2026-08-10 - Board of County Commissioners Special Meeting

01:19Good afternoon and welcome to each of

01:21you all for being here today. Um,

01:24Commissioner Gray Wilson will

01:26participate remotely today as will

01:30Commissioner Woodbury.

01:32Um, we will begin our meeting with an

01:35invocation today from Deacon John

01:38Harrison, Holy Family Cath Catholic

01:41Church, followed by a pledge of

01:43allegiance by Commissioner Bessie.

01:45Please stand if you're able.

01:53Thank you, Commissioner Wilson Hunt.

01:57In the tradition of the Catholic Church,

01:59I begin in the name of the Father and of

02:02the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

02:05Let us pray.

02:08Heavenly Father, we come together in

02:10your presence today.

02:12We give you praise for the gifts of

02:14life, liberty, and the pursuit of

02:17happiness. We give you praise for the

02:20gift of Force County in which we live,

02:23for its businesses, its churches, its

02:26organizations, its resources, and those

02:29who serve us and especially its

02:32residents. You have blessed us with

02:34great people who live, serve, and work

02:36in our community. And for this, we give

02:39you praise.

02:41Heavenly Father, we ask your blessing on

02:43the Forcy County Board of Commissioners

02:45as they draw on your gifts of wisdom,

02:48understanding, knowledge, and fortitude

02:51to best serve the people of Forcy

02:53County. We ask for your blessing on Don

02:57Martin in recognition of his 11 years of

03:00service on this board as its chair and

03:02as its chairman. Bless him, Lord, in his

03:06retirement.

03:08Today we especially ask for your

03:10blessings on Chris Parker. Lord, you

03:13know he is your servant and a servant

03:16for our community.

03:18Bless him as he assumes his new position

03:21as for Scythe County Commissioner.

03:24Heavenly Father, we look to you for

03:26guidance and courage in the days to

03:28come. May we all call upon you as we

03:32join you in our mission to love one

03:34another and to serve you.

03:38And may God bless all present here

03:40today. In the name of the Father and of

03:42the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

03:45>> Amen.

03:49To the flag of the United States of

03:52America and to the republic for which it

03:55stands. One nation under God,

03:58indivisible, with liberty and justice

04:01for all.

04:08Today's special meeting agenda consists

04:12solely of the administration of oath of

04:14office for Chris Parker as Forsight

04:17County Commissioner and the election of

04:20chair and vice chair. After years of

04:23faithful service to Forsight County, Don

04:26Martin resigned as county commissioner

04:29and chair of the board effective July

04:3131st,

04:332026.

04:34Is there a motion to declare the vacancy

04:37of the board of commissioners effective

04:40July 31st to 2026?

04:44So move

04:45>> madame chair I move that the board of

04:47accept Don Martin's resignation

04:50effective July 31st 2026

04:54and declare effecty on the board of

04:57commissioners as of that date.

05:00>> Do we have a second?

05:02>> Second.

05:03>> We have a motion by Commissioner Limble

05:05and a second by Commissioner Bessie. All

05:07in fa favor please say I.

05:10>> I. I.

05:11>> That is unanimous.

05:14Pursuant to North Carolina General

05:16Statute Section 1530A

05:1927.1,

05:22when there's a vacancy on the board of

05:24commissioners, the remaining members of

05:26the board must appoint a qualified

05:28person to fill that vacancy. Because Don

05:32Martin was elected as a Republican to

05:34represent District B, the Forside County

05:37Republican Party Executive Committee

05:39members who represent District B may

05:43vote to recommend a replacement. If this

05:46is done in a timely manner, the board of

05:50commissioners must select the

05:51recommended replacement. I have received

05:55timely notification from Tim Flinchum,

05:58chairman of the Forers County Republican

06:00Party, that its executive committee

06:03members representing District B have met

06:06and voted to recommend Chris Parker, a

06:09qualified Republican party member and

06:11resident of District B as the

06:14replacement for Don Martin. If there's a

06:17motion to appoint Mr. Parker as for

06:20Scythe County Commissioner

06:22representing district B. Madame Chair, I

06:25move that the board accept the

06:27recommendation of the Scythe County

06:30Republican Party Executive Committee

06:32members representing District B and

06:35appoint Chris Parker as for Scythe

06:38County Commissioner representing

06:40District B with a term beginning upon

06:43his swearing in today and ending upon

06:47the

06:50the seating of the newly elected county

06:53commissioner. ers December 2026.

06:57>> Is there a second?

07:00I will second the motion.

07:02>> Is there discussion?

07:04All in favor, please say I.

07:06>> I.

07:07>> I.

07:09>> Commissioner Wiz.

07:10>> Oh, I forgot they were on there. I'm

07:12sorry.

07:15>> Did they vote? Both vote.

07:17>> You asked for a vote again.

07:18>> Yeah. Commissioner Woodbury and

07:20Commissioner Wilson, could you please

07:23state your vote?

07:28>> I vote yes.

07:28>> Commissioner Woodbury. I

07:32>> I think I heard

07:33>> this. Commissioner Wilson. I

07:35>> thank you. That's unanimous.

07:38The first item on the agenda is

07:40administration of oath of office by the

07:43honorable Eric Morgan, superior court

07:46judge for Chris Parker as for Scythe

07:49County Commissioner. Judge Morgan, you

07:53may begin.

08:01Thank you very much uh madame vice

08:03chairman and commissioners uh for the

08:05honor of being here today to administer

08:08the oath.

08:10I'm going to have um Chris and his wife

08:13Heather step forward for just a moment

08:15and u stand there beside me

08:20as a superior court judge. Um I get this

08:26incredible duty. It is one of my

08:27favorites. In the old days, they said we

08:29rode circuit, and we still do. I travel

08:32across the state of North Carolina, and

08:34this is one of my very favorite duties.

08:37And I've thought about why that is.

08:39These are important moments about

08:42commitment and service to a community.

08:45And we've all been celebrating America

08:47250 this year, and it's a chance for us

08:50to think about the traditions and

08:53history of our country. The

08:55administration of oaths of office are

08:58some of the oldest law in North

09:00Carolina, dating back to the early

09:031780s.

09:05Our founders knew then and we know now

09:09that these are important moments.

09:12As you see uh Chris Parker's hand placed

09:15on scripture in just a moment uh raise

09:17his right hand in the air. You're seeing

09:20a commitment to serve this community.

09:24Chris has an incredible history already

09:27of serving this community. He served on

09:30the YMCA's board of directors. He served

09:34on the Winston Salem for Scythe County

09:36Utilities Commission, even serving as

09:39its chair. He served on the board of

09:42trustees of for Scythe Tech. And he's

09:45served so many with his family business

09:49over the years.

09:52Um Chris, thank you for your willingness

09:54uh to bring your talents uh to bear in

09:57service for the citizens.

09:59If you're ready to take your oath uh

10:02today, I'm going to ask you to place

10:05your left hand on the Bible that

10:06Heather's holding. Raise your right.

10:10And if you swear and affirm

10:13as to this oath, I'm going to ask you to

10:15respond with I will when your response

10:19is called for.

10:21Do you, Chris Parker, solemnly swear

10:25that you will support and maintain the

10:28Constitution and laws of the United

10:31States and the Constitution and laws of

10:34North Carolina, not inconsistent

10:37therewith, and that you will faithfully

10:39discharge the duties of your office as

10:43county commissioner of for Scythe

10:45County. So, help you God.

10:47>> I will.

10:49And do you, Chris Parker, solemnly and

10:52sincerely swear that you will support

10:56the Constitution of the United States,

11:00that you will be faithful and bear true

11:02allegiance to the state of North

11:04Carolina, and to the Constitutional

11:06powers and authorities which are or may

11:10be established for the government

11:11thereof, and that you will endeavor to

11:14support, maintain, and defend the

11:17Constitution of said state not

11:19inconsistent with the Constitution of

11:22the United States to the best of your

11:25knowledge and ability. So help you God.

11:28>> I will.

11:30>> And do you, Chris Parker, swear that you

11:32will well and truly execute the duties

11:36of the office of County Commissioner of

11:38Forcy County according to the best of

11:42your skill and ability, according to the

11:45law. So help you God. I will.

11:49>> Congratulations.

11:51[applause]

12:02[applause]

12:04>> Congratulations, Commissioner Parker.

12:06You may come and join us at your seat.

12:10>> And madame um chair vice chair, if we

12:12may have just a moment, as with any

12:14legal act, there's some paperwork

12:15required. if we may have just a moment

12:17to sign the oath. And thank you so much.

12:19>> Make it legal.

12:20>> All [laughter] right.

12:44Thank

12:50A reception will be held in honor of

12:53Commissioner Parker at the conclusion of

12:56this special meeting. And we hope that

12:58each of you all will join us. We have

13:01just a few more things to say and to do.

13:04Uh won't be be long and after we um

13:08adjourn, we'll come back at round three.

13:11Uh, Commissioner Parker, there's lots of

13:14folks here today that wish you well.

13:16Would you like to say a few words?

13:26>> Thank you, uh, Vice Chair Wizenhut. Yes,

13:29there are a lot of people here today,

13:32and I would not be in this position

13:35right now if it wasn't for so many of

13:37you in this room. First of all, I want

13:39to thank uh Don Martin for his many

13:42years of service to our community and

13:45for our camaraderie over the years. I've

13:47learned so many things from him and I

13:49hope that education continues and that

13:51mentorship.

13:52>> I'm not there, Lord. I'm with you. You

13:55will got it.

14:00>> And I'm not sure who's speaking from

14:02above, but

14:05there are some signs, I guess. Um, and I

14:09see next to him is uh Dr. Spriggs from

14:11Forsythe Tech. Um, thanks so much um to

14:15him to her and Dr. Dibbley for attending

14:17today. I have learned a lot serving on

14:20the For Scitec board and that is such a

14:22gem for our community and I look forward

14:24to the continuing relationship and

14:27workforce development uh that that our

14:29county has with that gym. Uh I've got my

14:33mother and my sister, my mother Lynn and

14:35sister Julie. Thank you so much. And I

14:39know my dad, who retired after so many

14:41years of service to the Veterans

14:43Administration, God rest his soul, would

14:46be uh pleased with the community uh

14:48service that this represents. And my

14:52wife Heather, obviously, she is the one

14:55who keeps me straight, keeps me going,

14:58um keeps me on direction from that. Um,

15:01unfortunately my children, Victoria and

15:03Jacob were unable to make it today, but

15:06I know they're they're here in spirit.

15:08And then I see so many others in the

15:10community. Um,

15:13Mayor Morgan has come with Judge Morgan.

15:15Thank you'all so much for being a part

15:17of this today. And then so many of my uh

15:20friends out there uh friends in

15:23Lewisville. Uh, and then my

15:27peeps from the YMCA.

15:31uh they're the ones who keep me uh

15:33healthy in spirit, mind, and body. And

15:36they're my greatest cheerleaders. I do I

15:38do appreciate so much that they're here

15:40with us today. And I think that the

15:44utility commission actually was able to

15:45adjourn just a little early today. So, a

15:47lot of them are here as well. And I've

15:49learned so much and hopefully I'll be

15:51able to bring that uh knowledge to help

15:54serve the overall for Scythe County

15:56community as well. And I know there's

15:58many other out there and uh Walter B.

16:01Roth and Tim Lazley who have served our

16:04community so much within the fire

16:07services and serve uh Vienna Village as

16:11well. I couldn't we wouldn't be in such

16:13a good shape in our community without

16:15them. And my apologies for not

16:18mentioning all those many others. But my

16:21prayer team in addition to the Y the

16:23ones who are even praying harder are all

16:26those from Holy Family who have joined

16:28with us today including Father David

16:31McCannless who is the chaplain at Wake

16:35Forest University and Deacon John

16:37Harrison. Thank you so much for your

16:39very nice invitation this morning. So, I

16:43look forward to working with my fellow

16:44commissioners and I think I'll stop now

16:48so I don't talk for too long. Thank

16:51y'all.

16:51>> Thank you. That'd be great. But we

16:53welcome you, Chris. We look forward to

16:55working with you and all of us working

16:57together. Um, Chair Martin's retirement

17:01created a vacancy in the office of chair

17:04of the board of commissioners. Madame

17:06manager, would you please call for

17:08nomination?

17:09>> Thank you, Madame Vice Chair. I would

17:11call. Is there a nomination for chair?

17:15>> I nominate Commissioner Gloria Wizenh

17:17Hunt.

17:18>> Are there Are there any other

17:20nominations for chair?

17:26>> Is there a motion to close nominations?

17:28>> So moved.

17:31>> Is there a second?

17:33>> Second.

17:34>> We have a motion and a second to close

17:36nominations. All those in favor say I.

17:39>> I. Any opposed? I

17:42>> Oh, sorry. Yep. That's um Commissioner

17:45Wilson, Commissioner M uh Woodbury.

17:49>> This is Commissioner Woodbury. I

17:52>> Thank you,

17:54>> Commission. Commissioner Wilson. I

17:57>> Thank you.

18:00So, that is unanimous.

18:03Is there a motion to elect Commissioner

18:06Wizenhunt as chair of the board?

18:09So moved.

18:11>> There's a motion. Is there a second?

18:16>> Second.

18:17>> Okay. Commissioner Lynville has second

18:19it. Any discussion?

18:23>> All those in favor say I.

18:25>> I.

18:26>> Commissioner Wilson.

18:30>> I.

18:30>> Commissioner Woodbury.

18:33>> I.

18:34>> Thank you. That passes unanimously.

18:36Congratulations, Commissioner Wizenh

18:38Hunt.

18:38>> Thank you. [applause]

18:45>> Thank you, fellow commissioners. I

18:47appreciate it. The next item on the

18:49agenda is the election of vice chair. Is

18:52there a nomination for vice chair?

18:56>> Nominate Gray Wilson.

18:59>> Are there any other nominations for vice

19:01chair?

19:05Is there a motion to close nominations?

19:09So move.

19:10>> We have a motion. Is there a second?

19:13>> Second.

19:14>> Any discussion?

19:18All those in favor to close the

19:20nominations, please say I.

19:21>> I.

19:22>> I.

19:23>> Commissioner Wilson.

19:26>> I.

19:27>> Commissioner Woodbury.

19:30>> I.

19:31>> That passes unanimously.

19:33Is there a motion to elect Commissioner

19:36Wilson as vice chair of the board?

19:40>> So moved.

19:41>> Is there a second?

19:44>> We have a motion and a second by

19:45Commissioner Lynville.

19:47All those Any discussion?

19:51All those in favor say I.

19:53>> I.

19:55>> Commissioner Wilson.

19:58[laughter]

19:58>> I guess I

20:01>> [gasps]

20:03>> Commissioner Woodberry.

20:09>> Hi. [laughter and gasps]

20:11>> That passes unanimously.

20:13Congratulations, Commissioner Wilson. I

20:15will [applause]

20:21I will turn the meeting back over to

20:23you, Madam Chair.

20:25>> Thank you. Uh that concludes this

20:27portion of our meeting. Um, we ask all

20:30of you to please join us out for the

20:33reception. And I do need a motion to

20:36adjourn.

20:40>> Motion by second.

20:42>> Commissioner Bessie and second by

20:44Commissioner Parker. All in favor say I.

20:47>> I.

20:49>> Commissioner Wilson.

20:53>> I.

20:55>> Commissioner Woodbury.

20:58I

20:59>> that's unanimous. Thank you all.