001Good evening everyone. I'd like to call the October 6, 2025 regular meeting of the Union County Board of Commissioners to order. At this time, if you're so inclined, please join me for an invocation. Dear heavenly father, thank you for this wonderful fall weather that you have given to us and we thank you Lord for your many many blessings over Union County and everyone that lives and works here and um we just lift you lift up our hands and um gratitude to you for all the things that you provide that we may or may not see. We ask for your continued protection and prosperity over Union County. That everything we say and do and provide here for our citizens will glorify you. In your name I pray. Amen. Amen. >> If everyone would please stand. I
002pledge 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. The next item on the agenda is informal comments from the community. believe we have one speaker tonight. We will recognize the speaker signed up for informal comments. Each speaker must address the board from the lectern and begin their remarks by giving their name, stating whether they're residents of Union County, and indicating the municipality within which they reside, if any. Each speaker will have three minutes to make remarks. A tone will sound at the conclusion of the remarks. A speaker may not yield his or her time to another speaker. Speakers may not discuss matters which are subject of public hearings and they must be courteous in
003their language and presentation. Restatements or repetitive comments by 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 supporting documents if any with our clerk to the board. Okay, we had one person sign up online and that will be Melanie Miller. Good evening. U my name is Melanie Miller. I'm a resident of Union County. I live in Waxaw. Um, tonight I'm here as the executive director of the Union County Community Arts Council. Um, October is National Arts and Humanities Month and that's a time for us to recognize how the arts strengthen our communities and improve our quality of life. And at the Union County Community Arts Council, our mission is to cultivate
004and celebrate the arts so that everyone in our community has the opportunity to experience their benefits. And the arts are not something that's just an extra for us to have. The arts really are essential to our local economy and our education system. Across North Carolina, the nonprofit arts and culture sector generates over $2 billion each year in economic activity. That's just in the state of North Carolina. Uh we support as a sector 38,000 full-time jobs and return over $439 million in tax revenue to local, state, and federal government. In fact, when you include both the for-profit and the nonprofit arts and culture sector together in North Carolina, we generate over 22 billion dollars in economic activity. And that's greater than both the transportation sector and the utility sector. But right here at home, um, in
005Union County, the Arts Council, we invest in arts education, uh, bringing professional artists into classrooms. We conduct the largest and longestr running student art show in the county and infuse about $20,000 directly into the hands of UCPS and charter school teachers each year through our arts and bloom educator grant program. So this gives thousands of students the opportunity to have additional hands-on creative experiences that build their confidence and critical thinking skills and their collaboration. So research shows that young people who are engaged in the arts are five times more likely to graduate from high school and twice as likely to graduate from college. And so these outcomes are ones that benefit every family and every employer here in our county. And creative and arts related jobs in North Carolina counties are proven to be associated
006with increased visitor spending, retention and attraction of residents, and rising household incomes. And right here in Union County, you can see arts events that bring people together. Whether that's a student art art showcase, a veterans art exhibit, a concert in the park, these are the things that really create a pride of place and memories that really strengthen our civic fabric. So, as you all continue to make decisions that shape the future of our county, I encourage you to continue to see the arts as not a luxury, but as a powerful investment in economic vitality, education, and well-being. Um, at the Arts Council, we are very grateful for the support of the county. Um, we have been recipients of grant dollars. Um, so many commissioners and and staff come out to our programs and um, support
007the students um, in their their arts education and the arts activities. So, we just wanted to say thank you and just to let you know Oh, am I getting close? Okay, I thought I saw um, I didn't want to go over time. Just want to say that we're really proud to partner with you all um on all the municipalities here in the county to just um again support students and everyone else. There it is. Thank you all so much. Have a good evening. >> The next three items on our agenda are public hearings. two for proposed resoning and one for a proposed economic development incentive. Before opening the first public hearing, I want to read the rules that will apply to members of the public for all of these public hearings. Each speaker must address.
008Do I have to read this if we don't have any speakers? Okay, it's long. 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 reside if any. Each speaker will have three minutes to make their remarks. A tone will sound at the conclusion of their remarks. A speaker may not yield 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 public hearing is item 25-593 for for the reasonzoning petition CZ-2025-00007 Rodriguez. I will open the public hearing and recognize Bjornne Hansen, senior planner for comments from county staff.
009Evening, Madam Chair, members of the board, Manager Matthews. This is a conditional reszoning uh 2025-CZ- 0007 Rodriguez for the name of the applicant. This is uh 2acre parcel on requesting a resoning from RA40 to light industrial and it's limited to office and warehouses. He owns a telecommunications company for installation of fiber optic and other uh communication infrastructure and he needs a larger site based on the success of his business. This site plan that I'm about to show went through the site plan review process and can meet our standards and he's requesting five-year vesting of his development rights. Site plan uh is on the west side of 601. So, this is southbound and have an entrance, parking, building, storage, and then the um buffering around the perimeter along with the storm water controls to the back
010of the site. Existing conditions, it's undeveloped and largely forested. You can see 601 to the north and to the south, multi-lane road, and then across the street, large lot residential. Terms of development status, again you can see large lot um residential surrounding the site. Terms of environmental features, there's a creek to the south, but there's no wetlands, flood planes for or creeks on the site of the property. Terms of zoning, it's all RA40. To the north you can see the edge of the city of Monroe. Terms of transportation again it's on 601 carries approximately 12,000 vehicles per day. There's no funded projects in the vicinity of this u proposed reszoning and no improvements are required as a result of this u proposed project. Land use map. It's all purple because it's the employment corridor along
011601. This is an overlay over rural residential. So, this use is consistent with the um land use map because it's commercial in nature. UCPS was not consulted and water and sewer are not available to the site. Community meeting was held in late August. One member of the public attended. They had questions about road access. Um they were a neighbor, so they were concerned that this site would be using their driveway and concerned about impacts on property values. No changes were made based on feedback. Uh due to the lack of proximity, Monroe was not consulted. Terms of the negatives, um you do have continued development along 601. Eventually, that could be considered too much traffic along the corridor and you have a transition from residential to industrial uses. You're you're going to have potential conflicts like
012the one that was expressed by the neighbor as a um concern. But the positives are it is consistent with the plan. It can meet our development standards. The use is what the employment corridor overlay was intended for and it can meet our development standards. So staff recommend approval and the planning board at its uh September meeting unanimously recommended approval. And I'm happy to answer any questions that you may have and the applicant is also present. >> Board, do you have any questions for be? No. Thank you very much. If the applicant wishes um to provide comments, um they have 15 minutes. >> Hi. Um thank you for be here. My name is David Rodriguez. Um I live in Indian Trail uh since uh 2021, four years from now. My wife's in here. Um 2017 uh
013we uh create a news telecom. It's a company based um we are a minority uh certified company for the state of North Carolina as a um Hispanic owner and um we are as well um small business enterprise certified for the state of North Carolina. So we provide services in the area of the structured cabling and everything that has to be with network uh fiber optics. So from seven years to now. So the company is uh growing uh in in term of clients and employees as well. Um last year we get that lot. Um working with Beyond to trying to to see if that is a a good place to you know open our office that that space going to be used for office space indoor storage and outdoor storage as well. Um as you know
014the fiber octis come big spools those pool has to be started in in somewhere. So, we're going to have a secure area to store those pools. Um, everything that can be damaged for the weather is going to be in inside. And that is that we propose for for that lot. >> If someone has any question, >> does anyone have any questions, >> Madam Chair? >> Yes. >> Ju just a quick question. Mr. Uh Rodriguez, um how many folks does your company currently employ? >> We have a somewhere five 50 plus employees right now. >> Okay. >> Um we provide services in in North Carolina in state. Um sometime we have to go out of state to use um for our faults to to go to pre um offer services in other states. South Carolina, Virginia.
015We got a travel crew over there. >> Okay. Thank you very much. Thank you for being here tonight. Okay. And we did not have any speakers um that signed up for this public um hearing tonight. So I will now close the public hearing. The next public hearing is item 25-595 for reszoning petition CZ-20225-00008 Union power. I will open the public hearing and recognize Bejorn Hansen, senior planner for comments from the county. Evening again, Madam Chair, members of the board, manager Matthews. This is 2025-CZ-008 Union Power Reszoning. Again, for the name of the applicant, this is a amended reszoning for the uh sheriff's training facility on Mills Harris Road, which was reszoned several years ago to RA200 with conditions. This is amending it to allow the site plan to include a a power uh substation and
016that would be on the eastern side of the site that I'll get to in a moment. Uh we have reviewed the site plan and it can meet our development standards. They're requesting five-year vesting of their development rights. This is a zoom of the site plan. it is um next to the transmission line which makes sense and so they would actually not get access um from the developed part of the sheriff's training facility. They won't coingle at all because this is going to have access to the east through an adjacent property where it'll connect down to I believe Monroe Ansonville Road. So, existing conditions, again, I did not see fit to walk across the sheriff's uh facility, even though it's ours uh county facility. So, I just took pictures from the entrance. You can see the
017entrance to the sheriff's facility to the north and to the south, two-lane road, and then across the street um single family residential development status. I circled the portion of the site where the um substation would go. You see the power line, very convenient. uh shows the proximity and you can see it's a pretty large property. So this is the portion that's going to be amended as a result of that environmental features. There is a stream and flood plane through the center part of the property, but it doesn't affect this. Regardless, they will install storm water controls as a part of their site plan. The zoning, again, you can see the impact of your decision several years ago. This was zoned uh to conditional zoning and the remainder is RA40 surrounding it. transportation. Mills Harris uh
018carries approximately thousand vehic vehicles per day. This is going to have no impact on that because their access will be down this way onto Hansenville Road. And again, that impact is going to be limited essentially to construction and then periodic maintenance of the facility. Land use map recommends rural residential. This use is specifically called out as a special use permit because it's very sightsp specific. So this is a part of that. They have provided all the information um to substantiate the special use permit approval which the um planning board agreed with including a real estate impact report showing no impact to adjacent properties as a result of this use. Again, because it's not residential, the school system was not consulted and uh water and sewer are not available to this site. Community meeting was held
019in late August. Uh several members of the public attended. They just had questions. They did not um oppose the use um particularly access to it. And then what the reasonzoning would allow, concerns of could a expansion or a new construction demolition landfill go there, for example, because they knew it was county property. And we said no, that wasn't the case. that we had to comply with the same land planning rules that everyone else did. So they would have to go through this process as well because of the lack of proximity. Wing it was not consulted for comments. This area is rural residential. Um so this use is neither agg is neither agricultural nor low density residential as a negative and it would result in the removal of approximately 2 acres of trees. However, the positives
020are um this area is rural residential and and it doesn't increase density in the in the area. That's doesn't it put a a stress on schools or the local infrastructure. Major utility facilities are allowed in RA40 or even RA200 with a special use permit. They provided all the information to justify the approval of that. It's not going to be visible for the road and it can meet our development standards. So, we recommended approval and the planning board unanimously recommended approval. So, I'm happy to answer any questions and the um development team is also here to answer any questions you may have. >> Are there any questions? >> Yes, >> just one. Bejorn, would you go back maybe two slides to where it showed the outline of the parcel? >> This one with the >> Oh,
021with the red there. Yeah. No, no, you're good. Right. >> Okay. >> Right there. Can you show me approximately where to be on the parcel? >> Right there. >> That corner. >> Okay. All right. Thank you. >> Yes, sir. >> Are there any other questions? >> I believe you said the planning department is here and can speak. >> No, the development team, >> the applicant. Okay. Um, ma'am, if they would like to speak, um, they have up to 15 minutes if there's anything they would like to say. Good evening. Uh my name is Joe Irvin. I'm with United Grid Solutions. We are the consultant, the engineering consultant for Union Power. Um just to kind of enhance what um Bejorn said, we spend a lot of time prior to developing a site and finding site figuring
022out where it is does the least amount of impact. And as you can tell from this site plan, we've kept it off the main roads. We've we are working our be we're doing our best to limit the impacts and the tree removals. We're not in in we're not uh impacting any of the environmental um the specifically the stream that's Jack's branch that runs through the middle of the property. The other advantage here is as Bejorn mentioned is that the existing transmission line and an existing distribution line uh a butt directly to this parcel that were plan to develop. So there won't be any uh major tree clearing for lines running in and out. Um, in addition to meeting all the requirements of the UDO, we also are going to be getting a storm water permit
023through DEQ Raleigh and a erosion sediment control permit from Morsville. So, we plan on meeting all the regulatory requirements. And again, it's it's a it's a development that'll be it's needed for the community and it's uh it's uh kept away from the community as much as as we can do it. So, and if they have any questions, um and then if if if if it's amendable and you're all amendable to it, we just like just assume have this uh if you could all agree to it at this meeting, that'd be great. So, >> thank you for being here. >> Sure. >> Commissioner Balkam, >> I may have just missed the uh point, but how how large of an area will it cover? >> It's three It's three just a little over three acres, not including
024the driveway that goes in across the property, but it's all within the driveway is all within an easement already negotiated with the property owners. >> Right. Okay. >> Are there any other questions? Commissioner Helms. >> Thank you, Madam Chair. Uh, this may be better directed towards Bejorn. Um, but you're welcome to answer if you know the answer. Um, I'm sure that we've checked all the boxes there with the sheriff's office and that's not going to pose any kind of, you know, problems to any kind of training events or exercises that we have going on there. >> Yes, we work through the sheriff's office for this and they are supportive of it. >> Okay. Thank you. Thank you again. We did not have anyone sign up um to speak on this issue. So I will now
025close the public hearing. The final public hearing is for item 25-604 for a step two economic development incentive grant request to Safe Fire Detection Incorporated, also known as Project Smokeoky. I will open the public hearing and recognize Ron Male, our economic development director, for brief comments from county staff. Madame Chair, Commissioners, Manager Matthews, thank you for allowing me to bring before you tonight an economic development incentive grant request for Safe Fire Detection Incorporated, otherwise referred to as Project Smokeoky. Safe Fire Detection is a second generation manufacturer of sophisticated fire detection systems used in nuclear power generation, prochemical refining, and space exploration such as the International Space Station. So, some pretty neat stuff. The company is headquartered in Indian Trail where it's been in business for nearly 40 years. They currently employ 25 people, of whom
02616 are Union County residents. These employees earn an average annual wage of just just under $64,000 a year. Safe fire detections business has grown to the uh to such a level where they have simply outgrown the capacity of their current buildings. Their goal is to find a location where they can build a modern efficient facility that will accommodate their business growth not only for the coming few years but for the coming decades. To accomplish this goal, Safe Fire Detection is considering two parcels here in Union County. One, a 10acre parcel in Piedmont Innovation Park off of Goldmine Road and the second, a 14 acre parcel located in the Monroe Corporate Center. The project's anticipated capital investment is approximately $10 million, which is a combination of the land, a new 40,000 square foot facility, and new
027production equipment. The project is also expected to retain the current 25 job positions as well as create 10 new jobs over the the coming three to five years. The company has indicated that incentives are an important factor for the project. Therefore, tonight we're requesting your consideration of a step two economic development incentive grant in an amount not to exceed $141,000 paid over five years beginning in fiscal year 2028. The grant will be based upon the Union County Tax Office's appraised value each year on the company's anticipated investment of $10 million again in land, building construction, and new production equipment. and also based on the retention of all existing jobs and the creation of 10 new jobs over the grant period. Based on this investment and holding all other factors constant, including depreciation, the company would
028pay estimated advalorum taxes on the new taxable investment of $217,000 over the same five-year grant period. Of course, actual tax revenue to to Union County is based on the current tax rate applied to the assessed value each year. Therefore, given the parameters of this opportunity, the Union County Economic Development Department recommends the award of this step two performance-based economic development incentive grant to Safe Fire Detection Incorporated in an amount not to exceed $141,000 to help secure this $10 million investment and its related jobs. At this time, I take it gives me pleasure to recognize Mr. Scott Robertson who is vice president of engineering at Safe Fire Detection and his brother Robertson who is vice president of production. So they're available to answer any questions you might have as well as I with that. Thank you.
029>> Thank you Ron. Um commissioners any questions for Ron or the applicant? >> Yep. All good. >> Okay. Thank you for being here. Thank you. We did not have anyone sign up for public comments. So, I will now close the public hearing. Next on the agenda is item 25-600, Popular Annual Financial Report Award. I want to recognize Beverly LS, our finance director, concerning this item. And there she is. Thank you. Good evening, um, commissioners and management team. It is my great pleasure to announce that the Government Finance Officers Association has awarded Union County Finance Department the GFOA award for outstanding achievement in popular annual financial reporting, which we refer to as our PAFER, um, for the fiscal year ending June 30th, 2024. Most people are probably even wondering what a paffer is, but it is
030a very condensed version of our financial and analytical data and a much easier to read published document for non-accounting people and our citizens to get a very high level overview of the county's financial condition. This award represents a significant achievement by a local government entity and in order to be eligible for this award, we must first also submit our comprehensive financial report to receive that award as well. Each eligible report has been reviewed by a panel of judges who elevate evaluates the report based on the following categories. Reader appeal, understandability, distribution methods, creativity, and other elements. I would like to say a special thanks to all the county finance staff that provided data for the paffer. A special thanks especially I want these two individuals to stand. Abrew Kru our accounting services supervisor and Kiier
031McClendon an accountant who actually compiled the paffer for us as well as a special thanks to the public communications team Erica Wells Bowden and Brent Ays who helped us design and actually publish this document this past year. We greatly appreciate them and all of our finance staff that is here with us tonight. If you'll please join us to receive the award. [Applause] Our next item on the agenda is 25-603, a service award recognition. I will recognize Jennifer Davis. They turn Jennifer. They split pages on me with human resources assistant director. I was about to make you a director concerning this item. Thank you for being here. >> Of course. Good evening, commissioners, management team. On Thursday, September 11th, we hosted our Q3 service award ceremony where we were to celebrate 33 employees who had met
032an anniversary milestone. Of those 33 employees during the ceremony, we celebrated and recognized 10 five-year recipients, four 10-year recipients, three 15-year recipients, two 25-year recipients, and even including our very own Lynn West with 35 years of experience. We are so grateful to be able to host these events for our employees and cherish the stories we hear behind each employee. We hope that you will enjoy a few moments from the event from this short video. [Music] Welcomed all of you to our Q3 service award ceremony. Today we are celebrating employees who are celebrating a service award for July, August, and September. So, we're nearing the end of this quarter. We are celebrating employees who had 5year, 10 year, 15, 20, 25, and we even have a 35 with us here today. Yeah. [Music] [Applause] With all
033her experience in education, Bethany remains humble. She gets along with everyone, offers to help others when possible, works with those that are less experienced to help them achieve more. >> He's a cornerstone of our department and I appreciate everything that he does for us and for the community. >> I enjoy my job and I learn a lot of stuff from these people. We have a great family at at transportation. I enjoy working on supervisors. It means a lot to me. Uh, I've had I know people that go from job to job to job and I found a job that I love and uh I just love working with the the public. >> Congratulations on your five years. You did it and we are very proud of you. >> Give me a hug. I'm very proud
034and honored to have worked with uh Jeff and to present you with this award, Jeff. Thank you. >> And I think if you had to draw up an ideal employee for Union County that we try to recruit, um, train, develop, cultivate, and promote, it's Beverly LS. >> So, I started with Union County with a temp agent to begin with when I was right out of high school. I graduated high school a little bit early, so I was 17 when I started that. The finance team at the time, I guess, saw the skill set that I had with crunchy numbers and asked me to please come join their team. And since that time, I have held various positions in the finance department, eventually to gain the role as finance director in July of 2020. None of
035that would have been possible without all of the new programs that have been put into place over the past 25 years with the county, such as the tuition reimbursement program. Um, I would have never pursued my master's degree had that not been in place. As well as the service award ceremony, which was not something that they did 25 years ago. So, it's really great this organization has evolved to honor our employees for the great work that they do every day. >> Thank you so much for everything you do for the county. >> I really appreciate your dedication and thank you very much, Jeff. >> You going to give me a hug? I appreciate you, what you do for our office, the voters of this county, and what you do to uphold the integrity of elections
036in the state and in our nation. Thank you, Philip. >> Thank you. >> Jason has been a volunteer fireman for 26 years serving the Matthews area. He has served as the assistant fire chief for the past 15 years. I'm thankful, Jason, for you. I'm thankful that you are on this team. I'm thankful get to get to work alongside you. Appreciate it. >> Thank you very much. >> Congratulations. >> Thank you very much. >> This has honestly been the best job that that I've ever had working for the county. Um, number one, the the the backing that you get from all the way up from the manager's office all the way down to, you know, my direct supervisors. Um, the the fact that that everybody is so involved and so supportive of everything. This county has
037been nothing but great for myself, for my family. Um, they put me through college. They have given me an opportunity that I normally wouldn't have had in the past cuz I I wouldn't be able to afford to do it. They put me through college and has opened up so many doors for me and I am so grateful for everything that this county has provided for me. If you don't know Lynn West, you've been under a rock somewhere. This lady is amazing. Lynn is kind of a big deal. Um, but she's so unassuming about it. She doesn't uh portray just how important she is to this organization. She makes you feel like part you're part of a family and that is um that is incredible. It's hard to find an employee with the dedication to work
03835 years for an organization. She is always eager to help. Um she's a joy to have in the office. [Applause] To know that I am now the longest serving. It is very gratifying and it makes me feel really good that I that I stuck with it and that I stayed with my job. I had a wonderful mentor when I came to work with the county and she loved her job and she she gave me that desire to stay with the job. heard several words about our employees that impeccable, exceptional, rare, and those are amazing things about our employees here at the at the county. You guys, you're you are what I say this over and over again, you're what make this a great place to work. And so, as you go back to your your
039jobs today, just remember that we do really appreciate what you do for the county. uh tell your staff that we appreciate them and just know that we can't do what we do without all your hard work. So, I want to say thank you very much and have a great day. [Music] [Laughter] I always get a little worried when Miss Lynn's down there giving me the eye because I don't know if that's a good thing or a bad thing, but tonight I think it's a good thing. So, um, we love you, Miss Lynn. Thank you for everything you do for us in 35 years. Wow. But we we really really appreciate you. and Beverly for someone who looks barely 25. I can't believe you celebrated 20 25 years here. So, um but thank you also. We're
040very blessed um to have everyone that was recognized this quarter. Let's see where we are. Okay, the next item is consideration of the agenda and the consent agenda. And before we get started, I do want to make a motion to add an item to business for this evening regarding the Union County budget um FY25-26 for the Union County Public Schools teacher supplement funding. If there are no objections, I would like to add that to business and we can put that at the end of the meeting. Are there any other additions or questions about consent or business? >> Madam Chair? >> Yes. >> Um I would like to make a motion uh pursuant to rule 29 since there was no objection. >> Um stated this evening, but I would like to add uh two items to
041business. Uh the first would be 25-593 and that is the reasonzoning petition CZ 20225007 Rodriguez and also I would um I would like to add 25-595 um reszoning petition CZ 2025008 union power to business. >> Are there any other um additions to business or any questions about consent? Well, then I'll make a motion that um that this agenda is approved as amended. All those in favor say I. I. >> Very good. We are now at the business portion of the agenda. The first item on business is item 25-605. Consider a step two economic development incentive grant request to safe fire detection incorporated or project smoky. I will recognize Ron Male from economic development, our director concerning this item. Thank you, Madam Chair. Commissioners and Manager Matthews available for any questions that you might have. >>
042Are there any questions? I do not see any questions. Thank you so much. >> Thank you. Madam Chair, >> yes. I'd like to make a motion that we approve business 25-605 for the e economic incentive grant to fires safe detection incorporated also known as project smoky. >> Okay. Are there any questions regarding the motion? If not, all those in favor say I. >> I. Okay. Thank you, >> Madam Chair. Before we move on to the next item, just a a question of clarification. Your previous motion to approve the agenda, you were referring to the items on the consent agenda. Is that correct? >> Consent and business. >> Approving. You were approving the items on the consent agenda and approving the changes to the business agenda. >> Great. Would you like for me to restate that?
043>> No, ma'am. The clarification will be fine. >> Okay. Thank you very much. Our next agenda item is 25-550 wastewater pump station approval request for sanctuary at Southgate phase 2 development. I will recognize our county manager Brian Matthews concerning this item. >> Thank you very much, Madam Chair. Let's see here. from beginning. So, what we have here tonight uh is a request for the board to consider a um possible pump station location. Uh if you will recall, this pump station actually did come before the board. It was a little over six months ago. Uh so there was a request that the board heard um a little over six months ago. Our rules do allow for a request to come back to the board after that time period. Uh so that the applicant did submit that.
044Um nothing has changed as far as the location or any of the specifics as far as the pump station. However, the developer and the applicant did submit some information about possible cost um that they would help pay for as far as the long-term maintenance of that. And I'll talk about that in just a minute. So, just to talk about the this is um phase two of a phase of a two-phase project. This parcel that's in green here is the original phase one of Southgate that did not require a pump station. That was a gravity-fed project. Phase two, just below that here where this star is, that is the location of phase two. This does require a pump station uh in order for this to work or there is an alternative that I'll describe in just
045a moment, but it still has um a pump station improvements that are necessary. So, alternative one, I'm sorry I go over the details. It is 72 acres for the entire site and it is in within the town of Indian Trail. Um and and and again so that is the phase two portion of the development. So alternative one for this pump station what you'll actually see is the the you would actually create a force main that would actually pump the flow from the the site over to our existing force main and pump station which is the poppplan pump station. This is then pumped to 12mile Creek wastewater treatment plant and that's where it's treated. So this is served by the the 12mile creek wastewater treatment plant. Uh and regardless of whether alternative one or al alternative
046two both are served by the 12mile creek wastewater treatment plant. This requires a new pump station. So it is an addition to the pump stations that we currently already have within our um our inventory. So that would be a new pump station. It would only serve that development. So it's not a pump station that is actually designed to serve a broader area. It is specifically for that um that development. As you can see, there is a life cycle cost that's been estimated for that. It's a little over two million 2.1 million. and the developer, as I indicated, would be willing to contribute around $900,000 to cover the 20-year maintenance cost for that pump station. Um, we all know that our pump stations generally are we have them online longer than 20 years. Uh, but that
047is the estimated 20-year cost maintenance for that pump station. Alternative two, whenever we do a pump station analysis, we require the the applicant to evaluate what it would take to provide a gravity solution. In this circumstance, there isn't necessarily a 100% gravity solution. The way this would actually have to work is the site would actually flow by gravity. So this red line here is a gravity alternative line that would then connect to an existing pump station called our Porter Ridge pump station that then is pumped ultimately till it gets to a point where it flows to our fieldstone pump station and then ultimately then pumped to the poppplan road pump station and then it goes ultimately to 12mile creek and would be treated at 12 mile creek. So, this isn't, as I said, a gravity
048solution by itself. It requires improvements to both the Popland Road pump station, I'm sorry, the Porter Ridge pump station and to the Fieldstone pump station. Those would have to be improved and expanded in order to be able to handle that additional flow for this development. Um, as you can see, it does have a higher life cycle cost estimated at $3.6 $6 million in order to provide this gravity slashpump m pumpstation improvement solution. Um the one thing that uh that this board evaluates and as well as the staff is what is the impact to our system. So, as you can see, um we're having to actually would get gravity line that you would maintain as well as you would have pump stations that would have to be um have to be taken care of as well.
049Previously, the board um had made a decision that uh you would not approve the actual pump station. I am going to read right now what your um alternatives are as far as if you were to make a decision to approve or make a decision to deny. I'm going to go through those with you right now. So, if there's a utility based rationale, there are three items that would be considered for approval if the board so chooses to approve this. One is the construction of the requested solution will result in a new pump station. And as I said, it's brand new, which should be maintained with less likelihood for the need for major rehabilitation or replacement projects in the near future. Whereas a gravity line directly serving the property without a new pump station would require
050capacity improvements for two o older pump stations, as I indicated before. Um and the the requested solution requires only one new pump station and does not require improvements to multiple existing um stations. Number two, the projected life cycle cost of the new pump stations u is costlier. I'm sorry, pump station are less than the projected lifestyle costs for the alternative solution involving a gravity line and improvements to two new existing pump stations. Number three, the proposed development is ultimately served by the same larger pump station, which is Popland Pump Station and treatment plant 12mm Creek as a potential alternative. So that the treatment and the route are do not change. If the board would be so inclined to deny the request, the utility based rationale, we have two items here for that. Number one, the
051new pump station solution will require significant investment over time in a pump station as well as future replacements, which primarily serves one development. It does not expand the area for that without the opportunity for significant revenue from other customer connections, which would assist in offsetting such long-term cost. And number two, uh, compared to a solution with improvements to two additional pump stations, the new pump station solution does not allow for as many improvements that would benefit the entire utility system. So again, if you were to improve the other two pump stations, they do ultimately provide some utility to the system. Uh so those are the two items which uh would be considered if the board wanted to deny this request. I'll be happy to answer any questions that you might have. I know that the
052applicant is here. They have made a request to speak. Um I did inform them that the board will have to make that decision on whether or not they're allowed to present additional information. Do you have any questions for me on this item? Does anyone have any questions for the manager? >> No. >> Okay. >> Thank you, Brian. >> Thank you very much. >> Madam Chair, >> yes. Commissioner Helms. >> Madam Chair, I'm prepared to u make a motion. >> Okay. uh tonight to one deny the application request concerning the sanctuary at Southgate phase 2 development for a new wastewater pump station. As such, pump station solution is set forth in the application associated with the request in accordance with section 34-336B1 of the Union County Code and two adopt the utilitybased rationale statement for denial.
053Commissioners, do you have any questions or comments about the motion? Nope. >> Okay. All those in favor of the motion say I. >> I. Okay. The next item on the agenda um is the matter related to Union County um public schools and the county budget for FY2526 regarding the teacher supplement. I asked for this to be added to the agenda after some information that I received um last week following a teacher advisory council. Um I'll just make this pretty pretty um brief but um get everyone up to speed. So the teacher advisory council it is my understanding you have central office and representatives or a representative from the superintendent um sup super superintendent's office or central office and then um one representative um from each of the 53 schools um at this meeting. So, um,
054at least 53 teachers plus or minus were at this teacher advisory council. And the reason I'm bringing this to the board tonight is because um the minutes that were um established to go back out to approximately 5,200 employees across the county. um the minutes from this teacher advisory committee. Um the message along with, you know, three other bullets was that the um Union County Public School teachers would not be receiving um a $2,000 increase to their county stipen because the county commissioners did not vote and approve it. That was very alarming to me um because I did not remember it that way. Um I remember um the county manager explaining back in April at our joint meeting with the board of education that um I I believe and I don't want to speak for you,
055but um that we had roughly $8 million above the previous year's budget. that that's about all we had to give them above and beyond what they had gotten in 24-25. And um and that a $1,000 budget or a $1,000 increase to the teacher supplement would be just under $4 million. Therefore, if they were to ask for a $2,000 stipen increase, um that would absorb all of the extra money we had to provide um to Union County Public Schools. And I believe um we had that conversation many times that we regret that we did not have enough funds to give the teachers um $2,000, but that we um intended for them to at least get the $1,000 um increase to their county supplement. Um that's my rec recollection. I believe the chairman of the board of
056education came um before we finalized our budget in June or July. And um and we explained to them after they again uh their board voted um even after we explained to them that a $2,000 supplement increase would absorb everything extra they were getting for the year and that they would not be able to do any of the other things on the list of their request. But that our intention was, you know, they could they could and should do the $1,000 because that would be um one a $1,000 increase two years in a row and the state had committed kicking in I believe um $950. So if if we kicked in a,000 and the state was kicking in um 950, that would put all the teachers just, you know, almost right at the threshold of almost
057getting a $2,000 stipen increase, which is um back in April. I want to remind everyone that the superintendent and the chair and the board of education told us at our joint meeting that their number one priority was for the teachers to get an increase in their stipen because I you know we had dropped to like 40 or 42 in the state. I I can't remember um the exact numbers, but that that was their number one priority for the budget cycle. Um, so when when I saw the minutes from last week blaming the county commissioners or saying that we did not vote um to approve um for our teachers to get a sip, I I was disheartened and I wanted to bring that to this board um to clarify um you know what what your intentions
058were. I know that I had I had spoken towards a thousand. So, I just want to open it up to the other commissioners that this this was sent out in formal minutes. I did reach out to Dr. Hulahan and he said that he would have it corrected, but I don't know if that correction would go would just go to the corrected minutes for the teacher advisory council or if they would issue a retraction to all 53 schools. I never heard back what that retraction would be and the error of those minutes. So, I'll just turn it over to anyone else that has any questions. Commissioner Helms. >> Well, you answered my question. If Dr. Hulahan and or the board has issued anything any statement, um I hope I haven't seen it. >> I hope that
059they issue a statement. And I hope I'm encouraging them to issue a statement to all employees that are eligible for this bonus and correct the minutes is what I hope he will do. That's the right thing to do. Um so I would encourage Dr. Hulahan and staff and even the board um of education to make that public correction. >> Any other comments or questions? I will also share that in my conversation with um Dr. Hulahan, he said that they were holding on to the money for salaries and a possible stipen increase after they after the state finalizes their budget. And I just wanted to confirm with this board if you were comfortable with our funds being used for salary increases or teacher supplements that that that they specifically asked for as their number one priority.
060Madam Chair and staff, please correct me if I'm wrong, but when we were discussing the budget, this was one of the main topics was stipens for >> classroom teachers, the ones that were boots on the ground that worked with children day in and day out. That this was not going to go to central office staff, supporting staff, but this was for teachers in the classroom. Was that correct? >> That's correct. that is that statement came directly from school staff. >> Okay. And was it Dr. Hulahan's intention to hold that money um because we're not holding that money obviously for possibly unfunded mandates that are coming down from the state. >> Yes. So my I I had a conversation with Dr. Hulahan as well and I appreciate that the chair sharing that. His concern is that
061without an adopted state budget, there could be unfunded mandates that they then have to then pay for or come to us for us to find those funds. So, they've set aside funding for stipened and and and increases. However, what that amount will or won't be is undetermined at this time because they don't know the impacts of a state budget. So, that's what I understand. Uh, Manager Matthews, do we have a ETA on when the state budget's going to be approved? >> I do not at this time. >> Commissioner Helms. >> Thank you, Madam Chair. Um, so just to follow up on something that Commissioner Helms was was stating there. Um, so assuming that we did have some kind of unfunded mandate from Raleigh that may affect our partners there with UCPS, I mean, at that
062point they would have options though, correct? I mean, they could go back to this board for uh a budget amendment or >> I mean, there there's other things that we could do. >> Oh, yeah. Absolutely. There are other ways we could look at it. Um I I do think that the that obviously he was concerned about coming to the to the well more and asking for more money. That's my understanding. >> Sure. And and you know, just to touch on um the the topic as a whole, I mean, obviously the countyy's got a lot of needs and education is is a big one. Um I feel like this board has been committed to supporting our education partners. Um there's there's limits though. There's limits to to what uh this board and and government can do.
063Um but I do agree that I recall significant conversation regarding increasing the pay not for administration um you know not for not for you know necessarily principles but actually teachers in the classrooms um that was an important point of emphasis uh not only for the uh board of education not only for UCPS but also for this board as well. So, >> and I do want to clarify that, you know, between the joint meeting and other conversations, we drilled down many times that this stipen was for classroom teachers only that take attendance and assign grades to a report card. And they con they agreed that that's what it would be. And again, you know, we told them, you know, if you choose to give a $2,000 supplement increase, then you would not be able to do
064the other things on your budget request, but that we encouraged them, we wanted them to do the $1,000 supplement increase. So, um, and I don't think any of us would I mean, our teachers had to show show up back to work with or without the supplement increase. So, in, you know, just speaking for myself and one vote and then I'll let the others decide how, you know, how if they agree or disagree, but if the teachers had to show up and we were all under the assumption they were getting a $1,000 bump to their county supplement, I was one shocked that they didn't get it. And then I was shocked that this board was blamed for them not getting it. >> Um, and so I I learned a lot in this process. One, I learned
065that this board cannot tell the board of education or the superintendent how to spend the money. We either approve money, send it to them, or we don't approve it. So, that was a lesson to me because the first thought was, well, why didn't this board do a separate vote and mandate that they give a $1,000 supplement increase to the classroom teachers, but then I was also told we can't tell them to do that. Um and and we have worked really really hard over the last several years to have a really good working relationship between staff to staff and board to board. And I really have not heard from the board of education since they approved to increase the board of education stipend. I haven't heard from them regarding the teacher stipen, but I did hear
066from them when they were voting to approve a board of education stipen and then the media called. So, um I think it's important that this board understand that, you know, we can't really call a vote and mandate how they spend the money. Um, but it's also very important that when we approved our budget, we sent them the money in good faith, but in return, they did not give a teacher in supplement increase. So, we are where we are. My thoughts are, and it looks like you might have an idea, but my thoughts were was that now that this message was sent out to 53 schools and maybe 5,200 employees that the county commissioners did not approve for the teachers to have a supplement increase is that we um ask the county manager and um Miss
067Lynn West maybe to and and with Jason, our general counsel to help draft a letter from our board restating that we regret we could not give them $8 million for a $2,000 teacher supplement, but that we had had many conversations that we were giving them enough money to do a $1,000 teacher supplement. and that if they are currently holding that money for supplements and salaries that we want to clarify that we would like for them to not use money for salaries but to take care of that $1,000 teacher supplement that we discussed in length and in an effort to maintain a good working relationship I would I would hope that they wouldn't wouldn't do this again because these minutes came from someone in the superintendent's office. And um so that's my recommendation is for us
068to send a letter over to the superintendent and the board of education encouraging them not to hold on to a county supplement and to give the county supplement to our teachers, our classroom teachers only. And if the state does whatever the state does, then we can ask the state to fund it. We can ask our state legislators to fund it. And they can always come back to us with any unfunded state mandates to let us know what is not being taken care of. because if there are unfunded state mandates, that's what we're here for. But we approved this and I think the letter should encourage them. And then I would also like to make the letter public so that every teacher knows that we do not have the authority to vote against their teacher supplement.
069That's between the superintendent and the board of education. and we never told them to withhold that money. We we sent them the money. So that that's my recommendation as a letter. So I want to open it up to the other commissioners. Okay. Do I need to make a motion to um for staff to work on a letter? And and I guess I need to find out if the commissioners are okay if I sign it or if all um four commissioners want to sign it. >> Um I I think just your statement there indicates that you'd like for that to be a motion. And as to who signs it, that's really a board decision to make. >> Would everyone be available to to um to sign it this week if Miss Lynn or has it available?
070I think it would mean a lot to have all the commissioner signature and I will I will um get in touch with commissioner sides to see if he's available but even if it's um four signatures we'll move forward with that when the letters drafted and ready I'll let you know so that you can read it and I'll let you know what commissioner sides is able to do. So um uh so that's the motion. >> Yep. So therefore the motion on the table is the letter as described as well as signatures of uh all available board members. >> Correct. Okay. Are there any questions? >> No. >> All those in favor say I. >> I. Thank you. Okay. That brings us I'm going to start with um the public hearing for CZ-2025-07. I had to say
071that um submitted by Mr. David Rodriguez. >> Madam Chair, >> yes. I'd like to make a motion that we approve the reszoning for petition CZ 2025-00007 for David Rodriguez. >> Okay. Any questions? All those in favor? >> Madame Commissioner, there's a a motion of or if if you look there, I think you're making a motion to approve and therefore there's a motion listed right under that. >> Um thank you. Uh the adoption for the ordinance uh approving revision of the official zoning map of Union County, North Carolina. Adoption consens consistency and reasonleness statement for approval. >> Okay. Any questions? >> You good with that? Okay. >> All those in favor of the motion say I. >> I. Very good. Next will be the public hearing for the zoning map CZ-2025-00008 submitted by Union Electric Membership
072Corporation or Union Power. >> Madam Chair, >> yes. >> One, can I ask one more question before we move forward? >> Um, on the Rodriguez. >> No, ma'am. >> Okay. Yes. Union Power. >> Okay. And it may be I might would need Bjorn to answer this question. >> All right. In the agenda packet, it says the case, this case is requesting to reszone one parcel totaling 161.1 acres. >> That's correct. >> And the substation sits on a footprint of about 3 acres. >> That's right. Are we reszoning the whole parcel for that three acres? >> Yes. >> Let make sure I it um this is a conditional zoning application and so there is already an existing conditional zoning on the entire 161 acres because we are amending that. you have to amend it for the
073entire 1661 acres even though you're only doing work on three acres of it. It still applies to the whole 161 acres. So, it's an amendment to the original zoning which was 461 acres, but it's a 3 acre portion within that. So, it's not that we're expanding that a substation can be 161 acres. It's just that we're adding that language to allow that substation within the original permit. >> So within this action, we're only changing what can be done on that 3 acre parcel. >> That's correct. Yes, sir. >> All right. Okay. >> Good question, >> Madam Chair. >> Yes, Commissioner Helms. >> Thank you, Madam Chair. And and again, ju just to clarify, we're having to do that because it's one parcel. >> That's correct. >> Yeah. No matter the size, we're still dealing with
074one parcel. >> Yeah. Three acres is not its own individual parcel at this point in time. Okay. >> Okay. Commissioner Helms. >> Thank you, Madam Chair. Um, so I'd like to make the motion to approve the proposed amendment. Um so the motion would be to adopt the um ordinance approving revision to the official zoning map of Union County, North Carolina and two adopt the consistency and a re and reasonableness statement for approval for uh CZ 2025-00008 Union C or Union Power. >> Any questions? All those in favor of the motion say I. I >> I Okay, >> this brings us to the conclusion of the business agenda as amended. I will now recognize the county manager for comments. >> I'm going to start at this end tonight. Commissioner Brian Hams, do you have any commissioner
075comments? >> Thank you, Madam Chair. Um, so ju just a couple of uh comments. Obviously, Commissioner Sides is not with us uh tonight. Um wishing nothing but the best for Commissioner Sides. Um and hopefully he can uh rejoin us again pretty soon here. Um you guys may have seen the the news out of Southport where there was a um a shooting. just want to offer my condolences to uh to all the victims, uh family members, uh anyone affected by that tragedy. Um thank you to the the one speaker that we had tonight. Um I thought that >> uh that she did a great job in bringing awareness there uh in regards to arts here in the county. Um and uh and obviously to all of you for being here and sticking with us through this
076meeting. So we certainly appreciate the engagement. Um, and for Beverly, Beverly, you're gonna have to start telling people that you started when you were like 10. >> So, thank you all. Have a good night. >> Commissioner Christina Helms. >> Thank you, Madam Chair. Um, congratulations to uh Mrs. Liles and her staff uh for winning yet another prestigious award. Um, you're setting the bar really high. And also uh congratulations again to Beverly and Miss Lynn and Phillip from the board of elections for so many wonderful years of service. And um by the comments that uh that um the employees make it it really shows what great leadership we have in the county and having so many complete so many years. It really does show what a great place Union County is to work. So, thank you
077all for all your dedication and service. >> Commissioner Balkam, >> just like to reiterate what the other commissioner said and wish everyone a good night. >> Yep. And same here. We have amazing people that work for the organization. Beverly, thank you and your team. Um, kudos for doing such a great job and being recognized. um with yet another award tonight. And I'm very proud of you and thank you for everything uh that you and your team um do to keep us afloat. And um Miss Lynn, again, extremely um proud to work alongside you and be on this team with and have you making sure that we have all of our tees crossed and our eyes dotted. So, thank you for everything you do for this board. Much appreciated. 35 years. Still can't believe it. So,
078with that, I will u make a motion to adjourn. >> Okay. All those in favor say I. >> I. Okay. Good night.