001ing everyone. Um, I want to call the September 2nd, 2025 regular meeting of the Union County Board of Commissioners to order. At this time, I would like before I turn this over to Commissioner uh Clancy Balkam, I would like to um we're going to have a moment of silence um to recognize an incredible Union County patriot by the name of Sergeant Michael Verardo. Sergeant Verardo again is a um citizen of Union County, an amazing human being. He is originally from Rhode Island. He was born uh February 16th, 1985. And he was catastrophically injured um while serving um as a trooper um a jumper in Afghanistan. And he had I think they said today many times he had 120 um surgeries um after that. Um even after that um horrific accident that almost took his life,
002his high school sweetheart Sarah Bardo uh rushed to his side to be by his side and um she helped him through his initial recovery which he ended up spending the next 15 years recovering. Um but uh Michael and Sarah um did marry after um he made it back home and they had three beautiful young daughters um together. And today um early this morning we celebrated um his life and his service to the country um to our country so that all of us can um live the lives that we want to live and have the freedoms that we have in this country. And um and I would like to take a couple of minutes, a moment of silence to honor the amazing um Verardo family and the life of Sergeant Michael Verardo. um and the legacy
003that he will leave behind that he and his wife started called the Independence Fund that um takes care of other tragically um wounded veterans to give them mobility and to also um help with healing for mental u mental health for our veterans. So again, that um is right here in Union County. is known worldwide, nationwide, the Independence Fund. And I would encourage everyone to look that up and um get to know the Independence Fund. But I think it's um an amazing honor to have this family um here in Union County. If we could um just bow our heads if you so choose for a couple of minutes to remember Michael Thank you all very much. Our thoughts and prayers are with Sarah and the girls and um and I look forward to this community um
004supporting her and the children as they um learn life without their husband and their amazing father. I will now turn um this over to Commissioner Clancy Balkam for the invocation. >> If you're so inclined, would you bow your head, please? Lord, we love you. We praise you. We thank you for all your many blessings. We know that every good and perfect gift comes from you. So Lord, as we bow, we do lift up the Bardo family. Pray that you would be with them to that have that peace that surpasses all understanding and you would guide them and make yourself known to them through this time. Lord, as we as we conduct the business put before us this evening, Lord, we ask for your guidance and wisdom. And Lord, we know that it's the fear of
005you at the beginning of all wisdom. So Lord, we just we just seek you in this that we would conduct ourselves in a way that would be pleasing in your sight and that you would guide us through making these decisions. So Lord, as as we move forward, we just want to say we love you and we praise you in Jesus's name. Amen. All please stand. I aliance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for 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. Has anyone signed up for informal? No. S none tonight. No one from the scouts wants to speak tonight. >> I'll just say welcome. Thank you for being here. Um, my
006two sons are Eagle Scouts and I love I love seeing the uniforms visit our chamber. So, thank you for being here tonight. The next three items on our agenda are all public hearings related to transportation grant funding applications. Specifically, the following the following public hearings will be conducted at the same time. If you wish to speak on a particular item, please identify that item in your remarks. Otherwise we will assume you are speaking as to all items collectively. Item 25-535 public hearing for FFY 23 and 24 and 25 5307 urbanized area formula funding application. Number two, item 25537 public hearing for FY2027 combined capital transportation grant funding. And number three, item 25-538, a public hearing for FY20275311 administrative non-urbanized area formula program transportation grant application. I will now open each of these public hearings and
007recognize Teresa Torres, transportation director for comments from staff. Madam Chair, members of the board, County Manager Matthews, good evening. So, like you said, we have three grants um on the public hearing today. The first is our 5307 urbanized funding. These this will have three years of funding for FY23, 24, and 25. The grants, all three of them are totaling over $6,797,000. Um they will be used for operational costs and capital costs. Operational is 50/50 and um capital is 8020. Operational costs will be used to cover a portion of the can I go of the demand response service and also the 74X service. Um and then the capital will cover a 1% security minimum requirement and a 75% safety requirement and it will also be um used to do the facility renovations at the progress building.
008The operational local match is $2,98,000 and the capital local match would be $520,000. The next public hearing is for the FY27 combined capital grant. This funding um covers replacement vehicles who have met useful life of 100,000 miles. In FY27, we will have three vehicles that have met that life. Um and we will replace them with 22 foot LTVs. The um this funding is 80% federal, 10% um state, and 10% local. The um federal funding is $85,000. The state is 42,000 and the local is 42,000. The state always asks that we um include their um port their portion in our local match in case they can't cover it. They have yet to do that though. So, and then our next public hearing is for the FY275311 administration grant. This grant covers admin um positions in our
009transportation office. We are receiving $276,000. 80% of that is federal, which is $221,000. 20% um it would be our local match if state didn't cover of 55,000. If state covers their local match, it's or their match, it's 5,000 5% at $13,000 and our 15% is 41,000. Thank you. Any questions? Any questions? No. Thank you. We do not have anyone signed up for um the this these three public hearings. No one signed up having no speakers um signed up. Are there is there anyone here visiting tonight that wishes to speak on these three hearings? I will now close each of the three public hearings. Next on the agenda is item 25-527. recognize lifesaver award recipient. I will recognize Patrick Nylan, deputy county manager, concerning this item. Thank you, Madam Chair. Uh tonight, it's my honor to
010recognize one of our Union County Fire Marshals. Uh while at the beach with his family on Wednesday, June 18th, 2025, Assistant Fire Marshal Chad Balkam heard a cry for help coming from the ocean. Without hesitation, he and a by bystander acted quickly to run into the water, place the unconscious man on a boogie board, and bring him to shore. When they got to shore, local police had arrived, and they began administering chest compressions. Balkcom then applied an automated external defibrill to the man's chest and took over chest compressions. When local firefighters and paramedics arrived, Balkam continued to assist and helped load the patient into an ambulance and be taken to a nearby hospital. Um, unfortunately, that man did succumb to his injuries. um days later, but without Chad being there and the the bystander, they
011he would not have had that opportunity. Um it it just goes to show you that our employees are employees no matter where they are. He was at a beach with his family and he was called to act and we couldn't be more proud. So, if you help me, please ask Chad to come up and receive his award. [Applause] Next is an item that is not listed on our agenda this evening. The board would like to take a few moments to recognize someone extremely special to our county, to the staff, and especially to the board of county commissioners. We wish to recognize our clerk, Miss Lyn West, who recently reached a huge milestone here in Union County of serving for 35 years to Union County and the board of commissioners. 35 years. Who knows that? Please
012join me in congratulating this very special woman and the many years of dedicated service to this organization. [Applause] Oh yeah, you got some good These absolutely reflect the beauty of this lady right here. >> Oh my goodness. >> Then Megan's gonna get your picture. >> Yeah. I would keep her to myself. That wouldn't be fair. >> Squeeze in tight. [Applause] Got it. The next item which is on the agenda, Miss L is the consent agenda. If there is no objection, I'm going to move item 25-433, purchase of library books, to the first business agenda item for further discussion. Are there any other um changes or comments? >> Sure. That'd be great. >> Madam Chair, >> I'll make the motion that we approve the business agenda and also the consent agenda as amended. >> Okay. All
013those in favor say I. We are now at the business portion of our agenda. The first item on the business agenda is the item you just motion to move is item 25-433 purchase of library books. >> So Madam Chair, yes. Um so this item I know that um in previous meetings we've had some discussions about this item and there were some concerns I believe raised in uh es especially children's books and the purchase of ch children's books and how that works how that functions um for the board's knowledge uh we have four senior librarians that are actually responsible for the making u selections four books. We have categories of adult, non-fiction, adult fiction, um teen, and then children's books. And those four individuals um they they actually um they are specific to one of those
014categories. Um once they uh make a selection, then Nina, our library director, does look over that and and eventually says yes or no to whatever those books are that are purchased. And that's the process that we have now. Um, I know that uh that there were some concerns about a a recent book that we had in here. So, I'm happy to answer any questions you might have. Nina is here as well if I can't answer any questions, but that's our process that we have currently in place for how we purchase books for the library. >> Okay. And I know Commissioner Helm serves on the committee. Um, so Nina and our Where are the four? >> They're not here. >> Oh, okay. They're Okay. Okay. Well, thank you for being here. Um, so we get a
015lot of complaints u from time to time and one was recently over a particular book that was in the children's section and I think one one the biggest complaint is usually around the children's books whether something is not age appropriate or has sexual content or gender identity or something in a children's um section. And you know, although my children are grown, I you know, I can understand when those parents reach out to us, um that their small child was, you know, saw something that um was not age appropriate for them and understanding, you know, what one parent would or would not approve for their children to read. But most recently, I think the book that was um called into question was determined to be more tween. it kind of fell in a middle middle ground
016where um younger children should not have access to that book and maybe it shouldn't be in the children's section and maybe a seven or eightyear-old should not necessarily be checking out something that maybe a 13year-old would want to check out. So, right now we have adult and um I know we have children, teen, and then what's the third one? And then adult. >> Um it's children, teen, and then adults, fiction and non-fiction. >> Fiction and non-fiction. That was the fourth category. So, one of and Chris, um Commissioner Helms and I have talked about this a lot. Um and when when we were delaying the vote on this, you know, we re we to tonight we're here because we recognize that we're holding up the adult fiction and non-fiction and maybe the teen category because of
017our concerns over what might be in the children's um category. So I think something that that we may want to decide is adding another category um in between children and teen and actually forming a tween um category which is what I think was determined most appropriate you know for this book that was found in the children's department. So, um I'm going to turn it over next to Commissioner Helms and then if um Commissioner Balkam or Brian Commissioner Bronms would like to um chime in. This is something that I think has been parents have been very concerned about for at least the past, you know, four years. And um and I think that's why it's important for our board to, you know, discuss this openly tonight instead of at committee meetings or close session and just
018um so our community can have a comfort level that you know we're doing we're doing everything we can to keep an eye on this. >> So Miss Chaffen, please correct me if I'm wrong. At our last meeting, this topic was actually discussed about uh possibly developing a tween section because there's a huge age gap between your eighth grader, which is considered your tween, your middle school ages, to a to a kindergartener and even younger, a two and threeyear-old for those books. That's a lot of information and a huge a vast difference in maturity level reading wise. So, um it was recommended at our committee that a tween section be developed um because there has been concern from the public um that we have received and also that staff has received. So hopefully this will alleviate
019some of that issue because again maturity-wise, reading wise um that is a huge difference. you know, an eighth grader reading the same thing as a five-year-old, a kindergartener. So, um if if the board would please and is open to it, um I'd like to make a motion that the board um on behalf of the board that we um direct the library to create a tween section for instances such as this. Did um the board or the committee discuss what the age ranges or grade levels would be for a possible tween? >> Um Miss Chaffen, again, correct me if I'm wrong. It's that middle school kind of niche, >> if you will. >> Yes. So, um tween is typically 10 to 12 when we look at the age range when we're thinking about creating a section.
020the majority of juvenile fiction is for, you know, fourth grade and up. Um, and so when we're creating a tween section, that's kind of the target audience. Now, books aren't written for ages. They're mostly written for grades. And a publisher wants to sell as much as they can. So, they're going to make the range on a grade as vast as possible to appeal to the broadest audience, which in turn generates the most money. So books are typically grades four through eight. Well, fourth grader and eighth grader to your point is very different. Um I myself have a third grader so I understand and a sixth grader and what the sixth grader is reading is not the same as a third grader. Um and it shouldn't be. So yes, long story short, we would um target
021that 10 to 12. Um so not quite 13 yet. So, not fully in the teen section, but not reading, you know, Juni B. Jones and Judy Moody, the first and second grader books. So, in between. >> Okay. I definitely think this is something that I would be interested um personally with this board directing you to move forward with that. Um, another concern that I wanted to express for the committee and for the libraries to consider is how you promote certain books on end caps, >> okay, >> during, you know, um, certain, you know, time, seasons or holidays or um, months throughout the year because um, even if we create this tween section, I want to make sure that we are not promoting something on an endcap that that would draw the attention of maybe a
022third grader or a second grader and hey mommy what is that that looks interesting I've never seen that before. So I just you know I really want to have that conversation openly because we get those phone calls. We we get the phone calls if they're concerned about what's on the lanyard or on the jacket or the hair or you know so but the books are our taxpayer dollars and the last book I think you you even agreed it probably should be in a tween section not the children's section which is what the parents were so upset about. So, um, did you make that motion? I did. >> Okay. Um, any other comments? Yeah. Commissioner Helms. >> Thank you, Madam Chair. Um, so, u, Miss Schaefing, f first of all, thank you for everything that you
023do. I I don't envy your your job at all. Um, and and what I'll say is is that I I completely agree uh with Commissioner Helms and also Chair Merrill um that you know there has to be some guard rails. >> Sure. And and I think that, you know, when you get down to the nitty the nitty-gritty of what we do, um I think protecting the children is of utmost concern. That's priority number one. Um so, you know, my children go to the library. They do and they check out books. Um so I'm one of many many parents within the county that that have concerns over this. So I I think that starting a new section like that is probably a very good first step. It's a logical step because I mean I don't disagree
024one one bit that you know obviously children are going to be different than eighth graders. So the smaller children don't need to be reading some of the content that eighth graders or high school children uh teens might might read. Um I do have a question though and and I know that this is probably early on so do we have I mean obviously this is probably going to cost us a little bit of money. Do we have any kind of rough estimate as to the creation of such a section? And will we be able to fill it out with content that I mean I guess what I'm trying to say is do we have enough content to adequately fill out a section like that? >> Yes, we do. So in essence, you're going to pull out
025the lower level reading material from the juvenile fiction collection because there's less of that and we'll make a section just for those materials. So the beginning chapter books, the first grade material, second grade, things like that. And then the bulk of the juvenile fiction section is already geared towards that age range. Um, and when we talk about juveniles, we are serving 0 to 12 in the children's room. So that's the way our policy is written now. So we go 0 to 12 is juvenile and then we do 13 to 18 is teen. So, we'll now differentiate and now have that 10 to 12 age range to be um tween. And so, when you get a library card and you have a minor with you, we ask you, do you want your child to have access
026to the entire library or just the children's room? And that's the parents decision. And so, in essence, they're the ones saying yes, they should have access to just the children's room, which would be a juvenile only card. Therefore, if they tried to check out an adult item, it wouldn't allow them. or do you want them to have access to the whole library and that they say yes and the child could check out a child's card could check out any material type in the library. So that's kind of the way we have it set up now. >> So just for clarification then if we create this tween section then the juvenile cards would be for the juvenile section and not the tween section. Is that what I'm We can we can differentiate that if you would
027like us to do 0 to 10 so that just the juvenile only materials could be just the juvenile only card and then or we can do it either way but yes we can certainly do it that way and >> that would be my preference um you know is to differentiate it that way. >> We can do that. >> Okay. Thank you. Yeah. >> So, Nina, I have to say I didn't even realize that the cards um differentiated. So, let's say a grandparent, you know, was watching kids for a week or a summer >> um or the babysitter, you know, took them to the library. So even if a parent is not with them and they, you know, maybe just mistakenly picked up a book or was going to pick up a book that looked interesting,
028if it if that card that the parent helped them get wouldn't allow them to check that book out, then the library wouldn't let them check it out. >> No, >> that see that that's something I was not even aware of. So thank you for saying that tonight. That that's a huge comfort. >> Yes. Um, and I do agree with Commissioner Helms's um, you know, uh, age ranges in the conversation to create that tween, that tween, um, age group. Any other comments? Okay, we have a motion on the floor to um, go ahead and direct the library staff um to create a tween section. Um, and that that was going to be what ages again? 10. 10 to 12. Okay. All those in favor of that motion say I. >> I. Okay. And then the other
029motion that we need to take care of on the board is um moving this forward so that they can place their orders for adult fiction, adult non-fiction, teen and children. So um does anyone want to talk about that motion? Madam Chair, before we proceed with that, um maybe a point of clarification. Do we need a motion then on the separation of the juvenile cards or anything like that or is that just >> Okay. >> We have enough information on that. >> Perfect. Thank you. So, I believe um staff, correct me if I'm wrong, but there's um $39,000 that has been um held up until we had this conversation so that they could move forward with um those books for adult fiction, adult non-fiction, the teen books, and the children's books with the understanding that we're
030going to be creating We've already approved creating uh the tween section. Um I'll make I'll make the motion that we approve the $39,000 for the um library to move forward with their budgeted funds for FY2026 to go ahead and purchase the adult fiction, adult non-fiction, teen and children books. Can I ask one question? Mhm. Yep. >> And drift out of curiosity, when we say adult fiction, is there anything sexually explicit in those books at all? >> No, you're you're talking about books for adults. So, the James Patterson's, the Danielle Steels, the John Gishams, those are categorized as adult. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Yes. And would you mind um if if I request that you add a little bit to your motion because the agenda item, it says to negotiate and execute an agreement substantially
031consistent with the agenda item, exercise any renewal or extension term uh options set forth in the agreement and terminate the agreement if deemed necessary. uh the county manager being given that authority. Would you consider adding that to your motion so that that would allow us and me to have that authority? >> I accept that. >> Thank you. >> That to the motion. Um board, I just want to make sure everyone Yes. So, um before we vote, I do everything listed here that he just read off. Okay. >> All those in favor of the motion say I. I >> thank you so much. >> Consistency. >> Next on. Oh, >> is the consistency statement for the >> Okay. Thank you. Next on the agenda is item 25-520 conditional reszoning petition CZ-2025-00004 Shenadoa. I will recognize Lee
032Jensen, our planning director, concerning this item. Thank you, Madam Chair. Um, as you'll recall, um, last meeting we held the public hearing for this item. This was a is a reasonzoning request, uh, from RA40 to R10, um, with conditions. Those conditions are listed limited to site limited to the site plan dated July 8th 91 single family homes five-year vesting and that the development can meet all the requirements of the Union County development ordinance and just for reference there's the proposed site plan again 91 um single family homes um I think um last time we had two speakers that spoke on this Um I believe one didn't really give an opinion one way or the other and then I think another speaker was against the proposal. Um and if you'll recall the uh land use board
033unanimously recommended to deny the resoning petition. I'll be happy to answer any questions. >> Are there any comments or questions from the board? >> Good. Oh, you have a question? I I'm I've got a couple of comments, uh, Madam Chair, and, um, I'm prepared to also make a motion. >> Um, so so first of all, you know, in looking over this project, >> um, the the project would entail going from RA40 to R10. Um, that's uh that's something that I've got potential issue with because you're you're obviously increasing your density there. Um, our land use board also looked at this and they recommended denial. um and they felt uh a very similar way. So they had concerns over density, traffic, and then there's also the issue too that uh one of our municipal partners there,
034Mineral Springs, opposes this project. And so, um, you know, with that, I I'll go ahead and make the motion to deny reszoning petition CZ 2025004 from TMT LA Associates and to adopt the consistency and reasonable statement for denial. Does anyone have any questions or comments regarding this motion or the information provided or any clarification from the last meeting? Okay. All those in favor of the motion say I. >> I. >> Okay. Thank you. Next on the agenda is item 25-501, appointments to boards and committees. There are two boards with vacancies for consideration this evening. These vacancies have been advertised in accordance to the board's rules and procedures. Rules of procedures. The first board with vacancies is the home and community care block grant advisory committee. There are vacancies for two community representative positions. We have
035received four applications for these two vacancies. I will now entertain a motion for nominations to this committee. >> Madam Chair, >> yes, Commissioner Helms. >> Thank you, Madam Chair. I'll make the motion that we reappoint uh B. Coulson and Patricia Kinley to the Home and Community Care Block Grant Advisory Committee. Any other motions? All those in favor say I. >> I. >> The second board with vacancies is the Juvenile Crime Prevention Council. There are nine total vacancies in a variety of position categories. I will now entertain a motion for nominations to this committee. Madam Chair. >> Yes, Commissioner Hams. >> There's a lot of appointments to be made on this one, so I'm going to try to get this right. Miss Lynn, you feel free to correct me if I'm messing something up here. Um
036I I think we probably should start with um the members there with specialties. Um, so I'll make the motion that we appoint or reappoint uh Kiala Davis um to the position of member of business community and then Rachel Patton um reappoint Rachel to the position of substance abuse professional and then Lily Patton um to the position of persons under the age of 21. >> Okay. All those in favor of those three reappoints say I. >> I. >> Okay, >> Madam Chair. >> Yes. >> All right. So, the second part of this would be the commissioner appointee vacancies. Uh, so we have four open positions. Um, I'll make the motion that we reappoint Teresa and M. Holmes. Uh, that we also reappoint Angie Horn, that we reappoint Christopher M. Westover, and we appoint Bob Reichman. Any
037other motions, changes? All those in favor say I. >> I. >> Madam chair. >> Yes. >> Um just a point of clarification maybe from the clerk. Um do we need to take action on the other two individuals listed in our agenda packet. Madam clerk? >> Not tonight. >> Perfect. Okay. Thank you. >> Okay. I would like to recognize our county manager, Brian Matthews, for comments. >> I have no comments. Thank you very much. >> And now we will have commissioner comments. And I will start with Commissioner Clancy Balkam. >> Thank you. Thank you, Melissa. Um the only thing I would like to say is um in recognition of Miss Lynn um very welld deserved. you know, when I first came to the board, she makes you feel at home. She's very comforting presence and welcoming
038presence. And I knew she would be because I've heard my family brag on her, including Stony and my aunt Mildred, who was a good friend to Miss Lynn. So, I think the recognition of Miss Lynn is very well deserved. >> Commissioner Christina Helms. Um, first I'd like to express my sincere condolences to the Verado. Did I pronounce that right? >> Yeah, Verardo. >> Verardo, pardon me. Uh, family. Um, um, for his dedication and service to this country. Um, that it's a gratitude that we can never repay for all that he's done and sacrificed and all that family has done and sacrificed for a lot of the freedoms that we um, very much take for granted. So, um, very much thoughts and prayers for them. Um, wishing a very happy and successful year to all the
039UCPS staff and students that have gone back to school. Um, everybody's still trying to get into the swing of things and um, I think it's going well from what I hear. Um, but a very special shout out to Miss Lynn West. Um, if you know Miss Lynn at all, if ever had a conversation with Miss Lynn, you know that she has one of the kindest souls you will ever meet in your life. Um, heard a lot about her prior to coming onto this board. I dealt with her just a little bit when I was on the board of education. Not a lot, but you know, enough to say hello and recognize her face. Um, but what a gem she is to this county and our staff and especially to this board. Um, her wealth of
040knowledge is unbelievable. It is absolutely unbelievable. And um, I hope you have another 35 years here, Miss Lynn. >> And the beach. >> Yeah. >> Commissioner Brian Hams. >> Thank you, Madam Chair. Um, so I I'll also um offer my uh condolences to the Verardo family. Um, praying for God's grace and and his blessings upon them. Um, for Miss Lynn, u gosh, 35 years. I mean, that's really impressive. And, um, I can tell you that everything that you've heard of Miss about Miss Lynn is absolutely true. Um, she is a pleasure to work with and, you know, she really is the glue that that holds a lot of things together for us. I mean, I can I can't even tell you how many times I've I've called or I've texted, you know, probably asking the
041same question three or four times and she just puts up with me. So, um but uh but we are very very fortunate to have her and we certainly appreciate your service. Um UCPS was honored. Um I saw that earlier today. So, um, our our schools here, uh, more specifically Marvin Ridge, Weddington, Ray View, and I may be missing one, but we had a number of schools being recognized as some of the best within nor the state of North Carolina today. So, um, hats off to UCPS and the job that all of our educators, um, as well as all of our staff do there. Um, we're obviously without our county attorney, uh, tonight, Mr. Jason Kay, and also Commissioner Gary Sides. Uh just wishing both of them a speedy recovery and um and you know obviously
042thank you to everybody that was in attendance tonight. You know your participation means the world to us. Um so certainly appreciate you guys coming out and and uh joining us tonight. Thank you. >> I'll just I'll try to make this real quick. Miss Lynn, I tell her all the time, we love you so much. you know, you know, and it it seems kind of silly when you have um elected officials up here. We're like, "We love you, Miss Lyn." And um I don't my closest family, my family is all the way out on the coast. They're about five or six hours away. And so I don't I don't have family here, but um eight years on the board of education, and that became family. And um and as soon as I walked over, I I
043just remember Stony saying, "You are going to love Lynn West." >> And um and he's right. I know that Stony loved you like a like a mother and um you were family to him and you very quickly um took very very good care of us and I hope we return that favor to you. um we enjoy working with you and those are very true words. She she is just a gem to work with. You're you're a blessing to all of us. So um congratulations. I don't know how you did all of this for 34 year 35 years because I'm just trying to get to four. So 35 um thank you and your husband for all the work that you have done to this amazing Union County over all of those um many years. Thank you
044for your service. Um to everyone who came before us um you're you're a true blessing um to work with and we appreciate you very very much. I do want to um say, you know, for all the educators and teachers and principles and moms and dads and guardians and everyone um who have gotten their children um back in school. We're hope everyone is off to a safe, fun, uh rich learning environment. Um, I always ask kids when when I'm out in the community, I'm like, "How many of you would like a two like a $200,000 scholarship?" And all the hands go up and and I, you know, I let people know your public education is not free. and uh for 13 years. That's about what it takes to get you through the what I consider the
045number one public um schools in North Carolina. We Union County Public Schools usually ranks number three, number two, number one in the whole state out of a you know 115 116 school districts in North Carolina and um Union County Public Schools and I know others in the area perform very very well. So, you know, don't take it for granted. Um, because, you know, it does cost local tax dollars, state, federal tax dollars. And last time I checked, I think it, you know, was, you know, per pupil expenditure. It It's a pretty penny for 13 years of education. So, um, don't take that for granted. um make the most of it because Union County just like you mentioned um is gets named all the time as the best place to raise a family. So um I
046want to ask all the drivers in Union County to uh please be patient and alert for our school buses. um they're learning new routes and I think children are being added or removed um to different routes on a daily basis. So um please, you know, if you if you see a bus um even if they haven't gotten out their stop sign yet, you know, keep a close eye on them because we want to make sure that our children are safe getting on and off um the school buses. Um, we wish all the children a really great school year. And in closing, um, I will say again, Sergeant Michael Verardo, um, look him up. Um, he I did, I failed to mention earlier, he was with the 82nd Airborne. He was an amazing, um, young Army
047patriot. And, um, I encourage everyone to look him up. That's your homework. and um and take a look at the independence fund and the work uh that they're doing across the nation um so that veterans can have mobility and um and other benefits that they provide right out of Union County. So um with that being said, I make a motion that we can adjourn. All those in favor say I. I. Good night.