001County Board of Commissioners to order. We will begin with the invocation. And if you're so inclined, please uh bow your head in prayer. Dear heavenly father, Lord, we want to thank you, Lord. Thank you for uh for such a wonderful, beautiful day today. Lord, we um we never want to take those days for granted. Lord, I want to thank you for the opportunity to be here tonight to uh to celebrate um a veteran uh a very special person in our community, but also to do the business of the county as well. Lord, we ask for your wisdom, your guidance, and we want to thank you for all the blessings upon our county and our state and our nation. For it's in Jesus name we do pray. Amen. Amen. Amen. >> Please join me for the
002pledge of allegiance. 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. [clears throat] >> The next item on our agenda is informal comments from the community. And I do have a list here in front of me. Uh, madame clerk, is there any additions to this list? Okay. So, our one and only speaker tonight is Mayor uh Rick Becker from Mineral Springs. Mr. Mayor, thank you very much, Mr. Chair, Madam Vice Chair, Mr. Manager, Madame Clerk, and rest of the staff. Uh, yeah, I'm Rick Becker, mayor of Mineral Springs. I'm just here speaking on uh consent agenda item 26097 which may stay on consent and then it'll be a done deal. But this is
003the build grant with US DOT for two intersection projects along Highway 75 that probably would complete Highway 75 in terms of eliminating the bottlenecks between downtown Monroe and downtown Waxaw. Um, and I want to compliment and thank Bujorn Hansen for the initiative and getting this thing started because this project goes back to the critical intersection study version of 2019, I believe, when we did get this project um, reviewed. It had a $5.9 million price tag as of 2021. And therefore, it was really too big for the town of Mineral Springs to get even as a discretionary grant through CRTPO. So, it's been on the back burner. We've pulled a sidewalk plan out of that and got a separate grant for that uh in order to maybe get a start on some pedestrian connectivity in Mineral
004Springs. But um with this US DOT build grant, uh Bujorn has pointed out that they it's a very competitive grant, but there's no additional match required. Mineral Springs's sidewalk match could go toward that. The city of Monroe will put a small match onto the Franklin Street and uh Johnston Street intersection improvement. And with those two matches, the ask for the county is about another $633,000 to match the matches that the municipalities are putting in, which gives about a $1.3 million uh match for what's going to be about a $14 million grant, maybe a little more. So, I just wanted to thank staff and uh and Bjornne and his staff for working on this. thank NC DOT for their support and just thank you for considering it and ask for your support of of allowing the
005application for this build grant to go forward and making that match. So, thank you very much. Thank you, Mayor Becker. Is there anyone else in the audience that would like the opportunity to speak in informal comment? All right, seeing none, um I will now close the public comment period and we will move on to our next agenda item. That is agenda item 26-113 proclamation honoring Charlie E. Rose on his 100th birthday. At this time, I'll consider adoption of the proclamation and conduct recognition. >> Mr. Chair, I'd like to make a motion that we honor the proclamation for Mr. Charles E. Rose nearing his 100th birthday. >> Okay, we've got a motion. All those in favor? >> All right, Mr. Rose, if you come forward >> and commissioners, if you'll join me. >> [laughter] >> So,
006so guys, our proclamation in our meeting agenda, but I just want to say that Mr. Rose here is a veteran of World War II and also the Korean War and he's fixed to celebrate his 100th birthday and I think it's just just so appropriate that we honor such an amazing man for all his service that he's done for our country. >> You tell us how you want >> Mr. right here. >> All right, take a peek. >> [applause] [applause] [snorts] >> No, I don't know. >> All right, Kathy. Congratulations. >> Happy birthday. Happy birthday to you. >> All right, we're going this way. And before we move on, I'd like to recognize Tracy Price, who is here in um for the Blue Ridge Honor Flight. If anyone has a veteran of past wars, World War
007II, Korea, or Vietnam, and would like to have their family member go to Washington DC and see um the memorials for those wars. Um Tracy has cards here. Um we've got cards cards with Liz. If you have anybody that's interested, um please see Liz or Tracy to get one of those cards for an honor flight. So if you have a veteran in your family or even gold star family members, we also take them to DC for the day. It's a day trip. We fly up, fly back that night. So definitely worthwhile. So if you have any questions, feel free to reach out. Tracy, thank you. >> Tracy, can you speak into the microphone for anybody viewing at home? >> Yeah. >> So if anyone is interested, if you know of veterans or gold star families,
008um you may reach out. It's blueridgehonorflight.org and you can find applications and information online or you can reach out to me and I'll be glad to give you more info. Thanks. >> Thank you. >> Okay, it's now time for consideration of any changes to the agenda. Are there any motions regarding requested revisions or amendments to either the consent or the business agenda? Is there a motion to approve the items listed on the consent agenda? >> Mr. Chair, I'd like to make a motion that we approve the items on the consent agenda. >> Thank you, Madam Vice Chair. So, we have a motion. All those in favor? I >> we are now at the business portion of our agenda. The first item of business is item 26-096. That is minor subdivision discussion. And I will now
009recognize Lee Jensen, planning director for this item. Thank you, Lee. >> Thank you, Mr. Chair. Board members. We [clears throat] we thought it was appropriate to uh to to come back if if if you'll recall um in on January 12th, the board provided some direction to staff regarding uh minor subdivisions and some potential um changes to that. Um and those were scheduled for the land use board and a public hearing uh for the board of county commissioners. As as you'll remember, we had two uh fairly large weather events that uh cancelled both of those meetings. So, that's why those have not moved forward. Um [clears throat] and I just wanted to briefly go through I think there's maybe three slides here. Um what we were talking about before. So, what's a subdivision? Anytime you divide
010land um into two or more lots, that's essentially what all these words on this page say. um minor, major, the two different types. Minor subdivision, more than eight lots out of a single tract since February 14th of 78. And a major subdivision is anything other than a minor subdivision. And then you've got some state exemptions. Um I won't unless you want me to I I won't run through all these, but um there's there's a handful I think eight. Yeah, there's eight exemptions uh to that definition that really don't have any control over. Those are all statutory. They're defined by state law. Um and those that those are my slides. Just wanted to kind of give you a brief uh overview again of of what a subdivision and a major minor were. There are some nuances
011to to everything. Um there's some minimum road frontage requirements depending on your zoning district. Um there is a a provision that if a lot split by a road um either side of that it's a separate parent parcel. Um so it's just you know important to know that each each parcel's different. So you know these are kind of basic rules and then you go to apply those rules to various parcels throughout the county. Um, and that's I I basically just wanted to give you an update on kind of where we were, why this didn't why this item didn't come back. Um, we had some some weather related issues and [clears throat] um, I'll be happy to answer any questions or to receive any further um, direction that the board might want to offer. >> All right.
012Thank you, Lee. and and [clears throat] I'm glad that we're taking the opportunity to discuss this because there there seems to be a lot of confusion around this particular topic. >> Um going back to our last board meeting uh when we discussed some of this as well and um and if you can go back here on your slide to uh there we go that's it. So, um, if I understand correctly, you know, subdivision ordinances, uh, minor subdivision ordinances, that is, uh, they've been in existence since this date right here at least. Correct. >> Yes, that's that's correct. >> Okay. So, the topic of sub of minor subdivision ordinances and the amount of lots that comprise those ordinance, it's really nothing new. I mean, that we've we've been we've seen this for 47 48 years. >>
013Yes. >> Okay. Um, and there's also a lot of confusion too, I think, regarding the the purpose of our board and also our intention of our of this board at looking at this item. There's uh there's a lot of folks, I think, that are worried that uh that the county is trying to prohibit, you know, families in our communities from subdividing to sons and grandsons and daughters and granddaughters. And uh and personally, I just want to assure everyone that that's not the case. That's not what we're trying to do at all. Um I I think that the sentiment of this board has always been that we want Union County families to continue to live and grow in Union County. Um and I don't think this the intention of anyone here to uh to hurt families
014ability to subdivide their property to family members. But it is our intention though to look at this item um and to honor the promise that we made to manage residential growth to the best of our ability, but do it in a way that respects and encourages Union count Union County families to grow uh here in the county for generations. Now, I think it's important too that we lay out some facts here, Lee, and you correct me if I'm wrong on any of these as you understand it. >> Uh but currently, Union County ranks at number 13th in the nation for loss of open space in farmland. Is that correct? >> I think that's >> okay. And according to our rural land use plan that we've been talking a lot about here lately, we've got at
015least 1,500 parcels in recent years uh that have been created through minor subdivisions. So it's not like, you know, we're dealing with, you know, five or 10 or 28 or 50, >> right? Okay. Um and and a lot of times these minor subdivisions where are they they're they're typically being built like on out parcels to big tracks of farmland. Correct. >> Generally, yeah. I Yeah, I would say that for the most part they're either farmland or, you know, family plots where people have given a couple, you know, lots to a family member or something like that. But there's also, you know, builders and developers that would, you know, purchase eight lots at a time or in some cases 16 lots at a time and build on two sides of the road. Correct. >> Yes. >>
016Okay. Um, and I mean, a lot of times these roads are going to be 45 mph roads and 55 mph roads. Correct. >> Because there's not a a DOT study that's going to be required, >> right? That's true. >> So, you're going to have children out there potentially riding bicycles on a 45 mph road. Hopefully not, but uh but it's possible. Um, and we we also know, and I think you mentioned this, that there are current loopholes in our ordinances that would allow for eight lots like like one minor subdivision on one side of the road and then another minor subi subdivision on the other side of the road, thus having 16 lots, which is double what the ordinance is intended to provide. >> That's correct. Out of the same You're talking about out of
017that same parent track since 1978. >> Correct. Correct. >> And and if we go back to that date then for a minute. So that date February 14th, 1978. >> So can you explain that a little bit more to the board here because as I understand it, if a propertyy's already been subdivided eight times that was created from this date, then the ninth time it goes into what we call a major subdivision. Is that correct? >> Yes. So, we have in our office, we have um these huge maps that show the the parcels that existed in 1978. And anytime someone comes in our office and wants to subdivide a piece of property, we we don't pull them out anymore. We have them scanned, but we pull them up and look at them and see we have
018all the minor subdivisions noted so we can tell how many times they've been split. If it's at more than eight, then you know it kicks into a major subdivision. If it's less than eight, then we tell them, well, you might have three lots left or you might have two lots left or however many that might be. Um, so that's kind of the process that that that we go through. Um, and I I do want folks to just know that over time that that eight lot definition has has changed. Um, so, so if you were to come in our office, you you may see that, well, this lot's been split 15 times. Why did they why were why were they able to do that? It's because that definition has changed over time. it. At one time
019you could do a minor subdivision was five lots or if you weren't extending any utilities or building any infrastructure and you were just stripping out a road, it was essentially unlimited. Um, and so that got changed in 2014. So it went from five slash unlimited if you didn't have any infrastructure to eight. Um because we we were going through the rewrite and in sort of that 2012 2014 time frame, we sort of looked at that and got some input from various stakeholders that sort of said, well, you know, an unlimited number is probably not okay. So that that's why that was tweaked. And let let me ask you this on that on that topic. How did we get to the number eight for minor subdivisions? >> That was just pulled out of thin air. [laughter]
020>> No magic or science to it at all. [laughter] >> So So historically speaking, that number was pretty arbitrary. It's just whatever the board agreed upon at that time. >> That's right. >> Okay. So, in contrast then, if we look at things statewide, um what what's the typical number that you've seen, you know, maybe the average number or the number that most local governments may use to define a minor subdivision? >> Um, in in a lot of ordinance I've I've seen and a lot of some other places that I've worked previously, I've seen uh five be that sort of threshold. And I I I can't sit here and tell you if I pulled every single municipal and county ordinance in North Carolina if if if five is the magic number, but that [clears throat] does
021seem to be sort of a number that I see a lot is is that number five being the sort of the threshold between a major and minor. >> [clears throat] >> You did what I do want to point out you asked about, you know, was there any science or how do we come up with eight [clears throat] um and and sort of really it came from the fact that we knew that if we were reducing this unlimited number of lots you just, you know, you could just strip out a road with as many as you could. That essentially we were trying to give a little bit of an incentive because we were taking something away. So that's why we said, well, if we're taking that ability away, let's raise it from five to eight. That
022was the logic. It could have been 10. It could have been six. We just picked eight because we just felt like that was a reasonable compromise at that time. >> And and it was a it was kind of a [clears throat] a non-scientific study, but um you know, we did kind of go through and and and look at those maps to see, well, what what are we talking about here? Have we ever seen one that was 100 lots? We hadn't, but we we did see a few that were maybe 15 to 20. Um, it wasn't all over the place, but we did see a few like that. So, and Brian's right, that's that's why we did it. We said, "Well, we're taking that part away, so why don't we, you know, change it from five
023to eight because we're we're changing this down here, so let's move it up a little bit here." So [clears throat] yeah, I I think it's So my my opinion here is I think it's important that that we look at this. Um and I think it's important that we look at it because well, again, there's there's growing concern here about farmland preservation. There's there's growing concern about residential growth, period. And and I you know, this board's had numerous conversations about residential growth. And and so we know that for a fact that residential growth typically does not pay for itself. Okay? So there is a cost to serve and and we know that when you start factoring in county services um that it does not it's not profitable to the to the to the to the county
024government. So it's not it's not putting in more in Avalorum tax revenue than what it's taking out with services. Um and then this was a alarming statistic that I saw the other day. Um and this actually came up from um from the city of Monroe. Uh but currently the city of Monroe has got 7,000 approvals, residential approvals that haven't even broke ground yet. So that's 7,000 residential units um just in the city of Monroe alone. Um so you know again residential growth conss to be one of the biggest topics that we hear from our constituents about every single day. And so um you know our board's taken the opportunity to look at major subdivisions. So, we did that what about a year year and a half ago, something like that. >> Um maybe maybe sooner.
025But but we've we've taken that opportunity to look at major subdivisions and we we took what were recommendations in like our 2050 plan. That's right. >> And made those into requirements for 30% open space requirements. >> But those are long those have long been recommendations. Correct. In 2050 for majors. >> That's right. >> Okay. So again, you know, growth growth is going to affect everybody in this county. it affects every single person period, whether that's municipal growth or county growth. And so I think that we need to look at this, but I also think that we need to be respectful and find the balance there where we're not hurting, you know, families that want to subdivide and allow their family to grow in the county. And so, you know, I I think that there's a
026number of things we can look at. Um, and I'm not necessarily, you know, set on one single solution. Uh, but I think the purpose of this is to hear from the commissioners and possibly direct staff to bring us back some some creative solutions so that we can be respectful of families that want to subdivide, but also close some of these loopholes that we're seeing. I mean, like for example, we know again about that loophole where you've got minors on one side of the road and minor on the other. And uh, and maybe a solution might be to look at, you know, what we can do to close that up. Um, you know, maybe we look at a combination of things so that we if we decide to lower that number for minor subdivisions, then maybe
027we look at a potential solution of a parent parcel renewal date, you know, that maybe renews every 10 years or so or 15 years because I look at this as more generational, right? >> That's right. >> So, so you have, you know, one person that owns a big parcel of land and they should be able to deed over that property to family members. Um, however, you know, there also has to be a limit somewhere, you know, on this so that you don't get overdevelopment of what should be a major subdivision being classified into a minor. And so that that's the fine line that we're trying to walk here. And and I think you understand. I know you're tracking here, but but I think that that's that's the real trick to it is find [clears throat]
028that balance where families can still subdivide, but you know, we also close up some of these loopholes. >> Yep. Mr. Mr. Manager, I >> I I did want to I think sometimes um the public often does not understand that the rules that we apply only apply to unincorporated areas of Union County. Um there are many many residents who live inside a municipality, Unionville, Fairview, Indian Trail, you name it. And they have their own rules and so these don't apply to those individuals. But unfortunately, I I think sometimes they hear something and they think that, well, this is going to affect me. It would really depends on where you live, what your, you know, what municipality you're in or not. So, I did want to stress that that people do need to ask questions, understand what
029rules apply to you with your property. Yeah, [clears throat] thank you. I think that's a good uh clarification there because again, anything that this board adopts would not apply to like Indian Trail or Waxaw or City of Monroe. Okay. Commissioner Balkan. Um, I've I've carried on some conversations with different commissioners and five does seem to be a number that pops up pretty often, but I haven't heard of any county that would have a 16. You know, like with our situation where if you have a road that splits that parcel, you can have eight on the right side, eight on the left. I haven't seen that anywhere. Um, that almost seems like a loophole to me. Um, and also in your experience, do most of these counties leave their parent partial date in place or do
030they reset that parent partial date over over a period of time? >> I I would actually have to do a little bit more research on on that. There there's actually some places that don't even they don't even have a parent parcel date. Um, which I I I think it's important to have one. Um, but and I think, you know, in Brian's previous experience as a planner, he's probably seen this, too, where you can almost game the system by doing a minor subdivision today and then literally the next day turn around and come in and do another minor subdivision. And that that's how a lot of places are set up. Um, but Union County for they they did a good job when they wrote the ordinance and and set that parent parcel date. So, I don't
031know that that's actually that widespread. Um, but but it but it might be. I I would have to do a little more research on that. >> No, we're good. Okay. >> Actually, I had a phone call last week. A friend of mine who owns quite a bit of land out in the Fairview area. She's not in the municipality of Fairview, >> but she owns a lot of it. Um, she's concerned about giving to her her boys and her grandchildren, and because of the date, it really restricts her. So we need to make sure that for those families that want to give to their children and grands that we somehow work that in to yeah grandfather them in so that they can uh give to family members even if it's right at that eight limit. Um
032obviously she um she was not the land owner in 1978. she was, you know, barely 18 at the time. And um but now that she's inherited this family land, she wants to make sure that it's kept in the family and that her kids and her grandchildren, if they so choose to build near her or near their families, that they have the opportunity to do so, too. So, we need to make sure that we are looking out uh for those people that do want to give to their kids. And I think that's been expressed throughout this entire board that we want to make sure that that is feasible going forward. >> Yes, ma'am. >> Thank you. >> Yeah. Thank you. Um, Madam Vice [clears throat] Chair, I think that's a great point and um and yeah,
033I mean I'm hearing too from folks that have even purchased property recently um that has already been been divided like eight times, seven, eight times and so they can no longer further divide and they were under the impression that they could. And so this is a real concern of the community and and with whatever solution that we find here, I think that we have to take that into consideration. >> I I do want to clarify um when you reach the limit of the minor subdivision definition, the ninth lot, it doesn't mean you can't further subdivide your property. And I I I want to stress that. Um it just means that there are some additional rules that you have to follow. It doesn't say eight lots is all you get and you never get anymore. >>
034Yeah. >> Um it's just that there are some additional rules that you have to follow and and if the board does choose in in the future to change that definition, we will still have a major subdivision category or whatever that will be some additional rules that you'll have to follow above and beyond that number. >> Thank you for pointing that out, Mander Matthews. >> Yeah, I apologize. I may have misspoke. Yeah, obviously, you know, it could be subdivided, but it would fall under a different category of regulation. So, okay. Is there any more discussion on this item? Well, well, if not, then I'm going to offer a motion for the board. Um, and that is to just formally direct staff to bring us back some some strategies uh for this board to consider. And that
035may include lowering the number of lots to a different number or it may include um you know some sort of parent parcel reset. I don't want to get too specific as far as the the requirement or the recommendations but but I'd like to at least direct staff to bring us back some strategies so that we can look at that um and we can also address the concern about preserving our farmland from overdevelopment but also preserve that family aspect too for subdivision. >> Okay. Commissioner Balkan. >> Well, [clears throat] I really don't have anything else to add other than I have spoken with two families that are in that situation now where they have they have split their property up to a point that another split it becomes a major subdivision. >> So, I' I've seen
036that and I've I've spoken with these people especially at the poll here lately. So, >> okay. >> Just something we need to take a look at. >> Okay. So, we've got a motion. Any discussion on that motion? All right. All those in favor say I. >> I. >> Thank you, Lee. >> Thank you. >> Appreciate it. >> All right. So, our next item of business is item 26-105. That's the Union County Food Innovation Center project update and GMP contract amendment approval. I will now recognize Deputy County Manager Patrick Nland for this item. >> Thank you, Mr. chair. Uh I'm excited to be here tonight. Um this project from concept to where we are right now is uh going on a little over 5 years and this this is a unique project and it has presented
037some unique challenges and some unique opportunities. Um so thank you for just allowing me a few minutes to kind of give you an update on what's happened in the in the last several months. Um just want to start out by showing the current renderings of what the facility um will look like. This is off Austin Cheney Road from the Wingut interchange. So, this would be what you're looking at as you're coming in to the site. Um, I think our our facilities staff along with our designer CPL have done a great job of giving us a structure that fits into the the environment out there um but still looks somewhat modern in nature. Uh, just for reference, this is the current site plan. You can see this uh the project will sit on 12 acres that
038is currently owned by Wingot University. Uh we are leasing the back six acres of that property uh to locate the the barn facility um food innovation facility. As much as we want to call it the food innovation facility, it'll still be referred to as the barn in perpetuity. Um but that does leave six acres toward the front front of the property to try to help us develop for economic development opportunities. Um, this is some of that economic development, uh, economic development development we're going after. Um, and what you see here is just a conceptual layout of what we think we could fit on the land that Wingut University owns and the and the the county. And what you're looking at is about 200,000 square feet of advanced manufacturing space. Um, it's right on the interchains.
039It's great for logistics. It's it's an opportunity that Union County has not had where we have what is essentially our interstate um being able to access it that quickly. So, we look forward to what the future of this site has to offer. Um just to recap, I want to I want to take a minute to highlight some of the community partners um and some of what our own staff has done. Um like I mentioned, this is a land lease with Wingut University for about 6 acres. Um the money we are paying the university, they are putting into a scholarship fund for a Union County student for their a uh system program. So that money will go directly back into the community uh via those scholarships. We received $5 million from the state of North Carolina
040in an economic development grant to help do this. The town of Wingit is helping fund the uh road and utilities to serve the site and that's about a $ 1.8 million contribution. Uh, Golden Leaf has offered to contribute a million dollars for some of the specialty equipment. Uh, NCDFP, which is the North Carolina Department of Agricultural uh, farmland Preservation Program, they awarded $453,000 out of their last cycle, and we're optimistic they will award another half million in their next cycle. Um, Union County, obviously, we put a great deal of funding into this through our economic development fund. Um, and we had some, uh, capital project redirects. Uh there were certain projects we had in our capital program that were either no longer feasible or we found other ways to accomplish and we were able to
041uh channel some of that money back into this program. Um this is a unique project. There are not there is not one of these anywhere in the country that we could point to and say we want to do it this way. There was a lot of trying to figure it out on our own. And I want to I want to just thank a few people. Um we have Chris Boyd and Linda Whitaker, two of our facilities folks that have done an amazing job on this project. Um, Andrew Balkcom, obviously our cooperative extension director, has been involved in this from the very beginning. Uh, Rachel Holtzman with our EDC, who actually when we started talking about this, she was an intern with cooperative extension and now she's the assistant director of economic development. Um, the Cuthbritzen
042grad, she's a homegrown. We're very, very proud of Rachel and she's worked very, very hard on this. Um, and we want to thank you all. There's been a number of challenges, but you all have supported this project from the beginning. Um, and we couldn't have done it without the support we received from you all. So, uh, from this meeting tonight, if the contract is approved, uh, we will have a groundbreaking on March 31st and construction should begin sometime in April of this year and anticipated completion June of 2027. Um, the action requested, I'm not going to read this out unless you want me to. I think as our attorney likes to say, you can approve as presented without having to read the whole thing, but essentially what we're doing is we are executing the construction
043contracts. we were executing the uh interlocal agreement with the town of Wingut to get reimbursed for because we're actually going to pay for the construction. They're going to reimburse us because it was easier to just keep it in the construction contract. And then there's various capital project amendments and ordinances to get all of the funding where it needs to be. Um so this is this is the the last the last next step in in a very long process, but we're very very happy to be where we are. It was not necessarily easy, but it was very rewarding and we we think this is going to be a project that Union County can be proud of for a very long time. >> Thank you. Uh Patrick. >> Yes, sir. >> Any uh questions or comments for
044Patrick? >> Commissioner Merrell, >> I would like to make a motion to authorize the county manager to negotiate and execute an agreement substantially consistent with the agenda item. exercise any renewal or extension term options to set forth in the agreement and terminate the agreement if deemed deemed in the best interest of the county. Each in the county manager's discretion authorize the county manager to execute an intergovernmental agreement with the town of Winggate to administer Union County Food Innovation Center, also known as the Barn Project contracts. We have to get that in there. >> Yes, ma'am. >> Adopt capital project ordinances CPOS's 348B, 284D, 235A, 344D, and budget amendment 15 and adopt resolution providing notice of construction of the Union County Food Innovation Center. >> Thank you, Commissioner Merrill. Um, so we have a motion. I
045I just want to add a couple of comments. So, number one, I'm going to be in support of the motion, but uh number two, I think we need to thank um our management staff here, too. So, uh deputy county manager Patrick Nyl, we've got Clayton and also our county manager here, uh Brian Matthews, um as well as many, many others that uh that have worked on this project. And uh I'm glad that you that you put this into perspective of a unique project. It certainly is. And uh and I'm I'm like Commissioner Merrill here. This is always going to be the barn to me. Yeah, >> I mean it it can be the food innovation center, you know, but uh but to me it's always going to be the barn and that just stuck from
046early on. But but uh but I think that this is more so than anything, this is a huge opportunity for the county. Um and when I say the county, I'm talking about the people of the county. I'm talking about business here in the county. Um, you know, our board has we have really fought tooth and nail to try to bring economic development opportunities here and obviously we've got great staff that has been doing that uh great work there with that. Um, but this is a good way to for for small businesses to become bigger businesses, homegrown Union County businesses and and uh I I just appreciate staff staff's continued work on this. Um, it's been a long time coming and again I'll be in support. Thank you. Thank you. >> Any other discussion on the
047motion? All right. So, we got a motion. All those in favor say I. >> I. >> Thank you, Patrick. >> Thank you. [clears throat] >> Okay. So, our next item is item 26-108. That's appointment to boards and committees. There are two boards with vacancies for consideration this evening. Uh these vacancies have been advertised in accordance with the board's rules of procedure. Applications have been received and information regarding the vacant positions may be found in the background provided for this item. The first board with vacancies is the library board of trustees which has five total vacancies. The first vacancy on this board is for the Fairview region re uh representative. Uh we received one application for this position. And I will now entertain a motion for nominations for this position. >> Mr. Chair, I'd like to
048uh nominate Renee A. Holty. I'm sorry if I mispronounced her name. Is it Huddle? Thank you. Renee Hodddle for this position. >> Okay. Thank you, Madam Vice Chair. Um, so we've got a motion here. All those in favor say I. >> I. >> All right. The second vacancy on the library board of trustees is for the Monroe region representative. We received one application for this position and I will now entertain a motion for nominations for this position. >> Mr. Chair, I'd like to nominate Hayne White for that position. >> Okay. Thank you, Madam Vice Chair. So, we've got a motion. All those in favor say I. >> I. >> All right. Moving right along. So, the third vacancy on this board is for our Union West region representative. We received one application for this position.
049I will now entertain a motion for nominations for this position. >> Mr. Chair, I'd like to nominate Beverly Osborne for this position. >> Thank you, Madam Vice Chair. So, we have a nomination and a motion. All those in favor of the motion say, "I." >> I final two vacancies on the library board of trustees are for two at large representative uh vacancies. We received one application for reappointment and three other applications for appointment as at large representatives. Um I will now I tell you what I I'll make the motion that we nominate or appoint uh Delwin Eugene Archer to one of those at large positions and also Christopher Day to the second. So we've got a motion. All those in favor of the motion say I. Hi. >> All right. The other board with vacancies
050for consideration this evening is the home and community care block grant advisory committee. There are four vacancies for community representatives on this board. We received four applications for these four vacant positions and I will now entertain a motion for nominations. >> Mr. Chair, I'd like to nominate those applicants for reappointment as listed. Do I need to? Yeah, if you could state it. Okay. Uh, Miss Luda Anthony, Patrick Chang, Alleta >> Galuchia, I apologize if I mispronounced that, and Judith Kinlaw. >> Thank you, Madam Vice Chair. So, we've got a motion to uh appoint Sir Luda Anthony, Patrick Chang, Alleta Galuchia, and Judith Kinlaw. All those in favor of the motion say I. >> I. >> All right. Thank you, board. Um, all right. So, I guess that brings us to county manager comments. So, that
051ends our business portion of the agenda. So, I will now recognize our county manager for his comments tonight. >> Thank you. I I do also want to express our um, you know, congratulations to Mr. Rose on his upcoming 100th birthday. It was really great to have him come and attend and the board recognize his service to uh this this country and and our community. Uh and other than that, I wish everyone a good evening. >> Thank you, Mr. Manager. Mr. Balk, we'll start with you. >> Yes, sir. I I would like to echo Brian Matthews comments on Mr. Rose and uh just um how fortunate the family is to still have their dad at this long, you know. Um, also encourage everyone to get out to vote. You know, now it's tough to see that
052it's going on now. So, uh, just encourage everyone to exercise their civic duty and encourage you to be careful going home. Thank you. >> Thank you, Commissioner Balk. Commissioner Merrill, >> I just want to say how wonderful it was to have um, Charles here tonight. Um I believe his birth his 100th birthday is on the 28th >> and um and that we were able to share he his favorite food just happened to be something we had tonight for dinner and so I just want to thank Mville for um for breaking bread and sharing food um with him to take home for dinner tonight. But um what a beautiful and special family um to have here in Union County. And I I also want to recognize um Andrew Bro Balkam um and everything that he has
053done um to support us and educate us um over many many years on the barn project. >> It will never be a food innovation facility. Um all of all of the smartypants in there can call it that, but we're going to call it the barn project. um my years on the board of education um when we started um adding a tech in our elementary schools in the curriculum and and it took off like wildfire out at um Forest Hills High School and in that district and then when it became so popular and it was you know feeding over into all of the subjects um and the children were getting involved in FFA and um and just seeing them learn so much um through a tech and now several of our clusters um went to visit
054Unionville this um past spring and they've added a tech and um the students are really just gravitating to having this hands-on um knowledge and experience um with using their hands and um just really learning something that is so important to this county and the um the roots of this county and getting back to our roots and you know coming out of COVID and getting away from devices and um getting our hands dirty and grow growing and feeding stuff and because Union County Public Schools was having such tremendous success with students that now they were high school students and then Wingut University started their program um to get their degree in um a tech. So um cannot wait for this um to come online and I just want to thank everyone um for just sticking to
055this project and I cannot wait to visit this um facility one day. So um thank you staff, thank you everyone for um seeing this through because it has been a long journey. So thank you. >> Thank you Commissioner Merrill. Um, Vice Chair Helms. >> Thank you, sir. Well, I'd like to echo everybody else. Um, so happy Mr. Charles Rose came out tonight. I had a wonderful conversation with his daughter on Friday, I believe it was, and she is just as big a delight as he is. Um, Liz sent us a video that uh was made about him a few years ago and what he saw at 17 years old. even at my age, I can't imagine seeing the things that he saw as a teenager. Um, this man, you know, is is he's just precious.
056He's just absolutely precious and so is his family. So, we would like to wish Mr. Charles Rose a very happy 100th birthday. And apparently, he loves cheesy grits because we didn't know, we do know that. >> And macaroni and cheese. He's he's likes cheese. Okay. Um [laughter] um also thank Tracy Price from the Blue Ridge Honor Flight. Again, if you have anyone in your family or you know a gold star family member that would like to take a day trip to DC, um contact blueidgehonorflight.com and they will make that happen for you or try to make that happen for you. They do flights um occasionally. This has been going I think they had over 170,000 flights so far. So it's it's a great organization and again if you have someone I believe it's from war
057I Korea and Vietnam and I don't know if they've done any of the I say more current wars but beyond Vietnam at this time. Um so thank you Tracy for coming. Um also I'd like to recognize staff with the barn project. again. It It took me a hot minute when I went, "What?" And when I was reading [laughter] the agenda and I went, "Oh, that's the barn." And um so yes, we will always lovingly refer to it as the barn. Um the the people in our community have said very loudly, very clearly, they wanted business growth in the community. And we have listened and we're producing it. It does take time. It's a much harder development than a home, but we are trying to grow this county in business. That's what we have heard time
058and time again and that's what we're doing. And um so I'm very proud of the the work that has been put into this and um just seeing everything come to fruition. So thank you staff for all of your hard work. It is greatly appreciated. And lastly, I'd like to thank Mr. case jacket for coming tonight. [laughter] You thought you weren't going to get mentioned, but yes, you will. Um, [laughter] thank you at my request for wearing that jacket tonight. >> Just by word of explanation, uh, the last time [laughter] we were together before all of the weather, there was a national championship game for football. [laughter] I grew up in Indiana. And, uh, I'd like to thank my family for their support over the years. for me as a fan, [laughter] my wife, all the
059snacks, the kids, and the bad mood that dad had after the games were lost. [laughter] Uh, but in all seriousness, thank you. It's very special. If you guys had voted for or rooted for a team for many years that just never won. >> Yeah. >> Uh, you know, could be Carolina, could be state, could even be Wake Forest, who is also in the top four, losing his football programs. If you could imagine in two years they came from wherever they are and they won the national championship. That's how shocking uh it is to some of us. But uh thank you. I'll I'll I'll trot the sparkles out from time to time, but today it [laughter] seemed appropriate. >> As somebody of uh a fan of a football team that it's not the greatest in the
060whole world world, my husband can attest to it. Um yeah, there's lots of things that are said uh watching games. Um uh I can appreciate that wholeheartedly. Um thank you for everyone coming out tonight. We do appreciate you. >> Thank you, Madam Vice Chair. And, uh, Mr. Kay, I can certainly sympathize as a as a Wolfpack fan. [laughter] Um, I I completely understand, and I know that Commissioner Balkam shares my pain with that. Um, so so yeah, but thank you for for humoring us tonight and and wearing that. Um, I want to make it clear that karaoke does not start after the meeting ends. [laughter] Um, neither does disco. So, uh, so yeah, but ju just another note on the bar and you know, um, Vice Chair Helms here sort of talking about business development
061opportunities and and one of the things that that I think that we really really like about this project is is that it fits with the fabric of our county, you know, so our county is very agriculturally based. Um, it was B. I mean, agriculture is the fabric of of what we what we have here. And so, it it's a it's a good fit for what we grow and we do here in Union County. And so, it's a very exciting project and uh I share uh Commissioner Merrill's passion about this. One day we when we get to set foot on this thing, um it's going to be an awesome experience and so I think it's going to be great for the county. Um other than that, I would just say thank you to our staff. Thank
062you to all that uh that attended the meeting tonight. I hope everyone has a safe drive home. Have a good night. >> And with that, I'll make a motion to adjourn the meeting. [laughter] >> All those in favor? >> I keep