001Mhm. >> Good evening. I now call the March 16th regular meeting of the Union County Board of Commissioners to order. At this time, I would like to recognize Vice Chair Christina Helms for the invocation. All those so inclined, please join me in prayer. Dear heavenly Father, as we come before you tonight, we ask for your mercy and your grace over this meeting and all those that are in attendance and watching online. We humbly submit to you, Lord, and we ask that you give us guidance and protection as we go throughout this meeting and throughout our days. Please grace us with your presence and forgive us when we fail you, Lord. In Jesus' holy and precious name, I pray. Amen. Please join us for the Pledge of Allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the
002United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. The next item on the agenda is informal comments from the community. We will recognize the speakers signed up for the informal comments. Um each speaker must address the board from the lectern and begin their remarks by giving their name, stating whether they are residents of Union County, indicating the municipality which within which they reside, if any. Each speaker will have 3 minutes to make remarks. A tone may sound at the conclusion of your remarks. A speaker may not yield any of his or her time to another speaker. Speakers may not discuss matters which are subject of public hearings. And they must be courteous in their language and presentation. Re-statements or repetitive comments
003by the same speaker whether at the same or separate meetings may be ruled out of order and terminated by the chair. Personal attacks will not be tolerated. Speakers may leave written comments and or supporting documents, if any, with the clerk to the board. >> [snorts] >> And our first speaker tonight is Mark Russell. Good evening, Commissioners. Uh my name is Mark Russell. I am a resident of Union County and I live in Weddington with my wife of 12 years and my four children. And I'm here to speak about the uh Flock surveillance cameras here in Union County. Since April of 2022, Union County has operated a public surveillance network of Flock Safety license plate readers that captures a picture of every vehicle and every license plate that passes its cameras. Yours, mine, and everyone who's
004on the roads here in Union County. Now, the original purchase of these cameras was actually never voted on by this board. The contract was entered into by the county manager on behalf of the sheriff's office, and 3 months later it appeared as a single line item in a quarterly contract report that required no action. It was basically the equivalent of FYI, we purchased a few surveillance cameras here in Union County. Now, since then, the program has expanded to 10 times its original cost. And as of December of 2025, 4 months ago, it's now going to cost over $288,000. And that expansion added a person of interest database, live video camera feeds on our main roads, and a real-time crime center. And each expansion was always on the consent agenda, never for public uh discussion. So,
005the question to this board is, how is this board going to govern the use of these Flock surveillance cameras? Uh North Carolina General Statute Section 20-183.30 Article 3D requires that any law enforcement agency using a license plate reader system must adopt a written governance policy before the system becomes operational. This required governance policy must include data retention limits, data sharing practices, training, oversight, security, and annual auditing among a few other things. Is there a governance policy? I have not been able to find one, but I do have a request out to the Sheriff's Department asking for their governance policy. In light of this, I'm here to ask this board to do three things. Number one, direct the Sheriff's Office to adopt a written policy if one does not already exist complying with Article 3D within
00690 days and present it to this board. Number two, require the annual effectiveness audit the state of North Carolina requires before any any future funding to this program. And three, place any future ALPR contract action on the business agenda, not on the consent agenda, so that this board and community can deliberate together on how public surveillance should be governed here in Union County. Uh I've provided a one-page summary of the statutory requirements, the Flock deployment timeline here in Union County, and my requests to the clerk for your consideration. Thank you very much. Have a great evening. Uh have a great meeting. God bless each of you, and God bless Union County. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Russell. Thank you, Clayton. >> [clears throat] >> So, we have no other speakers signed up for informal comments.
007Are there any speakers out in the audience who have not signed up that would like to speak in informal comments. Thank you. >> [clears throat] >> All right. Hearing none, we'll move on to the next item on our agenda. The next two items on our agenda are public hearings. One for the consideration of acquisition of real property for an industrial park and one for a rezoning. Before opening the first public hearing, I will read the rules that will apply to members of the public for each of these public hearings. Each Each speaker must address the board from the lectern and begin their remarks by giving their name, stating whether they are residents of Union County, indicating the municipality within which they they reside, if any. Each speaker will have 3 minutes to make remarks. A
008tone may sound at the conclusion of your remarks. A speaker may not yield any of his or her time to another speaker. Speakers shall limit their remarks to the subject of the public hearing. Speakers may leave written comments and/or supporting documents, if any, with the clerk to the board. The first item or the first public hearing is item 26-149 to consider acquisition of real property. I will now open the public hearing and recognize Deputy County Manager Patrick Nolan for comments from county staff. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Um tonight we're here to give the public a chance to comment on a proposed acquisition for economic development. Uh what you're looking at is three individual parcels that used to be one parcel and it's been cut up by a utility easement and then when the bypass came
009through, there was some acquisition by DOT. Uh it is 38.29 acres total. Um we're looking at $52,000 an acre. This is located in the town of Wingate's ETJ. Um we will petition the town for annexation and rezoning to a light industrial zoning district. Um this is directly across the street from land we purchased last year uh for the food innovation center and for additional opportunities. This is located just north of the interchange off Austin Chaney and again you can you can see from the map it's got great access to the to the bypass for economic development opportunities. So I can answer any questions you all may have but this is again just to give the public a chance to comment. Any questions from the board? Okay, I'll recognize our county manager and Mr. Manager has
010anybody signed up for comments for this hearing? No sir, they have not. All right, so we have no speakers signed up. Is there anyone in the audience that would like the opportunity to speak on this public hearing? Okay, seeing none I will now close the public hearing. The second public hearing on our agenda is item 26-152 for rezoning petition RZ 2026-002 Augustine properties. I will open the public hearing and recognize John Weir senior planner for comments from county staff. Thank you Mr. Chairman board of commissioners. Um So yes, this is a straight rezoning from RA40 to R15. Uh there are no conditions attached to it. Uh the Union County 2050 comp plan identifies this area as rural residential which includes agricultural and residential uses of minimum 40,000 square foot lots. Uh here are the existing
011conditions on the lot. So this is a lot along Richardson Road about 3 miles south of Monroe. Um this is what the lot looks like. This is north of the site, south of the site down Richardson Road and then across the street from Richardson Road. Uh this is the existing uh development. Uh so the lot is right here and its parent parcel was actually this larger lot around it. So this is the first division of this parent parcel into the smaller lot. Um it was done by deed uh sometime in 2004. Um and then sometime after that a manufactured home was placed on the on the lot. Um along with uh well and septic. Uh environmental features of the lot, there are no environmental features, but there is a stream that runs uh north of
012the of the property. This is the current zoning of the lot. So it's RA40 is that light green. And you do have some RA8 uh zoning districts uh along Richardson Road. Those were uh originally a kind of a floating lot that allowed for manufactured home parks. Uh that actually it doesn't exist as an option anymore. Um So yeah, this this is is the current zoning and and the R15 would allow them to essentially um subdivide the property legally and then uh they would be able to build on the lot. Uh annual trips uh daily trips along Richardson Road are 500. We don't don't contemplate this creating any more trips uh due to the residential nature. Uh again land use map, this is uh residential agricultural is what it's specified as. Uh because this uh we
013didn't consult with schools, uh utilities, public water and sewer not available to the site, but like I said before it does have uh septic and well on the site and they do have permits for those um due to the existing uh placement of those utilities previous well and septic. Um Monroe was not consulted for comments because of its distance. So like I said this property was designated as residential agricultural in the comp plan because of this um staff had uh recommended denial of the of the rezoning. Um and that's based primarily on the fact that it was uh recommended through the comp plan that way. Um additionally uh we didn't want to set a precedent for anything move forward like this uh in the similar vein. Uh however uh you know this is a uh
014kind of a unique situation and that usually if this would were to occur it would not have well and septic on the property. Um the planning board did recommend approval of the rezoning uh at their February 24th, 2026 meeting uh about a 6:1 vote. Any questions for me? Any questions for John? Mr. Cannon here. >> I I just Thank you, John. I just wanted um just clarify a couple of things. Number one, when John was talking about that this was recorded by deed um in North Carolina if you have subdivision regulations um you actually have to have an approved plat map then that means the planning department and zoning department reviews that to see that it meets our minimum standards. That did not occur here. This lot was basically created by someone filing a deed
015and not going through that process of having that division actually um to see if it meets our standards. It does not meet our standards. It's less than 40,000 square feet. That's what it would have been required in that zoning district, which is why the property owner is seeking to get it properly zoned to allow for it to be a conforming lot. So, I just want to make sure you you you were aware that it is technically a non-conforming lot as far as the zoning classification. Thank you, Brian. >> [clears throat] >> Um John, thank you and uh I apologize if I mispronounced your last name. Um but just for clear clarification here, I mean the entire surrounding area is R-40 uh with the exception of what we're seeing here, right? The pockets of yellow R-8.
016Correct. And I'm sorry if I missed this, but this particular parcel, if it were to be rezoned, then would that require um additional septic? So, they do have a septic permit and a and a well permit. >> Okay, so that's already been done. >> in the agenda packet. Would there be uh a private drive, another driveway off of Richardson Road to accommodate this parcel? Do we know that yet? This parcel previously had a home on it, um which would have been demolished sometime before 2019. The the ortho photos on the GIS doesn't go any earlier than that, so I don't know when the the the manufactured home was demolished, but um there is already a kind of a a drive on the property. Okay. Thank you. Mhm. Any other questions for John? Okay, so I
017think that we've got one speaker signed up to comment on this public hearing. And I will now recognize Thomas Perry. Thank you, Mr. Perry. Thank you. Thomas Perry, thank you for allowing me to be here. Uh I went to the planning meeting on this and it was one of the strangest planning meetings I have ever seen. Um a lot of compromises in it as to 1964 Housing Authority Act. Uh we will pick somebody that will be a friend to the people already there. Uh that sounds like something that's not supposed to be. And then um and then we will be setting a precedent by having this small a lot that the county could be contended on and we could have a housing s- plurs- uh surge. I mean, I don't know that this would be
018held, but it's a precedent and you're setting it. And and so um I do appreciate me getting to speak, but I just think that somebody getting up in a meeting and saying, "Well, we'll pick somebody to live at the on that lot. The realtors are going to do this." There's no way that anybody can do that. And why should that be in consideration the um com- the head of the committee off the planning committee um mentioned all this to them and the others said, "Well, we're just going to put it aside and just do what we want." That is what it evidently it looked like. You can see it in the tape. And I do appreciate getting to talk. Thank you very much. Thank you, Mr. Perry. Are there any other additional speakers from the
019audience that would like to make comment comment on this hearing? Yes, ma'am. Please approach. >> [clears throat] >> Yes, hello. My name is Amy Augustine and I'm the owner of the small lot on Richardson Road and this is my business partner, Ted McCouch. Um just to give you a little bit of background on the the history of the lot just to fill in a little bit. We purchased this lot in um June of 2025 um in good faith after contacting the county prior to closing and uh we were informed that because the lot previously had a home with septic and well and it maintained its own address, it has a separate address, that it would be considered buildable. Um so um we also um were contacted directly by the owner of the the larger lot
020surrounding this this half acre. Her name is Mary Clark and she is a an elderly woman and she carved out that half acre for her son uh way back in 2004. And [snorts] um her son lived there um in a mobile home with its own driveway and well and septic and address for many years and recently just passed away last month and um the mobile home is since been um uh it it it's been demolished demolished and um Mary Clark is looking for a new neighbor. She's elderly, she's lonely. Um we went to see her. Some members of the land use board went to see her as well. Mr. Walkup from the land use board um went to see her prior to the land use board meeting um to to get a a better sense
021of the history as well. Um anyway, relying on that um representation, we did proceed with the purchase and we secured um a well and septic permit as Mr. Ware um has already um described from the Union County Health Department and it demonstrates the property meets all health and safety requirements. It's a lot of legal lot of record and has previously had a residence on it. Yes, it was not created through the proper subdivision process um but since it's someone's been living there, it's not it's not placing an undue burden by increasing the population any more than it was. Um the the prior owner who owns all of the surrounding land on this of this half acre um would love to have a neighbor. Um we're not going to build something there that's not in um
022that doesn't that's suitable for the neighborhood. Um a small single-family residence similar to the one that was there. So You I'll give you extra time since you're the applicant. So >> Yes. Um So I I think you know, this this has been a single-family residential parcel for over 20 years and we're I think the land use board recognized that this is just a one-off unique situation and we just need to go back and correct what was not done properly in the first place. Um So that's why we're asking for the rezoning to do it properly. Do you have No, I think you covered everything. I'm happy to answer any questions about it. Um If you have any other questions. Any other questions for the applicant? Commissioner Bolkum. >> [clears throat] >> All right. So, just
023to be clear, are we only wanting to rezone the 1/2 acre that's all you're seeking to rezone? Yes, just the 1/2 acre. Who owned the property that surrounds the 1/2 acre? Mary Clark. The elderly lady. Yes. And it it is completely surrounding this half acre that she carved out for her son. >> [snorts] >> Any other questions? Okay. Thank you. Thank you. Okay. So, last call. I'll make the the call one more time for any other members of the audience that may want to provide public comment on this rezoning. Seeing none, I will now close the public hearing. Next on the agenda is item 26-137, sustained professional purchasing award. I will now recognize Corey Brooks, procurement and contract management director for brief comments concerning this item. Mr. Brooks. Good evening, Mr. Chairman, Commissioners, County Manager
024Matthews, members of the leadership team, and everyone here this evening. Uh before I begin, I'm going to go ahead and ask my procurement team to join me at the podium before we get started. Okay, I would also like to recognize the team that made this possible. Our team may be small, but our impact across the county is significant. We've got uh David Sifford, our procurement and contracts coordinator, Kyle Hodge, our senior procurement specialist, Juan Rodriguez Cruz, our procurement specialist, and Joanna Short, our uh administrative professional. Each member of this team contributes to the integrity and success of procurement in Union County, and this recognition reflects their hard work and dedication. On behalf of our our entire procurement and contract management department, it's truly an honor for our department to receive the Sustained Professional Purchasing Award,
025also known as the SPPA Award, from the North Carolina Association of Governmental Purchasing. The award was formally presented on Wednesday evening, March 4th, at the NCAGP Annual Awards Banquet. Uh the award recognizes agencies that demonstrate excellence in public procurement through a sustained commitment to ethics, transparency, competition, and responsible stewardship of public funds. Achieving this recognition requires a comprehensive review of our policies, procedures, technology, outreach outreach efforts, staff certifications, training initiatives, and overall compliance with purchasing standards. This year, more than 100 governmental entities had the ability to apply for this award across North Carolina, and Union County was one of only 19 agencies to receive this recognition. Also, I'm proud to share this marks our 10th year receiving this recognition for Union County. And would also like to thank the commissioners, the management team, and all
026the agencies and departments across the county that support us, trust us, and help us continue to do everything we do. So, at this time, I would like to ask you all to please join us in congratulating the procurement and contract management team for all of their hard work. >> [applause] [applause] >> All right. So, our next agenda item is item 26-138, a proclamation proclaiming April 2026 as child abuse prevention month. I will now recognize County Manager Brian Matthews for brief comments concerning this item. Sure. Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. The uh we've done this previously, but this is a just a continuation every April we are requested to go ahead and adopt this proclamation. Thank you. And sorry. Thank you very much. I appreciate that. So, to adopt a proclamation for child abuse prevention
027month, uh it provides the opportunity to reaffirm our commitment to uh protecting children, supporting families, and ensuring that every child in Union County has the opportunity to grow in a safe, stable, and nurturing environment. Um I can read the proclamation or you the board can just adopt as is. It's really up to you. Tell me how you'd like to proceed. I I think that we can adopt as as is. Um is there a motion regarding this item? Chairman Helms, I'd like to make a motion that we adopt the proclamation proclaiming April 2026 to be child abuse prevention month in Union County. Thank you, Madam Vice Chair. So, we have a motion. All those in favor say I. I. Thank you very much. >> [clears throat] >> Next on the agenda is item 26-153, service award
028recognition. I will now recognize Jennifer Davis, assistant director of human resources, for brief comments concerning this item. Good evening, everyone. I'm loving all the green. Um on Thursday, March 5th, we hosted our Q1 service award ceremony where we celebrated 31 employees who had met an anniversary milestone. Of those 31 employees, during the ceremony, we celebrated and recognized 16 five-year recipients, 11 10-year recipients, and one 15-year recipients. It's important to remember to let you guys know that those 16 five-year recipients were part of the COVID new hires. So, just FYI for you. We are so grateful to be able to host these events for our employees and cherish the stories that we hear behind each employee. I hope you enjoy a few key moments from our celebration. Thank you. >> [music] [music] >> Good morning everybody,
029and welcome to our Q1 service award ceremony. We're happy to have all of you here. Today, our five-year and our 10-year are representing. Okay, but we do have a 15-year award as [music] well. >> It has been a pleasure to work with you, and I look forward to continuing to work with you for many more years. Thank you for everything you do for us, Connie. Look forward to many more. >> [music] >> Some of you folks may remember an electrical [music] inspector by the name of David Matthews. David spent a lot of years with us, and he just recently retired at the age of 75. And it was a loss for the building code enforcement when David [music] retired. But, he left us a gift. Someone that we could cherish and and hang out with,
030right? Remember him by, and that's his daughter, Hope. Hope, I hope you work at least as long as your dad did. Congratulations. So, congratulations on five years with Union County, the county where people go from co-workers to friends to family. Congratulations. I love you. Thank you for your 5 years of service and I wish you many, many more. >> Oh, thank you. I just love you, Rachel. In my position, I feel so supported and endorsed um by my direct supervisor and administrative team. It's wonderful to get to see that across the system, that everybody sort of feels the same way. Um and I feel recognized on a daily basis um by that team and supported by that team and I am so glad that everybody else in the county is having that same work experience.
031[music] Um it just you can't trade that for anything. You complete me. >> [laughter] >> We're very fortunate to have you. Congratulations. >> [music] >> I want you to know you do make a difference every day. But Miranda is awesome. At one point she thought she might take another opportunity. I wanted to cry. I held it together. She decided to stay, so life is still good. Congratulations. I love the people I work with. I get along with everybody and I don't take that for granted because I know people who that's not [music] the case. Um so I'd say that the people have kept me here. [music] The benefits are outstanding. Um and that was something I didn't quite grasp when I first started. When it was 15 years younger. So we love you, Rachel. [music]
032Can't wait to see more years. Congratulations. >> [music] [applause] >> And I would not be where I am without you guiding me to be your supervisor. >> [laughter] >> Happy 10-year anniversary. >> [music] >> And by accepting this gift, you have officially agreed to 10 more years. Hayden, thank you so much [music] for everything you've done and thank you for the last 10 years and thanks for being a friend. Never in my life would I thought that I have worked for Union County or local government. It's a great place to live and work. I mean, it literally says that on this the welcome sign. I have a lot of friends at Union County Water and I've made a lot of friends being in this role. >> [music] >> In addition to that, what we've done
033what I what we've done is we got him a shirt >> [laughter] >> with John on the Yakin speaking tour and it says John Shu Tex, celebrating 10 years of service to Union County with our logo on it. And underneath it it says, with enough time and money, we can build anything. Thank you, John. >> [applause] >> You hear a lot at at the recognition ceremonies where supervisors talk about their staff in terms of being not only a friend, but first it's a co-worker, then they're [music] friends, and then they're family. And that's that is truly exemplified throughout Union County. [music] The folks that you work with, they're they are not just your co-workers, they are your friends. We can [music] make a difference and do make a difference in our community through public service.
034And they do that every day with an unwavering [music] dedication and commitment to make it happen. All right, wow, what a great turnout. I mean, this is pretty amazing and I want to say thank you all for coming and supporting your co-workers. That's what we really do appreciate that. I heard earlier today someone said, you know, we go from co-workers to friends to family and I really do I I I agree with that. I say this quite often, >> [music] >> this is a family here. I treat y'all I consider you family. I know you consider each other family. It's obvious. You support each other at work, but you also are supporting each other with your personal lives. And that means a lot cuz we're here a lot. We we work every day 8 hours
035or more. So, I want to say thank you for what you do. This is an amazing place to work. Thank you for spending your time here. You could work somewhere else, but you choose here. Thank you for all that you do. Thank you. >> [applause] [music] >> Thank you Jennifer and thank you staff for putting that video together. I will say that John did not look very enthused about [laughter] getting that t-shirt. So, uh Uh but you know, I I I'll say this too. I I know that several of us have been to these these award programs and and and we like to show these videos. I like to see these videos because I think that it gives some insight to the culture that we have here in the county. Um and I think that
036that's one of the the best things, you know, about the county is the culture that we have. And that's a that's a testament to everybody that works here and it's also a testament to the staff. So, thank you very much for all that you do. Okay, so it's now time for consideration of any changes to the agenda. Um Are there any motions regarding the request of any motions regarding requested of revisions or amendments to either of the consent agenda or the business agenda? Nope. Is there a motion to approve the items listed on the consent agenda um as published? Mr. Chair, I'd like to make a motion that we approve the consent agenda as published. Thank you, Madam Vice Chair. So, we have a motion. All those in favor of the motion say I. All
037right. Moving right along. We are now at the business portion of our agenda. The first item of business is item 25-694. Union County Rural Land Use Plan Adoption and Land Use Map Amendments. I will now recognize Bjorn Hansen, Senior Planner for brief comments regarding this item. Thank you, Bjorn. Thank you, Mr. Chairman, members of the board, Manager Matthews. I apologize that you got to look at the strategy recommendations for about the last 10 minutes. Um First off, I want to recognize, I think three members of the steering committee for this overall process are in the audience. If you want to raise your hands. Want to thank them for the last 17 months of work over the development of this plan. And they completed their work just a couple weeks ago. So, we really appreciate their
038um their guidance and wisdom. As a reminder, the area we're referring to when we talk about the rural land use plan is all the areas in dark green, which includes a little bit uh to the west of Fairview and a lot to the east uh of Unionville and Fairview, and then south of 75 and um 74. So, this was the the study area for this process. In terms of the recommended strategies, I know that uh a few are in the recommended plan that are not being discussed here tonight. Those were um being dealt with separately by the Board of Commissioners, and that's perfectly fine. These five strategies, uh we list them, give a description and how they would be implemented. Some require subsequent deliberation through amendments to the Unified Development Ordinance and would require recommendation
039by the Land Use Board and then an additional public hearing before they could be adopted. Others could be adopted tonight. That is uh part of your considered action for this evening, such as the rural area in the land use map, uh as well as the rural centers. And then last is a board of commissioners policy that can be applied as you participate in the transportation planning process with the NCDOT and the Charlotte Regional Transportation Planning Organization. So, in terms of the the map amendments, we have two separate slides. First one we have circled area here. This would be the recommendation to expand the rural area in the land use map. This is essentially east of Rocky River all the way to Monroe, north of 75. It's about 6 square miles and it could be adopted
040just by making a motion tonight to amend the land use map and then we can amend the map. The practical implication is that the 30% open space requirement would then apply to for major subdivisions and it would be something we would refer to as rezonings are submitted. The next one is to add six rural centers to land use map. And this is really the opposite of that. This would identify intersections on the map where property owners looking to rezone to commercial could potentially get a favorable recommendation from us. I will note that these all already have limited commercial at these intersections. And to put things into perspective, a rural center is approximately maybe 40,000 square feet of leased area. So, that's a handful of acres. You're not talking about a Harris Teeter. You could be
041talking about a Dollar General or a gas station or or a restaurant or other limited uses. So, that's the that's the action that's requested for tonight is to adopt the map. I I'm sorry, adopt the plan and and potentially adopt the amendments to the land use map. I understand there are also other strategies that may get refined based on guidance from you. We're happy to receive that and work on that at your direction. Okay. Thank you, Bjorn. Any questions for Bjorn? No. Okay. Well, Bjorn, I've got some comments and maybe some questions here. So, if you can bear with me here. Looking at the Well, first of all, let me say this. Let Let me Let me first say thank you. Thank you to everybody that participated you know, on this committee that came up
042with these strategies with our plan. I think that you know, you guys did some great work and I think that we've got some some good stuff here to consider as far as our strategies are concerned. The the first one just looking at Well, it's actually the second one here on this list, but requiring the contiguous areas for open space. Sorry, we just lost our screen here. So, so first of all, let let me just clarify. You hit this, I think, but I want to I want to make sure that everybody understands that this is not going to apply to minor subdivisions, that this would apply to major subdivisions. Is that correct? >> Yes, sir. Okay. And those are currently defined as nine lots or or more essentially. Eight lots, but close. Yes, sir. Okay. So,
043and and I think that a lot of people maybe don't don't understand that a lot of municipalities out there already have open space requirements. Is that also correct? Mainly, I think more in the rural and suburban areas than maybe our more urban cities, but yes, it's not it's not uncommon. Okay. And And currently right now, we've got a 30% open space requirement for for subdivisions. Yes, sir. Okay. And so what this item would do is it would essentially require 60% of that 30% which is roughly 18% to be contiguous. That is correct. Okay. All right. Um the the other thing that I wanted to kind of point out here is is that um the expressed concerns over impacts from bypasses. Um I I like the strategy personally. I think that uh this is something that
044this board has already been doing to a certain degree. Um so you know, we've seen parkways and bypasses um you know, come up and and I think that um you know, that's something that we all need to be cognizant of because well, in the case of one parkway over the last couple years, um I mean, there's been multiple plans for it. Uh two-lane road does not necessarily mean a parkway and it certainly has impacts impacts on our residents. Um the one that I wanted to get some clarification on, Bjorn, is the expand rural area and land use map. Yes. So according to the plan, and this is something that um you know, I had some questions about uh but according to the plan as I read it um I I guess originally I had some
045concern that this may to a certain degree incentivize annexation of county property in the municipalities. But the more that I looked at it and I again, I'm looking for clarification here. Um but the more that I looked at it, the the zoning that's being proposed here is actually a lower density than the existing zoning, correct? Well, it wouldn't change the zoning. It would just be the land use map recommendations. Okay. So >> not a rezoning of those properties. Did Did you have something? No, I have a quick question. Okay. But this is also an area that was not really earmarked for utilities at this point though, correct? That's correct. It's essentially a ridge line with Rocky River. So, Rocky River flows to the west. To the east, it is in the 12-mile basin, but you'd
046have to pump over to serve and this board currently does not like pump stations, so it they're in conflict with each other. Yeah, and obviously we had an item on consent. And the reason for that is is that you know, the cost for those pump stations is not cheap. So, we had one that was just approved tonight that was $291,000. And that was a net zero, so we're just replacing an existing pump station. So, okay. Um the other strategy here, the add six rural centers to the land use map, uh I mean, I think that this is an important one, too, because this is going to allow, to your point, small-scale commercial opportunities. So, hopefully we get more restaurants and gas stations. Um I think we've got probably enough gas stations for right now. Um
047but, you know, when you're 90% residential, I think that this is an important strategy to have because this board's been committed to trying to grow those other that other 10% if you will. Um so, this is a way to maybe accomplish that. And commercial has no impact on schools. Um so Okay, and then the last one that we've got here as far as the strategies that we're considering tonight is flexibility for commercial uses in rural areas. And I think that that kind of goes along with the last one. Um and you know, the way that I view this is is that you know, this is potentially offering a way um to promote commercial, maybe small businesses. Um and make it a little bit easier for those startups to happen. So, is there any other I
048think I'm done with my comments. Is there any other questions or comments for Bjorn? No? All right. Mr. Barbour. >> If If it's appropriate this time, I'd like to make a motion. Absolutely. All right. I'd like to make a motion to adopt the rural land use plan strategy recommendations as presented in the agenda item background and to adopt the resolution adopting the rural land use plan and amending the Union County land use map. All right. So, we've got a motion. Any discussion on the motion? Seeing none, all those in favor of the motion say aye. Aye. All right. Thank you, Bjorn. Thank you. >> [snorts] >> Next on our agenda is item 26-160, appointments to the Board of Equalization and Review. There are two expiring terms on this board. We have received two applications for
049reappointment and one additional application. Is there a motion for nominations for these two positions? Chairman Helms, I'd like to make a motion that we reappoint Mark Ashcrafts to the Board of Equalization and Review and also Dutch Hardison to the Board of Equalization and Review. Thank you, Madam Vice Chair. So, we have a motion. Any discussion on the motion? All those in favor of the motion say aye. Aye. The next item of business is item 26-159 and that's appointment of a chair to the Board of Equalization and Review. It's been requested that we appoint Mr. Dutch Hardison as chair for the 2026 Board of Equalization and Review. Um is there a motion to appoint Mr. Dutch Hardison as chair for the 2026 Board of Equalization and Review? Chairman Helms, I'd like to make a motion that
050we appoint Mr. Dutch Hardison as the chair of the 2026 Board of Equalization and Review. Thank you, Madam Vice Chair. Any discussion on that motion? All those in favor, say I. I. All right. Well, that concludes our business agenda, and uh I will now recognize the county manager for his comments. Thank you very much. I do have one thing. So, every [clears throat] year like uh March 6th is generally uh recognized as Employee Appreciation Day. Here at Union County, we've chose to call March Employee Appreciation Month. There are a number of things that we do to try and recognize the hard work that our employees do. Um I I one of the things that's been very well received both by the employees as well as businesses is is a uh basically a a gift certificate
051for the employees to have a meal or something at one of the restaurants here in the downtown Monroe. Uh and and I will say we've heard from a number of those businesses that they really appreciate that business being driven to them. So, not only are we helping our employees, we're also helping local businesses. But, I I do want to say thank you to all the staff and recognize all the hard work that they do. Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. Thanks, sir. All right, we'll start down here at the end. Commissioner Balcolm. All right. Thank you, Chair. Um I would just like to thank everyone that's worked on the 2050 plan, our rural land use plan. When I look back through it, there was nine different committees, 10 if you count the Board of County
052Commissioners. So, there's been a lot of eyes on this thing over the years, and we're very fortunate to have it because it sort of gives us a direction to work. So, I would just like to thank everyone that's had played a part in that. Thank you, Commissioner Balcolm. Commissioner Merrill. I have no comments tonight. Vice Chair Helms. >> And I have no comments tonight. Okay. Um I I'll just say this, thank you to all of our staff. Uh thank you for what you do and uh making sure that uh that our meetings are prepared. Um thank you for all the hours that you put in. Thank you for all of our service award members and thank you Liz for putting together that video. Um I saw one lady individual or uh in particular that had
053the the county colors on and I knew that that Liz probably had something to do with that. So, so uh so so thank you for that. Um I listen, I just want to say um that I echo Commissioner Balcolm's comments. There were a lot of folks that worked on this rural land use plan. A lot of folks. And there was a lot of eyes and and we really appreciate the contribution. You know, growth is um is our number one issue in Union County and trying to protect the fabric and the character of our or of our county is our number one goal. So, thank you all for all of your efforts. And um with that, I'll make a motion to adjourn. All those in favor of the motion, say aye. Aye. Aye. >> [snorts]