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08-18-2025 Meeting Minutes BOCAugust 18, 2025 1 PERSON COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS August 18, 2025 MEMBERS PRESENT OTHERS PRESENT Kyle Puryear Katherine M. Cathey, County Manager Jason Thomas Michele Solomon, Clerk to the Board Sherry Wilborn T.C. Morphis, Jr., County Attorney Antoinetta Royster Donald Long The Board of Commissioners for the County of Person, North Carolina, met in Regular session on Monday, August 18, 2025 at 9:00 a.m. in the Commissioners’ Boardroom 215 in the Person County Office Building located at 304 S. Morgan Street, Roxboro, NC. Chairman Puryear called the meeting to order and recognized a quorum was present. Vice-Chairman Thomas offered an invocation, and Commissioner Long led the group in the Pledge of Allegiance. DISCUSSION/ADJUSTMENT/APPROVAL OF AGENDA: A motion was made by Commissioner Long and carried 5-0 to approve the agenda with the addition of an Amended Resolution Establishing the 2025 Schedule of Regular Meetings for the Person County Board of Commissioners to be added to the Consent Agenda and the addition of a Closed Session per G.S. 143-318.11(a)(3) to consult with the county attorney to preserve the attorney-client privilege. INFORMAL COMMENTS: There were no individuals that appeared before the Board to make informal comments. August 18, 2025 2 DISCUSSION/ADJUSTMENT/APPROVAL OF CONSENT AGENDA: A motion was made by Commissioner Wilborn and carried 5-0 to approve the Consent Agenda with the following items: A. August 4, 2025 Minutes B. Budget Amendment #3 C. Budget Amendment #4 D. Person County Parks, North Carolina’s Recreational Trails Program Grant (RTP) for Trail Construction at Rotary Club of Roxboro Centennial Park E. Resolution Authorizing Execution of Opioid Settlements F. Amended Home and Community Care Block Grant Funding for FY26 G. Home and Community Care Block Grant Final Reports FY25 H. Amended Resolution Establishing the 2025 Schedule of Regular Meetings for the Person County Board of Commissioners UNFINISHED BUSINESS: ADVISORY BOARDS AND COMMITTEES County Manager Katherine Cathey presented the following related to the Human Services Advisory Committee: August 18, 2025 3 August 18, 2025 4 August 18, 2025 5 Commissioner Long stated that he would prefer the committee to meet monthly in the beginning and then move to bi-monthly or every other month in the future. It was the consensus of the Board to form a seven-member board composed of the following members:  1-Representative from the Person County Sheriff’s Office  1-Representative from Public Health  1-Guardian-ad-Litem  1-Department of Social Services Past Service Recipient  1-Representative from the Veteran’s Council  2-Citizen-at-large positions for members of the general public A motion was made by Commissioner Long and carried 5-0 to create a seven- member Human Services Advisory Board. Cathey advised that Assistant Manager/Human Services Director Brian Hart would draft by-laws for the newly created advisory board and would present to the Board for approval at a future meeting. Cathey presented the following related to the organizational structure of the Economic Development Department: August 18, 2025 6 County Attorney T.C. Morphis asked that the Board discuss this item after closed session. A motion was made by Commissioner Wilborn and carried 5-0 to table this item until after returning from closed session. CHAIRMAN’S REPORT Chairman Puryear had no report. MANAGER’S REPORT County Manager Katherine Cathey had no report. August 18, 2025 7 COMMISSIONER REPORTS/COMMENTS Vice-Chairman Thomas wished everyone a happy first day back at school and a good year. Commissioner Wilborn echoed Thomas in reference to the school year. She stated that she participated in a meeting with other Commissioners and County leaders with Brad Knott when he was here on August 8, 2025. She stated that they shared needs and concerns of the county related to infrastructure and education. She stated that she and Commissioner Long have continued to meet with the Interim Planning Director about the Planning Ordinance. She stated that she attended the Planning Board meeting. She stated that she would like for the County Manager to provide a high-level update in reference to the football team. Cathey stated that in the past Parks and Rec had a youth football program, and during COVID that was one of the programs that did not continue due to the nature of the contact associated with that sport. She stated that the department has tried various approaches to reviving youth football over the last several years and there has not been a strong interest in reestablishing that internal program. She stated that last year the County did support two travel teams that played in South Boston. She stated that flag football has been an option for keeping youth engaged in the sport. She stated that this year, the County tried to gauge interest in tackle football. She stated that only 22 people signed up for the team, and there were 25-28 needed in order to field a team safely. She stated in addition to that, only two people were interested in being assistant coaches. She stated that there was no interest for a head coach for tackle football. She stated that John Hill, Recreation, Arts and Parks Director, indicated that he had been in conversations with Rufus Long, who had done flag football, and is aware that he has an interest in starting up a team. She stated that Hill advised that Long was invited to present to the Recreation Advisory Board to make a formal request. Commissioner Royster thanked Cathey for sharing information about youth football. She echoed Thomas and Wilborn in reference to the school year. She stated that she would not be at the September 2, 2025 meeting due to traveling for work. Commissioner Long stated that he had served on the Rec Board since 2006, and provided information related to the youth football league. He stated that there were more elementary schools in the past than there is now, and there used to be athletic clubs that the schools had. He stated that there was Cavel, Longhurst, East Roxboro, and they had booster clubs, which we do not have now, which is part of the issue. He stated that Parks and Rec did attempt to revive the program, but there was not enough interest. He stated that the Animal Services Committee meets this week, and he has a conflict and is not able to attend. August 18, 2025 8 Long stated that he attended the Planning Board meeting and he and Wilborn continue to meet with the Interim Planning Director on updating ordinances. He stated that he attended the Environmental Issues Advisory Board meeting last week and that they have a bit of questions and concerns about Microsoft and the Mega Site. He stated that they had a list of questions that they were going to submit to Microsoft. A motion was made by Commissioner Royster and carried 5-0 to enter into Closed Session at 9:27 a.m. CLOSED SESSION A motion to enter into Closed Session per General Statute 143-318.11(a)(3) for the purpose to consult with the county attorney in order to preserve the attorney-client privilege with the following individuals permitted to attend: County Manager Katherine Cathey, Clerk to the Board Michele Solomon, and County Attorney T.C. Morphis, Jr. Chairman Puryear called the closed sessions to order at 9:28 a.m. A motion was made by Commissioner Long and carried 5-0 to return to open session at 9:54 a.m. Cathey presented the following related to the organizational structure of the Economic Development Department: August 18, 2025 9 August 18, 2025 10 August 18, 2025 11 Chairman Puryear referenced the email that he received from former Economic Development Director Glen Newsome and that Newsome advised that during his employment, he reported directly to the Economic Development Commission (EDC). He stated that he shared this email with fellow Board members, Cathey, and Morphis. Commissioner Long stated that Newsome referenced in the email, that in 1994, 1,200 new jobs were created in Person County, and that Governor Jim Hunt asked Newsome and Jim Stovall to go around the state and make presentations to other Economic Development Commissions about how they were able to make that success and attract so many jobs. He stated that in that year, was the highest number of jobs of any EDC in the state and it was highly praised and effective. He stated that he would like for the County to get back to that point, where the Economic Development Director is hired and appointed by the EDC and the Director gets their directives from the EDC. He stated that is what they are there for, to help the Director, not overtake the Director. Commissioner Royster clarified that the Economic Development Director would remain a county employee with benefits, and that with this vote, that they are keeping the best interests of Person County in the forefront, that it is all professional and not personal. Commissioner Long echoed Royster and stated it had nothing to do with the current Economic Development Director. He stated that it is about being able to help whoever is the Economic Development Director with our community leaders. A motion was made by Commissioner Wilborn and carried 5-0 for the Economic Development Department to remain a county department and for the Economic Development Director to report to the Economic Development Commission. A motion was made by Commissioner Long and carried 5-0 to remove the “Resolution Amending the Person County Economic Development Commission for a Change in Membership” from the agenda. ADJOURNMENT A motion was made by Commissioner Long and carried 5-0 to adjourn the meeting at 10:13 a.m. ____________________________ ______________________________ Michele Solomon Kyle Puryear Clerk to the Board Chairman