Sep 24, 2024 Board of Aldermen

FATHER, WE THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE HERE AND TO CONDUCT BUSINESS.

YOUR LORD, WE PRAY FOR CLARITY, GUIDANCE, AND WISDOM IN ALL OF THE DECISIONS THAT ARE TO BE MADE.

AND WE THANK YOU, DEAR GOD.

FOR EACH PERSON IN HERE WHO HAS AN OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE THE CITIZENS.

AMEN.

THANK YOU TO STAND.

PLEASE DO SO LEDGE ALLEGIANCE, THE FLAG OF OUR COUNTRY, OUR PLEASURE.

TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVIDUAL WITHIN LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR HONOR, MADAM CLERK, IF YOU WOULD PLEASE CALL THE ROLL ALDERMAN KRILL.

[3. Approve Agenda]

BOARD.

NEXT UP IS TO APPROVE THE AGENDA.

ARE THERE ANY CHANGES YOU'D LIKE TO MAKE? UM, YES, MAYOR, I'D LIKE TO MAKE A CHANGE.

IF WE CAN TAKE, UM, REMOVE ITEM NUMBER 11, UH, FROM THE AGENDA TONIGHT, PLEASE.

IS THAT YOUR MOTION? THAT IS MY MOTION.

DO WE HAVE A SECOND, SECOND MOTION AND A SECOND TO REMOVE ITEM NUMBER 11.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

ANY OPPOSED? OKAY, WE REMOVE ITEM NUMBER 11.

ANY OTHER CHANGES? YES, MA'AM.

UM, THERE'S A ORGANIZATION IN NEWBURN.

IT'S CALLED THE CRAVEN PANEL CODE TNR PROJECT.

THIS GROUP HAS AN OPPORTUNITY TO A $50,000 GRANT.

AND TO BE HONEST WITH YOU, I'M NOT SO SURE I UNDERSTAND EXACTLY WHAT THEY DO AND THEY DON'T DO.

SO I WOULD LOVE TO, UM, ASK THE BOARD IF THEY CAN, UH, ALLOW A FEW MINUTES FOR THIS ORGANIZATION TO COME UP AND TELL US WHAT THEY DO AND HOW THE GRANT WILL BE USED BECAUSE THE CITY, THE CITY, NEEDS TO SIGN OFF ON THIS GRANT.

SO THAT'S YOUR MOTION TO ALLOW THAT GROUP TO SPEAK.

DO WE HAVE A SECOND? SECOND.

I HAVE A MOTION TO SECOND.

ANY QUESTIONS? DISCUSSIONS? NO, AS LONG, I MEAN, AS LONG AS IT'S UNDERSTOOD THAT IT IS JUST A PRESENTATION THAT WE'RE NOT GONNA BE TAKING ANY ACTION ON THE REQUEST THIS EVENING.

I THINK IF WE DO ANYTHING, IT WILL, IT, IT WOULD PROBABLY BE SOME DIRECTION AND GET SOME ADVICE FROM THE CITY ATTORNEY, BUT YEAH, YOU'RE, YOU'RE CORRECT.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

ANY OPPOSED? OKAY, SO WE'RE GONNA ADD THAT, UM, NEXT, ANY OTHER CHANGES TO THE AGENDA? OKAY.

I'D LIKE THE MOTION TO HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE AGENDA WITH THOSE STATED CHANGES.

SO MOVED.

MAYOR.

I HAVE A MOTION TO SECOND TO APPROVE THE AGENDA WITH STATED CHANGES.

ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

DISCUSS THE CRAVEN COUNTY TNR PROCESS.

ANY OPPOSED? OKAY.

THE AGENDA IS NOW APPROVED.

SO WE WILL NOW

[Additional Item]

MASTER.

YES.

UM, MAYOR, UM, AS I SAID BEFORE, THIS, THIS ORGANIZATION'S A GROUP OF, OF PEOPLE THAT ARE, UM, HELPING, UM, WITH A FERAL CAT POPULATION.

AND LISA LEE IS HERE TONIGHT, AND I'VE ASKED HER TO STEP UP OR SOMEONE, UH, IN HER ORGANIZATION TO STEP UP AND PLEASE EXPLAIN THIS, THIS PROCESS.

LISA, IF YOU DON'T MIND, WOULD YOU COME UP? OKAY.

DO I JUST START BY SAYING WHO I AM? YEAH, PLEASE.

AND YOUR ADDRESS.

LISA LEE, ONE 17 GIBBS ROAD, NEW BERN, NORTH CAROLINA.

WE WERE BLESSED ENOUGH TO HAVE BEST FRIENDS CONTACT US, CHOOSE US RATHER, TO RECEIVE A $50,000 GRANT FOR OUR AREA.

AND IT WAS BASED ON THE FACT THAT THE COUNTY SHELTER HAS SUCH A HIGH INTAKE IN SUCH A HIGH EUTHANASIA RATE.

AND SO THEY GO AROUND AND THEY DO THEIR STUDIES AND THEY CHOSE OUR AREA.

[00:05:01]

WHAT WE ARE COMMISSIONED TO DO IS TO HELP THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN UNFORTUNATE ENOUGH OR FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO HAVE STRAY CATS SHOW UP AT THEIR RESIDENCE AND THEY FEED THEM, AND SO THEY STAY MM-HMM.

SO NOW WE'RE SAYING WE WILL COME IN AND WE WILL EITHER TRAP THEM OR YOU CAN PUT THEM IN A CARRIER.

IF YOU'VE BECOME FRIENDLY ENOUGH WITH THEM, WE WILL TAKE THEM AWAY.

WE WILL SPAY AND NEUTER THEM.

WE WILL GIVE THEM A RABIES SHOT.

WE WILL GIVE THEM AN F-B-R-C-P, WHICH IS A DECEMBER SHOT FOR A CAT, AND WE WILL PUT FLEA MEDICATION ON.

THAT ALSO TAKES CARE OF ANY EAR MITES, ANY PROBLEMS THAT THE CAT MAY HAVE AT NO COST TO YOU, BECAUSE WE'VE BEEN FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO GET THE GRANT MONEY.

SO WE PUT THIS OUT, THERE'S A, WE HAVE A FACEBOOK PAGE, AND WE PUT THIS OUT ON FACEBOOK RIGHT NOW TO DATE, WE HAVE 720 CATS, AND THESE GO FROM HAVELOCK TO CRAVEN TO THE CITY OF NEW BERN.

AND WE HAVE HAD, SO WE HAVE A, A COUPLE OF WAYS TO DO IT.

THEY TEXT MY CELL PHONE, GOT EVERY ONE OF THEM ON MY CELL PHONE.

I THEN SEND THEM TO SHANE.

SHE PUTS THEM ON A SPREADSHEET, SHE SENDS THEM A MESSAGE, SHE ASKS THEM TO FILL OUT A REGISTRATION FORM.

RIGHT NOW, WE HAVE HAD 424 CATS FILLED OUT BY RESIDENTS IN OUR AREA THAT SAYS, WOULD LOVE TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS, CAN AFFORD TO FEED 'EM, CANNOT AFFORD TO FIX THEM.

SO THAT'S HOW MANY CATS RIGHT NOW, THIS MINUTE, AND WE ARE LOOKING AT TODAY IS NINE DAYS INTO IT.

NINE DAYS.

SO IF IT, IF IT WENT VIRAL, UH, MY GUESSTIMATE WOULD BE THAT WE'VE GOT ABOUT 2000 CATS OUT THERE THAT NEED OUR HELP.

WE HAVE THE MANPOWER TO DO IT.

CALL US CRAZY CAT LADIES, IF YOU WANT TO.

WE LOVE ANIMALS.

ALL OF US HAVE JOBS, BUT WE'RE WILLING TO WORK HARD TO MAKE THIS A SUCCESSFUL PROJECT.

AND THE ONE THING THAT IS HOLDING THIS CHECK UP IS THE CITY OF NEW BERN.

AND THAT'S JUST THE TRUTH OF IT.

WE'RE NOT ASKING TO GO OUT AND TRAP SET TRAPS FOR CATS THAT DON'T BELONG TO ANYBODY THAT WE'RE NOT SURE WHO, IF ANYBODY'S FEEDING THEM, WE ARE GETTING CONTACTED BY YOUR RESIDENTS IN THIS CITY THAT SAID THAT, THAT ARE SAYING THAT I'M TAKING CARE OF THESE ANIMALS.

PLEASE COME FIX THEM.

SO WE'RE RETURNING THEM RIGHT BACK TO THE SAME PERSON THAT'S ASKING US TO COME TO THEIR PROPERTY AND GET THEM TO BEGIN WITH.

SO, LISA, LET ME, UH, IF YOU DON'T MIND, CAN I ASK A FEW QUESTIONS? SURE.

UM, ONE IS, HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN DOING THIS AND PAYING FOR IT OUTTA YOUR OWN POCKET? 30 YEARS.

I'M AT 15 .

I I KNOW, I I HAPPEN TO, UH, KNOW, UH, ONE OF YOU, UH, OR A MEMBER OF YOUR ORGANIZATION, AND THERE'S SEVERAL PEOPLE, THERE'S SEVERAL ORGANIZATIONS THAT DO THIS, RIGHT? EXACTLY.

MM-HMM.

UH, THAT HAS PAID LIKE $1,800 OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT OUT OF THEIR POCKET, HAVING CATS BATH AND NEUTERED.

MM-HMM, .

BUT MY QUESTION IS, YOU'RE RECEIVING RE A REQUEST FROM THE HOMEOWNER.

CORRECT.

YOU'RE NOT GOING OUT ON THE STREETS AND PICKING UP STRAY CATS AND RELEASING 'EM BACK TO THE STREETS? THAT IS CORRECT.

AND YOU HAVE A FORM WITH THE PEOPLE'S ADDRESS ON 'EM THAT'S REQUESTING THIS? THEY HAVE SENT IT TO US.

THEY HAVE SENT IT TO US.

I HAVE A COPY THAT I'D BE GLAD TO LET Y'ALL JUST PASS AROUND THEIR NAME.

HOW MANY CATS THEY HAVE, THEIR TELEPHONE NUMBERS.

I MEAN, THEY'RE REACHING OUT TO US.

BECAUSE OF FACEBOOK.

IF I COULD ADD, I'M JENNIFER AND I, AND I'M AT 2, 2 3 NEW STREET IN NEWBURG.

I HAVE ANOTHER POT OF MONEY, AND I EMAILED YOU ALL THIS AFTERNOON.

I'M NOT SURE IF EVERYBODY HAD A CHANCE TO GET IT.

DER MCKENZIE, I'M SORRY I LEFT YOU OFF THAT LIST.

I WILL FORWARD IT TO YOU.

I JUST HAD NEVER TRIED TO EMAIL ALL OF YOU BEFORE.

UM, BUT I HAVE ANOTHER POT OF MONEY AND I'VE GOTTEN IN EXCESS OF $50,000.

SO WE HAVE ABOUT A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS NOW IN ORDER TO HELP ADDRESS THIS AT THIS ISSUE FOR THE COMMUNITY AS AT LAUNCH.

AND, UM, AND, AND I HAVE THE SAME THING HAPPENING WHERE I, I TODAY SPAYED AND NEUTERED SIX CATS FOR PEOPLE THAT WERE FROM EVERYWHERE, FROM HADLOCK TO SUNNYSIDE AND DOWNTOWN.

AND I DID RIVERSIDE, SUNNYSIDE.

I THINK I MADE A NOTE ABOUT WHAT TODAY LOOKED LIKE TO Y'ALL, BUT IT WAS RIVERSIDE, SUNNYSIDE HADLOCK, AND WE WERE IN JAY CITY.

SO THESE WERE FOUR DIFFERENT, UH, OWNERS, NOT OWNERS, BUT PEOPLE WHO HAD CATS ON THEIR PROPERTY.

THEY COME OUT OF THE SPAY NEUTER

[00:10:01]

WITH OWNERSHIP.

SO THE, THE, THEY'RE RELEASED AND WE TRANSFER THEM BACK TO THE PEOPLE.

AND IN MANY TIMES, THESE WERE CATS THAT WERE ABANDONED PETS.

SO WE ACTUALLY GET ADOPTION OUT OF THEM.

SO WE DON'T, WE DON'T PUT THEM BACK OUT ANYWHERE AND EVERYWHERE.

WE DON'T HAVE A MECHANISM TO DO THAT AT THAT SCALE, YET WE'RE JUST LOOKING AT SERVING THE PEOPLE THAT NEED US AND, AND REALLY STRUGGLING FOR HOW TO STABILIZE THESE ANIMALS IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS.

SO, SO IF I COULD JUST MAYBE CLARIFY, YOU, YOU SAID THE CITY IS HOLDING THIS UP BECAUSE THAT GRANT REQUIRES THE CITY TO SAY, WE ESSENTIALLY SUPPORT YOUR EFFORTS IN WHAT YOU'RE DOING.

CORRECT.

SO I'M GONNA LOOK TO OUR, OUR POLICE CHIEF AND OUR ATTORNEY.

UM, I BELIEVE FROM MY UNDERSTANDING THAT OUR ORDINANCE PROHIBITS RELEASING ANIMALS IN THE WILD OR JUST LETTING THEM GO.

AND THAT WAS THE HOLDUP WITH OUR CONFLICT AND OUR ORDINANCE WITH THIS PROGRAM.

BUT NOW THAT WE'VE LEARNED THAT THIS IS ON PRIVATE PROPERTY WHERE A HOMEOWNER IS CALLING SAYING, PLEASE HELP ME, THEY'RE GOING, THEY'RE PICKING UP A STRAY CAT.

THEY'RE GETTING THE CAT FIXED, TAKING IT BACK TO THAT RESIDENCE.

I, IS IT SAFE TO SAY THAT OUR ORDINANCE DOESN'T NECESSARILY APPLY IN THAT PARTICULAR SITUATION? THAT, THAT'S A VERY GOOD QUESTION, MAYOR.

UM, SECTION SIX EIGHT OF OUR CODE OF ORDINANCES SPEAKS TO THE ISSUE AND IT, IT SPECIFICALLY PROHIBITS ABANDONING ANIMALS.

UM, ABANDONING ABANDONMENT WOULD BE, YOU KNOW, TAKING A, A CAT OR A DOG OR SOME OTHER ANIMAL AND JUST RELEASING IT INTO THE WILD WITH NO RESPONSIBILITY THEREAFTER.

NOW, IT, IT APPEARS THAT THIS PROGRAM, AS WE'RE HEARING IT TONIGHT, UM, CONTEMPLATES A DIFFERENT TYPE OF RELEASE BACK TO A RESPONSIBLE OWNER.

I THINK IT'S PRUDENT FOR THIS BOARD IN EVALUATING WHETHER TO SUPPORT THIS EFFORT OR NOT, UM, TO, TO HAVE A WRITTEN POLICY TO BE SURE IF GRANT DOLLARS ARE INVOLVED, SOME WRITTEN ARTICULATION OF THE PROGRAM HAD TO BE FURNISHED TO THE GRANT GIVER, UM, TO HAVE THAT IN OUR RULES SO THAT WE CAN MAKE SURE THAT OUR SUPPORT IS CONSISTENT WITH THE LAWS ON THE BOOKS, BOTH OUR ORDINANCE AND THE GENERAL STATUTES.

IF I CAN ADD, JAMIE, WHEN I'VE BEEN DOING THIS, BECAUSE I'VE BEEN DOING THIS FOR YEARS IN DOWNTOWN, WHAT I ADVISE PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY WHEN THE ORDINANCE CHANGED AND THERE'S SOME SIGNIFICANT FINES INVOLVED IN YOUR CAT STRAYING OFF YOUR PROPERTY, I ADVISE PEOPLE IMMEDIATELY WHEN WE'RE BRINGING THE CAT BACK.

NOW, IF THIS CAT IS YOURS AND IF THIS CAT WANDERS OFF THE PROPERTY AND AN OWNER COMPLAINS, THESE ARE THE ORDINANCE RESOLUTIONS FOR THIS.

SO I MAKE THE PERSON AWARE AT LEAST THAT THEY ARE GETTING INTO AN AREA WHERE THEY COULD HAVE A SITUATION BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, THERE'S A COUPLE HUNDRED FINE IF YOUR IS CONSIDERED STRAY AND NOT ON A LEASH AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

SO THERE ARE, THERE PROBABLY SHOULD BE SOME RESOLUTION TO THAT TO MAKE IT A LITTLE BIT MORE FRIENDLY TO THIS.

BUT THAT'S HOW I'M GETTING IT.

I'M TELLING PEOPLE WHAT THEIR CONSEQUENCES COULD BE.

WELL, UM, IF, IF SOMEONE, IF SOMEONE NOTIFIES THEM AND ASKS THEM TO COME AND PICK UP THEIR CAT AND THEY DO AND THEY BRING IT BACK AND TURN IT LOOSE ON THEIR PROPERTY, IF THAT CAT STRAYS OFF SOMEWHERE ELSE, IT IS FREE GAME FOR ANIMAL CONTROL.

SO, AND IT'S AN OWNED ANIMAL, SO THE PERSON WHO OWNS IT DOES HAVE TO DEAL WITH THE CONSEQUENCE OF THAT ONE.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT, UM, I, I GUESS IT IT'S MUCH MORE COMPLICATED IN COMMERCIAL SETTINGS, BUT WHEN WE'RE DEALING WITH PRIVATE PROPERTY OWNERSHIP, UM, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT IS AN ISSUE FOR THE GRANTORS, AND THIS IS ANOTHER I, I'VE HAD FOUR GRANTORS PETSMART AND BAIT AND A NUMBER OF GRANTORS OVER THE YEARS, SAY THAT THEIR PROBLEM WITH OUR ORDINANCE IS SIMPLY THAT IF THEY INVEST IN THIS ANIMAL, AN ANIMAL CONTROL IN THE CITY IS SO INCLINED TO PICK THEM ALL UP AND BRING THEM TO THE, TO THE KILL SHELTER AND HAVE THEM EUTHANIZED, THEN THAT IS GOOD MONEY AFTER BAD.

AND THE ONLY REASON THAT THEY WANT SOMETHING LIKE THIS IN PLACE IS TO PREVENT THAT FROM HAPPENING.

AND, AND THAT'S THEIR CONCERN.

AND IT'S NOT ONE GRANTOR, IT'S EVERYBODY.

NOW WE CAN RAISE THE MONEY TO DO THIS WITHIN OUR OWN COMMUNITY AND POPULATION, BUT WE WILL NEVER BRING IN THE KIND OF LARGE DOLLAR GRANTS THAT WE NEED IN ORDER TO DO THIS UNLESS THERE'S SOMETHING DONE TO MITIGATE THIS ORDINANCE.

BECAUSE ALL OF 'EM LOOK AT THIS AND SAY, AH, THERE'S YOUR RED FLAG.

WE'RE NOT, WE'RE NOT PUTTING OUR MONEY INTO IT.

AND WE ARE VERY LUCKY THAT JOHN IS STAYING THE COURSE WITH US BECAUSE IT'S, IT'S VERY TIRING NOW THAT WE KNOW THAT THEY'RE GONNA START HAVING BABIES IN NOVEMBER AND THEN THEY'RE GONNA START HAVING BABIES AGAIN IN MARCH.

SO WE'RE GONNA TAKE 424 CATS THAT THEY'VE ALREADY FILLED OUT, AND THEY, SOME OF 'EM ARE SAYING VERY PREGNANT, YOU KNOW, JUST ALREADY PREGNANT AND WE'RE GOING TO TURN IT INTO 2000.

AND IF YOU DON'T BELIEVE ME, JUST GOOGLE IT WHEN YOU GET HOME THE NIGHT.

THAT'S JUST HOW IT GOES.

AND, AND MAYOR, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT IN THE COMMENT THAT MS. KNIGHT JUST MADE ABOUT MITIGATING

[00:15:01]

OUR ORDINANCE.

YOU ALL DO NOT HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO SUSPEND OUR LAWS.

SO IF THIS LETTER OR THIS ASKING OF SUPPORT IS IN SOME WAY BEING CONSTRUED SO THAT WE WILL NOT ENFORCE OUR ORDINANCES, THAT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT WE CAN DO.

SO I DON'T KNOW IF PERHAPS WE NEED TO UNPACK THAT FURTHER.

UM, BUT I, THE BOARD JUST NEEDS TO BE CLEAR ABOUT WHAT IT IS THAT THEY'RE SUPPORTING AND HOW THAT SUPPORT WILL BE INTERPRETED.

SO IF, LIKE THE MAYOR SAID, IF, IF WE DO A LETTER AND EXPL OUTLINE IN OUR POSITION THAT THESE CATS ARE, UM, ARE GOING OR ARE BEING PICKED UP FROM A PRIVATE RESIDENCE, THEY'RE GOING TO BE SPAYED, NEUTERED AND ALTERED OR WHATEVER YOU CALL IT, AND DELIVERED BACK TO THAT PRIVATE RESIDENCE.

AND THAT'S THE ONLY THING THAT WE CAN, YOU KNOW, WE CAN APPROVE BECAUSE OF OUR ORDINANCE.

THAT THAT SHOULD BE OKAY.

WOULDN'T YOU THINK? AND, AND WE'LL EVEN ASK LISA OR SOMEBODY TO SIGN IT AND WE'LL BOTH HAVE COPIES.

I THINK THE BEST ROUTE IS ONE, HAVING A WRITTEN COPY OF THE PROGRAM, THE PARAMETERS OF THE PROGRAM FROM THE ORGANIZATION, AND THEN TWO, ASSUMING THAT WRITTEN PROGRAM IS CONSISTENT WITH OUR ORDINANCE, THEN YOU ALL IN YOUR DISCRETION CAN ADOPT A LETTER OF SUPPORT SAYING THIS, LET THIS PROGRAM COMPORTS WITH OUR ORDINANCES AND WE SUPPORT THE SPIRIT OF WHAT YOU'RE TRYING TO DO.

LEMME GET ALL MY BEST.

SHE'S BEEN WANTING TO ASK A QUESTION.

UM, WHAT IS THE NAME OF YOUR ORGANIZATION AGAIN? I'M PA FOR PAUSE INC.

AND THIS NEW GROUP IS CRAVEN, PAMELA CODE TNR PROJECT.

AND THERE IS A FACEBOOK PAGE AND ONE OF YOUR RESIDENTS RIGHT DOWNTOWN JUST POSTED THIS MORNING EARLY THAT ONE WEEK LATER, WE'VE ALREADY GOT THREE OF THEM SPAYED AND SHOWED A PICTURE OF 'EM ON THEIR PORCH AND SAID, THIS IS ALSO NOT GONNA AFFORD TO FEED HIM.

I JUST CAN'T AFFORD TO FIX 'EM.

AND BECAUSE ALL OF US ARE PITCHING IN MONEY UNTIL THIS MONEY COMES.

SO, SO, SO, YOU KNOW, THE OTHER ORGANIZATION RECEIVING MONEY IS HELPING CATS.

HELPING CATS, AND THEY ARE THE ONES THAT WERE CHOSEN BY BEST FRIENDS AS THE NON-PROFIT TO BE THE RECIPIENT IN THIS COUNTY OF THEIR BONDS.

SO HOW MUCH DOES IT COST TO SPAY ONE CAT? THERE'S DIFFERENT PRICES.

SO LIKE WITH THE LOCAL VETS, NOW THEY'RE GIVING US A HUNDRED DOLLARS FOR A FEMALE AND $75 FOR THE MALE, AND THEN $24 FOR THE FLEE AND $10 FOR THE RABIES.

AND THEN WHEN YOU GO TO THE COUNTY, YOU CAN SPEAK BETTER TO THAT.

SO THE COUNTY PROGRAM IS SUPPORTING FOUR NONPROFITS FOR LOW COST SPAY LEADER, A FEMALE WITH A RABIES SHOT, AND A EM SHOT IS $50.

A MALE WITH A RADIANCE AND DISTEMPER SHOT IS $75.

WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO IS MAKE THE AVERAGE, OR EXCUSE ME, IT'S $25.

I SAID THAT WRONG, I APOLOGIZE.

WE'RE TRYING TO MAKE THE AVERAGE ABOUT $75 IN ANIMAL SO THAT IF YOU HAD TO USE ONE OF THE PRIVATE VET SPOTS, IT'S A LITTLE MORE EXPENSIVE, BUT YOU'D OFFSET THAT WITH THE ONES THAT THE COUNTY HAS.

I FIGURED THAT WITH THE MONEY THAT I, THAT WE WOULD BE ABLE TO DO ABOUT 420 POUNDS, THE MONEY THAT'S COMING FROM BEST FRIENDS IS I THINK REQUIRING THAT THEY DO BETWEEN AND PAM LACO COUNTY 450 AND THEY'RE REQUIRING THAT THEY INCLUDE CAMECO COUNTY AS WELL.

SO, UM, YOU KNOW, WE ARE, IF SHE'S GOTTEN AND LITERALLY INTO THIS SORT OF RECEPTIVE, THIS IS SORT OF A A REC REFERRAL KIND OF THING THAT'S STARTING TO HAPPEN.

SHE'S GOTTEN A REQUEST FOR OVER 700 ANIMALS.

SO I WE'RE GONNA BE A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS BY THAT.

SO WE ARE GOING TO NEED LARGE DONOR PARTNERS IN ORDER TO REALLY MAKE WELL NOW BEST FRIENDS, EXCUSE ME.

BEST FRIENDS SAID IF YOU NAIL THESE FOUR 50, WE WILL GIVE YOU ANOTHER GRANT.

YEAH, I'M ALL ABOUT THAT.

YEAH.

THE GROUND ARE SO APPRECIATIVE OF SPENDING CASH FOR LESS THAN $500 THAT THEY'RE WILLING TO HAND ME $200.

UM, SO MOVING FORWARD, YOU KNOW, YOU TAKE CARE OF THE, THE CATS THAT YOU HAVE CURRENTLY.

UM, IF YOU DON'T GET YOUR SUPPORTING FUNDS TO WHAT WOULD HAPPEN TO THE OTHER CATS? THEY WOULD JUST STILL BE OUT? YOU MEAN IF THEY DON'T GET THE GRANT? YES.

ANOTHER GRANT, YOU SAID ADDITIONAL, YOU'RE GONNA NEED ADDITIONAL MONEY.

SO IF YOU DON'T GET THE ADDITIONAL GRANT, WHAT I'M SEEING AND WHAT MY MONEY IS GOING TO DO, IF I HAVE, YOU KNOW, I SAY MY MONEY, THE POWER FOR PAUSE MONEY, OUR BOARD HAS SAID THAT WE REALLY NEED TO TAKE THIS SORT OF ONE SHOT THAT WE HAVE AT THIS KIND OF MONEY AND BUILD THE RIGHT KIND OF IN INFRASTRUCTURE FOR EVERYTHING, FUNDRAISING AND EVERYTHING.

AND LET ME TELL YOU WHAT MY EXPERIENCE WAS TODAY.

I TOOK SIX CATS AND THIS HAS BEEN TWO WEEKS RUNNING.

I HAD THIS EXPERIENCE, I TOOK SIX CATS OVER TO BE SPAYED AND NEUTERED.

I COME BACK, I RETURN 'EM TO THEIR OWNERS.

SOMEBODY IN THAT OWNER GROUP ENDS UP HANDING ME A CHECK BECAUSE IT'S A DONATION.

I SPENT $256 A DAY AT THE SHELTER AND SOMEBODY HANDED ME A $200 DONATION LAST WEEK.

I SPENT $130 AT THE SHELTER AND SOMEBODY HANDED ME A HUNDRED DOLLARS DONATION.

SO THIS MONEY IS GOING VERY FAR BECAUSE THE PEOPLE ON

[00:20:01]

AND IT'S, IT'S THAT, IT'S THAT SUPPORTED BY THE POPULATION WHO PAID FOR THAT.

JENNIFER, SAY IT AGAIN.

PAID FOR THAT HOUSE.

FALLS PAID FOR.

THAT HOUSE HAS ITS MONEY.

SO WE'RE PAYING FOR EVERYBODY UNTIL THE BEST FRIEND GRANT COMES IN AND WE'RE HOPING THAT THE BEST FRIEND GRANT COME IN.

I HAD ONE MORE QUESTION FOR YOU.

SURE.

MAYOR, WHO, WHOM IS JOHN? UM, YOU MENTIONED JOHN.

HE IS, HE IS THE BEST FRIEND'S.

HE'S THE ONE THAT WILL SEND THE CHECK AS SOON AS THE CITY SIGNS.

SO WHO WILL BE DOING THE SPAY AND NEUTERING FOR YOU? WELL, WE WHAT, WHAT PARTNERSHIP YOU HAVE THERE OR WHAT? SO WE HAVE DR.

STAMA AT ANIMAL CARE CENTER.

WE HAVE, UH, DR. SHELTON AT NEW SPEC CLINIC.

SHE DOES MONDAYS.

AND THEN SHE JUST CALLED ME RIGHT BEFORE I WALKED IN HERE AND SAID, I GOT A COUPLE OF OPEN SPOTS TOMORROW IF YOU WANT TO BRING A COUPLE OF FEMALES IN, BRING 'EM ON BECAUSE SHE REALIZES I HAVE NINE PREGNANT CATS.

I'M TRYING TO GET IN.

AND, AND DR.

OSLER OVER AT THE COUNTY SHELTER, COUNTY SHELTER SHELTER IS INCREDIBLY RECEPTIVE TO THIS.

IN FACT, THIS IS THEIR BRAIN CHILD.

THIS REALLY IS SOMETHING THAT THEY PUT TOGETHER FOR US.

AND THEN WE REACHED OUT TO AND WE SECURED 70 SPOTS AND THEN THEY JUST FLOOD.

I DON'T KNOW IF YOU GUYS SAW THAT, BUT WHEN WE HAD THAT RING LAST WEEK, SO NOW THEY'RE THREE FEET UNDERWATER.

AND SO, BUT WE REALLY CAN'T DO ANYTHING WITHOUT MONEY.

I UNDERSTAND THAT WE'VE GOT ABOUT 110 SPOTS A MONTH, AND SO WE CAN KEEP PICKING THEM OFF.

WE'RE NOT GONNA SOLVE THE PROBLEM OVERNIGHT, BUT WE HAVE ABOUT 110 LOCAL VETERINARY SPOTS WITHOUT DOING THE LARGE, YOU KNOW, REGIONAL.

AND THEN YOU DO THE MATH THAT 720 CATS AND WE'LL HAVE 2000 BY THE TIME WE GET DOING A HUNDRED A MONTH IS, IT'S JUST THE WAY THEY DO.

YEAH, I KNOW THEIR BIRTH PROCESS IS REAL RAPID.

THEY DO TWICE A YEAR.

TWICE A YEAR.

AL MCKENZIE AND NOW THEY'RE BORN TO DIE.

BASICALLY.

THAT'S, THAT'S THE ONE THING I WANT EVERYBODY IN THIS ROOM TO UNDERSTAND.

THESE ANIMALS ARE LITERALLY BORN TO DIE.

THERE ARE NOT ENOUGH HOMES FOR THEM.

NO ONE NEEDS TO FOOL THEMSELVES THAT ANYTHING IS GOING TO DO TAKE CARE OF THIS WITHOUT US SPAYING AND NEUTERING THESE ANIMALS.

IT'S JUST NOT GONNA HAPPEN.

70 CATS BETWEEN OWNER SURRENDER AND ANIMAL CONTROL AND TRANSFER IN CAME INTO OUR SHELTER LAST WEEK, 70.

THEY HAVE NO ROOM.

THOSE CATS, EITHER THOSE CATS DIE OR THEY HAVE TO GET RID OF OTHER CATS AND, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE DOING A PHENOMENAL JOB.

IF YOU GUYS HAVE KEPT UP WITH CRAVEN PAM, NOW THEY'RE DOING A GREAT JOB.

THEY CAN'T TAKE THE NUMBER OF ANIMALS AND WE'RE TRYING TO KEEP THE NUMBER TO NOT GO IN.

SO PLEASE SIGN IT.

PLEASE FIX IT.

IS THIS TIME SENSITIVE? YES, SIR.

WHAT IS THE TIME I, WHAT ARE THE TIME THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT RIGHT NOW? I THINK THAT JOHN TOLD MARVIN TODAY, I'LL LET YOU SPEAK.

I, UH, MAYOR AND BOARD, UH, I DID SPEAK WITH JOHN AND HE INDICATED THAT AS LONG AS CONVERSATIONS ARE MOVING FORWARD, THEY'RE GOOD.

AND, AND JUST A A POINT OF CLARIFICATION, THE ONLY REASON WHY WE'RE DISCUSSING THIS NOW IS THE UNDERSTANDING WHEN WE WENT THROUGH THE DISCUSSION WAS THAT THERE WAS A REQUEST FOR US TO PAUSE OR, UM, BASICALLY PUT PUT OUR ORDINANCES ON HOLD, ON HOLD BECAUSE THERE WAS DISCUSSION ABOUT, UM, LAWSON'S CREEK AND OTHER PLACES.

SO IT, IT WASN'T JUST US AS SIMPLE AS WHAT WE'RE HEARING NOW.

I MEAN, WHAT THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT IS SOMETHING A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT, THE SUPPORT THAT OUR UNDERSTANDING WAS AT THAT TIME.

SO, SO, SO IF WE PUT REALISTIC EXPECTATIONS, UM, THE BOARD IS GONNA GET THIS INFORMATION FROM YOU ALL.

IT CAN BE DISSEMINATED OUT, WE CAN HAVE TIME TO DIGEST IT.

THE NEXT TIME WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO TAKE ACTION IS IN TWO WEEKS FROM TONIGHT.

THAT'S OUR NEXT BOARD.

CAN WE GET DIRECTION TO ALLOW THE MAYOR TO SIGN IF HE GETS THE SUITABLE, IF, IF EVERYBODY AGREES OR YOU AND THE MAYOR AGREE ON THE VERBIAGE? WELL, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR THE FULL BOARD TO UNDERSTAND THE SCOPE AND BREADTH OF THE PROGRAM, UM, SO THAT EVERYBODY'S COMFORTABLE WITH THAT, THAT THE PROGRAM IS, UM, THE WAY WE'RE UNDERSTANDING IT IN THIS MOMENT, BECAUSE THE CONCEPT SEEMS TO HAVE EVOLVED OVER THE LAST SEVERAL WEEKS.

AND, AND I I THINK IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT FOR US TO RECOGNIZE THAT THE CITY IS NOT EMBARKING ON THIS PROGRAM.

WE'RE NOT SAYING THAT THE CITY OF NEW BERN IS GOING TO BE A PARTICIPANT IN THIS TNR PROGRAM.

WE'RE JUST SAYING THAT OUR ORDINANCE, IF WE NEED TO MAKE SOME CHANGES OR ADJUSTMENTS THERE, OR SOME CLARIFICATION THAT OUR ORDINANCE ALLOWS THESE GROUPS TO DO THE WORK THAT THEY'RE DOING, I THINK THAT'S A, A BIG DIFFERENCE IN SIGNING ON AS BEING A MEMBER OR A PARTICIPATING, UM, AGENCY IN THIS, YOU GUYS ARE GONNA KEEP DOING YOUR WORK AS YOU'RE DOING IT.

YOU'RE JUST ASKING US TO SAY IT'S OKAY TO DO IT WITHIN OUR CITY LIMITS AND WE'RE NOT BREAKING THE LAW.

EXACTLY.

CHANGING THE ORDINANCE WHERE THAT, WHEN THEY COME BACK TO US, THAT THEY WILL SEE WHAT THE ORDINANCE IS AND THEY WOULD, UM, FOLLOW THE GUIDELINES OF THE ORDINANCE? THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION ALDERMAN.

SO THE THING IS, THE NEXT THING IS THAT, UM, WHEN WILL WE START TO LOOKING INTO

[00:25:01]

KENZIE, AS I UNDERSTAND THE SCOPE OF THE PROGRAM TONIGHT, THE PROGRAM SEEMS TO BE COMPATIBLE WITH OUR ORDINANCE BECAUSE THERE IS NO ABANDONMENT.

THAT'S WHAT WE PROHIBIT.

SO I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT CONSIDERING THE FLEXIBILITY AND, AND HOW THIS ARC HAS, HAS CHANGED OVER THE LAST SEVERAL DAYS, WEEKS TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT THAT PROCESS IS IN WRITING SO THAT WE'RE ALL COMFORTABLE THAT THE PROGRAM AS IT IS BEING, AS IT'S GOING TO BE IMPLEMENTED IS COMPATIBLE WITH OUR ORDINANCES.

OKAY, SO NO ORDINANCE MANAGEMENT.

SO WHO WILL DRAFT THIS? WHO WILL DRAFT THIS AGREEMENT? THE LETTER THAT THEY'RE ASKING FOR SUPPORT? YES.

I DON'T KNOW IF THEY HAVE A FORM DOCUMENT.

NO, I'M TALKING ABOUT THE AGREEMENT THAT WE'RE GONNA RECEIVE FROM THIS ORGANIZATION IS SAYING WE SUPPORT THEM GOING TO PRIVATE RESIDENCE AND PICKING UP IS, IS THAT SOMETHING THAT WE NEED OR NOT? THERE, THERE SHOULD NOT BE AN AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF NEW BERN.

YOU JUST NEED TO SIGN THAT FORM WITH JOHN IS WHAT THE WAY I'M, WHAT I'M SAYING I THINK IS THAT WE MAY NOT BE ABLE TO DO THAT AND WE MAY NOT HAVE TO DO THAT BECAUSE JOHN MAY NOT NEED A SIGNATURE IF WE'RE OPERATING WITHIN THE LAWS OF THE CITY OF NEW BERN BY ONLY WORKING ON PRIVATE PROPERTY.

SO I SO YOU DON'T NEED A LETTER AND WE DON'T NEED A LETTER.

WE ALL JUST SAY THAT WE'RE DOING IT LEGALLY.

SO, SO LET'S, LET'S DO THIS BECAUSE WE COULD PROBABLY TALK ABOUT THIS ALL, ALL NIGHT.

UM, I THINK WE ALL HAVE A BETTER UNDERSTANDING NOW OF WHAT YOUR ACTUAL REQUEST IS AND STAFF UNDERSTANDS THAT.

I THINK THERE'S ANOTHER MEETING WE'RE GONNA HAVE TOMORROW AFTERNOON WITH A FEW OF US TO DISCUSS THIS.

UM, IF THERE ARE ANY CHANGES THAT HAVE TO BE MADE, UNDERSTAND IT HAS TO COME BEFORE THE FULL BOARD.

MM-HMM.

IF STAFF REVIEWS THIS AND TALKS TO JOHN, UH, THE INFAMOUS JOHN AND HE SAYS, I DON'T NEED THAT SIGN, BECAUSE NOW WE UNDERSTAND YOU'RE NOT BREAKING THE LAW, YOU KNOW, WE'RE ALL GOOD, THEN THERE'S NO FURTHER ACTION FOR US TO TAKE.

SO I THINK THE BEST THING TO DO, APPRECIATE THE INFORMATION TONIGHT.

I THINK TOMORROW WHEN WE HAVE OUR MEETING IN THE AFTERNOON, IF THERE'S ANYTHING ELSE THAT THE FULL BOARD NEEDS TO BE INVOLVED WITH, WE CAN GET THEM INVOLVED AT THAT TIME.

KENZIE AND JAMIE MARTIN, I CAN SEND YOU TWO A COPY.

I DID A SYNOPSIS OF WHAT WE HAVE BEEN DOING, WHAT WE'RE, WHAT WE'RE UP TO, AND THEN WHAT OUR STATISTICS LOOK LIKE AS OF TODAY.

A LITTLE, YOU KNOW, SNAPSHOT.

SO I'LL SEND IT.

I GET ONE.

I I WAS TOLD THIS PARTICULAR LADY THAT IS DOING THIS, ONE OF THE, THAT I WOULD MENTION THIS AT TNR WORKS, UH, WHEN THEY FIRST STARTED AT A LOCAL PARK HERE, THERE WAS SOMEWHERE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD AROUND 50, 40 OR 50 CATS.

TODAY AFTER THEY HAVE DONE TNR, THEY'RE 16 BECAUSE ONE, IF THEY CAN'T REPRODUCE, NATURE'S GOING TO TAKE CARE OF THE CATS.

THAT'S IN THE WILD.

BUT, YOU KNOW, WE'RE NOT TAKING CARE, WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT CATS IN THE WILD HERE.

WE'RE TALKING ABOUT PEOPLE THAT ARE FEEDING THESE CATS AND GIVING 'EM A HOME AND STUFF LIKE THAT.

SO I JUST TOLD 'EM THAT I WOULD MENTION THAT.

SO I I NEED HIS READING RIGHT HERE.

ALDERMAN BEST.

UM, AS YOU SAID, UM, ALDERMAN, AS YOU'RE SPEAKING OF THE CATS THAT ARE BEING FED BY HOMEOWNERS, BUT I'M ALSO THINKING ABOUT WHAT ABOUT THOSE ANIMALS, THOSE CATS OUT THERE THAT ARE JUST STRAY CATS RIGHT NOW AND WE HAVE, AND WE HAVE OUR ANIMAL CONTROL THAT PICK UP THOSE CATS.

WILL THEY BE ALLOWED TO TAKE THOSE CATS TO YOUR AGENCY? NO.

NO.

THEY GO TO THE COUNTY SHELTER.

AND, AND THAT'S WHY I BELIEVE THAT WHAT MAYOR ODOM JUST SAID IS, IS EXACTLY RIGHT.

WE'RE NOT BREAKING ANY LAWS.

WE ARE JUST TAKING CARE OF THE ONES THAT ARE ALREADY BEING TAKEN CARE OF BY THE CITIZENS IN YOUR CITY.

YEAH.

WELL, I, I UNDERSTAND THAT FULLY, BUT I WAS JUST, AND I WISH COULD, WANTING TO KNOW ABOUT THE ONES THAT, THAT I, MAYBE IF YOU CHANGE IT, CHANGE THAT ORDINANCE AND WE'LL DO IT.

I HAVE A LOT OF COMMUNITY CATS IN THE HISTORIC DISTRICT ON THE COMMERCIAL SIDE, AND I'VE BEEN DOING THIS FOR A LONG TIME.

I ALLUDED IN THE DOWNTOWN DISTRICTS AND THINGS.

SEVEN.

UM, I HAVE ONE KITTEN THIS YEAR THAT PROBABLY CAME IN UNDER A CAR CHASSIS TO THE PARKING LOT.

IT'S THE RED PARKING LOT AT THE END OF CRAVEN STREET.

SO WE HAVE BEEN DOING THIS TO THE EXTENT THAT WE DON'T HAVE ANY KITTENS AND IT REALLY DOES STABILIZE THE ENTIRE, YOU KNOW, IF I GET A CALL THAT SOMEBODY HAS A NEW HOTSPOT OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, WE GO IN AND HELP ON WORKING WITH CHILD HOUSE RIGHT NOW AND WE'RE SEEING CATS COMING IN FROM, FROM TRANSPORT.

UM, THAT WHERE WE'RE SEEING AN ISSUE THERE WHERE THESE ARE ANIMALS THAT ARE EITHER ABANDONED PETS OR THEY'RE JUST PROCREATING WITHOUT ASSISTANCE.

SO ON BOTH SIDES, ON BURN STREET AS WELL, WE'RE SEEING SOME HOT SPOTS, BUT IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA WHERE LIKE AFTER THE STORM WE HAD A REAL ISSUE WITH CATS UNDER BUILDINGS AT THE WATERFRONTS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

ONE.

WELL WITH KITTENS, BUT THANK YOU.

AND I'VE GOT A KITTEN FOR EACH ONE OF YOU, SO I'M GONNA GO GET OUT OF THE CAR.

FAR .

MY DOG DOESN'T PLAY

[00:30:01]

UH, APPRECIATE THE, APPRECIATE THE INFORMATION.

OKAY, BOARD, UH, NEXT UP IS CONSENT AGENDA.

[Consent Agenda]

WHAT'S THE PLEASURE OF THE BOARD ON ITEMS FOUR THROUGH SEVEN? MAKE A MOTION.

WE APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA.

EIGHT, PRESENTATION ON 2023 PUBLIC POWER AWARD FROM ELECTRICITIES, MR. BOUCHARD AND HE HAS A SPECIAL GUEST, UH, CEO OF ELECTRICITY.

HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.

ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE, LET'S HAVE A ROLL CALL VOTE STARTING WITH ALDERMAN PRILL.

NEXT UP IS ITEM NUMBER

[8. Presentation of 2023 Public Power Award from ElectriCities.]

MR. ROY JONES.

THANK YOU MAYOR WAL, I'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE, UH, ROY JONES, THE CEO OF ELECTRIC CITIES.

AND, UH, I BELIEVE HE HAS A IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT AND FOR US TODAY.

HEY, IT'S, UH, CERTAINLY IS A PLEASURE TO BE HERE AGAIN THIS EVENING.

UH, JUST, JUST REAL QUICK, A LITTLE BIT OF CONTEXT HERE.

ACROSS THE UNITED STATES, THERE ARE 2000 COMMUNITIES THAT OWN THEIR ELECTRIC DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM, LIKE REFERRED TO AS PUBLIC POWER.

UH, HERE IN NORTH CAROLINA, THERE ARE 72 MUNICIPALITIES ACROSS THE STATE THAT OWN THEIR ELECTRIC DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM.

AND AS WE ROLLED OUT OUR STRATEGIC PLAN AND BEGAN TALKING ABOUT, YOU KNOW, WHERE ARE THESE PUBLIC POWER COMMUNITIES IN NORTH CAROLINA, WE HAVE ALSO MEMBERS IN SOUTH CAROLINA, VIRGINIA.

WHERE, WHERE DO THEY NEED TO BE? YOU KNOW, AS WE START LOOKING TO THE FUTURE IN 2030 WAS KIND OF OUR MILESTONE THAT WE PUT OUT THERE.

UH, WE THEN CAME UP WITH SOME PRIORITIES AND SOME, YOU KNOW, ACTIVITIES, ACTIONS, IMPROVEMENTS THAT THE COMMUNITIES NEEDED TO MAKE IN THEIR ELECTRIC DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM TO KIND OF BEGIN MOVING IN THAT DIRECTION.

AND SO EACH YEAR WE STEP BACK AND ASSESS THE COMMUNITIES, UH, ACROSS ELECTRIC CITIES AND IDENTIFY SOME OF THE COMMUNITIES THAT ARE IN FACT MAKING PROGRESS TOWARDS THAT VISION OF WHERE WE WANT OUR COMMUNITIES TO BE IN 2030.

AND SO THIS YEAR I'M VERY PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE THAT NEWBURN IS ACTUALLY RECEIVING AN AWARD IN FOUR DIFFERENT CATEGORIES AND MAKING PROGRESS TOWARDS THAT VISION OF 2030.

UH, THE FIRST ONE IS FUTURE FOCUSED, AS YOU WOULD, MIGHT THINK, IS, YOU KNOW, THAT MINDSET OF FOCUSING ON THE FUTURE, STRENGTHENING PUBLIC POWER, PROVIDING SUPERIOR POWER AND CUSTOMER-CENTERED INNOVATION.

AND I WANNA HIGHLIGHT THAT ONE BECAUSE I KNOW YOU ALL WITH YOUR BILLING SYSTEM MADE SOME IN-HOUSE CHANGES TO MAKE THINGS IN THE BUILD CLEARER TO THE CUSTOMERS SO THEY CAN BETTER INTERPRET THEIR ELECTRIC BILL OR UTILITY BILL IF YOU'LL, UH, AND SO JUST DOING SOME GREAT THINGS HERE.

UH, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT THE ELECTRIC SYSTEM, YOU GOT PROPERTY TAXES AND YOU GOT YOUR ELECTRIC SYSTEM.

THOSE ARE YOUR TWO REVENUE PRODUCING, UH, ENTERPRISES, IF YOU WILL.

AND, UH, BEING ABLE TO HAVE THAT ENTERPRISE TO REALLY HELP YOU BE ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH THE THINGS YOU WANT TO ACCOMPLISH HERE IN NEWBURN THAT ARE IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE COMMUNITY IS A TREMENDOUS ASSET.

SO I JUST WANT TO SAY CONGRATULATIONS IN RECEIVING THE 2023 PUBLIC POWER AWARDS OF EXCELLENCE TO NEW THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

CHARLIE, ARE YOU GOING? CHARLIE, CHARLES, YOU DEFINITELY NEED TO BE IN THAT.

AND THANK YOU MR. BACHAR.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

NEXT UP IS ITEM NUMBER NINE.

OKAY,

[9. Consider Adopting a Resolution Approving the Sale of 509 Darst Avenue.]

CONSIDER ADOPTING A RESOLUTION APPROVING THE SALE OF 5 0 9 DART AVENUE, MR. WILLIAMS, UH, MAYOR AND BOARD, UH, JOSE SARAIA, UH, TENURED AN OFFER OF $2,400 FOR PURCHASE OF 5 0 9 DART AVENUE.

UH, THE OFFER WAS, UH, ADVERTISED WITH NO UPSET BIDS WERE RECEIVED.

THE PARCEL WAS A VACANT 0.037 ACRE RESIDENTIAL LOT WITH A TAX VALUE OF $4,800.

IT WAS ACQUIRED JOINTLY BY THE CITY AND THE COUNTY IN AUGUST OF 2015 THROUGH TAX FORECLOSURE.

UH, IF THE PROPERTY IS SOLD AT THIS OFFER, THE CITY WILL RECEIVE $818 85 CENTS IN THE COUNTY, $1,581 AND 15 CENTS FROM THE PROCEEDS.

ANY QUESTIONS THERE? I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO ADOPT A RESOLUTION APPROVING THE SALE OF 5 0 9 DART AVENUE.

I HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.

ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE.

LET'S HAVE A ROLL CALL STARTING WITH ALDERMAN ASTOR.

[00:35:02]

ALDERMAN ASTOR.

YES.

ALDERMAN KENZIE? YES.

[10. Consider Adopting a Resolution Authorizing the Execution of a Contract with Avolis Landworks, LLC, for Category D Hurricane Florence Damage Repairs Jimmies Creek Drainage Basin.]

ITEM NUMBER 10.

CONSIDER ADOPTING A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTION OF A CONTRACT WITH VALIS LAND WORKS.

LLC FOR CATEGORY D, HURRICANE FLORENCE DAMAGE REPAIRS.

JIMMY CREEK DRAINAGE BASIN.

MR. CHILDS GOOD EVENING BOARD MAYOR.

THIS IS A CONTINUATION OF THE CAT D PERMANENT WORK RELATED TO HURRICANE FLORENCE.

THIS IS FOR THE JIMMY'S CREEK DRAINAGE BASIN.

WE ADVERTISED THIS ORIGINALLY FOR BID ON AUGUST 1ST, 2024, AND WE RECEIVED THREE BIDS ON SEPTEMBER 3RD.

THE LO THE APPARENT LOAD BIDDER OF THE PROJECT WAS VALLAS LAND WORKS FOR $644,300.

WE ARE RECOMMENDING THE BOARD APPROVE THE CITY MANAGER BE ABLE TO EXECUTE ON BEHALF OF THE CITY, ALL CONTRACT DOCUMENTS RELATED TO THIS WORK.

THIS BOARD HAVE QUESTIONS ON ITEM NUMBER 10.

UH, YES.

UM, GEORGE IS, IS THIS, UM, PROJECT HERE, UM, IS ACTUALLY WHAT'S GOING ON RIGHT NOW WITHIN THE DELEY FIELD CANAL? YES, MA'AM.

THERE.

THERE IS, THERE'S SOME THAT'S RELATED TO JACKS.

AND THEN IF YOU GO ON TRENT ROAD, THERE'S SOME PLACES YOU CAN SEE FROM TRENT ROAD THAT'S RELATED TO THE TRENT BASIN.

WHICH IS BEING CONTRACTED WITH A SEPARATE CONTRACTOR.

SO WHAT IS THIS? WHAT IS, UH, BANK STABILIZATION HEAD WALLS.

THOSE TYPES OF PERMANENT WORK TO THE, TO THE INFRASTRUCTURE.

PREPARES ANY QUESTIONS BY THE BOARD.

I MAKE A MOTION, UM, TO ADOPT THE RESOLUTION AUTHORIZED OF THE EXECUTION OF A CONTRACT WITH VALIS LAND WORKS LLC FOR CATEGORY D, HURRICANE FLORENCE DAMAGE REPAIRS, JIMMY CREEK DRAINAGE BASIN.

UH, NEXT UP IS APPOINTMENTS.

I HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.

ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE.

LET'S HAVE A ROLL CALL STARTING WITH ALDERMAN KENZIE.

ALDERMAN KENZIE? YES.

[12. Appointment( s).]

ANYONE HAVE ANY APPOINTMENTS THIS EVENING? HEARING NONE.

WE'LL MOVE ON TO THE ATTORNEY'S

[13. Attorney' s Report]

REPORT.

NOTHING TONIGHT.

MAYOR.

[14. City Manager' s Report.]

CITY MANAGER'S REPORT.

UH, JUST ONE THING, JUST A REMINDER THAT THIS FRIDAY WE HAVE A MOM FEES IS GONNA HAPPEN AND, UH, IT'S GONNA BE OFF P*****K AND MIDDLE STREET.

UM, IT'S GONNA START AROUND 6:00 PM UH, THEY'RE GONNA HAVE STREET CAFES, UM, UH, FOOD TRUCKS, UH, BEER GARDEN AND SOME GAMES AND LIVE MUSIC.

SO, UM, THEY DON'T WANT TO GET THIS CONFUSED WITH MOM FEST, WHICH IS GONNA BE IN OCTOBER, UH, 12TH AND 13TH.

BUT YOU'RE AVAILABLE.

WELCOME EVERYONE.

DOWNTOWN.

IS THAT ALL, SIR? THAT'S IT.

NEW BUSINESS ALDERMAN PRILL.

NEXT UP IS

[15. New Business.]

UH, ONE ITEM MAYOR.

UM, AT A PREVIOUS MEETING, THE BOARD HAD, UH, APPROVED A MOTION TO, UM, CONTINUE THE DISCUSSION ABOUT THE WARD SIX ALDERMAN, UH, VACANCY APPOINTMENT TO THE FIRST MEETING IN OCTOBER.

UM, I'M GONNA BE AWAY AT THAT MEETING.

SO I WAS, UM, ASKING THE BOARD IF THEY WOULD CONSIDER A, A FURTHER TWO WEEK, UM, DELAY, I GUESS IN, IN CONTINUING THAT, UH, THAT DISCUSSION.

AND I'LL MAKE THAT INTO THE FORM OF A MOTION.

SURE.

IF IT'S NECESSARY.

YEAH, IF YOU'D LIKE TO DO THAT.

WHAT IS YOUR MOTION? SEC.

I SECOND IT.

WE HAVE A MOTION TO SECOND TO DELAY THE ALDERMAN APPOINTMENT TO THE SECOND MEETING IN OCTOBER FOR WARD SIX.

HAVE A MOTION A SECOND.

ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? LET'S HAVE A ROLL CALL ON THIS ONE.

STARTING WITH ALDERMAN BEST? ALDERMAN BEST, YES.

ANYTHING ELSE? UH, NOTHING FURTHER.

I, IIII CAN'T BELIEVE THAT THIS BOARD WOULD DENY THAT IF ONE OF YOU WAS MISSING FROM A BOARD MEETING, THERE WAS DISCUSSIONS GOING ON.

I WOULD LIKE TO COMMENT ON THAT.

SURE.

UM, I WOULD THINK THAT IF I WAS FOR SOME UNKNOWN REASON WAS NOT, UM, PRESENT AT A BOARD MEETING AND IT WAS ASKED OF THIS BOARD TO DELAY A PROCESS OR A, OR DISCUSSION OR VOTE ON SOMETHING THAT THIS BOARD WOULD, UH, HAVE THE DECENCY TO ALLOW THAT IT IS, IT IS EACH BOARD MEMBER'S RIGHT TO BE PRESENT IF THEY CAN HELP AND BE PRESENT AT MEETINGS FOR DISCUSSION.

AND

[00:40:01]

YOU WOULD WANT, I WOULD THINK.

AND IT WAS PERTAINING BASICALLY TO YOUR BOARD OR WHATEVER CITY BUSINESS YOU WOULD WANT TO BE PRESENT.

UM, ALDERMAN ASKED HER NEW BUSINESS.

UH, YES, MAYOR.

I I DON'T REALLY HAVE ANYTHING TONIGHT OTHER THAN I'D LIKE TO JUST REPORT THAT.

UM, TWO 30 THIS MORNING I GOT SOME BEATING ON MY FRONT DOOR AND MY NEIGHBOR, POOR, POOR GUY'S HOUSE WAS ON FIRE.

AND I, HE'S, HE'S A GREAT NEIGHBOR.

UM, HIS WIFE WAS IN THE HOSPITAL WITH SOME HEART CONDITIONS.

PRAISE THE LORD FOR THAT BECAUSE I'M NOT SO SURE IF SHE WOULD'VE BEEN ABLE TO GET OUT OF THE HOUSE.

BUT IF EVERYBODY WOULD JUST PLEASE I, UM, KEEP, UM, CHARLIE WEBB AND CHARLIE AND FRANCIS WEBB IN THEIR THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS.

HE'S LOST EVERYTHING.

UH, BASICALLY LOST EVERYTHING AND I ALSO AT THE SAME TIME WOULD LIKE TO, UM, UM, STANDING OUTSIDE WATCHING SOMEBODY'S HOUSE BURN AND WAIT FOR THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.

SECONDS TAKE MINUTES.

SEEMS TO TURN TO MINUTES AND MINUTES TURNED TO HALF HOURS.

UH, THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS VERY QUICK TO GET ON THE SCENE.

POLICE DEPARTMENT WAS THERE SUPPORTING THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.

THE ELECTRIC DEPARTMENT WAS THERE BECAUSE ALL OF OUR ELECTRIC WENT OUT AND, UH, TOWNSHIP SEVEN WEST NEWBURN FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS THERE SUPPORTING THE NEWBURN FIRE DEPARTMENT.

SO AS WELL AS EMS AND I KNOW I'VE PROBABLY FORGOTTEN SOME PEOPLE, BUT, UM, I JUST WANTED TO SAY JOB WELL DONE TO OUR PUBLIC SAFETY AND OUR ELECTRIC, UM, UTILITIES DEPARTMENT.

THAT'S ALL.

OKAY, THANK YOU ALDERMAN.

KENZIE? NONE AT THIS TIME, SIR.

ALDERMAN BEST.

YOU KNOW, I NEVER THOUGHT I WOULD SIT ON A BOARD ON THIS BOARD AND WITNESS SOME OF THE THINGS THAT ARE BEING SAID ON THIS BOARD.

SOME OF THE THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN DONE ON THIS BOARD AND TO BE A PART OF THIS ORGANIZATION AND HOW WE, SOME OF US ON THIS BOARD HAVE ACTED AND REFERENCE TO DIFFERENT BUSINESS THAT RELATES TO OUR CITIZENS OF THIS CITY.

IT'S JUST DEPLORABLE.

AND THAT'S ALL I HAVE.

AND I HAVE NOTHING TONIGHT.

DO WE NEED TO CLOSE SESSION? NO, SIR.

MY UNDERSTANDING ADJOURNED.

I HAVE A MOTION TO ADJOURN.

DO WE HAVE A SECOND? SECOND.

ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.