[1. Meeting opened by Mayor Odham. Prayer Coordinated by Alderman Best. Pledge of Allegiance.]
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GOOD EVENING EVERYONE, AND WELCOME TO THE OCTOBER 14TH, 2025 NEWBURN BOARD OF ALDERMAN MEETING.THE PRAYER TONIGHT WILL BE COORDINATED BY ALDERMAN BEST.
UM, I USUALLY DELIVER MY PRAYERS, UH, AT BOARD MEETINGS, BUT TONIGHT, UM, I SEE, UM, ELDER MARK BESS OUT IN THE AUDIENCE.
SO WILL YOU PLEASE COME UP AND GIVE US PRAYER? YES, MA'AM.
ALMOND BES, MAYOR ALDERMAN CITY ADMINISTRATION AND STAFF CITIZENS OF NEWBURN AND CRAVEN COUNTY.
HEAVENLY FATHER, WE COME BEFORE YOU IN THE PRECIOUS NAME OF YOUR SON, JESUS, KNOWING THAT HE SHED BLOOD ON CAVALRY'S CROSS FOR US TO HAVE A RIGHT TO THE TREE OF LIFE.
WE ASK FOR THE PRESENCE OF YOUR HOLY SPIRIT TO BE HERE THIS EVENING AS WE COME TOGETHER FOR THE GOOD OF THE CITIZENS OF NEWBURN.
AS THINGS ARE SAID, COMMENTS ARE MADE.
WE ASK THAT NO, NO HATRED AND AMBIGUITY, THAT NOTHING WILL KEEP US FROM STILL BEING YOUR CHILDREN.
THAT WE WILL SHOW LOVE AND COMPASSION TO EACH OTHER, AND EVEN IF WE DISAGREE, THAT WE CAN LEAVE DISAGREEMENT INSIDE AND STILL BE FRIENDS AS YOU ASK US TO BE.
LET US CONTINUE TO STRIVE TO BE BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN CHRIST.
COULD WE ARE ALL YOUR CHILDREN? AND MAY YOU BE MERCIFUL TO US AS WE COME TOGETHER ON BEHALF OF THOSE WHO ARE NOT HERE, AND THE CITIZENS OF NEW BERN WHO ARE IN NEED.
YOU CAME HERE TO SHOW COMPASSION FOR YOUR FELLOW MAN AND TO MEET THE NEEDS OF THE PEOPLE.
SO AS THE CITY PREPARES TO MEET THE NEEDS OF THE CITIZENS OF NEWBURN, MAY YOU BE GRACIOUS AND KIND AND MAY YOUR HOLY SPIRIT GUIDE THE THOUGHTS OF EVERYONE HERE.
BE PRAYING AS THESE THINGS IN YOUR SON JESUS MOST HOLY AND PRECIOUS NAME.
IF YOU'RE ABLE TO STAND, PLEASE DO SO.
THE PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE AND THE FLAG OF OUR COUNTRY.
TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE OVERALL.
MADAM CLERK, IF YOU WOULD PLEASE CALL THE ROLL ALDERMAN CREEL.
[3. Approve Agenda.]
WHAT'S THE PLEASURE OF THE BOARD? ON ITEM NUMBER THREE TO APPROVE THE AGENDA? MAYOR, I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO MOVE ITEM NUMBER 22 TO BE FIRST ON THE AGENDA.I'M ASKING THAT BECAUSE TONIGHT THERE ARE WARD SIX CITIZENS IN THE COURTROOM WHO HAVE WAITED FOR OVER A YEAR TO HAVE THEIR WARD REPRESENTED.
AND I SAY TONIGHT, NOT ONLY DO THEY HAVE A RIGHT TO BE REPRESENTED, BUT THEY DESERVE REPRESENTATION.
UH, THEY HAVE VOICED, UM, BY THEIR VOTE THAT THEY WANT TO BE REPRESENTED BY MR. DANA OUTLAW, AND I WOULD HOPE THAT THIS BOARD WILL UNANIMOUSLY AGREE.
I HAVE A MOTION TO SECOND TO APPROVE THE AGENDA.
ITEM NUMBER 22 TO THE NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA.
IS THERE FURTHER DISCUSSION? UM, IF, IF I COULD JUST FOSTER FOR JUST A QUICK VERIFICATION, UM, YOU HAVE RECEIVED FROM THE BOARD OF ELECTIONS, UM, THE CERTIFICATION OF THE ELECTION.
I RECEIVED THAT THIS AFTERNOON.
AND, AND GIVEN, GIVEN THE MOTION THAT'S ON THE FLOOR, UM, I ASSUME THAT MR. OUTLAW WAS CERTIFIED AS THE WINNER FOR THE WARD SIX ELECTION.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE.
[22. Appointment(s). ]
NOW WE WILL DO APPOINTMENTS.MAYOR ODOMS. I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO APPOINT MR. DANA OUTLAW AS THE ALDERMAN FOR WARD SIX.
LET ME SEE IF I'M SAYING THAT RIGHT, FOR WARD SIX TO FILL THAT VACANCY.
THANK YOU, UH, UNTIL THE NEW BOARD IS SEATED.
IS THERE FURTHER DISCUSSION? UM, DO YOU PREFER A RESO OR A ROLL CALL? LET'S DO ROLL CALL.
LET'S HAVE A ROLL CALL STARTING WITH ALDERMAN PRI.
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MAYOR ODOM? YES.UM, IS MR. OUTLAW HERE? HE'S ON THE LEG.
UM, ARE THERE OTHER APPOINTMENTS, SINCE WE'RE NOW DOING ITEM NUMBER 22, THEY CAN SEE THAT HE SAYS HE'S NOT ON THERE ANYMORE.
UM, I, I HAVE AN APPOINTMENT, UH, TO THE HPC, UM, TO FILL THE SEAT, UH, FOR TRIP.
YOUR, AND I WOULD LIKE TO APPOINT ELENA HUBER.
IS THERE FURTHER DISCUSSION? UH, WE WERE, WE CIRCULATED THE APPLICATION.
WE WERE, I DID NOT GET A CHANCE TO, I GUESS, REVIEW IT.
UM, COULD YOU GIMME A MOMENT JUST TO LOOK AT IT? SURE.
AND, AND MAYOR, WHILE WE'RE WAITING, JUST A QUESTION FOR THE BOARD.
WOULD, IF, IF MR. OUTLAW IS ON HIS WAY, WOULD THE THOUGHT BE TO SWEAR HIM IN LATER IN THE MEETING SO THAT HE WOULD PARTICIPATE IN THE NEXT MEETING? OTHERWISE, I THINK WE'RE GONNA CREATE SOME CONFUSION FOR THE CLERK AS TO WHO WAS HERE TO FORM THE QUORUM AND WHO'S ENTITLED TO VOTE ON SUBSEQUENT ISSUES.
IT MIGHT JUST BE CLEANER, UNLESS YOU NEED THAT INPUT TONIGHT ON SOME PARTICULAR ISSUE.
JUST SOMETHING TO REFLECT ON WHEN THE MOMENT COMES.
AND, AND JUST TO ADD A LITTLE BIT MORE TO WHAT, UM, UH, THE ATTORNEY JUST INDICATED, UM, MR. OUTLAW'S APPOINTMENT IS TO FILL THE UNEXPIRED TERM THAT EXISTS FOR WARD SIX.
UM, AND AT THE FIRST MEETING IN DECEMBER, DECEMBER 9TH, I BELIEVE HE WILL BE SWORN IN AS THE ELECTED REPRESENTATIVE FROM WARD SIX.
WHAT WAS THAT SUGGESTION AGAIN, SIR? WOULD YOU REPEAT THAT? WELL, WHEN WE HAD THE DOWNTIME, UM, THE QUESTION IS GOING TO BE WHEN, WHEN MR. OUTLAW GETS HERE, UM, IS THE EXPECTATION THAT HE WOULD BE SWORN IN THIS EVENING, AND IF SO, WHEN? AND I RAISED THE ISSUE BECAUSE IF HE'S SWORN IN MID MEETING AND IS SEATED, THEN WE'VE GOT A QUESTION THAT HE WAS NOT HERE AT THE COMMENCEMENT OF THE MEETING, WHICH IS WHEN THE ROLE IS CALLED AND WE ESTABLISH OUR QUORUM.
UM, I DON'T KNOW IF WE HAVE ANY, ANY, ANY MATTERS THAT ARE GONNA CREATE ANY VOTING QUESTIONS THEREAFTER, BUT I JUST DON'T WANT OUR RECORD TO BE CONFUSING IF WE HAVE A CLOSED VOTE AND THAT PECULIAR PROCEDURE CREATES A QUESTION LATER.
SO DOES THE CLERK HAVE THE, UM, PAPERWORK FOR HIM TO BE SWORN IN? I DO.
I SAY SWEAR HIM IN WHEN HE GETS HERE.
NO DIFFERENT THAN IF SOMEBODY CAME IN LATE.
WHAT IS YOUR RECOMMENDATION? YES, MA'AM.
I JUST WANT THE BOARD TO THINK THAT THROUGH E EITHER WAY IS FINE WITH ME.
I JUST WANTED TO, TO RAISE THAT ISSUE OF WHEN MR. OUTLAW WAS SWORN IN.
AND ARE YOU SUGGESTING THEN THAT IF HE IS, I'M JUST ASKING IF HE IS SWORN IN, THEN HE CAN BE SEATED.
THAT, THAT WAS THE ISSUE I WAS RAISING.
I WAS ASKING WHAT IS YOUR EXPECTATION? MM-HMM
WOULD HE BE SWORN IN AND SERVED TONIGHT OR SWORN IN AND, AND FIRST BE SEATED AT THE NEXT MEETING? BUT IF HE'S ON HIS WAY, HE CAN BE SWORN IN.
IF THAT WAS THE BOARD'S EXPECTATION, I ASSUME SINCE WE MOVE THE ITEM UP, THAT THAT WAS THE DESIRE TO DO IT WHENEVER HE ARRIVES.
BUT MY THOUGHT THAT IT WAS, THAT IT WAS GOING TO BE HERE.
WHEN THE MEETING STARTED, THAT WAS MY EXPECTATION.
I, I THINK HE WAS ASSUMING THAT IT WAS GOING TO TAKE PLACE UNDER, IF IT TOOK PLACE, IT WAS GONNA TAKE PLACE UNDER APPOINTMENTS, WHICH IS AT THE BOTTOM OF THE AGENDA.
SO HE WAS GONNA, WELL, IF HE SHOWS IT WAS EVERYONE'S EXPECTATION THAT HE WOULD BE SEATED.
SO WE HAVE A MOTION TO SECOND ON THE TABLE TO APPOINT ELENA HUBER TO THE OPEN HPC POSITION THAT THE MAYOR HAS A VACANT RIGHT NOW.
IS THERE ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? DID WE, WAS I AT THE POINT OF VOTING? WE HAVEN'T VOTED YET.
UH, ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
ARE THERE ANY OTHER APPOINTMENTS? YES.
UM, I WOULD LIKE TO, SINCE I SAW, UH, THE GENTLEMAN WHO'S HERE TONIGHT, UM, APPOINT TO THE PLANNING AND ZONING BOARD,
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MR. MIKE DUFFY.AND HE IS HERE TONIGHT AND HE HAS, UM, SENT IN HIS APPLICATION AND EVERYTHING TO CITY CLERK.
AM I CORRECT? CITY CLERK? THAT'S CORRECT.
IS THERE FURTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE.
[4. Request and Petition of Citizens.]
FOUR, REQUEST AND PETITION OF CITIZENS.UM, FIRST UP IS LORETTA ARMAND.
MY QUESTIONS? OKAY, THANK YOU.
I AM DAVID FRENCH AT 1 0 4 JOHNSON STREET.
IT IS OVER SEVEN VERY LONG YEARS SINCE HURRICANE FLORENCE CENTER, OR BELOVED NEWBURN AND ENC MYSELF, AS WELL AS THOUSANDS OF OTHER ENC FOLKS ARE STILL NOT BACK HOME.
DUE TO THE FAILURE OF REBUILD NC UNDER ROY COOPER AND JOSH STEIN.
IN LATE 2020 BEFORE COUSIN MARYANN AND I ENTERED THE INCOR REBUILD NC HUD STATE OF NEWBORN PROGRAM, WHICH WAS FUNDED WITH ALMOST 1 BILLION IN FEDERAL TAX PAYER HUD DOLLARS.
WE CALLED AND ASKED IF, IF HOMES IN THE HISTORIC DISTRICT, UH, WERE OKAY FOR THE PROGRAM.
THEY SAID YES AND THAT THEY REBUILD NC MUST ADHERE TO ALL LOCAL, STATE AND FEDERAL GUIDELINES SINCE THAT TIME, THROUGH THE YEARS OF A VARIETY OF REBUILD ONSITE HOME INSPECTIONS, THE PRE-CONSTRUCTION WALKTHROUGH, NEW BRUN, HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION DESIGN REVIEWS, AND NUMEROUS TELEPHONE CALLS AND EMAILS.
THIS HAS BEEN REITERATED TO THEM NUMEROUS TIMES.
ON AUGUST 21ST, 2024, THE OFFICIAL NEW BRUN HPC HEARING WAS HELD IN THIS VERY CHAMBER.
THE NEW BRUN, H-C-H-P-C VOTED DOWN THE HOUSE DESIGN AS EXPECTED, BECAUSE THE CONTRACTOR AND INCO REBUILD NC HUD DID NOT ADHERE TO THE GUIDELINES.
WITH REGARD TO OUR HOME, THE CONTRACTOR SAID THAT HE WOULD BE BACK IN TOUCH WITH THE CITY OF NEW BERN ABOUT HOW TO MOVE FORWARD.
ON NOVEMBER FIVE AND SIX LUCIANO'S ARTICLE IN THE NEWS AND OBSERVER ABOUT OUR HORRIBLE EXPERIENCE WITH RENT ENCORE REBUILD, NC HUD WAS PUBLISHED ON ONLINE AND IN PRINT, WHICH LED TO REBUILD NC BEING EXPOSED, TRYING TO HIDE AN ALMOST QUARTER OF A BILLION DOLLAR DEFICIT.
THIS ONLY HAPPENED BECAUSE I SPOKE OUT AGAINST REBUILD NC ON NOVEMBER 7TH, 2024.
THE NORTH CAROLINA HURRICANE RECOVERY COMMITTEE REQUESTED REBUILD NC LEADER HOGSHEAD AND GIBSON TO APPEAR BEFORE THEM ON NOVEMBER 18TH.
ON NOVEMBER 8TH, 2024, SOMEONE AT ENCO REBUILD NC HUD WROTE A LETTER TRYING TO ILLEGALLY AND FRAUDULENTLY KICK ME OUT OF THE PROGRAM, WHICH I DID NOT RECEIVE UNTIL NOVEMBER 21ST, 2024.
THIS WAS SENT AS RETRIBUTION AND IN RETALIATION AGAINST ME FOR GOING TO MY ELECTED OFFICIALS AND GIVING THE INTERVIEW WITH LUCIANA.
ON NOVEMBER 18TH, HOGSHEAD AND GIBSON APPEARED BEFORE THE HURRICANE COMMITTEE.
SHE WAS ASKED TO RESIGN AND SHE REFUSED YET AGAIN.
ON NOVEMBER 20TH, HOGSHEAD WAS NO LONGER IN CHARGE OF, UH, ENCORE REBUILD NC HUD.
ON NOVEMBER 21ST, I RECEIVED THE NOVEMBER 8TH, 2024 LETTER BY EMAIL FROM MY REBUILD, NC CASE MANAGER, LANGSTON REBUILD NC SAID THAT THE NEW RUN HPC WRITTEN DECISION LETTER DATED SEPTEMBER 18TH, 2024 DOES NOT OFFER A PATH FORWARD FOR THE RECONSTRUCTION PROJECT'S APPROVAL.
IT IS NOT THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE NEWBURN HPC TO OFFER A PATH FORWARD.
HOWEVER, IN THE OFFICIAL VIDEOTAPE, NEWBURN, HPC HEARING, THEY DID INDEED OFFER SEVERAL PATHS FORWARD SO THAT THE NEW HOME COULD MEET THE GUIDELINES, REBUILD NC CHOSE NOT TO FOLLOW THEM IN VIOLATION OF LOCAL, STATE, AND FEDERAL GUIDELINES.
ON NOVEMBER 22ND, 2024, AND OVER THE NEXT FEW DAYS AND WEEKS, I RESPONDED TO LANGSTON'S EMAIL COPYING INQUIRY REBUILD NC HUDS, HOGSHEAD ARLAN, AND OTHER PEOPLE ASKING SIMPLE QUESTIONS ABOUT THE LEVER, THE LETTER THEY NEVER ANSWERED MY QUESTIONS ON FEBRUARY 19TH, 2025, REBUILD NC ILLEGALLY AND FRAUDULENTLY KICKED ME OUTTA THE PROGRAM SAYING MY PROJECT IS NOT ELIGIBLE.
BASED ON PROGRAM PARAMETERS NEVER EXPLAINED WHAT THOSE PARAMETERS WERE.
THEY STATED THAT RECONSTRUCTION SPECIFICATIONS REQUIRED OF THE NEWBURG HISTORIC DISTRICT EXCEED THE COST LIMITS.
THIS IS UNTRUE BECAUSE THEY HAVE SPENT AS MUCH AS 700 K FOR AT LEAST ONE REBUILD HOME.
AND MY HOME PROJECT WAS WAY LESS THAN THAT.
AT THIS POINT, THEY ILLEGALLY AND FRAUDULENTLY STOPPED ALL STORAGE AND STIPEND PAYMENTS, WHICH THEY WERE OBLIGATED TO PAY.
UH, UNTIL I'M BACK IN MY HOME, I WOULD'VE NEVER NEEDED 1 CENT.
THIS HAD THEY DONE THEIR JOB YEARS AGO, I APPEALED AND THEY HAVE NEVER RESPONDED, WHICH THEY'RE LEGALLY OR REQUIRED TO DO.
INCORE REBUILD NC HUT THROUGH THE CITY OF NEW BERN AND THE NEW BERN, HPC UNDER THE BUS, AND LIED ABOUT THE REASON
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MY PROJECT WAS NOT APPROVED.IF THIS IS ALLOWED TO STAND, IT CAN SET A DEVASTATING PRECEDENT AND FUTURE DISASTER RECOVERY EFFORTS.
IF THE STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA IS NOT GOING TO REPAIR HOMES IN HISTORIC DISTRICTS, IT MUST BE ADDRESSED NOW.
SO IT IT IS INDEED UNDER THE PURVIEW OF THE CITY OF NEW BERN.
LISTEN, I'M ABOUT TO LOSE MY UNINHABITABLE FLOODED HOME.
MY TEMPORARY APARTMENT AND MY STORAGE DUE TO THE FAILURE OF REBUILD AND SEA AND MY NORTH CAROLINA I'D ELECTED OFFICIALS TO ACT RESPONSIBLY AND PROPERLY.
THE HURRICANE, FLORENCES FLOOD SURVIVORS OF CRAVEN COUNTY HAVE BEEN DEFRAUDED BY THE STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA UNDER COOPER STEIN INCO REBUILDING C HUD AND THEIR BUREAUCRATIC COHORTS.
WE NEED THE CITY OF NEW BERN AND CRAVEN COUNTY TO BAN TOGETHER TO REPRESENT THE INTEREST.
SIR, ALL THE COURT DOCUMENTS, SIR, YOU KNOW WHAT? IT'S A GOOD COUSIN PATRICK HENRY.
THE PATRIOT WAS NOT ON A FOUR TIME, OR ARE WE STILL BE LISTED? WE WOULD STILL BE BOW TO THE KING OF ENGLAND.
THIS MEETING IS NOT BEING ENTERED ON TV THREE.
SHANE, UM, MR. MANAGER, UM, ALDERMAN BEST SAID SHE GOT A MESSAGE THAT THIS MEETING IS NOT ON C DT V THREE RIGHT NOW.
WE'LL HAVE THE, WE'LL HAVE STAFF CHECK IT OUT.
SHE SAYS PLAN ON A WEBSITE, SO, OKAY.
HER WEBSITE, BUT SHE'S CHECKING.
UH, NEXT STEP IS REVEREND ETHEL SAMPSON.
THIS HAS BEEN IN MY POSSESSION FOR SIX, TWO YEARS.
I WILL REMIND YOU OF THE FLAG.
SOME PEOPLE CALLED ME OLD GLORY.
OTHERS CALLED ME STAR SPAN BANNER.
BUT WHATEVER YOU CALL ME, I AM YOUR FLAG.
THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
SOMETHING HAS BEEN BOTHERING ME.
SO I THOUGHT I MIGHT TALK IT OVER WITH YOU BECAUSE IT'S ABOUT YOU AND ME.
I REMEMBER SOME TIME AGO, PEOPLE LINED UP ON BOTH SIDES OF THE STREET TO WATCH THE PARADE.
AND NATURALLY, I WAS THE EVERY PARADE PROUDLY WANDERING IN THE BREEZE.
WHEN YOUR DAD SAW ME COMING, HE IMMEDIATELY REMOVED HIS HAT AND FACED IT AGAINST HIS LEFT SHOULDER.
SO HIS HAND WAS DIRECTLY OVER HIS HEART.
REMEMBER? AND YOU, I REMEMBER YOU STANDING THERE STRAIGHT AS A SOLDIER.
YOU DIDN'T HAVE A HAT, BUT YOU WERE, YOU WERE GIVEN THIS RIGHT SALUTE.
REMEMBER LITTLE SISTER NOT TO BE OVERDONE.
SHE WAS SALUTING THE SAME AS YOU WITH HER RIGHT HAND OVER HER HEART.
REMEMBER WHAT HAPPENED? I'M STILL THE SAME OLD FLAG.
AND SINCE YOU WERE A BOY, I, A LOT MORE BLOOD HAS BEEN SHED SINCE THESE WERE RAISED OF LONG AGO.
BUT NOW I DON'T FEEL THIS PROUD AS I USED TO.
WHEN I COME DOWN THE STREET, YOU GONNA STAND THERE WITH YOUR HANDS IN YOUR POCKETS AND I MAY GET THESE FOUR LORD STIFF PLANTS AND YOU MIGHT LOOK AWAY.
YOU, I SEE THE CHILDREN RUNNING AROUND SHOUTING.
THEY DON'T SEEM TO KNOW WHO I AM.
I SAW ONE MAN TAKE HIS HEAD OFF AND LOOKED AROUND.
HE DIDN'T SEE ANYBODY ELSE WITH DEATH OFF.
IT'S A SIN TO BE PATRIOT ANYMORE.
HAVE YOU FORGOTTEN WHAT I STAND FOR? OR TAKE A CLOSER LOOK AT THE MEMORIAL HONOR, THE MEMORIAL HONOR ROLL SOMETIMES OF THOSE WHO NEVER CAME BACK TO KEEP THE REPUBLIC ONE NATIONAL UNDER GOD.
CAN YOU SALUTE ME? YOU ARE ACTUALLY SLUTTING THEM.
WELL, YOU BELONG UNTIL I YOU COMING DOWN YOUR STREET AGAIN.
SO WHEN YOU SEE ME STAND STRAIGHT, PET YOUR RIGHT HAND OVER YOUR HEART, AND I'LL SALUTE YOU BY WAVING BACK AND I KNOW THAT YOU REMEMBER.
UM, THANK YOU ALSO, UH, FOR FILLING THE VACANCY IN WARD SIX.
NOW I CAN GO BACK TO SIGNING MY EMAILS, NEW BERN, NORTH CAROLINA WHERE EVERYONE COMES TOGETHER.
AND, UM, PROUD OF MY NEW HOME TOWN ON MY FACEBOOK PASS.
AND AS FAR AS THE APPOINTMENT, APPRECIATE THAT TOO.
UM, YOU'RE PROBABLY BETTER OFF WITH ME INSIDE THE TENT THAN OUTSIDE THE TENT.
UH, NEXT IS NADINE BUCHANAN, YOU ALREADY ANSWERED NO QUESTION.
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GOOD EVENING.LIKE MANY CITIZENS IN NEW BERN, I'M GLAD AND GRATEFUL THAT WARD SIX WILL FINALLY HAVE REPRESENTATION IN CITY GOVERNMENT.
UH, IT IS, UM, IT'S TRULY UNFORTUNATE AND CONCERNING TO ME THAT OUR NEIGHBORS IN WARD SIX, MY NEIGHBORS IN WARD SIX, WE'VE GONE 14 AND A HALF MONTHS, 440 SOMETHING DAYS WITHOUT REPRESENTATION.
I WENT BACK LAST WEEK AND WATCHED ONE OF THE VIDEOS, AND I WATCHED THE GUIDANCE THAT OUR CITY ATTORNEY GAVE, I THINK IT WAS LAST AUGUST, THE MIDDLE OF AUGUST.
AND, UH, THE ADVICE THAT HE GAVE WAS THAT THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN TAKEN CARE OF IN TWO MONTHS.
AND I JUST WANT TO SAY, YOU KNOW, MOVING FORWARD THAT I BELIEVE THAT DELAYING THE RESOLUTION OF IMPORTANT PROBLEMS BECAUSE OF PERSONAL PREFERENCES IS NOT A GOOD WAY TO LEAD.
IT IS VITAL THAT WE HAVE CITY LEADERS WHO WORK DILIGENTLY TO FIND COMPROMISE AND WORK FOR CONSENSUS IN THE FACE OF IMPORTANT PROBLEMS. THANK YOU.
GOOD EVENING, MAYOR ODOM ALDERMAN, EVERYONE IN THE BUILDING, ALL THE STAFF.
UH, I CAME UP TONIGHT TO ACTUALLY HAVE A COMMENT ABOUT THE WARD SIX VACANCY, BUT I AM DEFINITELY HAPPY TO SEE THAT IT'S GOTTEN TAKEN CARE OF TONIGHT.
BUT I DO WANT TO SAY THIS, MOVING INTO THE FUTURE, WE HAVE TO REMEMBER SOMETHING.
EVERYONE UP THERE TOOK AN OATH TO THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION, AND AT THE BEGINNING OF THAT CONSTITUTION IS A LITTLE SOMETHING CALLED THE PREAMBLE.
AND THIS GOES SOMETHING LIKE THIS.
WE, THE PEOPLE OF THE UNITED STATES, IN ORDER TO FORM THE MORE PERFECT UNION, IT DOES NOT SAY WE, THE ALDERMAN OF THE UNITED STATES, IN ORDER TO FORM A MORE PERFECT UNION.
THE PEOPLE HAVE SPOKEN, THEY VOTED IN THE MAN THAT THEY WANTED, BUT THE PEOPLE SPOKE OVER A YEAR AGO TO THE SAME PERSON THAT WAS SITTING IN THAT SEAT.
MAYOR ODOM TOOK A LOT OF FLACK IN THIS CITY SAYING THAT HIS TIED VOTE MESSED UP THE WORKS.
NO, THE WORKS GOT MESSED UP FROM THE ALDERMAN THAT DECIDED THEY WANTED SOMEBODY ELSE TO BE IN THAT SEAT INSTEAD OF LISTENING TO THE PEOPLE OF WARD SIX.
BECAUSE IT'S, WE THE PEOPLE, IN ORDER TO FORM A MORE PERFECT UNION, I HAVE TO TRUST EACH ONE OF YOU, NO MATTER WHICH ONE OF YOU IS THE ALDERMAN OF MY WARD.
BUT I HAVE TO TRUST EACH ONE OF YOU TO HELP TAKE CARE OF MY CITY.
AND I EXPECT WHEN THE PEOPLE CRY OUT AND THE MAJORITY OF THE PEOPLE REQUEST A PARTICULAR THING, THAT YOU'LL FOLLOW SUIT.
BECAUSE WE ARE YOUR SUPERVISORS.
WE EMPLOY YOU TO TAKE THAT SEAT.
AND THAT'S WHAT WE NEED TO REMEMBER.
WE, THE PEOPLE OF THE UNITED STATES, MAYOR ODOM, AGAIN, TOOK A LOT OF HIT FOR SOMETHING HE DID.
HE ACTUALLY WENT WITH WE THE PEOPLE, AND SOMEBODY UP THERE DECIDED NOT TO.
THE FUNNY THING IS THAT EVERYBODY THAT WAS GETTING PUT UP TO TRY TO TAKE THE SEAT DIDN'T FILE FOR THE CAMPAIGN, FOR THE ELECTION, FOR THE SEAT.
NOW THAT'S PRETTY STRANGE, ISN'T IT? THANK YOU.
CAN I HAVE A COMMENT, NEIL? SURE.
UM, MR. KING, YOU KNOW THAT I'M YOUR ALDERMAN.
AND I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, YOU NEED TO HAVE YOUR FACTS STRAIGHT AND DELIVER ALL THE FACTS IN REFERENCE TO THE WARD SIX VACANCY.
AND YOU DO NOT HAVE ALL THE FACTS.
AND I'M GONNA JUST SAY THIS, AND THEN I'M NOT GONNA SAY ANYMORE ABOUT, I GAVE YOU THE FACTS THAT I HAD.
I'M NOT GONNA SAY ANYMORE AFTER I MAKE THIS STATEMENT.
WHEN WE COULD HAVE HAD THIS SEAT THAT'S WARD SIX SEAT FILLED.
TWO MONTHS AFTER BOB BRISON LEFT, ALDERMAN PRI REQUESTED THAT WE SEND A FLYER OUT TO ALL THE RESIDENTS OF WARD.
SIX THREE MEMBERS OF THIS BOARD VOTED NO TO THAT FLY, TO THAT, UM, NOTIFICATION TO BE MAILED TO THE WARD.
THREE ALDERMAN VOTED YES, IT WOULD ONLY COST THE TAXPAYER $900 TO GET THAT INFORMATION OUT TO THE WARD.
THIS PROBLEM WOULD'VE BEEN RESOLVED AT THAT TIME.
[00:25:01]
SURE, GO RIGHT AHEAD.HONOR RO MS. HELEN ROBINSON, WOULD YOU COME BACK TO THE PODIUM PLEASE? IF WE'RE GOING TO CALL SOMEBODY BACK UP, WE NEED TO MAKE A MOTION TO SUSPEND THE RULES AND PROCEDURES.
IF THE BOARD WANTS TO DELIBERATE, THAT'S ONE THING.
WE HAVE A MOTION, A SECOND TO SUSPEND THE RULES.
IS THERE FURTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE? UH, LET'S HAVE A ROLL CALL STARTING WITH ALDERMAN ROYAL.
ALDERMAN ROYAL, DO YOU HAVE COMMENTS YOU'D LIKE TO MAKE? YES, SIR.
IF I RECALL ADEQUATELY, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE VOICE OF THE PEOPLE OF WARD SIX, WE RECEIVED AS ALDERMAN ALMOST A 200, UH, SIGNED PETITION FROM RESIDENTS OF WARD SIX, IF I'M REMEMBERING CORRECTLY.
AND SO AGAIN, THAT HAS TO BE FACTORED IN.
IF WE ARE SAYING THAT WHAT THE RESIDENTS OF WARD SIX WANTED, THEY WERE DIVIDED IN THEIR CHOICE FOR WHO WOULD REPRESENT THEM.
AND SO WE, I BELIEVE THIS BOARD REPRESENTED WELL, I DO, BECAUSE EACH ONE OF US AS ALDERMAN HAVE A RIGHT TO LISTEN TO THE VOICE OF WAR SIX CITIZENS, OR THE VOICE OF ALL OF OUR CITIZENS, NO MATTER WHAT THE WARD IS.
AND THERE WAS A DIVISION THERE.
THERE WAS NOT A PER SE MAJORITY WHO WANTED ONE PARTICULAR PERSON TO REPRESENT THE WARD.
IT THEY WERE DIVIDED IN THEIR DECISION.
SO WE HAVE ON RECORD THIS PETITION FROM CITIZENS WHO DID NOT, WHO CHOSE A DIFFERENT PATH FOR REPRESENTATION.
AND I JUST WANTED TO MAKE THAT STATEMENT ALSO.
[Consent Agenda]
UP IS THE CONSENT AGENDA.WHAT'S THE PLEASURE OF THE BOARD ON ITEMS FIVE THROUGH 14? MAKE MOTION.
WE GO AHEAD, UH, MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA.
SECOND, WE HAVE A MOTION TO SECOND.
IS THERE FURTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE? LET'S HAVE A ROLL CALL STARTING WITH ALDERMAN ASTOR.
[15. Presentation by Wreaths Across America. ]
NUMBER 15, PRESENTATION BY REHA CROSS AMERICA.I BELIEVE MR. KEVIN YATES IS GONNA COME MAKE HIS ANNUAL PRESENTATION.
UH, AS, UH, YOU ARE VERY AWARE, UH, MY NAME'S KEVIN YATES.
I AM THE VOLUNTEER WREATHS ACROSS AMERICA LOCATION COORDINATOR AT THE NEWBURGH NATIONAL CEMETERY.
AND AGAIN, ON, UH, DECEMBER 13TH OF THIS YEAR, WE WILL BE HOSTING THE NATIONAL RACE CROSS AMERICA DAY AT, UH, THE N NATIONAL CEMETERY AT CEDAR GROVE AT EVERGREEN AND GREENWOOD CEMETERIES.
THOSE FESTIVITIES WILL KICK OFF AT 12 O'CLOCK.
UH, THIS YEAR WE'LL HAVE OVER 4,000 CEMETERIES, UH, PARTICIPATING ACROSS THE ENTIRE, UH, COUNTRY.
AND LIKE I MENTIONED, WE NOW HAVE FOUR HERE IN THE CITY OF NEW BERN THAT WILL BE PARTICIPATING TO RECOGNIZE, UH, THE MANY VETERANS THAT ARE INTERRED HERE IN THE CITY.
THIS IS OUR 16TH YEAR TO PARTICIPATE.
UH, WE HAVE 6,775 HEADSTONES AT THE NATIONAL CEMETERY.
IT WAS BUILT IN, UH, FEBRUARY 1ST, 1867.
WE HAVE OVER A THOUSAND UNKNOWNS THAT ARE BURIED THERE IN SEVERAL MASS GRAVES.
UH, AS YOU KNOW, THE, UH, CEMETERY WAS CREATED ON THE BIV W SITE OF THE MASSACHUSETTS ARMY FOLLOWING THE BATTLE OF NEW BERN.
AND, UH, MANY OF THE SOLDIERS THAT ARE ENTERED THERE WERE LOCATED AFTER THE WAR AND THE CEMETERY WAS CREATED.
EVERY WREATH HAS TO BE SPONSORED.
UH, THERE'S $17 THAT DELIVERS A, A LIVE BALAM WREATH TO NEW BERN.
UM, THE CHALLENGES THAT WE FACE AS A PROGRAM IS THE AGE OF THE CEMETERY.
OBVIOUSLY, UH, MANY OF OUR MILITARY MEMBERS ARE STATIONED AT CHERRY POINT, CAMP LEJEUNE AND, UM, SEYMOUR JOHNSON.
AND THEN AFTER THEIR MILITARY TIME, UH, THEY SOME STAY, SOME
[00:30:01]
LEAVE.UH, THE MANY TRANSPLANTS THAT WE HAVE THAT, UH, DECIDE THAT NEW BERN IS A GREAT PLACE TO LIVE, LIKE MYSELF, UH, MY WIFE AND I, MY CHILDREN HAVE BEEN HERE FOR 20 YEARS BECAUSE NEW BERN IS SUCH A GREAT PLACE TO LIVE.
UH, OUR OTHER ONE IS THE UNKNOWNS THAT I PREVIOUSLY MENTIONED.
WE HAVE OVER A THOUSAND, UH, SOLDIERS THAT ARE BURIED THERE THAT, UH, DO NOT HAVE SOMEONE TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY RECEIVE A WREATH EACH YEAR.
AND THEN, UH, IN ADDITIONAL, UH, WITH THE CANCELLATION OF MUM FEST THIS YEAR, YOU KNOW, THAT'S, UH, NOT JUST FOR MANY OF THE SMALL BUSINESSES LOCALLY, BUT ALSO MANY OF OUR NATIONAL OR OUR NON-PROFITS.
MUM IS A HUGE FUNDRAISER FOR US.
AND SO IT JUST ADDS ANOTHER CHALLENGE THAT WE'LL BE FACING THIS YEAR.
UH, FOR THOSE THAT HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO COME AND, UM, ATTEND THE FESTIVITIES, IT'S, IT'S A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO COME OUT.
WE GET FOLKS FROM ALL SORTS OF BACKGROUNDS THAT COME OUT AND, UM, HONOR OUR VETERANS THAT ARE ENTERED THERE.
LIKE I MENTIONED, UH, OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS, UH, MAYOR ODOM MADE A CHALLENGE TO REPRESENT AND, UH, HONOR EVERY VETERAN IN THE CITY OF NEW BERN WITH A WREATH.
AND WE'VE ADDED, UH, THREE MORE CEMETERIES TO THAT.
LIKE I SAID, UH, CEDAR GROVE, EVERGREEN AND GREENWOOD ARE NOW PARTICIPATING IN THE PROGRAM, BUT THERE'S SO MUCH MORE TO IT THAN JUST WREATH.
UH, I GET ASKED THAT ALL THE TIME.
YOU KNOW, WHAT'S THE BIG DEAL ABOUT PUTTING A WREATH OUT ON A HEADSTONE? IT'S SO MUCH MORE THAN THAT.
UH, OUR, UM, MOTTO IS, REMEMBER, HONOR AND TEACH.
AND A BIG PART OF THAT IS TEACHING THE NEXT GENERATION.
UH, WE ALSO ADDED A WREATH ESCORT IN 2017.
AND, UH, WE HAVE A LAW ENFORCEMENT, THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND LOCAL MOTORCYCLE RIDERS GO OUT AND MEET THE TRUCKS THAT ARE COMING IN TO NEW BERN TO DELIVER THOSE WREATHS.
UM, I TOLD THE STORY, UH, RECENTLY ABOUT IN 2017, COCA-COLA DELIVERED THE WREATHS TO NEW BERN.
AND EVERY YEAR SINCE PEPSI HAS DELIVERED THE REESE, THEY DONATE THE TRUCK, THEY DONATE THE DRIVERS, THEY GO GET THE REESE AND DELIVER THEM TO NEW BERN.
UH, THE FIRE DEPARTMENT SETS UP THE FLAG OVER, UH, BROAD STREET, AND WE BRING THE REESE DOWN TO RECEIVE THE PROPER, UH, RECOGNITION AS THEY'RE COMING INTO TOWN.
WE INVITE FOLKS TO COME OUT AND, UH, STAND ALONG BROAD STREET.
WE GET A LOT OF FOLKS THAT STAND OUT IN A LONG, LONG DAIRY QUEEN, AND THEY'RE AT BROAD AND, UM, UM, ALONG THE WHOLE DRIVE THERE AS THEY'RE COMING DOWN.
AND THEN, UM, AT LOCAL BUSINESSES ALONG THE WAY.
UH, TWO YEARS AGO, OR OR 2024 ACTUALLY, WE ACTUALLY HOSTED THE, UH, REESE ACROSS AMERICA MOBILE EDUCATION EXHIBIT.
IT'S A TRAVELING, UM, EXHIBIT THAT GOES ALL OVER THE COUNTRY TO EDUCATE FOLKS ABOUT THE PROGRAM.
AND WE HOSTED THAT AT LAWSON CREEK PARK.
AND, UH, THIS IS A FEW PICTURES OF IT BEING, OF COMING IN.
IT WAS A SEMI TRACTOR TRAILER TRUCK THAT WAS BROUGHT INTO TOWN SET UP, AND IT, IT WAS HOSTED FOR, UH, THREE OR FOUR DAYS AT LAWSON CREEK.
UH, THE CEREMONY AGAIN, UH, LAST YEAR, UH, WE HOSTED OVER A THOUSAND PEOPLE THAT COME OUT AND HELP US, UH, PLACE WREATHS ON ALL THE HEADSTONES THERE AT THE NATIONAL CEMETERY.
AND THEN FOLLOWING, WE, UH, HEADED OVER TO CEDAR GROVE AND, AND EVERGREEN AND GREENWOOD.
WE HAD ALL TYPES OF FOLKS THAT COME OUT, ACTIVE DUTY, MILITARY, MANY VETERANS.
EVEN DURING COVID, WE STILL WENT OUT AND, UH, HONORED OUR VETERANS AGAIN, MORE PICTURES.
AND IT'S INCREDIBLE HOW A, UH, A WREATH AND A BOW PLACED OUT THERE.
IT REALLY, UH, ADDS JUST AN INCREDIBLE, UH, POP OF COLOR AND, UH, A FEELING OF, UH, SENSE OF PRIDE TO MANY FAMILIES THAT HAVE THEIR LOVED ONES ENTERED THERE.
AND THEN WE HAVE TO RETIRE THE WREATHS.
SO IN JANUARY, UH, WE HAVE VOLUNTEERS AGAIN COME OUT AND WE CLEAN UP AND RETIRE THE REESE AND RETURN THE CEMETERY BACK.
LIKE WE WERE NEVER EVEN THERE.
AND SO, UM, AS SOON AS THE REESE ARE RETIRED AND REMOVED, THEN UM, THE CEMETERY AGAIN IS, IS RESET.
AND WE START ALL OVER AGAIN AND START OUR FUNDRAISING EFFORTS TO PLACE REESE AGAIN FOR THE FOLLOWING YEAR.
AGAIN, THIS IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY.
FAMILIES, YOUTH GROUPS, WE HAVE ALL TYPES OF, UM, ORGANIZATIONS, SCOUTS, YOUNG MARINES, UH, CHURCH ACTIVITY GROUPS THAT COME OUT AND PARTICIPATE IN THE PROGRAM.
UH, WE HAVE, UH, STUDENTS THAT ARE IN THE NATIONAL HONOR SOCIETY AND AVID PROGRAMS THAT NEED VOLUNTEER HOURS AND THEY COME OUT AND, UH, WE HELP 'EM WITH THAT AS WELL.
SO, WHY AM I HERE TONIGHT, AGAIN, IS TO BRING AWARENESS ON DECEMBER 11TH, WE'LL BE ESCORTING THE REESE INTO TOWN.
AND, UH, WE WOULD LIKE OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT AND FIRE DEPARTMENT TO BE AWARE OF THAT.
AND THEN, UM, OBVIOUSLY IN 1867, PARKING WAS NOT A BIG CONCERN.
AND SO AT THE CEMETERY WE HAVE VERY LITTLE PARKING.
AND WHEN WE HAVE A THOUSAND VOLUNTEERS
[00:35:01]
THAT COME OUT TO HELP US, IT BECOMES A PROBLEM WITH WHERE WE'RE GOING TO, UH, PARK ALL THOSE, UH, CARS.SO, UH, FOR THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS WE'VE BEEN PARKING AT WHAT USED TO BE ROOS CHAPEL AT SIMMONS STREET AND OAKS.
AND, UM, THEN WE NEED BUSES TO HELP US TRANSPORT THE VOLUNTEERS FROM, UM, ROOS CHAPEL DOWN TO THE CEMETERY AND BACK.
AND THEN ALSO, UH, WE NEED DUMPSTERS TO HELP US WHEN WE, WHEN IT COMES TIME TO REMOVE THE WREATH.
UM, SO AGAIN, IF YOU HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO COME OUT AND PARTICIPATE, I WOULD INVITE EACH, YOU, UM, EVERYONE TO COME OUT AND PARTICIPATE.
IT'LL BE SATURDAY, DECEMBER 13TH AT, UM, 12 O'CLOCK NOON.
THAT SHOULD SAY 2025, NOT 2024, BUT THE DATE IS CORRECT.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.
MR. HUGHES, DO YOU NEED ANY DIRECTION FROM THE BOARD ON THE REQUEST IF YOU'D LIKE TO GIVE DIRECTION? UH, AGAIN, UH, AS, AS HE HAS SAID, WE HAVE, WE HAVE PARTICIPATED WITH THIS PROGRAM FOR MANY YEARS AND HAVE TO CONTINUE DOING THAT IF THE BOARD SO CHOOSES BOARD LIKE DIRECTION ON THE REQUEST THAT WAS MADE.
IS THERE FURTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE.
HOW MUCH MONEY DO YOU TYPICALLY RAISE AT MUM FEST? AND WHAT IS THAT? IS THAT MONEY FOR THE REEFS? CORRECT.
SO IN, IN YEARS PAST, IT'S BEEN ABOUT SIX OR $700 THAT WE TYPICALLY WOULD RAISE AT MUM FEST.
AND THAT'S, WE USUALLY PUT A BUCKET OUT AND WE JUST ASK FOR FOLKS THAT ARE WALKING BY TO MAKE DONATIONS.
AND IS THAT FOR REEFS THAT WERE PLACED LOCALLY, CORRECT? ABSOLUTELY.
AND ALL THAT MONEY, WHICH, WHICH, SO IS THAT GOING TO, IS ARE YOU GONNA HAVE ENOUGH MONEY TO BUY ENOUGH REEFS THIS YEAR TO OH, WE HOPE SO.
WE'VE COVERED THE CEMETERY THREE YEARS OUT OF THE 16TH.
SO IT'S VERY HUMBLE BEGINNINGS IN THE, IN THE EARLY ONS, WE WOULD PLACE A FEW DOZEN WREATHS.
AND THEN OVER THE YEARS, UH, WE'VE PLACED IT, SO 2018, THE YEAR OF FLORENCE WAS THE FIRST YEAR THAT WE COVERED THE CEMETERY.
AND THEN IN 2023 AND 2024, WE COVERED THE CEMETERY.
SO AGAIN, THAT WOULD BE OUR GOAL.
AND WE'VE COVERED GREENWOOD EVERGREEN AND THE CEDAR GROVE OF EACH OF THE YEARS THAT THEY'VE PARTICIPATED.
SO, UM, MAYOR, I'M NOT SURE IF IT'S APPROPRIATE TO DO IT NOW OR NOT, BUT I, I WOULD LIKE TO ASK THE BOARD THAT IF I COULD GIVE A THOUSAND DOLLARS TO MY A RP MONEY TO THE, UM, REACH ACROSS AMERICA.
IS THAT WHAT IT'S CALLED? YES SIR.
REACH ACROSS AMERICA FOR THE PURCHASE REEF FOR THE, UH, LOCAL CEMETERIES, OUR, THE LOCAL CEMETERIES.
AND DOES THAT QUALIFY, KIM? YES.
IS THERE FURTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE.
[16. Consider Adopting a Resolution Authorizing the Mayor to Execute a Preliminary Engineering Agreement with the NC Department of Transportation for Element 39004 – Program No. U-3431 – Miller Boulevard. ]
STEP IS ITEM NUMBER 16.CONSIDER ADOPTING A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZED THE MAYOR TO EXECUTE A PRELIMINARY ENGINEERING AGREEMENT WITH NC DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION FOR ELEMENT 3 9 0 0 4.
PROGRAM NUMBER U 3 4 3 1 MILLER BOULEVARD.
MR. BOUCHARD, YOU SEE DANIEL HERE, RIGHT? CHARLIE? BEFORE YOU GET STARTED, MR. ATTORNEY, UM, UH, ALDERMAN OUTLAW IS HERE.
CAN WE ADMINISTER THE OATH TO HIM? YES, SIR.
UM, I WANT YOU TO ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO, OKAY.
CAN WE ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO ADMINISTER THE OATH TO ALDERMAN OUTLAW? MAY I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION THAT WE ADMINISTER THE OATH TO MR. OUTLAW FOR THE REMAINDER TERM OF SENATOR BRENTON.
IS THERE FURTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE.
UH, MR. OUTLAW, YOU COME FORWARD, SIR.
DO YOU DANA E OUTLAW SOLEMNLY SWEAR THAT YOU WILL SUPPORT THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES, SO HELP YOU GOD? DO YOU DANA E OUTLAW SOLEMNLY SWEAR THAT YOU WILL SUPPORT AND MAINTAIN THE CONSTITUTION AND LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES AND THE CONSTITUTION AND LAWS OF NORTH CAROLINA NOT INCONSISTENT THEREWITH, AND THAT YOU WILL FAITHFULLY DISCHARGE THE DUTIES OF YOUR OFFICE AS ALDERMAN, SO HELP YOU DIE.
[00:40:01]
DO YOU DANA E OUTLAWS SOLEMNLY AND SINCERELY SWEAR THAT YOU'LL BE FAITHFUL AND BEAR TRUE EGLU ALLEGIANCE TO THE STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA AND TO THE CONSTITUTIONAL POWERS AND AUTHORITIES WHICH ARE OR MAY BE ESTABLISHED FOR THE GOVERNMENT THEREOF, AND THAT YOU WILL ENDEAVOR TO SUPPORT, MAINTAIN, AND DEFEND THE CONSTITUTION OF SAID STATE, NOT INCONSISTENT WITH THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES TO THE BEST OF YOUR KNOWLEDGE AND ABILITIES, SO HELP YOU GOD.I THINK YOU KNOW WHERE TO SIT.
UH, AUMAN OUTLAW, WOULD YOU LIKE TO MAKE ANY COMMENTS, SIR? UM, I JUST WANT TO, UH, THANK THE NEW AND MOR LAW FOR JOB WE'VE DONE FOR THE LAST COUPLE YEARS.
UM, UM, I, I'VE WATCHED FOR BEING OUT OF IT FOR A LITTLE WHILE AND I THINK YOU GUYS DO A GREAT JOB.
AS A REMINDER, THIS IS TO CONSIDER ADOPTING A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZED THE MAYOR TO EXECUTE A PRELIMINARY ENGINEERING AGREEMENT WITH NORTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION FOR ELEMENT 3 9 0 0 9, PROGRAM NUMBER U 3 4 3 1 MILLER BOULEVARD.
GOOD EVENING, MAYOR ODOM, BOARD OF ALDERMAN.
TONIGHT, I'M PROPOSING AN AGREEMENT SUCH AS YOU SAID, BETWEEN THE CITY OF BERN AND THE NORTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION.
THIS AGREEMENT ALLOWS THE CITY TO BE RE REIMBURSED FOR ENGINEERING EXPENSES ASSOCIATED WITH RELOCATING A PORTION OF THE ELECTRIC DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM.
THE RELOCATION INVOLVES AN AREA OF APPROXIMATELY THREE QUARTERS OF MILE LONG, AND IT CONFLICTS WITH NCO D DOT'S MILLER BOULEVARD PROJECT OUT IN THE HAVELOCK AREA.
THE ESTIMATED COST FOR ENGINEERING IS $166,000 AND A HUNDRED SIXTY SIX FIVE HUNDRED AND FORTY $8 IS THE ESTIMATE ON THAT.
UM, AS WE WORK THROUGH THE ENGINEERING AND DESIGN, WE'LL BE ABLE TO BETTER ESTIMATE THE CONSTRUCTION COSTS.
SO I'D EXPECT I'D COME BACK TO YOU AT A LATER TIME WITH ANOTHER AGREEMENT TO GET REIMBURSED ON THE CONSTRUCTION ACTIVITIES AS N-C-D-O-T MOVES FORWARD WITH THE PROJECT.
AND I'D, I'D BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY OF YOUR QUESTIONS.
BOARD HAVE QUESTIONS? CHARLIE? I HAVE A QUESTION.
UM, WHEN THIS ENGINEERING IS DONE, UH, WILL WE, WILL WE BE REIMBURSED FOR THE CONSTRUCTION COSTS? YES, SIR.
ENGINEERING IS DIFFERENT THAN CONSTRUCTION.
BUT WILL WE BE REIMBURSED FOR THE CONSTRUCTION COSTS ONCE THE ENGINEERING IS COMPLETE AND THE PROJECT STARTS CORRECT.
AFTER WE WILL HAVE TO SIGN ANOTHER AGREEMENT FOR THE CONSTRUCTION COSTS.
SO I'LL BE BACK AGAIN WITH ONCE WE GET THAT ESTIMATE DONE.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? MAYOR, IF THERE'S NO QUESTIONS, I LIKE MAKE A MOTION.
TO ADOPT RESOLUTION, AUTHORIZE AND THE MAYOR TO EXECUTE, EXECUTE A PRELIMINARY ENGINEERING AGREEMENT WITH THE NC DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION FOR ELEMENT 3 9 0 0 4, PROGRAM NUMBER U 34 31 NOLA BOULEVARD.
IS THERE FURTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE.
LET'S HAVE A ROLL CALL STARTING WITH ALDER MCKENZIE.
[17. Consider Adopting a Resolution Approving the Sale of 408 Suttons Alley. ]
UP, ITEM NUMBER 17, CONSIDER ADOPTING A RESOLUTION OFF APPROVING THE SALE OF 4 0 8 SUTTON'S[00:45:01]
ALLEY.MR. HUGHES IN OCTOBER OF 2024.
BCJ DEVELOPMENT, LLC, TENDER TO BID IN THE AMOUNT OF $1,500 FOR THE PURCHASE OF THIS PROPERTY.
THE BID WAS ADVERTISED AND NUMEROUS UPSET BIDS WERE RECEIVED.
IF THE PROPERTY IS SOLD FOR THIS BID, THE CITY WILL RECEIVE $5,131 52 CENTS AND THE COUNTY WILL RECEIVE $4,368 48 CENTS.
THE PARTIAL IS A VACANT 0.03 ACRE COMMERCIAL TRACK WITH A TAX VALUE OF $3,000.
IT WAS ACQUIRED BY THE CITY AND COUNTY IN JULY OF 2013 THROUGH TAX FORECLOSURE.
HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY OTHER QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE.
MAYOR, HEARING NO, UH, FURTHER DISCUSSION OR COMMENTS, I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO ADOPT A RESOLUTION APPROVING THE SALE OF 4 0 8 SUTTONS ALLEY.
SECOND, I HAVE A MOTION TO SECOND, IS THERE FURTHER DISCUSSION ON ITEM NUMBER 17? HEARING NONE.
LET'S HAVE A ROLL CALL STARTING WITH ALDERMAN BEST, ALDERMAN BEST? YES.
[18. Consider Adopting a Resolution Approving a Contract with Axon and Authorizing the Execution of Same.]
CONSIDER ADOPT A RESOLUTION APPRO AND CONTRACT WITH AXON AND AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTION OF THE SAME CHIEF GALL.BOARD MEMBERS, UH, THE NEWBURN POLICE DEPARTMENT IS ON THE EVE OF RENEWING ITS CONTRACT WITH AXON ENTERPRISE INC.
FOR THOSE OF YOU THAT DON'T KNOW, BUT AXON IS OUR BODY WORN CAMERA VENDOR.
UM, I HAVE PROVIDED AN OUTLINE DRAFTED WITH THE HELP OF I OF OUR FINANCE DEPARTMENT TO EXPLAIN THE PRICE INCREASE COMPARED TO THE ORIGINAL AMOUNT OF THE CONTRACT OF 2021.
THE NEW BERN POLICE DEPARTMENT CONTINUES TO STRIVE TO MEET THE HIGHEST STANDARDS IN HOW WE ENGAGE OUR COMMUNITY.
BODY-WORN CAMERAS IN-CAR CAMERAS, INTERVIEW ROOM CAMERAS AND LESS LETHAL TASERS HAVE PROVEN TO BE THE BEST IN THE INDUSTRY.
UM, WITH RESPECT TO AXON AX EXXON'S SUPERIORITY STEMS FROM ITS INTEGRATED CAPACITY ENCOMPASSING HARDWARE, SOFTWARE, CLOUD STORAGE, AND RELATED AUDITING AND INTERNAL FUNCTIONALITY.
THE PRICING FOR EXXON BODY CAMERAS IN-CAR CAMERAS AND OUR LESS LETHAL TASERS HAS SEEN AN INCREASE OF APPROXIMATELY 12% EACH YEAR OVER THE PRECEDING FOUR YEARS.
REGARDING THE EVALUATION OF OTHER VENDORS THAT OFFER BODY-WORN CAMERA TECHNOLOGY, WE, LIKE MANY DIFFERENT AGENCIES HAVE DONE OUR DUE DILIGENCE AND WE HAVE DONE RESEARCH AND WE, LIKE OTHER AGENCIES, HAVE OPTED TO REMAIN WITH AXON.
NO OTHER VENDOR HAS DEMONSTRATED THE SAME LEVEL OF SERVICE AND RELIABILITY AS AXON.
THE NEW BERN POLICE DEPARTMENT HAS RESEARCHED OTHER VENDORS SUCH AS DIGITAL ALLY UTILITY AND MOTOROLA.
OUR IN-HOUSE RESEARCH DID NOT FIND THAT THESE VENDORS TO BE SUITABLE FOR OUR NEEDS.
AXON STANDS OUT AS THE FASTEST GROWING PROVIDER IN THE INDUSTRY.
IT IS CURRENTLY THE ONLY EVIDENCE MANAGEMENT MANAGEMENT PLATFORM USED BY OUR DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE.
BASED ON OUR ANALYSIS, AXON DELIVERS THE MOST FUTURE PROOF FIELD TESTED AND COMPREHENSIVE PLATFORM AVAILABLE.
TODAY WE ASK FOR YOUR SUPPORT IN PROVIDING, UM, OUR ABILITY TO SIGN A NEW FIVE YEAR CONTRACT WITH AXON.
AND I'M AVAILABLE IF, UH, FOR ANY QUESTIONS IF YOU HAVE THEM.
SO NOW WHAT YOU, YOU'RE SAYING, CHIEF, IF WE GO AHEAD AND PURCHASE THEM, THEN WE ACTUALLY SAVE MONEY.
IF WE SIGN THIS CONTRACT AND HAVE IT, UH, AUTHORIZED BEFORE THE END OF, UH, OCTOBER, WE WILL SAVE AN ADDITIONAL 15% BECAUSE AXON HAS INDICATED THERE THEY ARE HOLDING THE ADDITIONAL 15% INCREASE, UM, BASED ON OUR DESIRE TO HAVE THAT CONTRACT, UH, SIGNED TONIGHT.
SO I LIKE TO MAKE THE MOTION THAT WE GO AHEAD AND, UM, SIGN THAT CONTRACT TONIGHT SO WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE.
IS THERE FURTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE.
LET'S HAVE A ROLL CALL STARTING WITH ALDERMAN OUTLAW.
[00:50:01]
BEST? YES.[Items 19 - 21]
19, 20 AND 21 TOGETHER IF YOU'D LIKE.ITEM NUMBER 19 IS CONSIDER ADOPTING AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND THE RESILIENCY AND HAZARD MITIGATION PLAN GRANT PROJECT FUND NUMBER 20 IS TO CONSIDER ADOPTING AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE MULTI-YEAR GRANTS FUND.
AND ITEM NUMBER 21 IS CONSIDER ADOPTING A BUDGET ORDINANCE AMENDMENT FOR PHYSICAL YEAR 2026.
NUMBER 19, THE RESILIENCY AND HAZARD MITIGATION PLAN GRANT PROJECT FUND IS AMENDED TO RECOGNIZE A GRANT FROM NORTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY RESILIENT COASTAL COMMUNITIES PROGRAM IN THE AMOUNT OF $367,500.
THE FUNDS WILL BE USED FOR THE DUFFY FIELD CANAL RESTORATION, UM, MASTER PLAN PROJECT.
AND FOR ITEM NUMBER 20, UM, THE MULTI-YEAR GRANT FUND GRANTS FUND IS AMENDED TO ACKNOWLEDGE A $5,601 GRANT FROM THE NEW BERN POLICE DEPARTMENT VOLUNTEER GROUP.
THE FUNDING, UM, AWARDED IS THROUGH THE BATES FOUNDATION GRANT AND IT WILL ASSIST WITH THE PURCHASE OF UNDERWATER DRONE EQUIPMENT.
THERE'S NO MATCH REQUIRED FOR THAT.
AND FOR ITEM NUMBER 21, WE HAVE THE GENERAL FUND IS AMENDED TO RECOGNIZE DONATIONS AND THE RESPECTIVE EXPENSES IN THE AMOUNT OF $2,689 AND 71 CENTS FOR THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
BUMP FROM THE POLICE DEPARTMENT VOLUNTEER GROUP FOR EVIDENCE STORAGE CONTAINERS, AND FOR PARKS AND RECREATION IN THE AMOUNT OF 6,000 FROM THE BARRY MART EVENTS FOR HOLIDAY EVENT EXPENSES IN THE AMOUNT OF $5,000 FROM THE CRAVEN COUNTY INDEPENDENT INSURANCE AGENT ASSOCIATION FOR THE PURCHASE OF TWO SNOW MACHINES.
DOES BOARD HAVE QUESTIONS? IF THERE'S NO QUESTIONS BY THE BOARD, I'LL MAKE MOTION TO ADOPT AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE RESULT IN HAZARD MITIGATION PLAN GRANT PROJECT, FUND AND ADOPT AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE MULTI-YEAR GRANTS FUND AND ADOPT A BUDGET ORDINANCE AMENDMENT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2026.
IS THERE FURTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE.
LET'S HAVE A ROLL CALL STARTING WITH ALDERMAN RELL.
I, MR. REPORTS, I MAYOR, CITY MANAGER'S
[24. City Manager’s Report. ]
REPORT EARLIER TODAY, THE BOARD OF ELECTIONS DID CERTIFY THE ELECTION RESULTS.TORE FERGUSON, SHARON BRYANT, BOBBY ASTOR, BARBARA BEST, AND DANA OUTLAW.
A RUNOFF ELECTION WILL BE HELD FOR MAYOR BETWEEN JEFFREY ODOM AND HOLLY RABY.
AND FOR THE WARD FOR ALDERMAN POSITION BETWEEN JOHNNY RAY KINZIE AND LANEY WHITE.
IN MY CONVERSATIONS WITH, UM, THE DIRECTOR OF THE BOARD OF ELECTIONS, BALLOTS ARE CURRENTLY BEING PRINTED.
THE BOARD OF, UH, OF ELECTIONS WILL ANNOUNCE WHEN EARLY VOTING BEGINS.
UM, AND OF COURSE, EARLY VOTING WILL AGAIN BE HELD AT THE STANLEY WHITE RECREATION CENTER.
AND AS A REMINDER, ELECTION DAY WILL BE TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 4TH FOR THAT.
ALSO REALLY EXCITED THAT ALL THREE GENERAL OBLIGATION BOND REFERENDUMS PASSED STREETS AND SIDEWALKS PASSED BY 69.6%.
PARKS AND RECREATION, 65.7% IN STORM WATER BY 75.6%.
WE'LL HAVE MORE INFORMATION TO COME ON THIS AT THE NOVEMBER 12TH, UH, UH, MEETING WHEN THE BOARD DOES ACCEPT THOSE RESULTS.
AND THEN WE START MOVING FORWARD WITH THIS PROCESS.
I ALSO WANNA REMIND YOU OF A FEW UPCOMING EVENTS.
HALLOWEEN EVENTS, UH, WILL BE STARTING UP ON SATURDAY, OCTOBER 25TH WITH TRICK OR TREATING WITH DOWNTOWN MERCHANTS FROM FOUR TO 6:00 PM THEN THINGS WILL SHIFT OVER TO UNION POINT PARK FOR THE WITCHES RIDE AT 5:00 PM ADDITIONAL TRICK OR TREATING AT UNION POINT PARK FROM FIVE 30 TO 8:00 PM A COSTUME CONTEST AT 6:00 PM AND A HALLOWEEN MOVIE FEATURING WICKED AT 6:30 PM THAT'S ALL WE HAVE TONIGHT, SIR.
[25. New Business. ]
BUSINESS RE UH, FOR ALDERMAN PRILL, NOTHING TONIGHT.I WOULD LIKE TO ALLOCATE $1,334 AND 34% OF MY REMAINING APA FUND TO USE AT THE STA, EXCUSE ME, HENDERSON PARK FOR, TO CONTINUE THE BUILDING OF THE RESTROOMS AND THE CONCESSION STAND.
I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE THAT AS A MOTION RATHER.
AND SECOND, IS THERE FURTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE.
I WOULD CERTAINLY LIKE TO COMMEND, UH, MR. FOSTER HUGS FOR THE EXCELLENT JOB THAT HE DOES AS CITY MANAGER.
[00:55:01]
UM, HE OPERATES VERY TIMELY.I'VE SAID IT TO YOU COUNTLESS TIMES, BUT I WANTED TO SAY THAT PUBLICLY.
I APPRECIATE THE THINGS THAT YOU DO, UH, WORKING WITH THE BOARD OF ALDERMAN AND, UM, AGAIN, YOUR EXPERTISE.
AND THEN THE FINAL THING, MAYOR, IF YOU WOULD, SINCE OUR CITIZENS ARE OUR SUPERVISORS, I WOULD CERTAINLY, UH, WELCOME ALL CITIZENS TO APPROACH ANY AND ALL MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF ALDERMANS SO THAT OUR CITIZENS WILL HAVE ALL THE FACTS AND NOT JUST SUBJECTIVE OPINIONS.
AND I WOULD CERTAINLY APPRECIATE IT ANYTIME THAT PERHAPS YOU MIGHT HAVE A THOUGHT AS A CITIZEN OR SOME CONFLICT AND INFORMATION THAT YOU HAVE HEARD.
PLEASE FEEL FREE TO APPROACH THE BOARD OF ALDERMEN.
WE TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION THE THINGS THAT OUR CITIZENS SHARE WITH US.
AND I WELCOME THE OPPORTUNITY FOR ALL OF OUR CITIZENS TO APPROACH THE BOARD OF ALDERMEN.
I BELIEVE I CAN SPEAK THAT FOR ALL OF US TONIGHT, THAT WE HAVE A LISTENING EAR AND THEN ALL OF OUR FACTS CAN BE STRAIGHT AND THEN WE CAN HAVE THAT COHESION AS A COMMUNITY.
UM, WELL, I WOULD LIKE, UH, TO THANK CITY STAFF, PUBLIC WORKS, ELECTRIC DEPARTMENT, UH, KNOW, FIRE DEPARTMENT, AND ALL CITY WORKERS FOR THE HARD WORK.
DURING THIS PAST WEEKEND, DURING THE STORM, UH, I KNOW THAT PUBLIC WORKS AND, UH, PARK AND RECREATION JUMPED ON.
THEY CLEANED UP RIGHT AWAY AND GOT THE CITY LOOKING BACK.
UH, WHILE MANY OF US WERE HOME DURING THE WIND AND THE RAIN, UH, SOME OF OUR WORKERS WERE OUT WORKING AND, UH, THAT'S WHAT MAKES A GOOD CITY EMPLOYEE.
AND I, I FOSTER, I IF YOU WOULD JUST PASS ON THAT.
I APPRECIATE EVERYTHING THEY DO.
ALSO, FOSTER, A COUPLE MEETINGS AGO I ASKED ABOUT THE SMALL HOMES AND WHETHER OR NOT THEY WERE OCCUPIED.
DO YOU KNOW IF THEY ARE OCCUPIED AT THIS TIME OR NOT? THEY'RE CURRENTLY NOT OCCUPIED AT THIS TIME, AND I KNOW THAT THERE HAVE BEEN SOME DISCUSSIONS BETWEEN TWIN RIVERS AND THE HOUSING AUTHORITY, AND I THINK THEY'RE TRYING TO MAKE SOME FORWARD PROGRESS RIGHT NOW.
SO, UM, THAT'S THE MOST RECENT INFORMATION I'VE RECEIVED.
WELL, I HAD REQUESTED AT ONE TIME THAT THE, THAT THE, THE TWIN RIVERS BOARD COME BEFORE US AND TO US, THE REASON WHY IT TAKES TWO YEARS TO FILL, UH, THREE NICE VACANT HOMES.
IS THERE ANY WAY THAT, DID THEY EVER RESPOND TO YOU? SO WHAT I WILL TELL YOU IS THAT THE, UM, UH, THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE HOUSE AUTHORITY ASKED US TO HOLD OFF FOR THAT WHILE THEY WORK INTERNALLY TO TRY TO GET SOME THINGS SQUARED AWAY WITH TWIN RIVERS.
AND SO WE HAVE HONORED THEIR REQUEST ON THAT ACCORDING TO, ACCORDING TO, UH, THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, THEY'RE CLOSE TO GETTING, UH, THE VOUCHERS THAT THEY'RE NEEDING FOR THAT.
WELL, I'M GONNA SAY SHAME ON TWIN RIVERS.
YOU GOT THREE NICE LITTLE HOUSES OVER THERE THAT PEOPLE NEED AND THEY'RE DRAGGING THEIR FEET AND TRYING TO GET SOMEBODY IN 'EM.
AND I STILL THINK THAT THEY SHOULD COME BEFORE US AND EXPLAIN THE REASON WHY THAT IT TAKES SO LONG TO GET A VOUCHER.
RECKON WE CAN'T MAKE THEM COME UP HERE, BUT I'M CERTAINLY DISAPPOINTED IN 'EM.
I WOULD LIKE TO THANK YOU AGAIN FOR, UM, MAKING SURE THAT THOSE COVID WAS CLEANED OUT, THE GRASS WAS CUT DOWN DURING THE FLOW OF THE WATER THAT WAS REALLY COMING THROUGH TO BRING THE HIGH TIDES INTO THE CITY.
AND THAT, UH, THE FOURTH WARD DIDN'T SUFFER ANY DAMAGE DUE TO THE RESPONSE OF, UH, PUBLIC WORKS.
BECAUSE AS YOU KNOW, ON CALLING THE DRIVE, THAT IS THE MAIN THIRD FOR THE WATER TO FLOW THROUGH.
AND THAT'S WHERE WE GET IN TROUBLE AT.
AND I WANT SAY THANK YOU THAT WE DIDN'T HAVE ANY CATASTROPHIC ANYTHING TO GO WRONG.
THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH FOR THAT.
IS THAT ALL? THAT'S IT, SIR ALDERMAN BEST?
[01:00:02]
UM, YES.I DEFINITELY WANT TO, UM, THANK PUBLIC WORKS, UM, FOR THEIR WORK.
UM, I JUST WANT THE CITIZENS TO KNOW THAT I WAS GIVEN INFORMATION BY THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT THAT THIS LAST WEEKEND, THAT THIS, UM, ALL THE WATER THAT CAME DOWN HERE IN THE CITY, THAT WITH ALL THE, THE PROJECTS AND THE CONSTRUCTION AND EVERYTHING THAT'S GOING ON OVER ON THE EAST ROAD STREET AT DUFFY FIELD, ALL OF THAT, UM, AREA THERE, IT HELD BACK TWO FEET OF WATER FROM COMING INTO THE COMMUNITY.
AND THERE'S A LOT MORE WORK THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE WITH THE DUFFY FIELD, UM, CANAL PROJECT, WHICH IS WHICH, UM, MR. CHILDS AND HIS STAFF AND AVERY SMITH ARE WORKING DILIGENTLY.
UM, I WOULD LIKE TO, UH, THANK MY FAMILY FOR THEIR SUPPORT AND, YOU KNOW, MY PREVIOUS TIMES ON THE BOARD AND, AND THE PRESENT, UM, JENNA AND MY GRANDDAUGHTER KEELY, WHO HELD A BIBLE FOR ME AND GREG RIGGS AND, UM, MY BROTHERS, MY BROTHERS AND MY SISTER.
AND SO, YOU KNOW, UM, WHEN YOU'RE DOING THIS JOB, SOMETIMES UH, THERE ARE SOME PRETTY TOUGH DECISIONS HAVE TO BE MADE.
IT'S ALWAYS GOOD THAT YOUR FAMILY IS, UH, BACK HOME TO SUPPORT YOU AND, UH, AGAIN, LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH THE BOARD.
UH, THE ONLY THING I'D LIKE TO SAY IS, UM, REGARDING MUM FEST, OBVIOUSLY IT WAS AN UNFORTUNATE SITUATION WITH THE WEATHER CONDITION THE WAY IT WAS.
UH, IT'S A TOUGH CALL BY SWISS BEAR, UH, TO MAKE THAT.
UH, I DID REACH OUT TO THE CURRENT CHAIRMAN OF SWISS BEAR BOARD TODAY AND TALKED ABOUT SOME POTENTIAL ALTERNATIVES, UH, THROUGHOUT A COUPLE OF IDEAS.
UH, I THINK THEY HAVE A MEETING ON THURSDAY.
UH, THEY'RE GONNA DISCUSS SOME THINGS AS WELL.
BUT, UM, IT WOULD BE GREAT IF WE COULD SOMEHOW, UM, DO SOMETHING, UH, TO HELP BRING SOME FOLKS DOWNTOWN, UH, TO HELP OUT WITH OUR MERCHANTS, UH, BEFORE THE HOLIDAY SEASON.
PEOPLE COME DOWN FOR THE HOLIDAY SEASON REGARDLESS, BUT TO DO SOMETHING BEFORE AND MAYBE EVEN, UH, LIKE MR. GATES THAT WAS HERE, THAT HAD THE, UH, NON-PROFIT BOOTH FOR REESE ACROSS AMERICA, WE COULD OFFER THAT TO THEM AS WELL.
UM, DO WE NEED A CLOSED SESSION? NO, SIR.
UH, IF NOT, I ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO ADJOURN.
IS THERE FURTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE.