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HomeMy WebLinkAbout05-18-2026 Meeting Minutes BOCMay 18, 2026 1 PERSON COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS May 18, 2026 MEMBERS PRESENT OTHERS PRESENT Kyle Puryear Katherine M. Cathey, County Manager Sherry Wilborn Michele Solomon, Clerk to the Board Jason Thomas 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, May 18, 2026 at 9:00 a.m. in Room 215 of the County Office Building located at 304 S. Morgan Street, Roxboro, NC. Chairman Puryear called the meeting to order and recognized a quorum was present. Commissioner 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 Thomas and carried 5-0 to approve the agenda. INCOME MAINTENENANCE APPRECIATION MONTH PROCLAMATION DSS Director Adonica Hampton read a Proclamation recognizing May as Income Maintenance Appreciation Month honoring staff for administering essential programs, such as, Food and Nutrition Services and Medicaid. She stated that Income Maintenance workers support vulnerable residents, with professionalism, integrity, and commitment. A motion was made by Commissioner Royster and carried 5-0 to approve the Income Maintenance Appreciation Month Proclamation. Commissioner Royster expressed thanks to DSS Income Maintenance staff for their dedication and service to Person County residents. Chairman Puryear presented the Proclamation to Hampton. May 18, 2026 2 May 18, 2026 3 INFORMAL COMMENTS: There were no individuals that appeared before the Board to make informal comments. DISCUSSION/ADJUSTMENT/APPROVAL OF CONSENT AGENDA: A motion was made by Vice-Chair Wilborn and carried 4-1 to approve the Consent Agenda with the following items: A. May 4, 2026, Corrected Minutes, as noted in emailed corrections B. Budget Amendment # 19 C. Resolution Establishing a Materiality Threshold D. Audit Contract for Fiscal Year 2026 E. Termination of Agreement for Lobbying Services F. Register of Deeds Records Retention and Disposition Schedule G. Person Industries Record Destruction H. Public Property Naming Policy Amendment Commissioner Long voted in opposition. NEW BUSINESS: MAYO LAKE CABIN NAMING Recreation, Arts, and Parks, Director John Hill presented a recommendation to name the new Mayo Lake camping cabin in honor of Mark Ashley, a long-time employee, who passed away on March 31, 2026. He stated that Ashley was integral to the operations of Person County Recreation, Arts, and Parks, and advised that he was the fourth longest- serving employee within that department. He stated that Ashley had worked in multiple areas of the park system, to include Mayo Park, Kirby Cultural Arts Complex, Athletics, and Special Olympics. He stated that Ashley is going to be missed by all. A motion was made by Vice-Chair Wilborn and carried 5-0 stating the Board’s intent to consider the adoption of a resolution on June 1, 2026 to name a Mayo Lake Park camping cabin in honor of long-term Person County Recreation, Arts, and Parks Department employee Mark Ashley. May 18, 2026 4 FY27 MANAGER’S RECOMMENDED BUDGET PRESENTATION North Carolina General Statutes require that on or before June 1 of each year, managers present their recommended budget for the next fiscal year to the Board of Commissioners. County Manager Katherine Cathey provided an overview of the FY 2026-2027 budget through the following presentation. The Board of Commissioners ‘were presented with copies of the budget document for review. May 18, 2026 5 May 18, 2026 6 May 18, 2026 7 May 18, 2026 8 May 18, 2026 9 May 18, 2026 10 May 18, 2026 11 May 18, 2026 12 May 18, 2026 13 May 18, 2026 14 May 18, 2026 15 May 18, 2026 16 Commissioner Royster inquired whether guidelines exist regarding the appropriate ratio of Paramedics assigned to each supervisor. Cathey stated that she would follow up with the Emergency Services Department and report the information back to the Board. Commissioner Long asked for clarification on vehicle replacements and wanted to confirm that no additional vehicles were being added. Cathey stated that none are being added and that the request is for twelve replacement vehicles. Chairman Puryear advised the Board to coordinate with Cathey to set budget work session dates. May 18, 2026 17 AUTHORIZATION TO SPEND OPIOID SETTLEMENT FUNDS Health Director Janet Clayton presented the following recommendations from the Opioid Settlement Advisory Committee (OSAC):  Extension of the funding expenditure periods of the current three strategies to June 30, 2027 allowing the originally allocated amounts to be utilized during FY2027  Continue to address the Early Intervention strategy through Person County Schools. Early Intervention efforts include identification and intervention for children and adolescents who may be struggling with problematic use of drugs or mental health conditions through the Substance Use Education and Support Program (SUES). These funds will allow the expansion of SUES to strengthen early identification, intervention, and structured follow-up services for youth at risk of substance misuse, including opioid misuse, before progression to opioid use disorder or overdose.  Funding $401,234.87 for this program, based on projected needs as presented by Person County Schools Commissioner Long asked if the services of Person Family Medical Center are being utilized. Clayton advised yes that the PORT Team (Post Overdose Response Team) has a relationship with them as well as with Person County Schools. Vice-Chair Wilborn asked for clarification, confirming that the request is not to allocate additional funds to the first three strategies but rather to continue them for another year to bring them to completion. Clayton stated that yes, that is the request. A motion was made by Commissioner Royster and carried 5-0 to approve a resolution to authorize the end date extension for the previously authorized strategies from June 30, 2026 to June 30, 2027 and to authorize use of $401,234.88 from the opioid settlement funds for use in the identified spending strategy of early intervention for a period beginning July 1, 2026 and concluding June 30, 2028. May 18, 2026 18 May 18, 2026 19 May 18, 2026 20 May 18, 2026 21 INITIAL STEPS FOR GENERAL OBLIGATION SCHOOL BONDS NOTICE OF INTENT AND APPLICATION AUTHORIZATION Chief Financial Officer Tracy Clayton and Person County Schools Superintendent Dr. Rodney Peterson presented materials related to placing a General Obligation Bond Referendum on the November 3, 2026 ballot. Clayton shared the following: • Adoption of required resolutions: May 18, June 15, and December 16 • Publication of notices • Strict statutory deadlines, including a Public Hearing on July 6 • Preliminary projection: approximately a 9.5¢ tax impact, pending consultant confirmation Dr. Peterson shared the following: May 18, 2026 22 May 18, 2026 23 May 18, 2026 24 May 18, 2026 25 May 18, 2026 26 May 18, 2026 27 Commissioner Royster expressed safety and health concerns for children attending the schools with lead paint and asbestos. May 18, 2026 28 A motion was made by Chairman Puryear and carried 5-0 to adopt a Resolution Directing the Publication of Notice of Intention to Apply to the Local Government Commission (LGC) for Approval of Bonds. May 18, 2026 29 A motion was made by Chairman Puryear and carried 5-0 to adopt a Resolution Making Certain Statements of Fact Concerning the Proposed Bond Issue and Authorizing the Application to the LGC. May 18, 2026 30 May 18, 2026 31 A motion was made by Chairman Puryear and carried 5-0 to authorize the Chief Financial Officer to advance up to $100,000 from the Capital Investment Fund to pay for bond insurance costs prior to the issuance and sale of the bonds with such advances to be reimbursed from bond proceeds upon closing. CHAIRMAN’S REPORT Chairman Puryear welcomed State Senator Jonah Garson, who addressed the Board and community. MANAGER’S REPORT County Manager Katherine Cathey announced Jennifer Brown as the new Cooperative Extension Director, effective June 1, 2026. COMMISSIONER REPORTS/COMMENTS Vice-Chair Wilborn reported that since the last meeting, she attended Good Morning Coffee Hours put on by the Chamber, EMS, and Guardian Ad Litem, as well as a Business After Hours at Footwear Plus, the Chamber’s Small Business of the Year, which is celebrating 80 years. She also attended the RTRP Board Meeting and the State of the Region event, noting excellent local participation with two commissioners and two city council members present, who overlap on the EDC and Chamber Board. She said it was good to have that group in the room to network and hear about economic development initiatives across the region and state. She reported attending the FTZ Board quarterly meeting and stated that Person County now has one industry applying for FTZ status and a second submitting an application at the most recent meeting. She said she is thankful Person County is now represented on that board. She attended the National Day of Prayer event hosted by the Veterans Council, noting it fell during one of the windows of rain, and she thanked Westwood Baptist Church for hosting at the last minute. She also had her budget meeting with the Manager and attended the Planning Board meeting. She stated that she attended the two--day North Carolina Association of County Commissioners Board Meeting in Western North Carolina, where administrative matters were discussed, but most of the discussion focused on laws affecting local control over taxes. She said she hopes the state budget is adopted before the county must adopt its own. She noted another commissioner shared that their county could lower its tax rate by 19 cents if not for unfunded mandates, which she said is important as the county considers its own budget. She stressed the need to continue supporting economic development and industry expansion. May 18, 2026 32 Wilborn referenced comments made after adopting the Small Business Week resolution and clarified that the statistics cited used the Small Business Administration definition of small business—any business under 500 employees—meaning nearly all manufacturers in Person County fall under that category. She said manufacturing is small business in Person County according to those statistics. She cited an agriculture statistic that the county has $481.2 million in total ag value added, noting that more than $300 million of that is tied to manufactured products from agricultural commodities like tobacco. She emphasized that agriculture and manufacturing complement each other and that manufacturing plays a major role in that value added. She addressed emails and a recent online article regarding data centers. She said the article, which she described as left-leaning, incorrectly stated- that the mega-site could receive up to 8 million gallons per day. She said the City Manager requested a correction, clarifying the water plant’s permitted capacity of 5 million gallons per day and its potential expansion to 8 million gallons per day for the county, and that the mega-site predates the Microsoft project and can supply 3 million gallons per day. She noted that as the former EDC Director, she was always told the line capacity was 2 million gallons per day without upgrades, though new information may exist. She added that the City Manager has publicly stated the Microsoft numbers would not justify turning that line on. She said public concerns typically relate to electricity costs and water usage, and she hopes to put the water usage concern to rest. She stated that electric rates are determined by service territory and that data centers are driven by consumer demand. She said as long as people continue to create and consume data, data centers will be built, and if they are built in Person County, the county benefits from the tax base and high- paying jobs. She noted the county cannot absorb a large industrial project needing hundreds or thousands of employees, but data centers significantly grow the tax base. She concluded by saying she is compiling statistics on how data centers have helped other communities build schools and other facilities, and she intends to continue sharing that information. Commissioner Thomas expressed thanks to County Manager Cathey and staff for budget preparation. He emphasized school facility needs. Commissioner Royster expressed her appreciation to County Manager Cathey and staff for their work on the budget. She congratulated Janet Clayton and the Health Department on achieving accreditation with honors, and she congratulated Jennifer Brown on her new role as Cooperative Extension Director. She thanked Senator Jonah Garson for attending the meeting. She discussed the need for coordinated cooling stations and noted her attendance at the RTRP meeting. She stated that she had previously mentioned being invited to Loudoun County, Virginia, to tour data centers, and that while attending the NACo Conference, she had heard both pros and cons about data centers from colleagues. May 18, 2026 33 Royster suggested future consideration of recognizing Juneteenth as a county holiday to align with the City of Roxboro’s holiday schedule. Commissioner Long expressed his appreciation to County Manager Cathey for her work on the budget. He thanked Senator Jonah Garson for attending the meeting and encouraged his continued advocacy for school funding. He shared concerns regarding the RCRC and the loss of funding. He noted his interest in touring the Microsoft Data Center in Boydton, Virginia. ADJOURNMENT A motion was made by Vice-Chair Wilborn and carried 5-0 to adjourn the meeting at 10:46 a.m. ____________________________ ______________________________ Michele Solomon Kyle Puryear Clerk to the Board Chairman