Alexander County Board of Commissioners Meeting - March 4, 2024

Alexander County, NC2024-03-05

Alexander County#government

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💫 Short Summary

Commissioner Kent Herman leads the invocation and Pledge of Allegiance at the Alexander Board of Commissioners meeting, followed by special recognition of the Alexander Central High School cheer team. The cheer team excelled in competitions, winning state championships and placing seventh at the National High School cheerleading championship. The meeting transitions to agenda items, including a proposal to decline the right of first refusal on the Old Whittenberg School property. The comprehensive plan for 2045 emphasizes preserving agricultural land and supporting growth in key areas like tourism. Efforts are focused on improving public facilities, housing availability, and community engagement for a better future.

✨ Highlights

📊 Transcript

✦

Highlights from Alexander Board of Commissioners meeting

00:33

Commissioner Kent Herman leads invocation and Pledge of Allegiance, praying for guidance, safety for first responders, and unity in the community.

Commissioner Larry Yoder recognizes Alexander Central High School cheer team, praising their teamwork, trust, and dedication.

Yoder emphasizes the importance of relationships built within the team and encourages them to carry these experiences throughout life.

✦

Success of the cheer team in regional, state, and national competitions.

04:36

Emphasis on teamwork, trust, and respect among teammates leading to multiple first-place wins.

Seventh-place finish in National High School cheerleading championship in Orlando.

Back-to-back state championships and recognition for hard work and dedication.

Coach expressing immense pride in team's accomplishments and highlighting valuable life lessons learned through cheerleading.

✦

Appreciation for coaches for developing leadership in team members.

07:59

Anecdote shared about a coach's mother and upbringing, highlighting the impact of mentorship.

Gratitude expressed for the hard work and dedication of Alexander Cent team members.

Encouragement for everyone to wear a smiling face and stand up for recognition.

Invitation for individuals to share thoughts at the mic before transitioning to the commissioner's report.

✦

Recognition of girls' cheerleading team for perfect season and tournament wins.

11:09

Names of girls and coach mentioned; gratitude to cheerleaders, parents, and supporters expressed.

Acknowledgment of upcoming election day and appreciation for Board of Elections.

Agenda items discussed: building inspection permit fee changes and grant for lead-based paint removal.

Adoption of agenda process and handling public comments explained; offer to purchase old Wittenberg property for $600,000 with right of first refusal presented.

✦

Proposal to decline the right of first refusal on the Old Whittenberg School property.

15:16

Support expressed for selling the property to address longstanding issues and commendation for the school board's efforts.

Discussion of financial constraints and process of handling upset bids if initial offer is declined.

Emphasis on making decisions that align with budgetary constraints.

Need for cooperation in finalizing the property sale.

✦

Highlights of the 2045 comprehensive plan draft.

18:30

The planning board recommended the draft.

Input emphasized the need to preserve agricultural land in Alexander County.

Support for growth to maintain low taxes and attract new businesses was unexpected.

Tourism, Parks, and Recreation were identified as key areas for growth in the next 20 years.

✦

Key Needs in Alexander County:

20:11

Recreation, restaurants, and commercial retail are identified as the most important needs in the county.

Interest in Alternative Transportation:

There is a significant interest in increasing alternative transportation modes like bike paths and sidewalks.

Housing Challenges:

Availability and cost are the biggest hindrances to housing in the county, with public water deemed essential for the future.

Rental Opportunities and Amenities:

Residents feel there are not enough rental opportunities and express a need for more parks, waterfront access, and entertainment options.

Housing Preferences:

Single-family housing is preferred, but there is also interest in senior housing, condos, and mixed-use developments.

✦

Importance of natural and cultural resources in Alexander County.

23:10

Reasons people choose to live in Alexander County include family and friends, rural character, and child-friendly environment.

Development of a draft plan based on feedback from stakeholders, covering topics such as land use, transportation, economic development, housing, public services, and recreation.

The plan is structured into goals, objectives, and strategies for future development.

✦

Overview of the new zoning ordinance proposal.

25:06

Efforts are being made to update land use policies for more efficient growth while preserving the small-town atmosphere.

The speaker aims to make rules and procedures easily understandable for the public by minimizing technical language.

Zoning will be used to encourage intentional development patterns based on water and sewer availability.

Different colored areas on the future land use map will designate locations for dense development, farmland, environmentally sensitive areas, industrial zones, and community service areas.

✦

Transportation planning efforts.

27:23

Importance of investing in community identifiers and developing a countywide bike-ped plan.

Securing state funding for infrastructure improvements.

Economic development strategies focusing on diversification, tourism, and recreation.

Reviewing incentive policies, supporting small and medium-sized firms, and enhancing Economic Development needs in Alexander County.

✦

Strategic investments in public facilities for targeted development.

29:50

Promotion of shovel and pad ready sites for housing development.

Effective regulation of land use to encourage affordable housing without direct construction.

Recommendations for evaluating housing needs and developing future strategies through the Alexander County Housing Committee.

Emphasis on enhancing public services like utilities, law enforcement, schools, and internet access to improve overall county services.

✦

Recommendations for Public Facility Development

32:53

County staff collaborating with organizations to assess community needs and preferences.

Increased focus on public input and faster emergency response times.

Emphasis on soccer and linking conservation to recreational opportunities.

Proposed actions include developing a Parks and Recreation master plan, creating a sports complex, and reducing light pollution in conservation areas.

✦

Highlights of the new Land Development Code.

34:28

The code includes an overlay District and highlights the economic value of cultural resources like events, libraries, and museums.

Strategies involve maintaining historic preservation status and pursuing funding opportunities.

Efforts include developing meeting spaces at library branches and seeking funding through endowment funds and grant funding.

Implementation involves addressing expected challenges, such as funding, and updating the comprehensive plan every five years to adapt to changing needs.

✦

County Manager Shane Fox commends Brian and his staff for their work on the comprehensive plan, saving taxpayers over six figures by completing it in-house rather than outsourcing.

37:54

The Bowman Court sewer project bids came in over budget, leading staff to recommend rejecting them.

The staff plans to re-evaluate the project scope with hopes of rebidding at a lower cost next month.

✦

Discussion of budget ordinance amendments 17 through 20 for various county departments.

39:41

Amendment 17 includes funds for DSS, senior center, Detention Center, and a k9 vest.

Amendment 18 is a budget true-up for fire departments.

Amendment 19 closes out the 2018 waterline extension project.

Amendment 20 allows for the collection and use of interest monies from the American Rescue Plan special Revenue fund for additional projects.

✦

Discussion on budget ordinance amendments and consent agenda items, including changes to building inspection permit fees for electronic processing.

42:52

Implementation of new software program for improvements in building inspections and permitting process.

Introduction of Sterling Road CDBG grant requiring lead-based paint testing.

Appreciation expressed for county finance staff's work on budget-related matters, with multiple budget ordinances considered for approval.

Significant increase in budget ordinances compared to previous years, highlighting the dedication of the finance staff.

✦

Highlights from City Council Meeting

45:41

Finance staff and department heads held 32 meetings in one week to discuss budget information and upcoming needs.

Progress on Bethlehem park project includes electrical work and building demolition.

Approval granted for land purchase for a new water tank in Bethlehem with State Appropriations funding.

Fire training facility nears completion, pending painting and gravel installation.

Bids for Engineering Services received one response, optimistic for rebidding.

Sterling Road Project and EMS building projects in progress with funding from a CDBG Grant.

✦

Updates on county projects and initiatives.

48:10

Health canopy work has begun along with the start of budget season.

Vacancies in Advisory Board and staff positions were addressed.

Collaboration with schools for internships to enhance competitiveness in environmental health.

Job fairs and internships planned to benefit the county and provide professional growth opportunities for interns.

✦

County financial updates and accreditation progress discussed.

51:30

Budget preparations and fee approval process delayed until May.

Key dates in 2026 set for accreditation letters and reviews.

Annual board training scheduled to cover roles and responsibilities.

Reports on emergency governance, public health issues, and health educator benchmarks presented.

✦

Overview of Community Health Assessment and Strategic Plan.

54:40

The assessment is conducted every four years to collect, analyze, and report data to the public.

The Strategic Plan details specific numbers, progress on priorities, and is four years long.

Chip is a more dynamic online version of the Strategic Plan.

Priorities include mental health, substance use disorder, healthy living, child care, and elder care.

✦

Educational videos were created on addiction, genetic predisposition, vaping, recognizing and responding to overdoses.

57:30

Feedback was limited due to parental consent requirements, but plans are in place to gather more data in the future.

Presentations were made to schools and online to educate about drug use and addiction signs.

A program targeted parents at churches to educate them on recognizing drug use, addiction signs, and providing help.

Medication lock boxes were distributed, and nutrition classes were held with a focus on healthy living for various life stages.

✦

Community organization receives County multimodal Planning Grant and focuses on education campaigns.

59:59

Initiatives include education on nutrition, tobacco cessation, and free exercise opportunities.

Educational programs cover elder care, senior education, healthy living presentations, substance use prevention, and physical activity promotion.

Emphasis on collaboration with community partners and addressing weaknesses like high rates of no-shows.

Plans to apply for a rural Health Grant to support healthcare services for uninsured and underinsured individuals.

✦

Highlights from the Strategic Plan for 2023.

01:02:38

Priorities include mental health services, substance use disorder treatment, transportation, and resources.

Efforts to assist non-English speakers, low-income individuals, and the uninsured are emphasized.

Plans for Mental Health First Aid classes, suicide prevention training, and parent presentations are in progress.

COVID-related data tracking will not be included in the upcoming year.

✦

Shift in focus from tracking COVID deaths to non-communicable diseases.

01:05:13

Rise in measles cases, pediatric flu deaths, addiction rates, and overdoses.

Increase in e-cigarette usage and syphilis cases.

Efforts to combat health issues paused or discontinued.

End of tracking COVID rates, plans for accreditation in 2026, and health department renovations with a public notice for construction.

✦

Implementation of wireless doorbells and positive reception of a church program.

01:09:00

Emphasis on providing health-related information to the public, particularly on vaping.

Creation of a video about overdose prevention involving high school students.

Highlight on community engagement and education for a better future.

✦

Loneliness declared an epidemic by US Surgeon General.

01:12:00

Loneliness linked to increased risk of heart disease, stroke, dementia, and early death.

Seniors at the center express desire for activities and social interactions to combat loneliness.

Record-breaking signups for Bingo and birthday lunches show strong community engagement.

Efforts to expand space to accommodate more participants are underway to support seniors' well-being.

✦

Upcoming classes and events at the community center.

01:14:21

Free tax services, pre-diabetes seminar, garden class, tie-dye t-shirts, and identity theft shredathon offered.

Positive feedback from participants about events like Valentine's dance.

Plans for day trips and dining outings in the future.

Excitement for upcoming activities and grant-funded events like shredathon and medication drop.

✦

Celebration event with over 130 attendees sponsored by various organizations.

01:18:18

Event includes fun walk, DJ, door prizes, and games with prizes to win.

Highlighted upcoming tourist trips to Mount Rushmore, the Arc, Creation Museum, and Myrtle Beach.

Success of Medicare Savings program, saving over $1.3 million for seniors.

Significant increase in daily attendance at the senior center compared to the previous year, showcasing positive growth.

✦

Update on Director Search for Department of Social Services.

01:21:36

11 qualified applicants are under consideration for interviews for the director position.

Vacancy rate is at 12% with challenges in finding qualified individuals for child welfare and economic services.

Despite difficulties, experiencing a lower turnover rate.

Multiple interview phases are being conducted to select the best candidates for the position.

✦

Need for more individuals to apply for roles in welfare and economic services.

01:22:40

Current number of children in DSS custody and lack of adoptions in recent months.

Open enrollment process for adult Medicaid and family services.

Mention of new hires in economic services.

Successful food drive competition benefiting the Christian Crisis Center food bank.

✦

Summary of Discussion Points in Meeting Agenda

01:25:31

The meeting agenda covered topics related to North Carolina General Statute 143-38.11a 45, economic development contractual and personnel issues.

The session will reconvene solely for the purpose of adjournment.

Participants were appreciated for attending and wished a safe journey home.

00:00[Music]

00:16[Music]

00:24good evening I'd like to call the March

00:274th meeting of the Alexander Board of

00:29commit to

00:31order at this time I will call on

00:33commissioner Kent Herman for our

00:35invocation and then I will lead the

00:38Pledge of

00:42Allegiance would by with me dear

00:45heavenly father just thank you for

00:46letting us come here this afternoon

00:48thank you for this board thank you for

00:50all the citizens that showed up here

00:52this afternoon for this meeting just

00:54lead and guide and direct us and

00:56everything we do here be pleasing in

00:58your

00:58sight be with our First

01:01Responders and our firemen our deputies

01:05all of our law enforcement be with them

01:07look after them they return to the

01:09respected

01:11homes just help us to make all the aware

01:14of all the politicians that would that

01:17would do things pleasing in your sight

01:18there's so much unrest in this world

01:21today and get them back closer to you

01:24and doing the things that are important

01:27to the citizens in these different

01:30countryes dear Lord and now be with all

01:33of us as we return back to our respected

01:36homes Keep Us Safe till we return in

01:39your name I pray amen amen can we Face

01:43the flag

01:45please attention salute pledge I pled to

01:50the flag of the United States of America

01:54and to the Republic for which it stands

01:57one nation under God indivisible with

02:01liberty and justice for all thank you

02:04you may be

02:09seated first um next item on the agenda

02:13is a special recognition of the

02:16Alexander Central High School cheer

02:20team and I will call on commissioner

02:22Larry Yoder for that

02:25presentation well first of all let me

02:27tell you it's an honor for you all to be

02:29here and uh it's it just tickles me to

02:32death what you all have done and I've

02:35got something here and I'm going to read

02:36but before I read that I really want to

02:38say that I've thought about you all for

02:40several weeks now and the one thing

02:42that's impressed me the most is the fact

02:45that the way you all have worked

02:46together as a team how you have

02:48struggled together how you have gained

02:51trust in one another because you have to

02:55trust your teammate in order to do some

02:57of the things that you have have done

02:59and to to compete you have to trust that

03:01they've educated themselves and worked

03:03in a way that they'll be able to perform

03:06on stage and I hope and pray and well my

03:09prayer for you is this is that as long

03:12as you go throughout life that you will

03:14remember these times that you had at

03:16Alexander Central High School and that

03:18you will remember those relationships

03:21that you developed with those teammates

03:24beside you because those teammates

03:27trusted you you trusted them

03:30they had confidence in you and look what

03:33you ladies and gentlemen

03:35achieved and you can only do that by

03:39having faith and trust in your fellow

03:41teammates and that means a lot to you it

03:44means a lot to this community and I know

03:48that your parents are extremely proud of

03:50what you all have accomplished I'm proud

03:52of you this community is proud of you

03:54and I've watched cheerleaders for a long

03:56time and the thing you have to remember

03:58it is a sport because there's no way

04:01that you can just walk out there and do

04:03those things and I I I think it's the

04:06thing that I'm just thrilled to death

04:08about though is the fact of the teamwork

04:10and the confidence building and how you

04:12learn to work together to make things

04:14happen that going to be vitally

04:16important to you down the road and in

04:18life it'll be vitally important to you

04:21because the people that you work beside

04:23of the people that you deal with each

04:25day in life you're going to have to

04:27learn how to trust people and to respect

04:29one another another and to work together

04:31that's a valuable lesson for you and I

04:34am so proud of you all for accomplishing

04:36that and now I'm going to read a little

04:37bit about what went on and and what

04:39you've done for the last year okay last

04:42month the ACs cheer team traveled to

04:44Orlando Florida to compete in the

04:46National High School cheerleading

04:48championship this competition is held by

04:50the universal cheer Association better

04:53known as UCA the team competed in the

04:57superlarge D2 nonble varsity game day

05:00division before before traveling to

05:03Nationals the team competed in multiple

05:05Regional and state

05:08competitions they placed first at

05:11Davidson College Spirit

05:12Invitational first at UCA pedot Regional

05:16where the team earned a bid to the

05:18Nationals that was the big one first

05:21place in their division Grand game day

05:24Champions an overall high score at all

05:26day cheerleading pedmont Regional four

05:29at the North Carolina High School

05:31athletic cheerleading Invitational first

05:33at North Carolina Cheer coaches

05:35association state championship this team

05:38is backto back state champions as well

05:41the team put on an excellent performance

05:44in the semi-finals which earned them a

05:46spot in the finals they were able to

05:49bring home seventh in the nation in

05:51their division this is the cheer team's

05:53first time competing in the national

05:56competition at the history of the ACs

05:59year now the team members include Grant

06:03seore and if I mispronounce your name

06:05understand one thing I totally apologize

06:07before it may happen Okay so don't laugh

06:10at me D wait till I do it then laugh

06:12okay all right but uh Grant seore

06:16lancraft Tory

06:19Andross did I say that right all right

06:23okay all right Alicia Barnes Riley

06:26Parsons Ella Boston Reese buff pton

06:31sites this is the good one right here no

06:34it is McKenzie

06:35Hollingsworth Grace Gomez Ania

06:39Taylor Lauren eard Jordan Hughes Tina

06:44little Candace chers Celeste sty leather

06:49Lily cornette Cheyenne Honeycut Alicia

06:54Bumgarner Addison head Gracie Evans Emma

06:58coy Ella Preston mcka Harold AA hick

07:04Hickerson Bray pennel Reagan sharp Kendy

07:09Rollins and Maria Miller and the coaches

07:13are and folks you couldn't do this out

07:16without your coaches the coaches

07:17instilled in you that leadership ability

07:20that they had in order to bring out the

07:22best in you and there were probably days

07:24that you went home and said oh do I

07:26really have to go back but you you know

07:29when things would happen you would

07:31respond and you did what the coaches

07:33asked you the team coaches are Autumn

07:36Roberts Mindy severt and Kelly Huffman

07:41and guys I'm just I mean I I can't say

07:43enough good things about you thank

07:48[Applause]

07:51y'all and so you'll remember this night

07:55we also have an Alexander Kenny pin for

07:57each of you and I'm going to give those

07:59to coach Mindy I known her mama for 400

08:02years and we've been friends I'll tell

08:05you a little story about her mother just

08:06so you'll know back when her mother was

08:09a young kid about the size of this young

08:12man and I was on the highway patrol and

08:14her mother worked at the her grandmother

08:17worked at the hospital well whenever her

08:19grandmother had to come to the hospital

08:21to take X-rays she had to bring her with

08:25her so I would push her around the

08:27hospital while she was working her mom

08:29has never forgot that it was a good time

08:32but thank you and God bless you and we

08:34appreciate everything you and the girls

08:36and the men at Alexander Cent have done

08:38and you too big guy okay all

08:48righty I think it be EAS to do it that

08:50way

08:56picture then y'all have to wear your

08:58smiling face is and you know see I know

09:01how to do that that's the easy part

09:03right yeah this is Ouran and is the okay

09:07hold it up in front out put the banner

09:09out put it out stand right in front of

09:11us that way we BL us and we'll be doing

09:14great oh

09:16yes this is about you ladies and

09:19gentlemen do we want to stand up behind

09:20them no let them have it this is there

09:23Shane asked yeah I'm good right yeah I'm

09:26good Bandy your dad's home okay all

09:29right

09:32yeah well if y'all I guess we could

09:35stand

09:37up come on Stand Up Guys

09:42will over come over here SC y scoot in a

09:46little

09:53bit count one two

09:58three

10:01four count one

10:25two thank

10:28you

10:30[Applause]

10:36now I know yall not B so if any of you

10:37would like to say something we'll let

10:39you stand over there at the mic and say

10:45something thank you all so

10:53much next item on our agenda is

10:57commissioner's report do do any

10:59Commissioners have anything they would

11:00like to report to the

11:02board uh Mr chairman I just have one

11:04thing since we're into the uh

11:07cheerleading recognition the lady

11:09Wildcats in Wittenberg 910 girls had a

11:13perfect season 16 games zero losses when

11:17the pre season tournament all the season

11:19games end of season tournament won that

11:23the uh girls names are Abby Huffman Ava

11:26Johnson Lexi carrian Walker CLA prestel

11:31and McKenna Austin Mark prel was the

11:34coach of that team and just like to

11:36recognize that for those girls that's a

11:38pretty big accon to win those games and

11:42thank

11:45you anybody

11:52else do thank to cheerleaders and the

11:54parents you for making it able so they

11:57could get down there get back

11:59and provide some funding so know how

12:02that

12:02is one one thing I'll mention um

12:05obviously tomorrow's election day and I

12:08just wanted to say um how much we

12:11appreciate our Board of Board of

12:13Elections and the job they do

12:16um previous elections have always run

12:18very smoothly and from what I understand

12:21the current election is also running

12:23very smoothly to this point and

12:26uh just want to mention

12:31um the Board of Elections and

12:34staff um and so and say we appreciate

12:37what they do and and good

12:39job anyone

12:41else all right um moving right

12:46along gentlemen we need

12:50to with the adoption of our agenda

12:52agenda there are two things that needed

12:54to be added to the consent

12:56agenda um that information has

13:00been given to you one pertains to

13:04inspection uh building inspection permit

13:07fee

13:07changes and the other pertains to

13:10Sterling Road the

13:13cdbg grant requiring some lead based

13:16paint be removed make a motion to adopt

13:19the agenda as given and include the

13:22addition second have a motion and a

13:24second is there any additional

13:27discussion if not all in favor please

13:31raise your right

13:32hand any opposed passes

13:36unanimously um next next item on the

13:38agenda is public comment um Madam clerk

13:41we had no one sign up is that correct no

13:43one signed

13:44up that made that one

13:46easy um next on the agenda is old

13:50witberg school property right of first

13:51refusal I would recognize Karen brixie

13:55who is the Board of Education

13:57attorney

13:59good evening thank you all for putting

14:00us on the agenda I think it was

14:03submitted to you in your board packet I

14:04had submitted it to Ben falkenberry your

14:07attorney um that by Statute we need to

14:10offer you the old Wittenberg property

14:12since you did reserve the right to uh

14:15the first right of refusal back in 2021

14:18we do have an offer purchase for

14:21$600,000 which would be both Parcels of

14:24property approximately 8.8

14:26Acres so we need to offer that to you

14:30pursuant to statute and we do have a a

14:34firm offer we do have a written offer

14:37and I do am a am holding um yet to be

14:41cashed the earnest money so if we could

14:44if the school board could get a decision

14:46from you all relatively quickly um and I

14:49could get it at some point in writing

14:51the school board can move move forward

14:53with the the purchase if you don't want

14:55to purchase

14:57it well I

14:59there we we have had some unofficial

15:02discussion

15:04and that being

15:07said um I would make a

15:11motion for the Board of Commissioners to

15:16decline the right of first refusal on on

15:20the property at Old wh the old W the old

15:23whittenberg school

15:24property which would allow the school

15:27system to move ahead

15:30[Music]

15:31and um do what they will with that

15:34property second the motion we have a

15:36motion and a second is there any

15:38discussion well I just like to say that

15:41you know something that's been going on

15:42for a long time and I see that building

15:45just about every day it sat there and

15:47you know got worse and worse so I think

15:49selling it is a good thing and also want

15:52to uh give a little cheer I guess to the

15:56school board and to especially the newly

15:58board U elected members for pushing

16:01things forward to get you know these

16:03things going to try to resolve you know

16:06some of the shortfalls and things that's

16:08been going on for a long time so just

16:10want to make sure that they know you

16:12know we're behind them and do what's

16:14right if you don't if I can't meet my

16:16budget at home we got to do something

16:19and I can't go to the bank and say hey

16:20give me more money so you got to make it

16:23work so that's all I have Mr chairman M

16:25brisy do this um if if uh commissioner

16:29declined that and you go under contract

16:32and escr with this uh entity is there

16:35still a 10-day upset period there

16:39is that would be for somebody else that

16:42wanted yes okay but by Statute is

16:45offered to the Commissioners first the

16:46county first and then if you decline

16:50then I will start the proceeding and

16:51make the the publication of of the uh

16:54offer to purchase so that the 10 days

16:57starts

17:00Mak sense so if there's no upset bids

17:02then it you know it'll conclude if

17:04there's upset bids we go through that

17:06process but it will be

17:11published an upset and an upset bid

17:14wouldn't be the worst

17:15thing wouldn't be more M yeah

17:19so uh any more

17:21discussion if not I'd ask for a vote um

17:25all in favor of

17:27declining the County's right of first

17:30refus right of first refusal to purchase

17:33the old whittenberg school property

17:34please raise your right

17:36hand passes unanimously thank you and if

17:41at some point in the next week I could

17:43get some sort of a written communication

17:45verifying that that would be great

17:48shouldn't be a problem at all great

17:49thank you very much Jamie does Jamie

17:51Jamie keeps a straight she'll get teeth

17:53pretty quick you'll get me going y y all

17:55right thank you all very much appreciate

17:56your time

17:59good

18:00deal um next on the agenda uh number

18:03nine comprehensive Plan update I would

18:06recognize Brian Burgess the director of

18:09Planning and

18:14Development thank you chairman L

18:16Commissioners um I know it looks like a

18:18lot of slides in your packet I promise

18:20I'm going to go through this as quickly

18:21as I can um two of you are very familiar

18:24with this so feel free to chime in uh

18:25anything in the process that you thought

18:27stood out as well but

18:28uh we are done with a comprehensive plan

18:30draft has been released on the website

18:33uh under Planning and Development

18:34there's a think says 2045 draft plan uh

18:37and the planning board has sent forth a

18:38favorable recommendation to you guys by

18:41state law we have to go through a

18:42legislative process to adopt it but

18:44before I make you guys make such a hefty

18:46decision I figured I'd give you an

18:47introduction first and come back to you

18:48next month for the final decision um and

18:51Chad bear with me here let's go one more

18:54so first thing I'm going to talk about

18:55is the input that we got because that's

18:57really the most important part of

18:58developing any plan we had 644 folks

19:01respond to our survey which was honestly

19:03better than we expected um and we also

19:05had quite a few people show up to one of

19:07the five public input sessions we had in

19:09person uh and got a fair amount of uh

19:12detailed responses from the folks who

19:14came to that um Chad uh there's going to

19:17be some surprising things and some

19:18unsurprising things in this

19:19unsurprisingly folks in Alexander County

19:21think that preserving agricultural land

19:23is important uh it's the backbone of uh

19:27our County in a lot of ways and so

19:28obviously preserving that is going to be

19:30a high priority in this plan Chad in the

19:33next 20 years uh would they prefer to

19:35see this one honestly shocked me I

19:37expected to see more smalltown field but

19:38I think people are uh understanding of

19:40the fact that if you want to keep your

19:42taxes relatively low and if you want to

19:44track new businesses you got to have a

19:46little bit of growth there's got to be

19:47people to sustain those businesses and

19:49to help share that uh load so folks had

19:51a good understanding of that what kinds

19:53of growth would they be most comfortable

19:54with uh and you guys will start to

19:56notice a theme uh Midway through this

19:58tourism Parks and Recreation by far took

20:01the lead on that uh followed by single

20:03family residential and Retail with

20:04everything else kind of trailing behind

20:07three most important needs of Alexander

20:08County um Recreation restaurants and

20:11then sort of a tie between a and and

20:13commercial retail is what came out of

20:15that as well um how important this one

20:18was was shocking to me how important is

20:19increasing alternative modes of

20:20transportation so bike multiuse path

20:23sidewalks that kind of stuff more than

20:25half were in favor of it uh that

20:27somewhat very important um people didn't

20:30really put it up as the highest priority

20:32but they said you know what if we've got

20:33the option it seems like that's

20:35something we need so um this is

20:38interesting so do you feel that there

20:39are adequate home ownership

20:40opportunities in the county most people

20:42said yes uh they're quite a few who

20:44still said no but on the next slide when

20:47you ask whether or not there are enough

20:48rental opportunities most people agree

20:51no there aren't um and and typically in

20:54places I've worked before it's been the

20:56exact opposite when I get a response so

20:58I was curious to to see that but I'm not

21:00sure why um what has the greatest

21:03hindrance to housing in Alexander County

21:04I hope I'm glad you guys are all sitting

21:05down I'll shock you availability and

21:07cost the same thing it is all throughout

21:09the nation uh it's something that that

21:10we are not in unique in having to

21:12struggle with here um but when you ask

21:14where should that housing be developed

21:16most people said Bethlehem Taylorville

21:18uh outside of the Town limits and inside

21:20of the Town limits hiddenite got a an

21:22honorable mention as well as the

21:23Wittenberg Ellendale and Stony Point

21:25communities um unsurprisingly the more

21:27rural communities in the county said you

21:29know what we're we're fine as we are so

21:32um the kind of housing most people are

21:34comfortable with again un unsurprisingly

21:37single family is going to be the most

21:38easily palatable um but a really good uh

21:41interest in senior housing and condos

21:43which I think is is something that again

21:46nationally people are becoming more

21:47comfortable with and one in four said

21:49that mixed use for commercial and

21:50residential and multif family said that

21:52they they understand the need for that

21:53as

21:54well um is public water availability

21:57important to the Future of Alexander

21:58County our respondents overwhelmingly

22:00said yes it is we're going to need

22:02public water when it comes to public

22:04sewer still overwhelmingly say that yes

22:06it is going to be important um but not

22:09quite as overwhelming as as uh public

22:12water uh are there adequate Parks public

22:15Waterfront accesses Recreation and

22:16entertainment opportunities for

22:17residents of all Ag and group

22:19overwhelmingly said no and again this is

22:21a theme that we'll talk about here in a

22:23minute uh do you see a need for more

22:25Parks absolutely the answer was yes and

22:27that was also true for the in-person

22:29conversations we had as well uh which

22:32natural resources need the most

22:33attention shocker Parks um next one's

22:37going to be rivers and streams and

22:39Woodlands uh would you like to see the

22:42um following cultural

22:43resources community events and festivals

22:46took the lead but not far behind it was

22:48parks and sports facilities um and then

22:50historic preservation was also a high

22:52priority as well tied with community

22:55centers um why do you choose to live in

22:57Alexander County number one response

22:59family and friends this is a community

23:00first and foremost uh the next uh

23:03followup was rural character and it's a

23:05good place to raise children everything

23:07else sort of fought for the middle of

23:08the ground but those three were the

23:10standouts what do you think is missing

23:12from uh Alexander County restaurants uh

23:16parks and entertainment top three on

23:19that so all of that plus a lot more

23:23information that's available in the back

23:24of the plan if you guys want to get into

23:26it um uh led to the development of the

23:29actual draft plan so my job is to take

23:31what folks tell me the Commissioners the

23:33steering committee that we had appointed

23:35the planning board department heads and

23:37the community try to make some sense out

23:39of what folks say here's what we want to

23:41see for the next 20 years and turn that

23:43into something that we can work on the

23:45topics that we went over were land use

23:47Transportation Economic Development

23:49housing Public Services environment and

23:51Recreation and historic and cultural

23:53resources I'm going to Breeze through

23:54those uh the highlights of those

23:56chapters real fast note on the format

23:58each chapter has a narrative portion uh

24:01explains the logic behind the the

24:03recommendations we're making as well as

24:04giving you guys maps and valuable

24:06information so there's some census data

24:08in there um sometimes there's uh mention

24:12of conversations we had in public input

24:14that help uh qualify the recommendations

24:17and then the recommendations come in the

24:18form of a tiered system they're

24:19organized into goals objectives and

24:21strategies uh and I thought of this

24:23today around lunchtime as I'm sure

24:26you'll understand in a minute probably

24:27the easiest way to to break that out is

24:29a goal would be I'd like some food

24:32objectives would be I'd like some

24:33Italian food and strategies is I'm going

24:35to go to giovan's so you really kind of

24:37Whittle it down from there the goals are

24:39big picture and we can always be taking

24:41actions that follow those goals that

24:44don't necessarily fall into objectives

24:45and strategies but these are some things

24:47that we've identified as potential uh

24:49action items that we could be taking as

24:51a

24:52county so for land use we've got an

24:54emphasis on updating and replacing our

24:56current Land Development ordinances as

24:58I've mentioned several times the zoning

24:59ordinance is older than I am and I think

25:01uh my first meeting with you guys you

25:02all unanimously told me hey we got to

25:04get a new zoning ordinance and so that's

25:06one of the things we've been working on

25:08um the landu plan encourages a growth

25:10management strategy to help keep that

25:11balance between growth but maintaining

25:13the smalltown feel um and I'm doing my

25:16best to make more efficient Common Sense

25:18land use policies um so some of the

25:21recommendations that are in there and

25:22you'll see I just go to strategies on

25:24this the goals are big picture I figured

25:25you'd want to see a little more rubber

25:27be the road so draft and adopt an

25:29updated zoning ordinance you guys will

25:30be seeing that in the next few months

25:31we're already uh moving forward on that

25:33one uh ensure all rules and procedures

25:35regarding Land Development or explained

25:37in an accessible manner in a publicly

25:39available document um do my best really

25:41what this means is do my best to keep

25:43jargon out of our documents and make it

25:45so that anyone who picks it up has a

25:46good idea what I'm talking about uh use

25:49zoning as a means to encourage and

25:50incentivize intentional development

25:52patterns um that's a fancy way of saying

25:55if we've got water and sewer somewhere

25:56that's probably a good place to to

25:57develop if we don't it's probably

25:59not this is the future land use map uh

26:03as I just said Water and Sewer drove a

26:04lot of this so the red areas are where

26:06we're going to probably want to

26:07concentrate most of our our dense and

26:09Commercial development uh because that's

26:11where water and sewer is and there's

26:13infrastructure that can support it so

26:15red down in the quarter is going to be

26:16Bethlehem the center is going to be

26:17Taylorville the little one in between uh

26:20the edge and the center is hiddenite and

26:22then Stony Point is an area that we

26:24think could use uh a lot of investment

26:26to help sort of bring that up to par um

26:29it's hard to tell on this there's sort

26:31of an orange Hue in between that that's

26:34going to be medium density there's some

26:36water there's some sewer but it's

26:38definitely not set up to support the

26:39same thing say the town of Taylorville

26:41or Bethlehem can the uh yellow is rural

26:44that's where a lot of our Farmland is

26:46focused it's where we have topography

26:48that doesn't necessarily make it easy to

26:49develop the green are environmentally

26:52sensitive areas or Farmland preservation

26:54areas so things like flood plane um

26:57steep ridges uh and again anything

26:59that's in the Farmland preservation

27:00ordinance and then the purple is

27:02industrial and most of those are just

27:03focused on sites that we already have uh

27:06that we're working on and finally blue

27:08are community service areas those are

27:09going to be the little nodes that you

27:12see say on 16 where Osa Dam comes off

27:14there's a convenience store like

27:16commercial makes sense there but you

27:18definitely don't want a Walmart that

27:19kind of thing

27:21so next chapter transportation we

27:23focused on uh vital corridors

27:25emphasizing multimodal transportation

27:28and identify problem areas for

27:30correction this is a relatively short

27:32chapter because our Our Fate is largely

27:34decided by the Metropolitan planning

27:36organization which uh commissioner Yoda

27:38sits on the TAC for and um can tell you

27:41that it's a it's a complicated process

27:43and it's a regional effort um and so we

27:45focused on really the areas that we want

27:47to take to them and say this is where we

27:48want to see investment in Alexander

27:50County so for example developing

27:52Community identifiers such as signage

27:54Landscaping core community centers in

27:56order to promote what what's called a

27:57sense of place reach Community

27:59bethlehem's already working on that bud

28:01kwood here has been uh working very hard

28:03on getting signage placed in Bethlehem

28:05to sort of let people know you're in

28:07Bethlehem and here's what's available

28:08here here um developing a countywide

28:11bike ped plan to identify and prioritize

28:13infrastructure improvements such as

28:15sidewalks bike lanes and pedestrian

28:17Crossings that's another thing that

28:18we're moving forward on already um in

28:20your consent agenda tonight is a

28:22resolution to support me going after

28:23some money from the state to uh have

28:26them do a bike pad plan for for us and

28:28do all of the work for uh very very

28:30small fraction of the cost um strategy

28:334.2.1 this is one of those ones that's

28:35directed on actual problem areas this is

28:37going to shock everyone uh 16 in

28:39Millersville Road intersection it's a

28:42high crash area it's a high congestion

28:43area so we put that in there somewhere

28:45we'd like to see some some Focus put uh

28:47by the

28:48no Economic Development uh diversity of

28:51economic base as a priority uh not

28:54depending on just one uh industry to to

28:56keep the county afloat uh focusing on

28:58strategies to make Alexander County

29:00competitive and an eye towards tourism

29:02and Recreation as an economic

29:03development tool we've got or Orchards

29:06on the North side we've got beautiful

29:07land that folks want to come and and

29:09spend their free time in and I think

29:11that that's something that we as a

29:12County uh can capitalize on so uh some

29:15of the strategies we have are to review

29:17our incentive policies to allow greater

29:19participation by creating new or

29:21expanding existing small and

29:22medium-sized firms and that's something

29:24that you guys know Connie k Kade works

29:26very hard on working with small

29:27businesses and getting them set up in

29:29Alexander County so figuring out ways

29:31that we can continue to to support that

29:34and enhance it uh determining existing

29:36and future Economic Development needs

29:38for public facilities in order to Target

29:40investment strategically so instead of

29:42just building Water and Sewer out really

29:44with you know just wherever it's

29:45available figuring out where we really

29:47want to focus that kind of development

29:48and make those those investments in

29:50places that we identify as making the

29:52most sense and then uh Premier and

29:54promotes shovel and Pad ready sites

29:55within the uh County as that's kind of a

29:58standard everyone in the state says that

30:00that's one of their goals so um for

30:02housing housing is complicated uh I

30:05think you guys know that what we try to

30:07do is focus on identifying existing and

30:09potential resources for residents and

30:11look to allow organic development to

30:12take place in appropriate areas and

30:14that's important they have to be

30:15appropriate areas while discouraging in

30:17undesirable development areas so the

30:19government um is is very limited on what

30:21it can do in terms of helping affordable

30:24housing we're not in the business of

30:25building the housing ourselves but what

30:27we are in the business of is how we

30:28regulate land use and how we um put our

30:32land use regulations into practice that

30:34may hinder or help uh affordable housing

30:37development so what we're going to try

30:39to do is encourage um those kind of

30:42things as much as we can and hope that

30:44the the market is willing to meet us in

30:46the middle on that so some of the

30:47strategies are investing in public

30:49utilities such as water and sewer uh

30:52service and urban service areas those

30:53are those red parts of the map they're

30:55called Urban Services area that you guys

30:56saw if you minutes ago uh to encourage

30:59higher density development however

31:01restrict housing densities in rural

31:02areas of the county so we're kind of

31:03trading off the parts that don't have

31:06that infrastructure we're going to pull

31:07back on density but the places that do

31:09we're going to say okay this is where it

31:10needs to go um and then one of my

31:12recommendations is for us to develop an

31:14Alexander County Housing committee to

31:16evaluate current and housing needs and

31:17recommend future future housing

31:19strategies like I said it's complicated

31:21and having experts come together

31:23Realtors folks who are working in

31:24affordable housing that kind of thing to

31:26tell the hey we've got a great

31:28opportunity here maybe we should um I

31:30think is much better than expecting me

31:32to to have a grasp of all of that stuff

31:34because I I'm limited to land use

31:36regulation so that kind of help would be

31:38great Public Services uh this is by far

31:41the largest topic that is the bulk of

31:43this document uh it en it encompasses a

31:46lot it goes from utilities to law

31:48enforcement fire schools internet and

31:50everything between most of the

31:52recommendations focus on enhancing the

31:53services that the county already

31:55provides so for example uh one of the

31:57strategies is to work with local

31:59organizations and County staff to

32:00identify the specific needs and

32:02preferences of the community and

32:04incorporate them into the development

32:05and Improvement of public facilities

32:07which is basically us saying where does

32:09it make sense to be spending our money

32:11on on

32:12infrastructure um work with the County

32:14Planning public information officer and

32:16other departments to help increase

32:17public input on incoming plans um one of

32:20the things that I would like to have

32:21more of is is opportunities for folks to

32:23come tell us what they want to see um I

32:25noticed during the public input sessions

32:27there were a lot of folks who said just

32:30thank you for coming to speak to us and

32:31I'm like well this is kind of routin or

32:33like we didn't you know we're not used

32:35to this kind of thing um I'm more than

32:37happy to keep going out to the community

32:39and having those conversations uh and

32:41and Reporting back on what folks are

32:42telling us because that's the way to

32:44make sure we're doing what they they ask

32:45us to do uh and then worker working to

32:48lower response times when responding to

32:49emergency calls it's that kind of nuts

32:52and bolts stuff you're going to find in

32:53the Public Services

32:54chapter environment Recreation so one of

32:57the biggest topics we heard about was

32:59soccer um we also seek to link the

33:02importance of Environmental Conservation

33:03to recreational opportunities um it's

33:06really hard to uh take your kid to an

33:08industrial waste site and have them play

33:11safely so we have to keep our

33:12environment clean and pristine if we

33:14want to have these places to take our

33:16families um we also are aiming to find

33:19lowcost but high impact Recreation and

33:21conservation Solutions what do we have

33:23already and what can we be doing with it

33:24without spending a ton of money uh and

33:26then soccer I can't stress this enough

33:29the folks who came out in favor of

33:31soccer are the most organized people

33:32I've ever met in any community and I

33:34applaud them because they were they were

33:36they showed up um but they showed up and

33:40so some of the recommendations we have

33:42develop a countywide Parks and

33:43Recreation master plan to identify and

33:45prioritize the needs of different

33:47populations including seniors people

33:49with disabilities and low-income

33:50families encouraging the development of

33:52a sports complex in a central location

33:54that includes soccer but also baseball

33:57football basketball facilities to allow

33:59for travel Sports I promise there is an

34:00aquatic center thing mentioned in here

34:02as well it's just not on the slide um

34:04and then continue to limit light

34:05pollution especially in Rural and

34:06conservation areas so historic and

34:10cultural resources I promise I'm almost

34:11done should complement the work already

34:13being done by the Alexander historic

34:15preservation commission again this is

34:16something that commissioner uh Yoder

34:18sits on and I've been working with

34:19Connie to uh help get implemented um the

34:22new Land Development code would also

34:24have like an overlay District so we're

34:26we're doing a lot of work already um and

34:28it also emphasizes the economic value of

34:30cultural resources like events libraries

34:32museums uh so some of those strategies

34:34include continue to maintain the

34:35Alexander County historic preservation

34:37commission's certified local government

34:39status and pursue funding opportunities

34:41through their uh CLG program to support

34:43historic preservation activities that's

34:44a grant program the state gives a fair

34:46amount of money to to communities to to

34:48help keep those communities uh or to

34:49keep those structures uh compliant in

34:52the historic preservation standards

34:53develop meeting spaces at library

34:55branches for community and

34:56organizational I was shocked to hear

34:57this our our libraries don't have much

34:59in uh the way of meeting spaces where

35:01most of the public meetings I would

35:03typically have are are going to be in

35:04libraries and so that's something that

35:05we we saw as a high value thing uh and

35:08then pursuing funding opportunities such

35:10as endowment funds Library foundations

35:12and grant funding to enhance County

35:14resources without impacting uh taxes as

35:17much as we possibly can those that money

35:19is out there all right so the last

35:21chapter implementation it's basically a

35:23big old checklist all the stuff that's

35:26in the earlier chapters is Consolidated

35:28down in this chapter for an easy

35:30reference um it does identify some of

35:32the expected challenges and ways to

35:34overcome them so for example funding is

35:36always the hardest part to getting these

35:37things off the ground uh and it speaks

35:39to the importance of finding like I said

35:41funds endowments uh grant funding that

35:43kind of thing so what to expect uh

35:46annually you should see me come up here

35:48and talk about the comprehensive plan uh

35:49every five years there should be a

35:51general update to the plan because it's

35:53a 20-year plan but things change you may

35:56want to take a look at it and go you

35:57know what this doesn't apply anymore we

35:59need to to rework this um and you guys

36:01will hear me say the words comprehensive

36:03plans at every single meeting from now

36:05on uh you will get sick of those words

36:08so so next month planning board's

36:11already sent forth a favorable

36:13recommendation uh like I said according

36:15to state law we have to do it in a

36:16legislative decision procedure so I will

36:19advertise a public hearing and come to

36:21you guys next month for an official uh

36:23vote on this you don't have to take any

36:25action tonight however will say if you

36:27go to the website or if you want me to

36:28print off if you let card copy I can do

36:30that too but it's on the website

36:31Planning and Development draft 2045 plan

36:34uh review it see if there's something

36:36there where you're like hey we really

36:37need to reward this or cool looks good

36:40let me know in the meantime I'm more

36:42than happy to to make those edits and

36:43then next month we can hopefully uh have

36:46this thing formally adopted so any

36:48questions for

36:50me

36:52questions no a lot of time and effort

36:54has went into this so thank you

36:57thank you thank

37:00you thank you

37:03Brian next on the agenda is the Bowman

37:06Court sewer project bid discussion I

37:08would recognize County Manager Shane

37:11Fox thank you Board of Commissioners um

37:13I'll start by just um making a few

37:15comments if I can about the

37:16comprehensive plan so my past history of

37:19comprehensive plans number one is that

37:21it's outsourced so the fact that Brian

37:24and his staff has put the time and

37:25effort into this plan is tremendous um

37:28typical plans of this size are excess of

37:31$100,000 some can be as much as

37:33$200,000 he and his staff have put in

37:35the time and effort um at no cost

37:37outside of his typical County cost that

37:40he has to us and some printing and some

37:42materials and Etc but very very little

37:44cost the overall comprehensive plan is a

37:46tremendous document that can be used all

37:48the way through the next comprehensive

37:50plan for all things development all

37:52things of consideration that come before

37:54you we can look back on and obviously

37:57reference the work that's been put into

37:58that so I just want to say thank you

37:59from my position to Brian and his staff

38:01for putting in the work and the effort

38:03and saving the taxpayers more than six

38:05figures worth of money that typically

38:07will be paid out to a third party so

38:09very appreciative of the work that's

38:10gone forth um you tonight and and within

38:13the

38:14plan first I've got a couple things um

38:16in front of me but I'll start with the

38:17Bowman Court sewer project so this is

38:19something that's been talked about now

38:21for the last couple years uh we started

38:23on January the 30th um by opening bids

38:25or hoping to bids we did not receive the

38:27three required bids so then we read

38:29vertis for 14 days on February the 13th

38:31we received two bids however both of

38:33those bids are higher than our current

38:35budget so staff recommendation tonight

38:38is fairly simple we're asking you all to

38:39consider refusing these two bids

38:41rejecting these two bids and allowing us

38:43to go back out we're currently working

38:45with our engineer Mcgill and Associates

38:47to re-evaluate the scope of this project

38:49and hopeful uh that we will rebid and

38:52have lower cost bring before you next

38:54month so staff recommendation is that we

38:57reject the two bids that we received on

38:59February the 13th be happy to answer any

39:01questions you might

39:04have any

39:07questions um if

39:09not do we have a motion to reject the

39:14two current bids on the Bulman Court

39:18sewer project at this time Mr chair go

39:22ahead make a motion to reject the two

39:24bids on Bowman Court sewer project

39:28second we have a motion a second any

39:32discussion um all in favor please raise

39:34your right

39:35hand passes unanimously we will thank

39:38you have that rebid please

39:41absolutely um next item budget ordinance

39:43amendments numbers 17 through 20 Shane

39:47Fox County Manager absolutely we'll

39:48start with number 17 17 is comprised of

39:51four different sections all four are new

39:53monies coming into the county the first

39:55is to DSS through the Via child welfare

39:57funds the second is the senior center

39:59through senior Medicare Patrol project

40:01Grant the third is the Detention Center

40:03through the 2023 brine Jag Federal grant

40:06that's passed through and the fourth is

40:08a private donation for a purchase of a

40:10k9 vest again all four of these are new

40:12monies coming into the county uh to

40:14purchase or to expand uh towards each

40:17one of those respective departments

40:20number 18 is a budget true up to the

40:22fire departments anytime we have a

40:24revive year like we had this past year

40:26we make estimates um with the best

40:28information that we have we're now

40:29asking you all to consider budget

40:31amendment number 18 which is TR that up

40:33which is additional monies that were uh

40:35paid in each one of the respective fire

40:37districts to be paid out to those fire

40:39districts so again you have before you

40:41the amounts for all eight fire districts

40:43again those are not additional

40:44expenditures these are additional monies

40:46received through the tax process and the

40:51receiving of those tax monies the third

40:53tonight is number 19 um this is to close

40:56out out the

40:572018 waterline extension project so that

41:00is six years old U but this is the final

41:03draw down and final payment of the uh

41:06project and asking you all to consider

41:08number 81 19 which is a closing out of

41:10that Capital project and allows that

41:12Capital project to go to zero we are

41:14returning some monies back to the

41:15general fund which again is positive and

41:17then number 20 finally is um allowing

41:20for the um collection and use of

41:24Interest monies off of the American

41:26Rescue plan special Revenue fund monies

41:29that have been sitting within our bank

41:30account as you know interest rates

41:32considerably higher than what we've had

41:33in the past so we're asking to utilize

41:36those towards additional projects that

41:37we have within our Capital project fund

41:40again that's new money coming in not

41:41asking for any old money coming out

41:44that's 17 18 19 and 20 for your

41:47consideration

41:50tonight any questions i' be glad to

41:52answer them any

41:53questions just one question Mr chairman

41:56and keny maner I guess in number 18 East

42:01Alexander fire district that would

42:02include Stony Point that is correct

42:05correct that is correct thank

42:10you Mr chairman I'll make a motion we

42:13approv

42:1417320 uh budget ordinance amendments do

42:17we have a second

42:19second we have a motion in a second is

42:22there any any additional

42:24discussion if not all in favor please

42:27raise your right hand passes

42:31unanimously

42:32[Music]

42:36um next item on the agenda is the

42:38consent

42:40agenda uh gentlemen you have have had

42:43this information presented to you a

42:47reminder it does include the two

42:49additions um the inspections building

42:52inspection permit fee

42:54changes and just to give you um I did

42:56have a conversation with Bill Rogers the

42:59department head and some of that some of

43:03those those

43:04changes are to simplify simplify some

43:08some things with the new software

43:11program that they are rolling out 1 of

43:15April

43:16um along those lines I'm the test I am

43:19the test dummy for that new

43:23system and it's going to be a major

43:26Improvement for our building

43:29inspections um and permitting

43:31process everything will be you know um

43:36you'll be able to do everything

43:38electronically um notifications

43:42from you know notifications from um

43:46inspections you know P fails any

43:48information like that you know will be

43:50transmitted electronically

43:52to to the permit holder um

43:57it's going to be a it's it's point it's

43:59a it's definitely a step in the right

44:01direction and then we also have the

44:03Sterling Road

44:06cdbg

44:11um

44:13grant that requires some lead based you

44:16know that the lead based paint

44:18testing

44:20and bid

44:22approval there any other questions on

44:24the consent agenda if not do I have a

44:27motion for appr make a motion to approve

44:29consent agenda with the additions second

44:32motion a second um any other

44:35discussion if not all in favor please

44:38raise your right hand

44:41unanimous uh next on agenda number 13

44:44County Manager report back to Shane Fox

44:46County Manager thank you Mr chairman um

44:49got an update tonight on a few things

44:50I'll start U didn't mention this earlier

44:52during the budget ordinances but I think

44:53it's important um we'll talk in a few

44:55moments about about the budget meetings

44:56that we held last week and just want to

44:59share my appreciation with the county

45:00Finance staff and the work that they've

45:02put in this past year um on all things

45:05budget related so we did have 17 18 19

45:07and 20 tonight for your consideration

45:09and approval for the budget ordinances

45:11we're at 52 this time last year and 75

45:13two years ago so a lot of great work

45:15going on within the finance staff and

45:17I'm very appreciative of their work and

45:19their effort they put forth U week of

45:21the 19th so week before last um the

45:24finance staff and myself had an

45:25opportunity to spend that week meeting

45:27with the department heads so we took um

45:2932 meetings I think total that week met

45:31with all the department heads to discuss

45:33this past year and past years worth of

45:35budget information also discussed

45:37upcoming needs and wants as we go into

45:40the

45:412425 process and had um great results

45:44throughout that week with conversations

45:46of all things related to Al iner County

45:48so I want to again thank the department

45:49heads all 32 for meeting the week of the

45:5219th also the finance staff for being

45:54willing to meet for that many meetings

45:57within a 5ay span was some somewhat

45:59exhausting I think to a lot of folks

46:01involved but very appreciative and very

46:04very good work at the end of the week

46:05that we were able to accomplish um

46:07update as always U on projects we've got

46:09a lot of exciting things going on

46:10Bethlehem park project is underway if

46:12you've driven down there there's a chain

46:14now blocking off the drive um electrical

46:17work started this week um and um today

46:20um and lighting should go in um soon and

46:23the building demolish um demolition I

46:25think scheduled for later this week or

46:26first next week so you'll see a lot of

46:28progress going on the Bethlehem park

46:29project again we presented that last

46:31month a full

46:34overwhelming um review of of that par

46:37and all things um will be you know left

46:39new or be put new betham tank project U

46:43that work is is going forth you did

46:45approve tonight purchase of land for

46:47that tank so we're appreciative of that

46:48and moving forward again that's to

46:50provide another water tank to the

46:52Bethlehem Area because of growth and

46:54pressure issues um in that area area and

46:56that again is paid for just like the

46:57betham park um this this project is paid

46:59for through State Appropriations fire

47:02training facility welding is complete

47:04all that's left is painting the outside

47:05of the containers and putting some

47:08gravel down for a driveway so that is

47:09really really close just in time for our

47:12up covering certifications that are

47:14going to happen within some of our fire

47:15departments Sterling Road was mentioned

47:17earlier with the lead based paint um

47:19approval for the budget amendment we did

47:21advertise for bids for Engineering

47:23Services we did not receive three so

47:25that's back back out um we did receive

47:27one so we're optimistic that that one

47:29will continue to rebid um the second

47:31time if so then we're able to accept

47:32that one and move forward that's

47:34Sterling Road Project cdbg Grant to pay

47:36for that project once we do pick an

47:38engineer they'll develop the scope and

47:40of course move forward with the project

47:42um and rebidding or bidding for a

47:44contractor at that time EMS building and

47:47health canopy are both underway EMS

47:49building uh extension on station one is

47:52moving from the architect soon to the

47:54bid process so we're optimistic that

47:56that'll happen fairly quickly and the

47:57health canopy work started I believe

48:00today or this week so um the concrete

48:02has been removed and the canopy work is

48:04begun and that should take about six

48:06weeks I believe is what I was told for

48:08that project to be completed so a lot of

48:10good things going on within the county a

48:11lot of projects um also it's budget

48:14season if I didn't mention that earlier

48:15so any questions I can answer for you

48:17I'd be glad

48:21to I'll just say good work thank

48:24you

48:29um we will now transition into

48:32[Music]

48:34our um Consolidated Human Services board

48:40meeting

48:42um did anyone sign up a public comment

48:45we had no public

48:47comment um

48:50volunteers next item will be the Public

48:53Health Report I would recognize

48:56Billy Walker Health direct um Health

49:05director good evening I'm gonna give you

49:08a quick update I'm going to do an

49:10organizational update a financial update

49:12and an accreditation update and then I'm

49:15going to let my health educator do um a

49:19situation report so next Slide the uh

49:24organization

49:26updates that I have for you are the

49:28vacancies our um Advisory Board

49:30vacancies we still have uh the

49:33opthalmologist and the engineer

49:35vacancies and then our staff vacancies

49:38we uh did hire a Administrative

49:42Assistant um Chelsea Ellis she

49:45transferred from the front desk into um

49:48this position in December so we are um

49:52still trying to hire her position um as

49:55front desk and that's the processing

49:57assistant that that is uh open until

50:00field um dental assistant is open until

50:03field and then the environmental health

50:05specialist we were doing the interview

50:07process but it is now open until

50:10field um the organizational updates um I

50:15have to discuss the Workforce

50:18Development plan since you're my um

50:20governing body um we have had some um

50:26issues you know with environmental

50:27health and so we're trying to um make it

50:31more competitive and so uh we looked at

50:35how do we do that

50:36so um I talked to some of the schools

50:40that offer environmental health programs

50:43and so I ask if we if they would be

50:46willing for us to come and um

50:49participate in their job fairs and um

50:52they said yes and maybe even send

50:54interns to to Alexander County to work

50:56with our um our environmental health uh

50:59team and so um I'm incorporating that

51:03into our plan so um I just have to make

51:06youall aware that I'm doing

51:08that and I think that'll be beneficial

51:11for our our County because I think too

51:14you know I think um Alexander countyy is

51:17small but I think some interns coming to

51:21a small County may see that that's an

51:23enjoyable instead of going to a bigger

51:26County you know I think we do things a

51:27little different here um Financial

51:30updates I'm just going to hit on what

51:33the county manager said we've been

51:35working this uh month on the uh budget

51:38pretty hard inh house and then with the

51:41county manager and

51:45finance um we're also going to push back

51:48um the fee approval process we normally

51:50do that in February but we're going to

51:53push it back until uh May and bring it

51:56to you in June to

52:01approve accreditation we are it says

52:04almost at the two-year Mark but I did

52:07this for our Advisory Board last month

52:09so we are actually at the one year I

52:11mean two-ear Mark now because uh it's

52:14Mar March 1st 2026 we're going to get

52:16that 90-day letter um so then the

52:19program letter will be um April the 15th

52:22of 2026 and then it'll be um our HDs

52:27will be due to the state June 1 2026 and

52:31then they'll be here um either in

52:34September or October in

52:352026 and so you will every time we're

52:38here you'll probably hear something

52:39about

52:42accreditation and then um it is time for

52:45your uh annual uh board training and we

52:48have no new board members so this is

52:50just annual training and this is um due

52:54to accreditation and I put the

52:56benchmarks it's the 36.1 36.2 and

53:0136.3 and this training provides uh the

53:04board with important information

53:06regarding uh your Ro Your Role um as

53:10your rule rule making duties your

53:12advocacy role and keeping you up to date

53:16uh with emergency governance and public

53:19health

53:20issues and then um

53:2334.1 in accredit ation is um that I sent

53:27you information uh prior to this meeting

53:30and that was via email TW uh uh

53:3422624 for you to uh review prior to the

53:37meeting and that was the board operating

53:40policy and procedures um and I think

53:43that was admin

53:453.02 and then the board policy and

53:48procedures and that's admin

53:503.05 and so I need your signatures on

53:53the following which is the service board

53:56annual review acknowledgement statements

53:59and then your annual review guide which

54:01is

54:042024 any questions on

54:08that the situational reports I'm going

54:10to let um Katie do she's my health

54:14educator I'm gonna let her do her

54:16reports uh that she has for

54:19you thank You' all for letting me come

54:21to uh present these reports they're

54:23really important for our accreditation

54:24benchmarks

54:25um I give a little review of all of

54:28their reports because they all seem

54:29really similar even for me who's in the

54:31health field um they get pretty twisted

54:33up so all four of these reports do have

54:35to be reported to our Board of Health or

54:37or County Commissioners the cha is the

54:40community health assessment and we do

54:42that every four years we do data

54:44collection analyze that data and then we

54:46report it out we have to give this to

54:48y'all of course and then um the general

54:50public all of the other plans are then

54:53built off of the cha

54:55the S is the one I'll be mainly

54:57presenting on today and a little bit of

54:59the Strategic plan as well the S is done

55:01every year in between the years that we

55:03do the cha it's an essentially a

55:06abbreviated version of the assessment

55:09and it provides some updates from the

55:10last

55:11cha um we did just submit this March 1st

55:15so that is complete um and now we just

55:17need your input it on as well and then

55:19the Strategic plan this is agency

55:22developed in coordination with our CJ

55:24and it gives really detailed specifics

55:26on the numbers of all the reports we run

55:28it shows progress on our priorities and

55:30this one is four years long so it goes

55:32right in coordination with the cha and

55:34then the chip and the Strategic plan are

55:36essentially the same plan but the chip

55:37is more of a living document version it

55:39exists on scorecard via the Internet um

55:43and it utilizes the results based

55:44accountability training and it goes with

55:46our uh cha our strategic plan and it's

55:49also four years

55:50long so strategic plan and Chip as well

55:53as s so our strategic plan as we

55:57reported back on our cha from

56:002022 we chose mental health substance

56:03use disorder Healthy Living child care

56:04and parenting and elder care and those

56:07were from our healthy alexandrians

56:08Community input and then Advisory

56:11board so our priorities for mental

56:13health the things we've worked on are

56:15when we hired in LCSW which is our

56:17licensed clinical social worker uh in

56:20April of 2023 we started tracking the

56:22amount of clients that she serves so 54

56:24is the the singular number of clients

56:26that she served just from April to the

56:28end of December of

56:302023 risky behaviors is a program that

56:33the health educator myself runs in the

56:35schools for the freshmen and sophomores

56:37I teach them mental health and

56:39counseling a little bit some background

56:40information on that vaping substance use

56:42disorder kind of some things that tie in

56:44with mental health and in the fall of

56:472023 I served 156

56:50students substance use disorder the fun

56:52one um the first set of reports that we

56:55ran was from when we hired the or from

56:58when the port position was hired um

57:01we've been tracking in coordination with

57:02him the number of calls that he's run

57:04and then the number of kits that he's

57:05distributed um those kits have Narcan

57:07fentanyl test strips some package

57:09information and then some information

57:11about resources that people can find if

57:13they do have an overdose or need

57:15addiction

57:16recovery um the other priorities that we

57:19tracked for sud um more specific to the

57:22health department were the S prevention

57:24material

57:25uh Shannon shoulders M Chapman and

57:28myself we put together a series of three

57:30separate videos that were 30 minutes

57:32long they essentially taught on

57:34addiction genetic predisposition vaping

57:37resources how to recognize an overdose

57:40and what to do if you do witness an

57:41overdose um we presented those via the

57:44Internet the schools presented them and

57:46um we did get some feedback but because

57:48of the parent Bill of Rights we had to

57:50send out surveys first get consent back

57:53and then the students were allowed to

57:54give it input um if they had signed up

57:56for their parents um So based off of

57:59that we did track the total number

58:00students viewed but the number that we

58:02got on feedback was not as much but this

58:05year we'll be able to get some more

58:06information back on that because we'll

58:07be a bit more prepared and not have to

58:09worry about navigating that so with that

58:12we served about 412 students in the high

58:15school then the said prevention with our

58:18community leaders in September of 2023

58:22at one of the S meetings someone had

58:24mention mentioned that perhaps going out

58:26into the community and educating the

58:28parents would be a good idea as well as

58:29educating the students so Marie Chapman

58:32and I we developed a sub prevention

58:34material presentation for churches

58:36that's kind of similar and goes hand

58:38inand with what the students are

58:39learning but it targets parents so it

58:41teaches parents how to recognize if

58:42their children might be using any kind

58:44of drugs if they might be addicted

58:46behavioral changes and then also how to

58:47distribute Narcan and get help for their

58:50children or we do have a lot of

58:52grandparents in this area who are the

58:54primary Caregivers for adolescents so it

58:57also teaches grandparents how to

58:58navigate social media um see if their

59:00students are maybe sending money that

59:02they shouldn't be sending and those kind

59:04of things so we did um serve a total of

59:08three churches and then our St

59:09prevention with our community leaders

59:10was our catch by breath and then lock

59:13boxes distributed uh the medication lock

59:15boxes we give out materials at every

59:17Community event that we go to and we did

59:20this in coordination with RHA and viia

59:22health um they helped us give out

59:24medication la boxes and we also tracked

59:25our own we gave about 174 in

59:302023 other priorities Healthy Living

59:34this one we did nutrition classes in

59:36coordination with the Cooperative

59:38Extension the total number of

59:40participants um that dare sent to me was

59:44199 and these were nutrition education

59:47um healthy living at their at each stage

59:49of life um and then basic meal

59:52plans and then of course we have the

59:54wellness for our own employees and then

59:56we did um we just submitted a letter of

59:59support for the County multimodal

01:00:01Planning Grant and then we had the

01:00:04social media Campaign which just

01:00:05educates on nutrition tobacco cation

01:00:08those sorts of things where you can get

01:00:09free exercise out outside in the

01:00:12community um and we checked the number

01:00:14of Facebook posts we put out there and

01:00:16we did

01:00:1732 elder care we did the senior

01:00:20education so went into birthday lunches

01:00:23and presented on healthy living at

01:00:25certain stages of life um so nutrition

01:00:28education substance use prevention um

01:00:31physical activity at Ender stage of of

01:00:34life and we reached 79 um seniors and

01:00:38then child care and parenting uh the

01:00:40main thing that we're doing with this is

01:00:42utilizing the systems of care Grant

01:00:43under our child collaborative um since

01:00:46we've not put anything out yet we have

01:00:48been tracking the total number of

01:00:49meetings um on this collaborative and we

01:00:52met 14 times in 2023

01:00:55so this is our SWAT um this goes on the

01:00:59very end of our strategic plan and it's

01:01:02kind of a rough assessment of things we

01:01:03can improve on things we kind of

01:01:05suffered on things that might hinder us

01:01:07in the future and have hindered Us in

01:01:08the past um so for our main strengths um

01:01:12our Community Partners we've had so much

01:01:14great collaboration especially with our

01:01:16substance use disorder Coalition um

01:01:18without all of our partners we wouldn't

01:01:19be able to do any of the work that we do

01:01:22weakness was that we had a really high

01:01:23rate of not shows in our own Clinic um

01:01:25but we have a quality improvement plan

01:01:27in place now to kind of increase those

01:01:29numbers threats would be the parent Bill

01:01:32of Rights but that's no longer really a

01:01:33problem we've kind of learned a way in

01:01:35cooperation with the school system to

01:01:36navigate that which we're really

01:01:38appreciative of their help and then um

01:01:41the rural Health Grant I did forget to

01:01:43mention we did apply for that so if we

01:01:45do um receive those FS that will also

01:01:47help with healthy living as well because

01:01:49we'll be able to serve uninsured and

01:01:50underinsured people in our

01:01:53Clinic

01:01:55okay so the S is almost the exact same

01:01:58report as what I just gave you all the

01:01:59numbers for so you can go into the next

01:02:01slide um this is the one like I said

01:02:03it's in between all the years of the cha

01:02:05uh we just submitted it and we will

01:02:07hopefully get our approval letter around

01:02:08April or

01:02:10May now this is something we do have to

01:02:12report to y'all for our benchmarks for

01:02:14accreditation so like I said thank you

01:02:15so much for letting me come um so since

01:02:18the 2022 cha our demographics um and our

01:02:22Target populations have remained

01:02:23unchanged so they're the same our

01:02:26priorities are the same though uh based

01:02:29off of our adviser from the state she

01:02:30said to separate mental health and

01:02:32substance use disorder we took that to

01:02:34our Advisory Board and they approved the

01:02:35change um so the reason we kind of made

01:02:38that change was because some people may

01:02:40have mental health and usually if

01:02:42someone has substance use disorder it's

01:02:44tied to mental health but not always is

01:02:45mental health tied to substance use

01:02:47disorder so that's why we made the

01:02:49separation and have five

01:02:51priorities our Target populations like I

01:02:54I said um they've not changed at all

01:02:56since our 2022 cha so we still have

01:02:58adults and children with mental health

01:03:00services adults and children in need of

01:03:02substance use disorder treatment

01:03:04individuals with limited transportation

01:03:05and resources this was not one of our um

01:03:08main priorities but it is one of our

01:03:10Target populations so there's a little

01:03:11bit of a separation there um individuals

01:03:14who are non-english speaking um that

01:03:16flyer there on the right you can see we

01:03:18coordinated with the local inter agency

01:03:20coordinating coalition to host a fully

01:03:23Spanish presentation for parents um so

01:03:26that was a huge benefit to our community

01:03:29and then individuals with low income or

01:03:31those who are in insured um and I posted

01:03:34at the very very bottom a little I don't

01:03:36know if you can see it but it says

01:03:3712.9% um of persons without health

01:03:40insurance under the age of 65 um and

01:03:43that was as of 2023 before um Medicaid

01:03:45expansion so those numbers may be

01:03:47different for 20124 now and maybe a

01:03:49little bit

01:03:51reduced progress on our priorities this

01:03:54is all of that information that I just

01:03:56discussed in the um strategic plan so if

01:03:58you have questions let me know but it is

01:04:01all the same

01:04:02information get the next one um looking

01:04:05forward to 2024 Mental Health First Aid

01:04:08we are hosting two separate classes at

01:04:11the health department completely free

01:04:12for everyone um community members

01:04:15Community Partners County Employees um

01:04:19it is now full but we're planning to

01:04:20host another class later in the year um

01:04:22we're doing a youth and adult mental

01:04:24first aid class and then another On The

01:04:27Rise which we don't have locked down a

01:04:29date but once we do I'm really excited

01:04:31about it is the suicide prevention it's

01:04:33called assist and we're doing that in

01:04:35coordination with via

01:04:37health and then with s we do have the

01:04:40parent presentation coming up on March

01:04:4227th from 5:30 to 6:30 um again that's

01:04:45completely free mallerie Chapman Shannon

01:04:47Childers um Chad pennel and myself we're

01:04:50all going to present these materials to

01:04:52the school um for all the parents be

01:04:54able to know and recognize the signs of

01:04:55addiction genetic predis those kind of

01:04:58things so that they're more aware of

01:04:59what's going on with their

01:05:01children emerging issues morbidity and

01:05:04mortality changes the most significant

01:05:06change from the 2022 cha to our 2023 s

01:05:10was that we no longer tracked covid

01:05:13deaths or covid um numbers we're

01:05:15tracking covid deaths only because we

01:05:17had that big switch Co is no longer one

01:05:19of the top um we switch back to the

01:05:21commun non-communicable diseases being

01:05:23in the top so heart dis disease um

01:05:25cancer those types of

01:05:27things uh in 2023 and now 2024 we've

01:05:31seen a huge rise in the case of measles

01:05:32across the United States um we've also

01:05:35seen a rise in pediatric deaths from the

01:05:37flu of course and unfortunately mental

01:05:40health inside are still on the rise

01:05:41we're still seeing rates of addiction

01:05:42rising and overdoses

01:05:44Rising ecigarette usage continues to

01:05:47rise and we see that with the school

01:05:48system as well um they're doing a great

01:05:50job trying to combat that so I applaud

01:05:52them on their efforts um but

01:05:54unfortunately we don't know the

01:05:55long-term health effects of vaping still

01:05:58there has been a rise in cases of

01:06:00syphilis and then like I said earlier

01:06:02the increase in poverty and

01:06:06unemployment so paused or discontinued

01:06:08efforts since our 2022 cha like I just

01:06:11stated we because of the state of

01:06:13emergency ending on May 11th in 2023 we

01:06:16stopped tracking the rates of Co but we

01:06:18are still tracking deaths um and then we

01:06:21put an end to the mids South lifestyle

01:06:23program

01:06:24looking ahead we do have our 2026

01:06:27accreditation cycle we're halfway there

01:06:29um expanding said prevention materials

01:06:32in our community and the mental health

01:06:33and first aid um maybe opening more

01:06:36classes to the

01:06:42public and when she says when she said

01:06:45we're halfway there we actually had a

01:06:46meeting today and we are almost

01:06:50100% up to date up to date for

01:06:53everything that we need need for

01:06:54accreditation so far so um we feel

01:06:57pretty good about it there's 147 bench

01:06:59Parks so a lot of information to put

01:07:02together yeah so I think you can tell

01:07:04that the girls of the health department

01:07:06are very very um busy and they are so

01:07:09excited about being in the community

01:07:11educating so um they they wear me

01:07:17out um okay I'm going to tell you about

01:07:20the renovations and we're very excited

01:07:22about this um we've been waiting on this

01:07:25for about 2 years so um it is the new uh

01:07:28front entrance cover and I'm going to do

01:07:31a public notice which is another

01:07:33accreditation standard so um we have

01:07:36this posted in the um newspaper um so

01:07:40construction will begin today and it did

01:07:43um we want the public to Pro proceed

01:07:46with caution observe All Temporary

01:07:49directional signage provided at the site

01:07:51comply with instructions issued by the

01:07:54health department staff Andor

01:07:55construction staff and if you have any

01:07:57questions regarding this issue please

01:07:59call 828 632

01:08:039704 and we thank you for your

01:08:05cooperation and regret any inconvenience

01:08:07that this may cause we did realize today

01:08:11um that even with the signage that

01:08:14patients um are standing at the doors

01:08:17and really not knocking so we got

01:08:19wireless doorbells for them to ring and

01:08:21we put signage to ring the doorbells and

01:08:23we have staff as Runners for that so um

01:08:27just bear with us U it'll be four to six

01:08:30weeks of inconvenience but it'll be so

01:08:32much better when this is

01:08:35done any questions very

01:08:38good okay I just wanted to say that the

01:08:41program that you guys came and presented

01:08:43at First Baptist Church I've not heard

01:08:45anything except great compliments about

01:08:47it but you know it's something that has

01:08:51worked real well to bring out the

01:08:53information to the public and I think

01:08:55the more information we can give to the

01:08:58public the better off we're going to be

01:09:00especially due to the fact that in the

01:09:03last couple weeks we still had some

01:09:04problems with some things happening and

01:09:07U uh I just think it's really really

01:09:10good that this program's out there and

01:09:14more parents and more students or

01:09:18teenagers they don't have to be students

01:09:21they they need to be pay attention to

01:09:23what you're doing and I do know this I

01:09:25know that one store that I frequent

01:09:28quite a bit because it's close to the

01:09:29house they stopped selling bait they

01:09:33don't even sell it anymore he got a sign

01:09:35up where they were selling it and I

01:09:37walked in I said how about a strawberry

01:09:39you know I didn't even know anything

01:09:41about him okay but the whole point was

01:09:43he said Larry I stopped that you know

01:09:45and I was just real proud of him because

01:09:47he does not I mean moved it all out said

01:09:50he didn't want to fool with it didn't

01:09:51want a part of it so I thought that was

01:09:54really good so the information is

01:09:55getting to some of the stores and the

01:09:58people that sell it and that's going to

01:09:59be a tremendous help fastic that's the

01:10:02kind of feedback we love to hear I I

01:10:04couldn't believe it I'm like really he

01:10:06said oh yes you know so that was very

01:10:09very good and uh I was glad to see that

01:10:11type response from the public that there

01:10:13there's some places that are going to

01:10:15say you know it's not worth the money

01:10:18we're making for these kids to spend 50

01:10:2060 $70 on a VAP and it it does no good

01:10:25it's heart attack medicine it's lung

01:10:27medicine it's brain medicine I mean and

01:10:31and they just it's it's

01:10:33a it's a terrible thing and I do

01:10:35appreciate what y'all did and uh coming

01:10:38and presenting everything to the church

01:10:40very good job they are working with um

01:10:43with Chad and um it in the county and

01:10:48prom promise and some of the students at

01:10:51the high school and they're going to put

01:10:52together a video utilizing the students

01:10:56I think it's G to be great yeah it'll be

01:10:57essentially an overdose video simulating

01:11:00a student having an overdose at prom and

01:11:02we've got members from the Beta Club

01:11:04that are volunteering to participate um

01:11:06and be part of the process so I think

01:11:07that will help engagement as well as

01:11:08students seeing faces they recognize um

01:11:11when they watch the

01:11:13video thank you thank you thank thank

01:11:16you good job thank

01:11:19you next on the agenda is the senior

01:11:22center report I would

01:11:25recognize Miss Christy hunt our senior

01:11:27senator director good evening thank you

01:11:30all for having us here

01:11:33um I kind of want to stray just a little

01:11:35bit from my PowerPoint um I received

01:11:38this um it's an article one of the

01:11:42seniors sent it to me right before I

01:11:44came and she asked me if I could read it

01:11:47and if it's okay with you all I will

01:11:49read it and it's it I won't say who's in

01:11:53it but I'm I'm very proud that they sent

01:11:54it um it just says finding a cure for

01:11:57loneliness could indeed save lives in

01:12:00May I'm assuming last year US Surgeon

01:12:02General and I'm probably going to

01:12:04pronounce this wrong viic Murthy

01:12:06declared loneliness an epidemic and he

01:12:08initiated a call for Action to mitigate

01:12:11its harmful impacts increased risk of

01:12:14heart disease stroke and dementia in

01:12:16older adults loneliness also increases

01:12:19the risk of early death by more than 60%

01:12:22per his report

01:12:24I find that to be very interesting

01:12:26because one of the number one things

01:12:28that the seniors who are new to the

01:12:31senior center we'll come and say is

01:12:33we're lonely we want to find something

01:12:36to do somewhere to go people to be

01:12:38around and fun activities just to keep

01:12:41us busy keep our minds occupied and just

01:12:44keep going and that is one of the

01:12:46biggest things that I have noticed about

01:12:48the seniors they know the ones that come

01:12:51and see us they know they have to keep

01:12:53going going they have to keep moving

01:12:55because once you stop that's it you know

01:12:58so that said now we can present this um

01:13:03our Bingo on birthday lunches and I say

01:13:05this every time I come they're really

01:13:08they're really doing well we actually

01:13:10broke a record Friday we started signups

01:13:12for Bingo and birthday lunches at 8:00

01:13:15a.m. by 8:40 we already filled up we had

01:13:1950

01:13:20signups it was a little crazy that

01:13:22morning you know it was great but it was

01:13:25it was a little crazy we were all the

01:13:26phones were ringing off the hook people

01:13:28were coming in left and right and we

01:13:30kind of just divided and conquered a

01:13:32little bit but um it was great I I love

01:13:35it I love to see the people come out

01:13:37it's it's just a lot of fun so you know

01:13:40we're just going to keep

01:13:41going um that said you know beer

01:13:45building would be lovely so we can have

01:13:48more people there we have like 10 people

01:13:50on the waiting list right now for the

01:13:51Bingo and it's amazing to see them they

01:13:54will come and sit in the lobby and hope

01:13:57somebody don't show

01:13:58up and it's kind of sad but you know I

01:14:01just want to squeeze them in there but

01:14:02there's only so much we can do um okay

01:14:06our musicians Jam you know I've talked

01:14:08about this group before it's a great

01:14:09group it's on Monday mornings at 10:

01:14:11a.m. and thanks to Chad helping us with

01:14:14this we are Live on YouTube and we are

01:14:17getting all kinds of people watching

01:14:19lots of good comments and our latest one

01:14:21that I just think is amazing is from New

01:14:24York um the guy said it sounds great in

01:14:27New York so we're just going to be

01:14:30everywhere um AARP is there doing the

01:14:33taxes every Saturday at the senior

01:14:34center those appointments filled up in

01:14:37January all the way through April up

01:14:40till tax time so they are they are busy

01:14:43and they are doing great and those are

01:14:45free services so it's it's great um we

01:14:49have a lot of good upcoming classes a

01:14:51lot of these are our evidence based

01:14:53classes the pre-diabetes seminar would

01:14:56be great that you know healthy living

01:14:58we're going to do a garden class which

01:15:00is going to be great because they can

01:15:03they're going to get to take home a

01:15:05plant um it's going to be either they

01:15:07have their choice of a tomato plant um

01:15:11or a cucumber plant so that will be

01:15:12really good and they'll get to plant it

01:15:14there and do all kinds of fun things

01:15:16with it last year we done the tie-dye

01:15:18t-shirts and they had a great time with

01:15:20it so they asked to do it again okay

01:15:23that's fun we'll do that and then the

01:15:25barn quilting paint painting class will

01:15:27be on May 1st um Carol Mitchell is

01:15:30teaching that one and that one should be

01:15:32fun

01:15:34too next is our we did get the grant

01:15:37again this year for our identity theft

01:15:38shredathon event that was a big hit last

01:15:42year so we are doing it again since they

01:15:44gave us the money to do it and our shred

01:15:46truck will be there on March 22nd um the

01:15:49Alexander County partnership for

01:15:51children will also be on site for

01:15:53medication drop so that should be fun

01:15:55and I think we're going to have some

01:15:57more special guests on that

01:16:00too our Valentine's dance went really

01:16:03well um y'all going to have to start

01:16:05joining us for some of this stuff pop in

01:16:08um it was we had it says 99 people but

01:16:11actually we ended up with

01:16:13101 so we're we're good there but you

01:16:16know it was a lot of fun they had they

01:16:18had fun we played games we done the

01:16:20minute to win at games and um give out

01:16:22prize

01:16:23and they just had a really good time so

01:16:26I'm I'm very proud of that that was that

01:16:27was really good it was it's just amazing

01:16:30to see them laugh and play and just you

01:16:32know it's great so day trips will resume

01:16:36now that we don't have to hopefully

01:16:37worry about the bad weather and you can

01:16:40see we have a good little list there we

01:16:42always go out to eat because that's

01:16:44always good too and then our big day

01:16:48which will be May the 10th our senior

01:16:50celebration this is always Huges I think

01:16:53we ended up with over 130 people last

01:16:55year some were outside so we're not

01:16:57counting that on our our fire code thing

01:17:00um we have this in conjunction with the

01:17:02unifor senior games and those are always

01:17:05huge and and it's great we do a fun walk

01:17:08with it but we're having a DJ um we have

01:17:11our HoneyBaked Ham box lunches um greens

01:17:14the greens Skilled Nursing Facility are

01:17:16providing that for us and then we have

01:17:18lots of other um sponsors that they give

01:17:20us door prizes so that we hand that out

01:17:23out and there will be games to play in

01:17:25order to win those prizes again this

01:17:28year Diamond tourist trips going great

01:17:32um we actually have enough now to go on

01:17:33the Mount Rushmore trip so that should

01:17:36be fun um it's a good long trip and and

01:17:40I've heard good things about it so far

01:17:41they're getting really excited we've had

01:17:43some interest in the um the arc and

01:17:45Creation Museum and they've also we've

01:17:48also already had people that's wan to do

01:17:50the Myrtle Beach trip so should be good

01:17:53there now here's the big one we're very

01:17:56very proud of this our Medicare Savings

01:17:59now of course every year this can

01:18:01fluctuate we never know what plans are

01:18:03going to charge we never know you know

01:18:05how things are going to go we don't as

01:18:07many times as we can advertise you know

01:18:10we only have so many people that'll come

01:18:12in so last year you see we have we saved

01:18:15$593,000 which is great that's a huge

01:18:18number to me if I save somebody $10 then

01:18:21we're saving them that much money and

01:18:23I'm glad of that but we managed to hit

01:18:26over a million again this past year 1,3

01:18:302016,

01:18:32652 very very pleased with that that's

01:18:34that much money our seniors here can

01:18:38stay you know can keep in their pocket

01:18:40and spending on other things that they

01:18:41need and we had over 1100 contacts so

01:18:45that's a lot of good work very proud of

01:18:48my ladies for helping out with that and

01:18:50my volunteers our participant

01:18:53of course is

01:18:54growing um at and at the bottom you see

01:18:57there for January um our a average daily

01:19:00attendance was 73. 38 last year last

01:19:04January's was 53.86 which is still

01:19:08amazing those numbers are still really

01:19:10good um but that is a 30 over a 36%

01:19:14increase from last year to this year and

01:19:17I've actually run February's numbers and

01:19:19I didn't bring them with me but they're

01:19:20they're right up there at about a 30%

01:19:22increase too so we are growing

01:19:27wonderfully okay any questions one

01:19:30what's your building KN see 100

01:19:34okay yes 100 is our is our technical

01:19:38fire

01:19:40code may let us away with just I was

01:19:42just asking the question to see how you

01:19:44tracking from 50 some to 70 some yeah

01:19:48yeah we we have a um we have our my

01:19:50senior center we call it my senior

01:19:52center and it's it's our program where

01:19:54people supposed to check in and and

01:19:57typically they do and you know we have a

01:19:59little card that they can check in with

01:20:00and they choose what activity that

01:20:02they're there for so that kind of

01:20:04Records the data for us um but it's it's

01:20:07really good and and like I said these

01:20:09parties they're just beneficial for them

01:20:12and it's it's just a great program it

01:20:15really is if I could offer things seven

01:20:17days a week that would be wonderful too

01:20:20um I don't know it's it's just I really

01:20:23enjoy seeing them come out they need

01:20:25this so okay any other questions I just

01:20:30like to say that savings over a million

01:20:32dollars that's pretty huge it's it's

01:20:34wonderful it's it's we're very proud of

01:20:37that that is amazing the majority of the

01:20:39people that we see are in Alexander

01:20:41County we do have some that will come

01:20:44see us from the other counties I

01:20:45actually have a few that I handle out of

01:20:47um mecklinburg County and some out of

01:20:50Winston Salem but because it's Word of

01:20:52Mouth family members they want us to

01:20:54handle theirs so very proud of that too

01:20:58okay thank you all right y'all have a

01:21:00good even thank you ma'am great

01:21:07report

01:21:09um next item I would

01:21:13recognize County Manager

01:21:15CH thank you I'm here tonight to give

01:21:18the update for the Department of Social

01:21:19Services uh Mr David Moose is at Chapel

01:21:22Hill this week for the UNCC School of

01:21:24government classes so I'm going to be

01:21:25here to present Terry Jerel is also here

01:21:28uh Social Work program manager with DSS

01:21:30so she's here to back me up with any of

01:21:32the technical questions you might have

01:21:34so we'll start by talking about our DSS

01:21:36director search update so we did post

01:21:38the position for a little more than a

01:21:40month it closed February the 14th we had

01:21:4211 applications that were considered

01:21:44qualified we have set up a number of

01:21:46interviews starting next week our plan

01:21:48right now is to go through the first

01:21:50phase of interviews and then we'll

01:21:51determine after that that point whether

01:21:53or not we want to continue on with those

01:21:54applications or those applicants a

01:21:57second interview or a third interview

01:21:58and we'll keep you a priz to how that

01:21:59process is going so we are starting to

01:22:01set up those um interviews for next week

01:22:05starting on Monday um again 11 total

01:22:08applications that were considered

01:22:09qualified vacancy rate is 12% um as of

01:22:13right now that's about where we've been

01:22:15um still hiring qualified applicants for

01:22:17child welfare and economic Services

01:22:19we're just simply having a hard time

01:22:20finding qualified individuals and that's

01:22:22the same as across the state I know

01:22:24that's been something you've heard for

01:22:25quite some time we are seeing a much

01:22:27much less turnover rate which is good so

01:22:30again we're staying at about a six or

01:22:31seven number vacancy there overall with

01:22:34the number one and two being child

01:22:36welfare and economic services so we're

01:22:37continuing to look for different ways

01:22:39that we can hopefully attract

01:22:40individuals to come and apply and be a

01:22:42part of the team here um Foster Care

01:22:45Child protect services and adult protect

01:22:47Services numbers we have 59 children in

01:22:49DSS custody four that are out State four

01:22:51that are in our link links 18 to 21

01:22:53program 18 foster homes currently in the

01:22:56county and we did not have any adoptions

01:22:58in November December or January

01:23:00unfortunately we have 60 currently

01:23:02current cases in CPS that are open and

01:23:0513 Wards in Adult Protective Services as

01:23:07of right

01:23:09now a couple new hires we present here

01:23:12with our CPS team this is Tiffany Howard

01:23:15Social Work assistant and Maryanne

01:23:17Pearson social work three foster

01:23:20care economic service highlight um this

01:23:23is adult Medicaid and family Adult

01:23:26Family and Children's Medicaid uh we did

01:23:28have our open enrollment that started um

01:23:30in December you'll see that chart to the

01:23:32right with the increase there of more

01:23:34than 350 applications uh we have seen

01:23:37that number go back down so we did see a

01:23:39very very steep Spike once open

01:23:41enrollment started um again we're not

01:23:43sure exactly how to project project this

01:23:45going forward we do expect that trend

01:23:47line as you see there to continue but

01:23:49right now we've seen that dip in January

01:23:51and February um prior to the 10 or lower

01:23:54than the trend line from what we've seen

01:23:55in the past so again open rollment

01:23:57started December 1st we did have a spike

01:23:59the first month and we have now seen in

01:24:02January and February decreasing numbers

01:24:05there do have four new hires the

01:24:08economic Services Jennifer Dyson

01:24:09Mitchell cook Lynn thou and Laney Hammer

01:24:12each one of those individuals have

01:24:14started with us in December and January

01:24:16and early February so again we are

01:24:18having some success but we're just not

01:24:19having the number of applicants that we

01:24:21would like to have for some of the

01:24:22positions we have open again we're

01:24:24working on keeping our retention as part

01:24:26of our recruitment so to speak and

01:24:27keeping those that we have currently

01:24:29employed hopefully happy and moving

01:24:31forward with the

01:24:32organization other news our food drive

01:24:34was recently held and there's 479 items

01:24:36that were collected unit by unit

01:24:38competition for those who collected the

01:24:39most with Family and Children's Medicaid

01:24:41who won with 180 items again all items

01:24:44donated to the Christian Crisis Center

01:24:46food bank so very thankful for all those

01:24:48that participated with the food

01:24:51drive any questions you might have be

01:24:54glad to try to answer those or car's

01:24:56here again to answer any technical

01:24:57questions you might have with anything

01:24:58related to

01:25:03DSS thank

01:25:05you we're

01:25:08good with that

01:25:11um next on our

01:25:13agenda we will be moving into close

01:25:17session per North Carolina General

01:25:19statute

01:25:2114338

01:25:2311a 45 and

01:25:25six for economic development contractual

01:25:28and

01:25:29Personnel

01:25:31issues we will

01:25:33reconvene for the purpose of adjournment

01:25:38only thanks for being here and hope you

01:25:41have a safe trip

01:25:51home

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