2026-08-17 - City Council

00:00Kelly Hales, uh the personnel officer

00:02with the school system.

00:04I welcome to you this evening.

00:06Uh and we'll have some other guests that

00:07will be recognized a little later on for

00:10special presentation.

00:14Also, welcome anybody in the audience

00:17with the press or joining us uh

00:19on web our website, social media, or

00:21YouTube uh live tonight to for this

00:24meeting.

00:26Uh first order of business will be

00:27additions and or deletions to our

00:30to our agenda, Mr. City Manager.

00:34>> Good evening, Mayor and Council. Uh I

00:35have no additions or deletions uh to the

00:38agenda.

00:39>> What's the pleasure of Council with

00:40regard to the agenda?

00:42>> Mr. Mayor, I make a motion to approve

00:43the agenda.

00:44>> Second.

00:45>> Is there any discussion?

00:47All favoring this, please let it be

00:49known by saying I.

00:50>> I.

00:51>> Opposed, no.

00:52So, the agenda has been approved.

00:55Uh we're now down to our public forum.

00:58This will be a 2-minute time limit on

01:01the subject of the speaker's choice.

01:03Uh if you would, when you come to the

01:05mic, please state your name and your

01:07subject for the uh clerk, please.

01:10Uh first speaker tonight is uh Dustin

01:13Bingham.

01:15>> Excuse me, do you want to excuse

01:16Councilwoman Johnson? Did I miss that?

01:19>> Oh, she's supposed to be coming.

01:21>> He's supposed to be on the way and going

01:22to be late. They I think he's going to

01:24be here.

01:25>> Okay.

01:26I'm sorry, that was Councilwoman

01:28Johnson. Sorry, I apologize.

01:43>> My name is Dustin Bingham. I'm here

01:45again to speak about automatic

01:47>> license plate readers

01:49and their place in America, of which I

01:51think they have none.

01:55I'm going to highlight three concerning

01:56cases that

01:58support my position.

02:00Canyon Ashworth, a journalist who was

02:02found who found through public records

02:03that police who'd fabricated pretext to

02:05pull him over used ALPRs to track his

02:07daily movements without probable cause,

02:09suspicion, or warrant after he published

02:11an article criticizing the department's

02:12cooperation with ICE. Fourth Amendment

02:14violation, First Amendment violation of

02:16the right to free press. Bob Sklar,

02:18Indiana citizen whose only crime was

02:20speaking up in city council meetings

02:21found information through public records

02:23confirming his suspicions that police

02:25were stalking him with no probable

02:26cause, suspicion, or warrant using

02:28ALPRs. Fourth Amendment violation, First

02:30Amendment violation of right to petition

02:32government for redress of grievances.

02:34Bringing it home to Thomasville, Aaron

02:35Barley, whose footage you used on your

02:37Facebook page, Thomasville videographer

02:39captured footage of your ALPRs for a

02:41video project was paid a suspiciously

02:43serendipitous wellness check by two

02:45T-ville deputies the same evening. And

02:47I'm still waiting for a public records

02:49request to show to confirm whether or

02:50not I've been looked up in your Flock

02:52database since I first came here to

02:53speak up about this.

02:55Dana Lombar, the glaring difference

02:57between my phone tracking me through

02:59towers, apps, and internet versus a

03:01government body, i.e. our local police

03:03department partnering with a private

03:04surveillance company that sells them

03:07tech giving them a general warrant to

03:08passively surveil private citizens with

03:10no probable cause, suspicion, or warrant

03:13mimicking the tyrant King George's

03:15general warrants that inspired the

03:16Fourth Amendment in the first place is

03:17that at any time with my phone I can opt

03:20out.

03:22Mr. Mayor, you and your chief of police

03:24gave us the true governing authority, no

03:26ability to opt out of such a treasonous

03:27program. The plain language of and the

03:30impetus for the Fourth Amendment is

03:31sufficient to say that ALPRs have no

03:33place in America. You blind guides which

03:36strain at a gnat and swallow a camel.

03:42>> You got

03:43>> Next one

03:44speaking this evening

03:46a general Fred Martin.

03:55>> Okay, good afternoon everyone

03:57mayor and everyone. That thing is

03:58falling right through here.

04:00All right, okay, there we go. I'm

04:02actually here today to present an award

04:04as many of you know, we had a luncheon

04:06today here in Thomasville. It was a

04:07great thing with ESGR. I'm Brigadier

04:10General retired Bud Martin, live in

04:12North Davidson County and I'm the state

04:15chair for ESGR, Employer Support for the

04:18Guard and Reserve. So, I have an award

04:20that I want to present to your mayor

04:22tonight and I'm going to read it. It

04:24says the Employer Support of the Guard

04:26and Reserve Seven Seals Award is

04:28presented in recognition of outstanding

04:30leadership and exceptional support of

04:32the ESGR mission. Named for the seven

04:35service components of the United States

04:37Armed Forces, the award honors

04:39individuals whose dedication and

04:41advocacy has significantly strengthened

04:44and support for our Guard have provided

04:46support for our Guard and Reserve

04:48service members, their families, and the

04:50employers who make their service

04:52possible. This award reflects a lasting

04:55commitment to those who serve our nation

04:58in uniform and as the state chair, I

05:00have that privilege and honor to be able

05:02to nominate your mayor and to present

05:05with him a Seven Seals Award for

05:06meritorious leadership and initiative

05:08and support of the men and women who

05:10serve America in the National Guard and

05:12Reserve. Sir, if you would come forward,

05:14I'd love to present it.

05:15Thanks again for our luncheon today. We

05:17had a great crowd.

05:19And this week happens to be Employer

05:22Support for the Guard and Reserve Week

05:24by the governor's proclamation, so

05:30Okay, you got it.

05:31Thank you so much. Any comments and I'll

05:33get out of here.

05:34>> first general I ever met was when I was

05:36in Vietnam. It was Christmas time and he

05:38showed up at our base camp.

05:40Of course, it wasn't you at the time,

05:41but

05:44But, General Martin has been a

05:46real strong supporter of our Memorial

05:48Day things here for many many years.

05:52And he's a great patriot and he's given

05:56the better part of his life to serving

05:57his country and in doing things like

06:00this with our service

06:02around this area and we appreciate that

06:04so much and thank you for this award

06:07this evening. Thank you very much.

06:08>> Can't say enough about our veterans,

06:10Vietnam veteran right here and all I say

06:12to all our veterans you might be here

06:14God bless you for what you've done for

06:16our country and God bless America. And

06:19I'm going to have to jump in here.

06:21>> Thank you.

06:43>> Now down to item four, recognitions and

06:46presentations.

06:47The first one is recognition of Piedmont

06:50Crossing Fire Department. I'm going to

06:51come down front.

07:20We're going to award some challenge

07:22coins. I want to read this to you first

07:24what the challenge coin is all about.

07:27The challenge coin has been used for

07:28centuries as an informal token of award

07:31and belonging within military

07:33organizations.

07:35It has gained more widespread uses by

07:37governments and businesses to reward and

07:39honor individuals that have demonstrated

07:41the qualities of the organization.

07:44The Thomasville Challenge Coin was

07:46created in 2023 to recognize employees

07:49and community members that espouse the

07:51city's vision of building a better

07:53Thomasville together

07:55and the core values of quality, service,

07:57integrity, equity, and innovative

08:00growth.

08:01Nominations for recognition can be made

08:03by employees or city council members to

08:07recognize the recipients for their work

08:10on behalf of the community of

08:11Thomasville.

08:13Now, many of these coins have been given

08:15out to several of our first responders

08:18and others that have done

08:20extraordinary work and uh

08:23bravery and so forth here in

08:25Thomasville. Tonight's presentation is

08:27going to be a little bit different. I'm

08:29going to let our city manager

08:31uh

08:32take it from here and then we'll we'll

08:34honor these people with a challenge

08:36coin. You'll see what it's all about.

08:39>> Thank you, Mayor.

08:40A few months ago, there was a fire at

08:43Piedmont Crossing and

08:46the call went out to our first

08:48responders who started the process of

08:50responding.

08:51But before that they could even respond

08:54to the site,

08:55a painting crew that was doing work at

08:58Piedmont Crossing on behalf of Piedmont

08:59Crossing was in the building that had

09:02the fire.

09:03And those firefighters those

09:06individuals, instead of seeking their

09:08own safety,

09:10helped the

09:11the folks that lived in the Piedmont

09:13Crossing apartments to evacuate. And not

09:16only did they evacuate the individuals,

09:18but they also went back in after

09:19collecting fire extinguishers and

09:22extinguished the fire so that when our

09:24firefighters arrived,

09:26they just got to stand around and shake

09:28hands.

09:30So, the fire department nominated this

09:34group and I'm I'm read their names and

09:36if they would come forward, please.

09:39Marcus Hayden

09:43Zeb Hayden

09:46Scotty Smiley

09:51Kevin Benavidez I'm sorry, Benavidez.

09:53Ben

09:54>> I did it earlier, and I messed up.

09:56>> Benavidez

09:57>> Benavidez

09:58>> Benavidez Benavidez

10:00Jason Benavidez

10:02>> Thank you.

10:02>> Justin Benavidez

10:04and Jose Benavidez

10:12As you can see, this is a family affair

10:13all around.

10:14>> Absolutely.

10:20>> So, we have a group of, you might say,

10:22unlikely first responders here tonight,

10:24but they did what our first responders

10:26do. They saw a need.

10:28Uh they had the ability and the

10:29capability to you know, answer the call.

10:33And we don't know what the outcome would

10:35have been without these men here going

10:37into action.

10:39But, we know for sure that that the

10:40outcome was good because they did, for

10:42sure.

10:43So, we've we appreciate all y'all did.

10:45If y'all would just come up here a

10:47little bit, we're going to get a picture

10:48of the group here.

10:58Thank you all very much.

11:33Our next proclamation is National

11:35Overdose Awareness

11:36>> Day and this will be presented by

11:39uh Councilmember

11:40Hunter Thrift.

11:42>> Thank you, Mayor. Uh I've got

11:43Councilwoman Lamb is also going to join

11:45me. We're We're both doing a

11:46proclamation tonight and Mike, if you

11:48and your son want to come up and join

11:50us.

11:53Proclamation by the Mayor recognizing

11:55August 31st, 2026 as National Overdose

11:58Awareness Day. Whereas National Overdose

12:00Awareness Day is observed each year on

12:03August 31st to to remember those who

12:05have lost their lives to overdose, to

12:08support families and loved ones affected

12:10by substance use, and to raise community

12:12awareness about prevention, education,

12:14and treatment. And whereas communities

12:17across the nation, including the City of

12:19Thomasville, have been deeply impacted

12:21by the ongoing public health crisis of

12:23substance use and overdose affecting

12:26residents of all ages, backgrounds, and

12:28neighborhoods.

12:29And whereas reducing stigma around

12:32substance use disorder is essential to

12:34ensuring that individuals feel safe

12:36seeking help, accessing treatment, and

12:38supporting others on their path to

12:40recovery. And whereas local

12:42organizations, first responders,

12:44healthcare professionals, and community

12:46partners continue to work tirelessly to

12:48provide resources, support services,

12:50harm reduction tools, and compassionate

12:53care for those in need. And whereas

12:55National Overdose Awareness Day provides

12:57an opportunity to honor the memory of

12:59those who have been lost, recognize the

13:01grief carried by families and friends,

13:04and strengthen our communities

13:05commitment to prevention, recovery, and

13:07hope.

13:08Now, therefore, Mayor Raleigh Our Jr. of

13:10the City of Thomasville, North Carolina,

13:12hereby proclaims August 31st, 2026 as

13:15National Overdose Awareness Day in the

13:17City of Thomasville and encourages all

13:19residents to join in remembrance,

13:21education, and community support efforts

13:23that contribute to a safer, healthier

13:25future for all and is adopted the 17th

13:28day of August uh with our city seal on

13:30it.

13:31>> Absolutely.

13:33>> Thank you very much. And now

13:35Council Member Dina Lambe will offer

13:38proclamation for suicide awareness

13:40month.

13:41>> Proclamation for the celebration of

13:43National Suicide Awareness Month,

13:45September 2026.

13:47Whereas suicide is leading cause of

13:49death across the United States affecting

13:51individuals, families, and communities

13:54in every corner of our nation. And

13:56whereas raising awareness about suicide

13:59prevention reduces stigma surrounding

14:02mental health and encouraging one open

14:04conversations

14:05can help save lives. And whereas

14:08community support, education, and access

14:11mental health resources are essential in

14:13fostering hope, connection, and healing

14:16for those who are struggling. And

14:18whereas National Suicide Awareness Month

14:21provides an opportunity for all

14:23residents to learn the warning signs of

14:25suicide, support those in emotional

14:28distress, and promote the message of

14:30compassion and understanding. And

14:32whereas the City of Thomasville is

14:34committed to supporting the well-being

14:36of all residents and standing with

14:38individuals and families affected by

14:40suicide.

14:41Now therefore, Raleigh York Jr., Mayor,

14:44City of Thomasville, hereby proclaim

14:46September 2026 as National Suicide

14:48Awareness Month in Thomasville and they

14:51encourage all residents to promote

14:53awareness, share resources, and offer

14:55hope to those in need. Proclaimed on the

14:5817th day of August 2026.

15:00>> Thank you.

15:05>> Mayor York, thank you. And I didn't mean

15:07to call your house today. Actually, I

15:08was trying to call the council, but I

15:09got your house.

15:11I never come with anything written down.

15:14Right now, we are way over 500 people

15:16that have been murdered by fentanyl in

15:17this county alone.

15:19We're over 20,000 plus in the state of

15:21North Carolina.

15:23Um the chief the chief over here knows

15:24me from your police department. When we

15:26can work with our local law enforcement

15:29where I got a call from I'm going to

15:30bring it up, chief, from his department

15:32for help and we reached out and we

15:34worked together on that. Medical

15:35Ministries is here. Thank you again for

15:37being out here. She's one of the

15:38partners in Davidson County.

15:40We have to work together because mental

15:42health and addiction go hand in hand.

15:44You cannot treat one without treating

15:45the other. And we can stop this if we

15:48work together. Um as a I'm a son of a

15:51mother who was committed three, four

15:52times to a mental hospital. I'm the

15:54father of a son who was murdered by

15:56fentanyl. This is why we do what we do.

15:59We ask nothing from nobody in this area,

16:01but if you need us, please call on us

16:03and we will come here. We might be here

16:05for everybody's day. We can arrange it

16:06and thank you for the proclamations

16:08today. Thank you all.

16:45>> We're now down to the consent agenda and

16:48I recognize once again our city manager

16:50for this.

16:53>> Mayor and council,

16:55your consent agenda consists of three

16:57items.

16:58The first is consideration of minutes of

17:00the briefing and committees meeting of

17:03July 13th.

17:06Item B is consideration of minutes of

17:08the council meeting on July 20th.

17:12And item C is consideration of the

17:14revised capitalization depreciation

17:19policy

17:20which

17:25somehow I ended up with

17:53Thank you. Sorry. I apologize for that.

17:54I'm not sure what happened to it. Um the

17:56revised capitalization policy uh changes

17:59the uh thresholds for capitalization of

18:03of assets and software

18:05uh to a uh higher amount. Uh it's now

18:07$50,000

18:09uh at a recommendation of our uh

18:11auditor. Um that was and then

18:14infrastructure gets changed $100,000.

18:17Um but machinery, furniture, vehicles,

18:19and equipment remain remains at $10,000.

18:24>> Okay. Thank you very much. What's the

18:26pleasure of council with regard to the

18:27consent agenda?

18:29>> Mr. Mayor, I make a motion we uh approve

18:31the consent agenda as presented.

18:33>> Do I hear a second?

18:35>> Second.

18:36>> Now, is there any discussion?

18:40Okay. All who favor this, please let it

18:41be known by saying I.

18:42>> I.

18:43>> If you're opposed, no.

18:45So, that has been approved.

18:47Uh we have one item on regular agenda.

18:50Consideration of budget amendment

18:522027-P2-01.

18:55City manager again.

19:02>> All right. This consideration of budget

19:04amendment 2027-P2-01.

19:08The amendment transfers funds

19:09appropriated for pay-as-you-go capital

19:11items in the general fund to the police,

19:14parks and recreation, and public works

19:16departments.

19:17This will fund two police officers, a

19:20park and recreation worker, and a

19:21streets laborer position that were

19:23frozen as part of the hiring freeze with

19:25the adopted budget.

19:27The total transfer amount is $214,403,

19:31which includes rescinding the capital

19:33funding for a boat trailer in the fire

19:35department, new computers totaling

19:38$35,000 in the MIS department,

19:42the child care building renovations for

19:44parks and recreation,

19:46and a truck in recreation totaling

19:49$35,000.

19:51The garage door range building will not

19:55be installed, and the a sprayer at the

19:59golf course will not be purchased.

20:02This amendment requires council

20:03approval.

20:05>> Thank you for that. Now, what's pleasure

20:07of council?

20:09>> Mr. Mayor, I'll make a motion

20:10>> to approve the consideration of budget

20:12amendment 2027-P2-01.

20:15>> Second.

20:16>> Yeah, I have a motion and a second. Any

20:17discussion?

20:19>> When we passed the budget that we

20:21passed, we knew that we were going to

20:23have to make some concess- Thank you.

20:25I'll start again. When we passed the

20:27budget that we passed, we knew we were

20:28going to have to make some sacrifices

20:30and concessions, and we're going to see

20:33those play out throughout the year, and

20:34I appreciate Michael for highlighting

20:36them because I think it's important that

20:37we understand what we give up when we

20:40don't increase our revenue. And so, you

20:42heard

20:43the renovations to the child care part

20:45of our parks and rec department would

20:48have been great, and we're going to put

20:49them off, but hopefully we're going to

20:51keep fighting for them. They just aren't

20:53happening right now.

20:55>> Any further discussion?

20:59Okay, all who favor this, please let it

21:01be known by saying aye.

21:02>> Aye.

21:03>> If you're opposed, no.

21:05So, that has been approved. We welcome

21:08Mayor Pro Tem Johnson. He's coming in

21:11from out of town, so

21:13glad to have you here with us this

21:14evening.

21:15Okay, we're now down to our committee

21:17reports, and I'll start with our Mayor

21:18Pro Tem Johnson.

21:21>> Thank you so much, Mayor York. I have

21:22submitted a copy of my activities to our

21:24clerk. It has been a crazy busy month

21:26for the month of August. As kids are

21:28getting ready to head back to school, we

21:30are really working to make sure that

21:32they have all the tools they need to be

21:35successful this school year.

21:37Excuse my tardiness today. I had the

21:38opportunity to travel without to our

21:40state capital. I was invited by Governor

21:42Stitt

21:43to represent our great city on a veto of

21:46House Bill 320, which is a bill that is

21:49going to restrict a lot of our voting

21:52access not only here in Davidson County,

21:54but all across the state. So, I was very

21:56thankful to be invited and be able to

21:57represent the great city of Townsville

21:58and make it back in time for our council

22:00meeting. So, I'll let that stand as my

22:02activities report.

22:04>> Thank you. Council Member Dailey and

22:07Lambuth.

22:09>> Just like Jacquess, we have had a busy

22:11month.

22:13Just highlight a few things. We did do

22:15the PACE Pocketbook Bingo, which was on

22:18July 24th, and that was a super fun

22:21time.

22:22We also did a chair

22:25big chair dogs ribbon cutting on August

22:283rd, which was a good time. Nice to see

22:30everybody out. Um

22:34Too bad our National Nights Out got

22:35canceled on August 4th due to weather.

22:39But, um

22:40it's been a busy month. We did have a

22:42luncheon today,

22:43and it was a lot of information, and I'm

22:46glad to be on council for a city who

22:49supports our national reserves and our

22:52guards. So, I I do appreciate that. I

22:55have submitted my report to Wendy, and I

22:57will let that stand as my report.

22:59>> Thank you. Council Member Doug Hunt.

23:02>> I have submitted a copy of my activities

23:04to the clerk and I'll let that stand as

23:05my report.

23:06>> Thank you. Councilmember Hunter Thrift.

23:08>> Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I have submitted a

23:10copy of my activities to the clerk. I

23:12just want to

23:13wish our our teachers and our students

23:16good luck as school goes back and keep

23:18them in your thoughts and prayers

23:19starting a new school year. Also be

23:21mindful of that on your way to work in

23:24the morning and in the afternoon

23:25children getting on the school bus and

23:27getting off. Keep that in mind.

23:29And I will let that stand as my report.

23:32>> Thank you. Councilmember Payton

23:33Williams.

23:35>> Y'all already know I've not sent my

23:36activities to Wendy, but I'm going to. I

23:38promise.

23:39Hunter, thank you for the back to school

23:42note. I'm going back to school this

23:44year. Today was actually my first day

23:45and it's very scary. So if you know a

23:48kid or a 31-year-old who has gone back

23:50to school, give them a hug cuz it's

23:53scary. And my thoughts and prayers are

23:55with all the families and kids starting

23:57back this year and the teachers.

23:59Um

24:01Thank you to the Piedmont Crossing paint

24:03crew.

24:04I have loved ones at Piedmont Crossing.

24:05I know lots of people do and it's just

24:07so

24:08comforting to live in a community where

24:10there are random bystanders who will

24:12stand up and take care of our neighbors.

24:14So thank you guys. Wendy, I'm going to

24:16send you that report and I think I'll

24:18let that stand. Thank you.

24:20>> Thank you. Councilmember Alicia Shelton.

24:24>> I have submitted a copy

24:27of my activities report. Yay. I got it

24:30done at my lunch time today. So yay for

24:32me. Um

24:34Please be mindful of the kids going back

24:36to school and watch for them, but also

24:38pray for them teachers and them

24:40principals. Cuz them kids is going to

24:42give them a run for their money. Pray

24:44for our police department watching over

24:46them kids at the school, our SRO

24:48officers. And I'll let that stand as my

24:50report.

24:52>> Thank you.

24:53Councilmember Erica Sanders.

24:54>> Yes, I have submitted my

24:57Yes, I have submitted my my

25:00report to Ms. Wendy and I wanted to say

25:04last week I came to our

25:07meeting

25:09our council meeting on I don't know what

25:11day, but

25:12I'm kind of lost right now and I've been

25:15busy. I've been very busy this month,

25:17but I want to tell y'all, you know,

25:19please just don't forget the homeless

25:21people that's out here and also just let

25:25us love one another.

25:27And that's that stands as my report

25:29today.

25:30>> Thank you.

25:31Uh we like the others we had several

25:34things this past month. I'll just

25:35mention two or three of them. Uh

25:38I had the privilege to help

25:41judge a car show for the Sisters of Hope

25:43fundraiser down at the recreation

25:45department campus. It was it was a good

25:48day. Some beautiful cars out there. I

25:50tell you what, people put a lot of time

25:52into some of these antique cars and and

25:55newer vehicles, too. But that was a good

25:57day and uh

25:59as Council member Alamba said

26:02a big chair dogs ribbon cutting, we did

26:05that earlier this month.

26:07And

26:08it was my privilege to come and do a

26:10greeting for a group of firefighters

26:12from Mexico

26:14last week. They were here in this

26:16building.

26:17Uh they were here for some training.

26:18They've been here for the last I know

26:21the last 2 years, I think at least, here

26:23in the city of Thomasville and maybe

26:25they've been coming longer than that,

26:27but

26:28that was a good time we had there with

26:30them as we

26:32as we brought a greeting to them. So,

26:34I'll let that stand as my report. Now,

26:36I'll go to our city manager, Mr. Brant.

26:40>> Thank you, Mayor.

26:41Um I have a couple of items I I want to

26:44point out. Uh

26:45in relation to

26:47the

26:49resolutions,

26:50uh there's a night of remembrance

26:52scheduled for August 29th at 8:00 p.m.

26:54at the old uh courthouse in Lexington,

26:56North Carolina. That's uh uh sponsored

27:00by Race Against Drugs. Uh, it's a

27:02community effort, and if you're

27:03interested, uh there are luminaries that

27:05you can purchase uh as part of the

27:07fundraiser uh in to remember loved ones.

27:11Uh, so that's on August 29th at 8:00

27:13p.m. at the old Lexington courthouse.

27:17Um

27:19a few months ago, uh we had a discussion

27:21about uh fluoride and whether we

27:24continue to provide uh fluoride in our

27:26water uh as recommended. Uh, I'm going

27:29to pass out a report uh or information

27:33that was released uh about 2 months ago

27:36uh regarding uh where the federal stance

27:40is on this right now. Uh, if you

27:42remember, we held off on making any

27:44decisions about whether we continue with

27:46fluoride or not

27:48based on federal study.

27:50Um, so what I've provided for you is a

27:53press release and then two um handouts

27:56that were accompanied the press release.

27:59They basically say that they're going

28:00through the process of an expedited

28:02review for fluoride under the Safe

28:04Drinking Water Act um and that they are

28:07uh working out the protocol for

28:10developing the fluoride human health

28:12toxicity assessment. Um

28:16this stems from the uh concerns that uh

28:20individuals have raised in our community

28:22and throughout the country regarding

28:24levels of fluoride that that are uh put

28:27into the water system to for dental

28:29health.

28:30Um, I just wanted to give you an update

28:32that in our own uh studies

28:35we are uh our water system on average uh

28:39met a level of .82

28:43parts per million for fluoride uh

28:47in 2025,

28:49the recommendation from the from the uh

28:51federal government is between 0.7 and

28:551.0. So, we're right about middle of

28:58that.

28:59Um any what has been found is anything

29:02over 1.5

29:04parts per million

29:05uh is where they have

29:07uh indicated that there is potential for

29:10some neurological damage in children

29:13under continuous drinking of that level.

29:17So, you'd have to intake a lot.

29:20In July of this past year, our latest

29:22report uh for the monthly report, we

29:25were uh at 0.77

29:29of which uh

29:310.5

29:33five was what uh was put into the water

29:36system. And then the natural level of of

29:40fluoride within the water was somewhere

29:42around 0.22 uh in that range. So, there

29:45is a natural level of fluoride that is

29:47in water and in our area. Uh so, we

29:51don't have to put a lot more to get up

29:54to the level uh that is recommended,

29:56which is at 0.7 to 1.0.

29:59So, I just wanted to give you an update

30:00on that uh

30:01uh and uh pass that along.

30:04Um

30:06the other uh information that I had for

30:09you uh

30:12has slipped my mind. So,

30:17So, apparently we're going to pass on

30:19that.

30:20Uh

30:21and I'm I'm I'm going to

30:24end my report.

30:25I think I think July and August was

30:28tough.

30:28>> Yeah, that's tough.

30:30>> Thank you uh very much. Uh city our city

30:32attorney, Misty Whitman.

30:34>> Thank you. Um if I think of what it was,

30:36I'll let you know.

30:37Um and and just to further what he

30:39settled that and you'll see it in the

30:40study, they haven't actually found any

30:43substantive data to say that there's

30:44neurodegenerative defects in kids unless

30:47it's 4.0 or greater, but they want to

30:51continue to study targeting down to 1.5.

30:53So, there's no known harm right now

30:57where we're at, um but again, we're

30:59following it closely.

31:01I wanted to bring to your attention, um

31:03the legislature was busy this year. So,

31:06there's been lots of updates and

31:07changes. So, some of the things that

31:09we're going to need to modify to make

31:11our ordinances in compliance with the

31:13new state stuff is related to um

31:17home-based businesses. Uh this just came

31:19up before planning and zoning. Uh we

31:21actually had one before us and this was

31:24coming down the pipeline, so we actually

31:27dismissed it and said, "You no longer

31:29need to do this." Home-based businesses,

31:31we may no longer require a zoning

31:33permit, business license, variance,

31:35rezoning, registration, or other

31:36approval for a home-based business that

31:39satisfies the new statutory definition

31:42of a no-impact home-based business. And

31:45I'll send you guys a detailed memo about

31:47this, so you'll understand what exactly

31:49is included in that.

31:51Um minimum parking requirements

31:53effective January 1, 2027, we will

31:56generally be prohibited from requiring

31:57minimum numbers of off-street parking

31:59spaces. We must review our parking space

32:02dimensions, payment standards, and

32:03certain residential fire access

32:05requirements, so of course your staff is

32:06doing that.

32:08Stormwater regulations, we are going to

32:11review our ordinances there. The new law

32:14restricts the extent to which impervious

32:16area may trigger additional stormwater

32:19controls during redevelopment. This is a

32:21particular concern with us with our

32:23several areas through town that have a

32:25tendency to flood, so we need to pay

32:27close attention to that as well.

32:30Uh water and sewer rates, um we've got

32:32to go over our water and sewer rates

32:35because we operate a municipal water and

32:38wastewater system, we have to determine

32:40whether our rates charged to customers

32:42outside the corporate limits exceeds

32:44comparable inside rates by more than

32:4725%.

32:48If so, there's additional procedure

32:50requirements when apply when those rates

32:52are increased. So, it doesn't trigger

32:55anything with us now. Doesn't mean that

32:57we can't charge more. It just means

32:58there's additional steps we have to take

33:00to do it. I see Peyton like

33:03Um

33:04And then special assessments, um

33:07effective October 1st of this year,

33:08collection and foreclosure procedures

33:10relating to municipal special

33:12assessments need to be updated. Um

33:15our current like nuisance abatement, it

33:17doesn't affect that. What it does affect

33:19our assessments for like um

33:22infrastructure, uh streets, sidewalks,

33:24etc. If we have assessments for that and

33:27we end up people don't pay them when we

33:29need to foreclose for those purposes,

33:31used to they fell under federal tax

33:33liens. They now will have super priority

33:35and come above federal tax liens. So,

33:38that's good news.

33:39Um police special separation allowance,

33:42which is effective immediately. There's

33:44changes under our statute that affect

33:46the calculation eligibility requirements

33:48for qualifying law enforcement officers,

33:50particularly officers who reached 30

33:51years of service before the age of 62.

33:54So, I'll work with Chief and HR to make

33:56sure all of that is in effect correct.

33:59Immigration and sanctuary policies

34:01effective now, a municipality that

34:03violates North Carolina restrictions on

34:05sanctuary policies may waive

34:07governmental immunity under

34:09circumstances specified under the new

34:11law. So, I'll give you guys additional

34:12information on that as well. And then

34:15the other area I thought was important

34:16for you guys are economic development

34:18incentive districts. For tax years

34:21beginning July 1st, 2027,

34:24Thomasville have a new economic

34:25development tool allowing qualifying

34:28builder inventory with an improved

34:29incentive district to receive a 90%

34:32property tax valuation exclusion. And so

34:36I will provide you guys with additional

34:37information related to that as well. But

34:40those are the key pieces and takeaway

34:42from these year from this year's

34:44um new laws, and of course I will expand

34:46upon that.

34:48Peyton's over there just

34:50>> Chomping at the bit.

34:51>> The other thing to point out too, again,

34:53I know I talked about this at briefing I

34:55think as well or last council meeting.

34:57If I'm hot,

34:58most people are dying in this heat,

35:00okay? And it was hot. I was hot. So um

35:03please, please, please check on our

35:05elderly and our shut-ins. Uh we're

35:07seeing an uptick with Meals on Wheels of

35:10folks that are needing additional

35:11assistance, needing fans, things of that

35:13nature. And of course, you know, if your

35:15neighbors are in need, you know, we

35:16there are resources in the community

35:18that will provide those. But so please

35:19keep a check on folks.

35:21And that's it for my report.

35:23>> Okay, thank you very much.

35:25Uh we're now down to additions uh and

35:28updates. Does anyone have anything

35:31for that?

35:34If not, I'll ask for a motion to

35:36adjourn.

35:38>> So moved.

35:39>> Is there a second? All in favor say aye.

35:41>> Aye.

35:42>> Opposed, no.

35:44We're adjourned.

36:00>> Everything is amazing.

36:02Jesus.

36:02>> I have me a trip to the candy store. It

36:05was like a candy store.

36:06>> Yeah.

36:07>> I bought a whole bag of candy.