROVE THESE WINDOWS.
BUT WE PROBABLY NEED TO GET, UM, SOMEONE LOOKING, MAYBE MARGARET LOOKING FOR, UM, A GRANT TO DO THE HISTORIC WINDOWS, UH, RE REFURBING THEM.
I KNOW AS, UM, THERE'S NONE LEFT, BUT WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO, AT SOME POINT IN TIME, LOOK AT SOME, UM, SOME 4 0 4 MITIGATION MONEY TO, TO WEATHERPROOF WOMAN TO REBUILD 'EM.
SO, EH, THERE MIGHT BE SOME GRANTS OUT THERE FOR, YOU KNOW, PRESERVING THESE OLD WINDOWS, CUZ YOU CAN'T REPLACE 'EM.
I LEARNED THAT AT FIREMAN'S MUSEUM, THEY, THEY HAVE TO BE REBUILT.
YOU CAN'T PUT, UM, STORM WINDOWS OVER 'EM OR ANYTHING.
THEY HAVE TO BE PULLED APART AND REBUILT IN EACH ONE OF 'EM, AND THAT'S VERY EXPENSIVE.
WE CAN CERTAINLY LOOK TO SEE WHAT'S OUT THERE.
I MAKE A MOTION TO ADOPT A BUDGET ORDINANCE AMENDMENT FOR FISCAL YEAR 20 22, 23.
ANY MORE DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE.
LET'S HAVE A ROLL CALL STARTING WITH ALDERMAN ASTOR.
ITEM NUMBER 12 IS APPOINTMENTS.
I DID NOT SEE ANY IN THE AGENDA PACKAGE.
DOES ANYONE HAVE ONE? HEARING NONE.
WE'LL MOVE ON TO ITEM NUMBER 13.
I HAVE NOTHING REPORT TONIGHT,
[14. City Manager' s Report.]
YOUR HONOR.ITEM NUMBER 14, CITY MANAGER'S REPORT A FEW ITEMS TO UPDATE THE BOARD ON.
FIRST OF ALL, UH, WE ARE HAVING OUR SPRING EMPLOYEE APPRECIATION LUNCHEON ON THIS THURSDAY AT THE WEST DENVER RECREATION CENTER FROM 11 TO ONE 30.
LUNCH WILL BE SERVED DURING THAT TIME.
WE, IF YOU'RE AVAILABLE, WE'D LIKE TO ASK GOVERNING BOARD TO ATTEND.
WE'LL BE RECOGNIZING, UM, UH, SOME EMPLOYEES WHO HAVE RECENTLY RETIRED AND ALSO, UH, LONGEVITY TO THOSE EMPLOYEES.
UH, I WANT TO GIVE YOU AN UPDATE ON THE PLEASANT HILL COMMUNITY CENTER PROJECT.
I STOPPED BY THERE TODAY AND, AND, UH, CONTRACTORS ARE INSTALLING THE TILE FLOORS IN THE BUILDING AND IT'S LOOKING, IT'S GONNA LOOK REALLY GOOD.
AND WE'RE ANTICIPATING THE GRAND OPENING OF THAT, UH, FACILITY TO BE AROUND THE MIDDLE OF APRIL AS WE GET CLOSER TO EVERYONE FINISHING UP THEIR INDIVIDUAL, UH, UH, TASK FROM CONTRACTORS.
WE'LL, WE'LL HAVE A, UH, WE'LL SET THE DATE AND LET YOU ALL KNOW.
ALSO, WE PLAN ON RELEASING THE STANLEY WHITE RECREATION CENTER BID THIS FRIDAY.
WE ANTICIPATE THE BID OPENING BEING APRIL 25TH.
SO I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO GETTING THAT PROJECT STARTED.
I'M PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE THAT WE RECEIVED ANOTHER GRANT FOR THE DUFFY FIELD STORM WATER PROJECT.
THAT GRANT CAME FROM NORTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF, UH, UH, ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY.
AND THE AMOUNT OF THE GRANT WAS FOR 4.1 MILLION.
WE ALSO RECEIVED ANOTHER GRANT IN THE AMOUNT OF 400,000 FOR PLANNING.
SO FOR THE DUFFY FIELD STORMWATER PROJECT IN GRANTS THAT WE'VE RECEIVED.
AND THIS IS OVER THE LAST THREE MONTHS OR SO, 6.7 MILLION
[01:25:02]
FOR CONSTRUCTION AND ADDITIONAL 400,000 FOR PLANNING.WE'RE VERY EXCITED ABOUT THAT.
IT'S GONNA TAKE A LITTLE TIME FOR THAT PROJECT TO GET STARTED, BUT THAT'S GONNA MAKE A SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCE IN THAT COMMUNITY.
UM, AND THAT'S ALL I HAVE TONIGHT.
UH, QUESTION REGARDING THE, UH, DUFFY FIELD, UM, PROJECT.
WHAT PHASE ARE WE IN? UH, WE'LL BE, WE WILL BE COMPLETING PHASE ONE.
THERE'S SOME UPDATES WE WANTED TO MAKE WITH, UM, WITHIN INSTALLING A PUMP.
THERE WAS A, THERE WAS A PUMP THAT WE WERE GONNA BE INSTALLING THERE, SO SOME UPDATES WITH PHASE ONE.
THEN WE WERE GONNA FINISH WITH THE REST OF THE PHASES ON THAT PROJECT.
[15. New Business.]
TO NEW BUSINESS.UM, ALTMAN PRI I'LL PROVIDE YOU THE OPPORTUNITY FOR NEW BUSINESS.
I KNOW IT'S, UH, DIFFICULT IN A MEETING, BUT, UH, IF YOU HAVE ANYTHING FOR NEW BUSINESS TONIGHT, HE'S, HE'S WATCHING ONLINE, SO THERE'S A DELAY.
LET'S MOVE ON TO NEW BUSINESS.
UM,
I KNOW IT'S, UH, DIFFICULT, BUT, UH, YOU HAVE ANYTHING FOR NEW BUSINESS? I HAVE, I HAVE NOTHING.
OTTOMAN ASER, NOTHING TODAY, SIR.
UM, I GET, I I THOUGHT JORDAN AND SOMEONE WOULD BE HERE, BUT MAYBE, UH, MR. CHILDS, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU CAN, UM, ANSWER THIS QUESTION FOR ME OR COULD YOU PLEASE COME FORWARD? I WOULD APPRECIATE IT.
THERE'S A, A LOT OF CONSTRUCTION GOING OVER IN THE DUFFY FIELD, UM, COMMUNITY, UM, WITH MAIN STREET AND THERE WAS A WATER LEAK.
UM, AND I'VE HAD CITIZENS REACHING OUT TO ME ALL DAY WANTING TO KNOW WHEN THIS, WHEN THIS LEAK WAS GONNA BE REPAIRED AND WHY HAVEN'T THE STREET BEEN REPAIRED.
AND UM, SO CAN YOU JUST EXPLAIN THAT TO OUR CITIZENS TO LET THEM KNOW THAT JUST BE, WE ARE YOU'RE DOING ALL OF THIS INFRASTRUCTURE THAT A PAVEMENT IS JUST NOT COMING RIGHT BEHIND IT THE NEXT WEEK.
UM, I'M EXPERIENCING WITH A LOT OF CUS WITH CITIZENS THAT LIVE OVER THERE.
A LOT OF THE STREETS IN THERE THAT, THAT YOU SEE NOW IN THE STATE OF, OF GRAVELER HAVE BEEN MILLED OUT.
THE WATER AND SEWER INFRASTRUCTURE WAS UPGRADED OR REPLACED IN TOTALITY IN THOSE AREAS, OR REPAIRED WHERE NEEDED TO BE.
AND WHAT WE HAVE DONE IN THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS IS WHEN WE SELECT THE AREA FOR RESURFACINGS, WE LET WATER RESOURCES KNOW SO THEY CAN EVALUATE IT TO SEE IF THEY NEED TO DO UPGRADES IN THAT AREA PRIOR TO US RESURFACING.
WHAT WE'RE SEEING IN THE PAST WAS IF WE JUST WENT TO RESURFACE THE NEIGHBORHOOD STREET, THERE MAY HAVE BEEN NO, UM, INFRASTRUCTURE ISSUES THAT THEY COULD HAVE REPAIRED PRIOR TO US RESURFACING.
SO WE'RE TRYING TO GET IT, WE'RE TRYING TO GET ALL THE WORK UNDERGROUND DONE AND REPAIRED BEFORE WE RESURFACED.
I WILL LET YOU KNOW THAT, UM, OUR STREETS DEPARTMENT WAS IN THERE TODAY, UH, DOING A LITTLE BIT OF REGRADING, PUTTING SOME MORE ROCK ON THAT ROAD WHILE WE'RE WAITING FOR THE PAVEMENT CONTRACTS.
AND THAT'S ALL I HAVE, SIR ALDERMAN BRISSON.
I HAVE, UH, TWO ANNOUNCEMENTS, I GUESS.
UH, THE RICHARD DOBB SPATE DAUGHTERS OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION AND NEWBURN SONS OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION WILL ASSIST THE CEDAR GROVE QUESTS ON MARCH 25TH AT 9:00 AM TO CLEAN, UH, CEDAR GROVE CEMETERY.
SO PLEASE WEAR YOUR WORK CLOTHES AND BRING YOUR OWN GLOVES, RAKES, AND TOOLS.
BUT, UH, AGAIN, THAT'S MARCH 25TH AT 9:00 AM AND THEN THE NEXT ONE IS MARCH 29TH IS NATIONAL VIETNAM WAR VETERANS DAY.
AND THIS YEAR ESPECIALLY, UH, SHOULD BE COMMEMORATED CUZ THIS IS THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE DAY THAT THE LAST US COMBAT TROOPS DEPARTED VIETNAM.
UH, SO OUR LOCAL CHAPTER OF THE VIETNAM VETERANS ASSOCIATION WILL BE AT UNION POINT PARK GAZEBO FROM 10:00 AM TO 4:30 PM AGAIN ON THE, UH, MARCH 29TH TO COMMEMORATE THE DAY THEY'LL HAVE DISPLAYS AND A, UH, HELICOPTER OUT THERE.
SO PLEASE COME OUT AND, UH, WELCOME HOME OUR VIETNAM VETERANS.
[01:30:01]
OKAY.UH, JUST A COUPLE ITEMS. UM, BOARD, I KNOW I'VE GOT SOME TOURS SCHEDULED WITH, UM, A FEW OF YOU, UH, ALDERMAN ASTRA, I THINK MAYBE ONE OF OURS GOT FINALIZED TONIGHT, POTENTIALLY OVER IN YOUR AREA.
BUT, UH, JUST WANT TO CONTINUE TO EXTEND THAT OFFER.
UH, OUR PLAN IS FOR THE CITY MANAGER, MYSELF AND THE ALDERMAN GOING TO TOUR THE WARDS, LOOKING AT VARIOUS ISSUES THAT YOU HAVE.
UH, HOPEFULLY WE CAN BE MORE PROACTIVE IN ADDRESSING SOME ISSUES GOING FORWARD.
SO I WANNA REMIND YOU OF THAT, UH, MS. CLERK.
UH, I THINK WE'RE WAITING ON THE RETREAT DATE.
DO WE HAVE AN UPDATE ON WHERE WE STAND WITH THAT? EITHER YOU OR THE MANAGER? YES.
SO WE'RE WAITING TO HEAR FROM OUR STRATEGIC PLANNING CONSULTANT ON SOME AVAILABLE DATES BEFORE BRENDA STARTS REACHING OUT TO YOU.
SO YOU SHOULD BE HEARING SOMETHING AT THE LATEST BY NEXT WEEK ON, ON DATES.
AND THEN MY, UH, LAST COMMENT, UM, IS RELATED TO MR. FRY AND HIS, UM, DEPOSIT, IF YOU WILL.
I BELIEVE HE'S MADE A DEPOSIT THAT IS BEING HELD, UH, HERE AT CITY HALL, AWAITING THE DETERMINATION FROM THE REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION ON WHAT THEY'RE GONNA DO, WHETHER THEY'RE GONNA ACCEPT THAT OR NOT.
UM, I KNOW THAT'S A LITTLE, IT MAY BE A QUIRKY SITUATION COMPARED TO HOW A NORMAL TRANSACTION WOULD TAKE PLACE.
I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S GONNA BE WHAT WE'RE GONNA BE EXPERIENCING THAT REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION GOING FORWARD.
BUT I WANT THE BOARD TO BE COGNIZANT THAT WE HAVE A CITIZEN THAT PUT AN OFFER ON THE TABLE, PUT THE MONEY UP IN EARNEST, AND THE REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION HAS A PROCESS.
IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT SOMEONE MAKES A, MAKES A PRESENTATION TO 'EM.
THEY HAVE A HOUSING COMMITTEE, THEY REVIEW THAT, AND THEN AT THEIR NEXT MEETING, THEY MAKE A PRESENTATION, A RECOMMENDATION ON WHETHER OR NOT THEY'RE GOING TO ACCEPT THAT MR. FRY, YOUR INITIAL DEPOSIT WAS MADE.
I GUESS I COULD ASK THE CLERK DECEMBER, NOVEMBER OR DECEMBER, NOVEMBER, NOVEMBER.
HIS MONEY'S BEEN HELD FOR SEVERAL MONTHS.
AND I DON'T PERSONALLY THINK THAT IS A GOOD PRACTICE.
UH, SO I WOULD IMPLORE THE REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION, ESPECIALLY OUR EX OFFICIO MEMBERS WHO SIT, SIT ON THAT BOARD TO EN ENGAGE AND EN INVITE THEM TO MAKE A DECISION SO THIS CITIZEN CAN EITHER MOVE FORWARD WITH HIS PLANS OR GET HIS MONEY BACK.
THE LAST COMMENT I'LL MAKE ABOUT THAT IS THERE WAS A LOT OF DISCUSSION AT OUR LAST, UH, WORK SESSION ABOUT THE DAY'S END PROPERTY.
THERE'S A LOT OF MISCONCEPTIONS AND MISUNDERSTANDINGS IN THE, THE, THE CITY THROUGHOUT WITH CITIZENS ON WHAT THEY THINK WE CAN OR WHAT WE SHOULD DO WITH THAT PROPERTY.
UH, MR. DAVIS, I KNOW IS ENGAGED ON A COUPLE OF OCCASIONS TO TRY TO CLARIFY LEGALLY WHAT WE CAN AND CANNOT DO.
UM, IT, IT CAN BE COMPLEX, BUT IT'S REALLY QUITE SIMPLE.
UM, SO THE REALITY IS, IS WE CAN HAVE AN UPSET BID PROCESS, WHICH IS WHAT WE DID WITH THE TBO SLOT.
UM, OR WE COULD GIVE THIS TO THE REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION AND THEN THEY COULD PUT RESTRICTIONS ON THIS PROPERTY.
UM, MY CONCERN PERSONALLY WITH THAT, NOTHING AGAINST REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION AT ALL.
I BELIEVE THEY ALL HAVE GOOD INTENTIONS, BUT WE HAVE A GENTLEMAN HERE THAT'S PUT AN OFFER IN AND EARNEST MONEY DOWN AND IT'S BEEN MONTHS AND THEY HAVEN'T MADE A DECISION YET.
UM, I PERSONALLY, I FEEL LIKE THAT THAT DAYS IN PROPERTY IS A CORNERSTONE AND A KEY PIECE OF THE REVITALIZATION OF, YOU KNOW, THAT WHOLE AREA.
AND FOR US TO RELINQUISH THAT OWNERSHIP AND PROPERTY TO THE REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION WITHOUT KNOWING WHAT THE PLAN IS OR WHAT THEY COULD DO WITH IT.
I'M NOT SAYING THAT I WOULDN'T SUPPORT IT, BUT I WOULD NEED A LOT MORE INFORMATION.
SO I BELIEVE JUST FOR THE STAFFS AND, AND PUBLIC'S BENEFIT, THE NEXT STEP IS WE'RE SUPPOSED TO GET AN APPRAISAL.
AND THEN THAT'S AN ITEM THAT WE'LL PROBABLY BE DISCUSSING IN OUR RETREAT, I'M ASSUMING.
UM, I JUST WANT TO, UM, MAKE A STATEMENT IN REFERENCE TO THE REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION, UM, IN REFERENCE TO MR. FRY AND, UM, THE PROCESS THAT THEY'RE GOING THROUGH.
UM, I DID ATTEND THEIR, THEIR MEETING, UH, THIS MONTH.
THEY, UM, WILL DELIBERATE AND DISCUSS MR. FRY'S, UM, BID OFFER AND THEY WILL COME BACK TO THEIR NEXT MEETING AND THEY WILL, UM, VOTE ON WHAT, HOW ARE THEY GONNA HANDLE THE SALE IF THEY'RE, HOW, HOWEVER THE PROCESS TURNS OUT, WHETHER IT'S IN FAVOR OF MR. FRY OR NOT IN FAVOR OF MR. FRY.
AND THEN AT THAT POINT, THEY WILL MAKE A DECISION AND MR. FRY WILL BE TOLD AT THAT MEETING.
SO THAT'S FOR THE REDEVELOPMENT UPCOMING MEETING.
AND I'LL JUST, UM, I'LL GO ON RECORD AND SAY THAT I APPRECIATE THE OFFER.
IF IT WERE MY DECISION, I'D VOTE AND SELL YOU THE PROPERTY.
I THINK THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT THE PURPOSE OF THE REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION IS SUPPOSED TO BE, IS GETTING FOLKS WITHIN THE COMMUNITY TO INVEST MM-HMM.
SO I'M FULLY SUPPORTIVE OF YOUR PROPOSAL.
IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE PROJECT THAT ALDERMAN ASTRO IS LOOKING TO DO.
I'M KEEPING THOSE TWO SEPARATE.
CAUSE TO ME, THERE'S PLENTY OF LAND AND OPPORTUNITIES TO DO BOTH IN THE COMMUNITY, BUT I JUST WANNA PUBLICLY TELL YOU, I APPRECIATE YOUR INTEREST AND INVESTMENT AND I CONCUR WITH YOU, MAYOR.
I, I, I THINK IT'S THE WHOLE PROCESS THAT MR. FRY HAD TO GO THROUGH AND I, I AGREE WITH JEFF.
I JUST FEEL THAT THERE'S OTHER PROPERTIES THAT THE REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION CAN UTILIZE
[01:35:01]
TO, TO BUILD THESE HOMES AND, AND, AND, YOU KNOW, GO FORWARD WITH MR. FRY'S, UM, BID.BUT, AND AGAIN, THERE'S NO, NO DISRESPECT TO THE, FOR WHAT HE'S TRYING TO DO TO BUILD THOSE PROPERTIES WITHIN THAT AREA.
I JUST, I JUST DON'T HOPE, I HOPE THAT THIS IS NOT A PROCESS THAT WE AS A BOARD AND THE REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION IN THE FUTURE WILL HAVE TO GO THROUGH WITH A, WITH A CITIZEN ALL MACKENZIE, MR. FRYER, I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR BEING A GENTLEMAN AND STANDING UP AND HOLDING ON AND TO YOU COUPLE, I'M SORRY WHAT HAS HAPPENED AND I HOPE THAT WE CAN HELP YOU TO GET SOMETHING GOING TO WORK OUT YOUR SITUATION.
UM, I HOPE TONIGHT THAT WE WERE ABLE TO EXPLAIN EVERYTHING TO YOU, WHAT WE ARE UP AGAINST AND WHAT WE CAN AND CAN'T DO.
AND FROM THERE, IT'S ANOTHER STEP THAT YOU ALL HAVE TO MAKE AS WELL AS WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO TO HELP, TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU HAVE ALL THE RIGHT DOCUMENTATION WHEN YOU GO FORWARD, IF YOU'RE GONNA MAKE THAT NEXT MOVE.
AND I, I, I FEEL THAT WHAT THE MAYOR WAS SAYING, WHEN THEY GET TOGETHER AND GO OUT THERE TO MATCH, TO SEE WHAT ACTUALLY HAS BEEN DONE IS NOT DONE, THAT WILL HELP YOU TO HAVE THE DOCUMENTATION TO GO FORWARD WITH, TO DO WHAT YOU NEED TO DO.
I KNOW IT'S TOUGH, BUT HANG IN THERE.
DO WE NEED A CLOSE SESSION TONIGHT? NO, SIR.
BOARD, I ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO ADJOURN.