2026-10-19 - Board of Commissioners

Welcome everybody to the October 19th Carter County Board of Commissioners meeting. Commissioner Clark, will you lead us in the Pledge of Allegiance? >> Yes, sir. >> I pledge allegiance to the flag of

the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> >> Youth Pastor Daniel Cow from the Cedar Point

Pentecostal Holiness Church will lead us in the invocation. Thank you. Welcome. >> Yes, sir. Thank you for having me tonight. Heavenly Father, we uh God, we acknowledge your greatness, and we want to

start tonight by honoring you and acknowledging what your word says in Psalm 24, that the earth is yours and all the fullness therein and everyone in the earth is yours. And Father, as we come

together tonight, I pray that you help us to remember that we're just stewards of all that you have given us. And Father, I pray that you give us wisdom and discernment, Lord, to be good stewards of

all this. Father, we pray that you would uh help us to be wise, Lord, in each one of these commissioners and everyone in here who's got something to say tonight and a decision to make. Father, we pray

that you give them wisdom and discernment. And Lord, that you would give us the the eyes to see the lies of Satan and the strongholds that he builds. Father, that we can tear them down and take those

captive take those thoughts captive in the name of Jesus. Father, we see that each one of our uh elected officials and um first responders and everyone that works in the community, God, is uh going

around in a very difficult, stressful situation sometimes. And Father, we pray that you bring them all safety, that you bring them all uh God, just give them grace. And Father, I pray that you keep

every one of them uh in your watchful eyes they perform the duties they have to do. And Father, we pray that you give us all wisdom as we go into this election season as well. Lord, help us to vote in

the way that we believe um reflects your will and your word. And we ask all this in Jesus' name. Amen. >> Amen. >> Thank you, Father. >> Thank you. >> >> In accordance with the state government ethics

act, it is the duty of every board member to avoid both conflicts of interest and the appearance of conflict. Does any board member have any known conflict of interest or the appearance of conflict

with respect to any matter coming before the board this evening. If so, please identify the conflict and refrain from any undue participation in the particular matter. Is there a motion to adopt adopt

the agenda? >> So moved. >> Motion by Commissioner Quinn. >> Second. >> Seconded by Commissioner Moore. All in favor? Is there a motion to adopt the consent agenda? >> I'll make the motion. >> Motion

by Commissioner Moore, seconded by Commissioner Shin. All in favor? All right. Next, we'll have a presentation of a proclamation supporting Operation Green Light for veterans. And we'll redo

proclamation now, then we'll do the presentation. You like that? All right. Proclamation 2026-P-08 supporting Operation Green Light for veterans. Whereas the residents of Carteret County have great

respect, admiration, and gratitude for the individuals who have selfishly served the United States of America in the Armed Forces, and whereas the contributions and sacrifices of those who have served

in the Armed Forces have been vital in preserving the freedoms and way of life we enjoy in our communities, and whereas Operation Green Light is a nationwide initiative to show support for veterans

and raise awareness about the challenges many veterans face in accessing the benefits and services they have earned. And whereas veterans continue to serve and strengthen our communities in many ways,

including strength through service organizations, faith-based groups, volunteer work, and public service. And whereas Carteret County joins counties and communities across the nation in shining a

green light to let our veterans know they are seen, appreciated, and supported. Now, therefore, be it resolved that the Carteret County Board of Commissioners declares this period from November 4th

through Veterans Day, November 11th, 2026, as a time of honor to honor the service and sacrifice of individuals in uniform who are transitioning from active service and to recognize the continued

contributions of all veterans to our community. Be it further resolved that in observance of the Operation Green Light, Currituck County will illuminate the cupola of the Currituck County Courthouse

in green and encourages residents and businesses to display a green light from November 4th through November 11th, 2026. Proclaimed the 19th day of October, 2026. And we have some veteran service

folks here. We're glad to have you and you're doing a great job for us. And uh we appreciate the great work you do uh for our veterans. >> Thank you, sir. >> If y'all come up, we're going to get a

picture. >> >> And you guys don't have to stay if you DON'T WANT TO. >> >> THANK YOU. >> CUZ WE REALLY DO APPRECIATE WHAT YOU DO. >> YEAH. >> YES. >> YEAH. >> >> SO, we'll now entertain a motion >>

Mr. Chairman, I'll make a motion to adopt the presentation of proclamation supporting Operation Green Light for veterans for the week of November up until Veterans Day. >> All right. Motion by Vice

Chairman Mansfield. >> Second. >> Seconded by Commissioner Quinn. All in favor? Next we have public comment. Brian Nicolo. Brian, we're worried about you. We haven't seen you in a couple of months. >>

Good evening. Thanks for everybody for what you do as well. Um my name is Brian Nicolo. I'm at 1420 Salter Path Road, Indian Beach. And my comments today deal with voting. Um if you look at what's

happening in Europe, then you'll realize your need to cast your votes for a Republican candidate. As I don't see any saving grace in the Democrat Socialist Party. In fact, there's a viral video

circulating online which depicts a French left-wing activist who was an advocate for opening her country to third-world migrants. The video shows her in front of her high-end boutique shop pleading to

the hordes of migrants to not loot her shop. She was telling them who she was and how she advocated them for coming into our country. However, they showed no appreciation or remorse as they destroyed

her livelihood in a matter of moments. I expect in that moment, if she lived here in the United States, she'd probably uh identify as a Republican. As France burns under the weight of globalist-funded

migration, it prompted me to look back to our nation's founding and specifically to our founding fathers and their emphasis on virtue. Virtue can be described in words such as ethic, morality,

goodness, honor, honesty, faithfulness, and charity. However, nowhere in the definition of virtue is the concept of suicidal empathy. Because allowing your country to be invaded by people who do not

understand the nature of virtue is suicidal empathy. The founders believed that citizens' virtue is crucial to the success of of a Republican form of government. George Washington in his farewell

address stated, "All of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, religion and morality are indispensable supports. It is substantially true that virtue or morality is

necessary spring of popular government. James Madison stated this the two suppose that any form of government will secure liberty or happiness without any virtue in people is a delusional idea.

Benjamin Franklin, only virtuous people are capable of freedom. As nations become corrupt and vicious, they are more needed in more need of masters. John Adams, our Constitution is made only for a

moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to government of any others. Globalist operatives are organizing and funding invasion to Western nations. It is too little time for me to discuss

the factions, motives, and money behind this effort, but suffice it to say that if we do not take our battle to the voting booth, it might very well end up in the streets. As America is not immune to

such uprisings as we have previously seen during the summer of love, for instance. The left-wing radicals and Democrat socialists have mobilized their vote. Some left-wing radicals have used anxiety

to get souls to the polls. Other left-wing groups have their globalist funded no kings where they're collecting ballots. Conservatives are the majority voting block, but make no mistake, if

conservatives conservatives stay home, we will lose majorities in the House and Senate. For example, if only 35% conservative vote turns out, we will likely lose the majorities. If 65 of conservative

votes, then we may maintain our majorities. If 75 of conservatives vote, we will win majorities. And if we can get 80% of conservatives to the polls, we will win supermajorities. So please call your

friends, neighbors, and relatives and get them to the polls. Thank you for the time and I'm maybe one of the commissioners can mention specifics about times, locations for voting. Thank you. >> Thank

you, Mr. Nikolai. Next we have a public hearing. If anybody else would like to speak during public comment, I was only person signed up. Everybody good? Next we have a public hearing >> >> and

resolution for CCATS for the fiscal year 2028. Mr. Patrick Flanagan. Patrick, how are you doing? >> Doing well. How about yourself? >> Good. >> Good. Do you guys want me to talk first or you want to

open the public hearing first? >> I'll make a motion to go into public hearing. Motion by Vice Chairman Mansfield, seconded by Commissioner Warren. All in favor? We're now in public hearing. Have at

it. >> All right. >> Anybody would like to speak during public hearing? Let them hear the plan first. >> Okay, go ahead. All right. So, this is our annual grant applications. Uh one for our

administrative side of the house, a little bit of staff, and uh vehicle insurance, as well as software that we use to run the uh CCATS operations. There's also an operating grant that pays for trips

for the elderly and for disabled folks that funds uh driver salaries and that sort of thing. We also have our combined capital grant, and that is to purchase new vehicles. And then finally, we have

our uh concept grant, our coordination grant that is known as the Down East Express, and that's the service we provide that runs to the triangle every single day. So, you see in your applicant uh

package there all the figures uh totaling 1,032,256 with a local share of $358,765. >> Just for the general public's uh information, almost all this money is federal money to run the CCATS here. >>

combination of federal and state money, yes, sir. >> And then we have our portion in. >> Yes. >> And now you've added something called the Greenville Express, right? Where you people uh we Do we make

a stop in Craven County and then go on to Greenville? >> Yes, sir. So, that grant is one that that CARTS is doing Craven County, and we're partnering with them. We take folks to New Bern, and then

they get on a CARTS bus and go to Greenville. The idea being if Craven County has anybody that needs to go to Raleigh, we'll swap folks, we'll continue on to Raleigh. They'll take the people to

Greenville. We'll meet back in New Bern at the end of the day and and carry the folks back to Carteret County. >> We do want to the VA hospital up to the Durham area and to the airport. >> Yes. >> All

right. And and we go there, if someone wants to ride, then how much notice they need to give you? >> 48 hours if you're going out of county. If you're riding in county, just 24 hours in advance. Uh

take reservations between 7:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m. every business day. >> And and tell them that feeder Raleigh, Patrick, cuz that's a great price. >> Yeah, so uh for the Carteret County uh residents,

it's $20 one way to to go to the triangle area, uh whether it be Chapel Hill, Durham, Raleigh, anywhere in that area. Yes, sir. >> So, you would take them up there, drop them off, doctor's appointment

or wherever, and then what time do they have to be back on the bus to head back? >> So, we ask everybody to have their appointments start no earlier than 10:00 a.m. and have everything wrapped up by

2:00p.m. so that we can kind of beat the traffic out of the triangle area and get folks back home at a reasonable time. >> Okay. Is there any questions from the board? Are there any questions from

the public? >> And we we don't give from the county if as far as what we appropriate, it's a very little amount of money. They they have fees for some of the ridership too that basically cover the

cost. >> Yep. >> Um and through the years, we've converted the buses over to LP systems, so they're not using regular gasoline, so it saves money as far as fuel but plus wear and tear. It takes you

get way more miles for oil changes when you're using the propane versus using the gasoline. >> Yep. >> Patrick, you do a good job for us over there. >> It's a great program. Keep up the work. >> We

appreciate all y'all's support. If you'll allow me 1 second, we want to thank Commissioner Mansfield for his many years of service on the transportation advisory board. He's been the county

commissioner appointed that and he's been a very valuable resource for us and we appreciate it. >> Thank you, sir. >> He might have some more time. He might volunteer. >> >> I would say on that one.

That's a promise. It's good. >> Okay, is there motion to go out of public hearing? >> So, does anybody want to speak during public hearing? >> Well, I just asked them. >> Okay, okay. I must have

missed it. >> All right. Motion to go out of public hearing? >> Yep, so moved. >> Motion by Vice Chairman Mansfield, seconded by Commissioner Moore. All in favor? All right, is there a motion to adopt

the resolution approving the submission of the fiscal year 2028 NCDOT grant application for 5310 elderly individuals and individuals with disabilities grant 5311 community transportation grant 5311

capital projects and 5312 concept coordination grant? >> Mr. Chairman, I'll make a motion to approve the submission of the grant applications for North Carolina DOT for the FY 28 for the grant numbers

5310, 5311 capital and 5312 and authorize the county manager to sign and submit the required grant documents. >> Motion by Vice Chairman Mansfield, is there a second? >> Second. >> Seconded by

Commissioner Quinn. All in favor? All right. Thank you, Patrick. >> Thank you, everyone, for your time. >> Thanks, Patrick. >> Next, we have a public hearing for the proposed closure of a portion of

Old Carteret Road. Ben Warren. >> All right, good evening, Mr. Chairman and Commissioners. Uh several months ago, planning staff received an application from Mr. Jason Moore, who is here with us this

evening, and Ms. Ashley Dentler to abandon a portion of Old Carteret Road, uh specifically at 203 Old Carteret Road. This section runs uh in front of their property and uh there's a terminus at the

end of their property. In the past, they've had some issues. They have a private boat ramp on their property and they've had issues with folks mistaken them that is a public boat ramp, and so they

want to abandon the end of that road. Uh it's a lengthy multi-process multi-step process to abandon a road. And so, just kind of recap what's happened over this year, uh March 16th of this year the

the initial step of this took place. We brought the resolution to the board. It was approved. It was sent to the Department of Transportation. It made its way to the North Carolina Board of

Transportation for approval on July the 8th and at that meeting they did approve the abandonment package and then it was sent back to the county for the final process. September 21st it was brought

back to the commissioners and at that meeting adopted the resolution to accept the public hearing which is for this evening. And so in preparation of the excuse me, can't talk tonight. In preparation

of the public hearing we provided public notice on three separate dates in the newspaper. We posted the property and we sent property notice to all adjoining property owners on Old Core Road and so

the final step in this process is to conduct the public hearing this evening. And once the public hearing is held for the board to consider adopting the resolution to permanent permanently close the

identified section of Old Core Road. And just to give you an idea of the section that is being considered you can see it's at the terminus of Old Core Road directly in front of the property owners

property. I'd be happy to answer any questions the board might have. >> Any questions for Ben? Is there a motion to go into public hearing? >> So moved. >> Motion by Commissioner Waldrop, second by

Commissioner Shean. All in favor? We're now in public hearing. Is there any one here would like to speak on this matter? Pretty straightforward. That's in Tusk, North Carolina. Old Bruce Golden's old

fish house. I guess you own all around that and uh want to abandon the road from his property line to the end of the road, right Ben? >> Yes, sir. >> All right. Is there a motion to close public

hearing? >> So moved. >> Motion by Vice Chairman Mansfield, second by Commissioner Waldrop. All in favor? All right. >> >> Is there a motion to adopt the order to close permanently closing a portion

of Old Carteret Road? >> Mr. Chairman, I'll make a motion to close permanently the portion by the order of Old Carteret Road. >> Motion by Vice Chairman Mansfield, seconded by Commissioner Shin. All

in favor? All right. Next, we have the manager's report. >> Thank you. Good evening, Commissioners and everyone who's watching our meeting tonight. A couple of announcements that are important. As

alluded to earlier, early voting is underway and it runs through Saturday, October 31st. Election Day, of course, is Tuesday, November 3rd. If you haven't voted yet, there are three places in Carteret

County where you can cast your ballot early. The Board of Elections in Beaufort, Fort Benjamin Park in Newport, and Western Park in Cedar Point. The early voting hours at each of these locations run

from 8:00 in the morning until 7:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, October 31st. We would like to send a very big thank you to our election staff and all of our

precinct officials for their hard work in helping make voting a smooth and welcoming experience for everyone. Also coming up is Veterans Day. Our Veterans Day parade, which is one of the largest in

the area and I think one of the best in the in the state, is coming up on Saturday, November 7th in downtown Morehead City. It starts at 11:00 a.m. Please come out and show your support for our

veterans and enjoy this important community tradition. And one more announcement for Veterans Also in observance of this holiday, county county offices will be closed on Wednesday, November 11th. So,

that's a little different. We'll be closed in the middle of the week, November 11th, for Veterans Day. So, please make note of that if you need to come to county offices. And that's all I have unless

you have questions. >> Thank you. Any questions? Next, we have appointments. Uh Commissioner Walter asked that we table the library appointment. Is that okay with everyone? All right. Next, we have

Consolidated Human Services, Dr. Patrick Patterson. All in favor of Dr. Patterson? Next, we have a Juvenile Crime Pre- Prevention Council. Appointment of one individual under the age of 21 to fill an

unexpired term ending June 30th, 2027. Is there a nomination for one of those individuals? >> Let me figure out. >> I'd like I've done a little bit of studying in the agenda package, and I would like

to nominate Bella Odom. >> All right. >> Based on her resume. >> All in favor of Ms. Odom? She has it. Next, we have Commissioner Comment. Commissioner Walter, would you like to start? >> Thank you

all for being here. I appreciate the pastor from Cedar Point Pentecostal joining us tonight. I am sorry I didn't get a chance to say hi to him, but I will stop by and uh ensure that I thank him in

person. Thank you all for being here. Um I don't have anything to add. Thank you to the county manager for highlighting the Veterans Day parade coming up. And I always appreciate um our director of

Veterans um Services, Keith Smith. As a veteran, I have been working with Heath. And if you have not met Heath over in in the building in front of Carteret Community College, please get over there if

you are a veteran and see what kind of services he can provide, especially in light of Operation Green Light. Thank you. >> Thank Commissioner Waldrop. Commissioner Moore. >> >> Okay. Um last couple

meetings I had missed, and I kind of wanted to just go over the one what happened, the reason I wasn't here. The first meeting, um I I had the flu and fevers and everything you could think of. Anyway,

I couldn't make it. The second meeting, uh we were back in the back having a meeting and uh my wife got ill and had to be transferred from Morehead to New Bern for surgery. And uh really sick. A lot

of prayers went out that night, and I want to thank everyone that that prayed for her. Uh she was in need of prayer, and uh Lord pulled her through. Thank each and every one of you for that. Early

voting, again, can't emphasize enough get out and vote. Um it's it's our privilege and honor to do that, and we need to do it. So, get out and vote. Vote early. Thank you. And uh Chairman? >> Thank

Commissioner Moore. Commissioner Quinn. >> Thank you, Mr. Chairman. >> >> Um yep, can't emphasize it enough. Get out and vote. Uh exercise your civic privilege uh to vote. Not just a civic duty, but

it's a real privilege. And I just like to say thank you. We've got Veterans Day coming up to all our veterans for our service, uh for their sacrifice, and for their dedication to protecting our

freedom. Thank you very much. >> Thank Commissioner Quinn. Commissioner Clark. >> Uh yeah, I would like to just um continue on with what's been said about early voting has begun. Um do get out and

vote. But I would challenge everyone that is going to vote to do your own research on the candidates and don't just show up to the polls expecting that someone is going to come up to you with a

leaflet with names on it of people that you think you should vote for. It's your responsibility to vote. It's your responsibility to know who you're voting for. So, just make a little bit of an effort

and do a little bit of research and um, I think you'll find that voting is more satisfying when you can actually know who you're putting a mark next to their name themselves. Thank you, Chairman. >>

Thank you, Commissioner Clark. Commissioner Shan. >> Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Um, >> >> so I just follow up on on all those comments. They're they're all absolutely correct. We have a It's a privilege

and it's also a responsibility for all of us to get out and and vote and get that done and uh, Brian, your your comments were spot-on. I appreciate you being here this evening. Like Chris said, we're

a little worried about you to start with. But, uh, but it is a I mean, and and as Commissioner Clark just said, know who you're voting for. Don't just check a box. Do your research and know what those

people stand for. Uh, it's very important. And also, I'd like to uh, hope everybody enjoys their Veterans Day and thank all the vets that that have that have given so much uh, to this country to put

us and keep us where we are. Uh, so it's it's a true honor to be able to to honor those veterans. Um, so thank you, Mr. Chairman. >> Thank you, Commissioner Shan. Vice Chairman Mansfield. >> Um, I'm

proud to have sat in this seat for almost 12 years. Um, and I'm my coming to my time is drawing near. I've got one more meeting. I'll try to be brief tonight and next month I may speak a little bit

longer. Um, but I really would like to thank our Veteran Services Department for the work that they do for the veterans because a lot of people come back um with physical disabilities, loss of limbs,

and also mental um I don't want to say issues, but that they they come back and they they've seen bad stuff and it's it's hard to deal with when you come back from those issues and depression um is a

serious illness and it's okay to ask for help. You know, your your your buddies are there for you in in the trenches when you're overseas, well you your buddies are here for you when you come back to

the United States of America, too. And you know, use the resources that are available. We do have a transportation if you can't get up there with Sea Cats that will get you to the VA hospital. Um we

want to help. Um so I hope everyone will take advantage of that. I hope everybody will honor their veterans and turn out for the Veterans Day parade in Redwood City. It is a great parade. Um hope

everybody will be safe during Halloween. Uh it's a crazy world we live in these days. If you don't get something that's pre-packaged, uh I would take it away from your children. Just you know, throw

it away. It's better to be better to be safe than sorry. Nobody would probably do that, but just on the off chance that it would happen, um that's probably not a bad idea. And then young folks out

there, I know I was young one time, too. Don't do anything stupid. Um it's uh it's not worth it. Sheriff's department's over here. They don't I don't I don't have to send I don't have to send them

after you. Um it it it we are entering flu season. You know, you flu shots are with both insurances are free. Um I encourage you to go to the doctor, go to the pharmacy, get your flu shot. Um it helps

keep other people from spreading it around the county so that we're not our children aren't home sick, that we're not missing work. Um and you know, obviously be cognizant of COVID and a lot of other

things. Uh there are issues about vaccinations. I get it, but you know, over the long haul vaccinations are the route to go. I mean, it it's it's Don't don't die on the wrong hill. >> >> So to speak,

no pun intended. Um, I would like to thank our staff as always. I mean, you guys make us look good. Um, you do all the work. We're here as a board of directors. We oversee budgets and policy. Um, we

do not supervise departments. We do not supervise employees. Um, we're glad to hear about the great job that our employees are doing and when we hear that they're not doing so good, we look into it,

but it's not our job. We don't hire and fire employees of the county. Um, we hire four positions and fire four positions. That's the tax administrator, the county manager, the county attorney, and our

clerk. So, three of them are sitting right there. Those are our direct reports. Um, so but they all do a great job. I mean, sometimes every someone doesn't have a good day, but we we don't either. So,

I mean, just you know, look in the mirror. Nobody's perfect. Um, and my mom always told me if you don't have anything good to say, sometimes it's best not to say anything at all. Um, so and I would

encourage everybody to get out and vote. Every vote does matter. I know sometimes when you see the results, you think that it doesn't. Um, but people have you know, it goes back to the Veterans Day

thing. People have sent their children to war to fight for our freedom and I think you owe it to those folks who sacrificed their life to vote for the people that make the decisions whether they send

your sons or daughters into war. And with that, I'll conclude. Thank you. And I am privileged to be here. Thank you. >> Thank you, Vice Chairman Mansfield. Uh, I like to thank our veterans. Colonel

Mary Ann Waldorf. I was going to say Colonel Lori Buckhalter cuz I've heard it I've heard it so many times, but Colonel Mary Ann Waldorf. >> Thank you. >> And Private Carma Cloud. THAT'S CORPORAL.

CORPORAL. >> I DID GET A LITTLE BIT. >> YOU DID. >> WASN'T THAT WHAT GRANDMA WAS? >> I'M just kidding. I know you were a corporal. >> Make him a private. >> But thank you to our very own veterans and

thank all the veterans out there. Be safe Halloween and uh get out to vote like everyone else said and we appreciate y'all coming. Is there a motion to adjourn? >> So moved. >> Motion Motion by Vice

Chairman Mansfield, seconded by Commissioner Clark. All in favor? Thank you. >> Maintain your record. >> All right, here you go. Dirty a little bit over. >> Yeah.