Chairman Nickelston opened the floor for public comments at 6:07 pm. The following individuals spoke during public comments: Sri Ananda Sarvasri 1060 Tyler Road Walnut Cove, NC 27052 RE: 5 years of presentations - I have made presentations here for a little over 5 years.
- Some of the new Commissioners may not be aware of all of the presentations that I have made.
- I wanted to give you a link to those presentations so that you could take a look at them.
- I have offered lots of information, and solutions to the problems facing the county.
- I think it would be fun to take a look at those solutions.
- That link is rebuildhealth.com/presentations which is my website.
- This is for anyone that wants to take a look at all of the presentations that I have made.
- It is about 50 pages of things we can do to make Stokes County happier, healthier, and greener.
- If you have any questions please feel free to contact me.
- All of my contact information is located on the presentations.
Kim Greenwood 4828 NC Hwy 89 Westfield, NC 27053 RE: Town of Walnut Cove - It is good to see everyone.
- I am here on behalf of the Town of Walnut Cove tonight and Mayor Brown is here with me.
- We just wanted to stop by and thank you all for the tremendous job you do for us.
- Mayor Brown and I were discussing last week of some of our blessings of the town.
- We are physically in good shape, and things are coming to town as we grow.
- She is one that always encourages me to thank those folks that do so much for us.
- Sometimes in government we are quick to point out the things that don't go our way but we are negligent in thanking the folks that do so much for us.
- We depend on the Stokes County Sheriff's Department for our law enforcement.
- We contract with the county Fire Marshal's office.
- Brandon does a tremendous job for us with EMS and disasters.
- I call on Shannon and Jake so much with administrative questions.
- Will Carter is here and I ask him for his help and advice on many occasions.
- As Walnut Cove grows we often need help and he has used his contacts to help us.
- We just wanted to stop and thank you all for being good neighbors and friends.
- I think this is the way government is designed and supposed to work.
- On behalf of Mayor Brown and the Commissioners in Walnut Cove we hope you know you have a friend in Walnut Cove and we look forward to many more years of this.
Andy Stevens 157 Old Garner Drive King, NC 27021 RE: Conceal Carry Rights I am here tonight to speak up for the Constitutional Rights of Stokes County government employees, and as this pertains to gun rights, officially stating the views of both Grass Roots North Carolina (GRNC.org) and Gun Owners of America, two "No Compromise" Gun Rights Organizations and where I hold leadership roles in each. I wish to address the perceived hesitation of this Board to acknowledge that just over thirteen months ago Stokes County Commissioners, with the largest crowd in recent memory, and by a unanimous Resolution declared our County to be a 2nd Amendment Sanctuary County. Several of you sitting Commissioners voted that night to make it so. Yet since that time, we see the resolve to put words into action appear to be lacking. The Town of Danbury for example, the very seat of Stokes County, has established itself as a gunfire free zone and Walnut Cove seems poised to move in this very direction tomorrow night. Heck, just a few months ago, right here from the dais of the Commissioner's bench we heard rumblings of enacting a county-wide firearms discharge ordinance. Thankfully, that effort finally, quietly, was kicked to the curb. Tonight, this Board has scheduled yet another round of discussion over a potential limitation of one's 2nd Amendment Right to bear arms. Making a group of citizens and residents potential defenseless, 2nd class serfs. Enough already! Kick this one to the curb, too! Are we not a 2nd Amendment Sanctuary County? Should you need some reassuring facts to comfort you in rendering the correct decision take succor in these: Statistically, concealed carry permit holders as a group are more law abiding 'than those employed by law enforcement. From a safety standpoint about "accidents"; well, having to holster, unholster, or leave a firearm unattended whether in a vehicle, a desk drawer, or a purse increases the risk of an accidental discharge or theft. The safest, most secure location for one's firearm is on their person. All the time. "Magic Signs" placed on doors or words on paper do NOT prevent malcontents, miscreants, and sociopaths from carrying out their diabolical deeds on the innocent and unsuspecting. Safety in such places is a hopeless myth. The beauty of unrestricted lawful concealed carry is the uncertainty it certainly provides. This guaranteed uncertainty/certainty translates to safety for all. The flock is protected by invisible sheepdogs who blend in without notice by those who might do harm to others in the group. Finally, millions of North Carolinians lawfully possess firearms and the number of Citizens possessing valid Concealed Carry Permits in our State now approaches 800,000. Nationally, over eight million citizens bought their FIRST firearm in the last year, too. Look around in any public gathering and you can expect no less than one in eight to be discreetly armed. Stokes County, as both our former and current Sheriffs can tell you, has more than its fair share of gun owners and concealed carry permit holders. We are a well-armed, freedom loving bunch. I'll be in Raleigh tomorrow morning encouraging our State legislators to move forward with legislation already advancing gun rights for all. One Senate Bill to protect worshipers in their churches has already been passed to the House for consideration and action. Additionally, I expect the filing of a Concealed Carry Constitutional Amendment to the North Carolina State Constitution to take place soon. In North Carolina, we are advancing gun rights, not further restricting or taking them away. So tonight, please put an end to this matter, move it to the Action Agenda and unanimously affirm Stokes County employees are NOT second class, defenseless citizens while in the employ of Stokes County Government. Stephen James 102 Kellystone Drive Apt. 22 King, NC 27021 RE: General Concern - Some of you don't know me real well.
- Rick does and Sonya does.
- You don't know what kind of fights I can put up but I can promise you it is going to be a big one.
- What happened Saturday at the Stokes County GOP Convention (Chairman Nickelston stopped Public Comments to inquire if the comments had anything to do with county business)
Mr. James stated that he believed so due to two of you are up there. Chairman Nickelston reminded Mr. James that comments could not be of a political nature. After some discussion and a consensus of the Board Mr. James was allowed to continue his comments. - During the election cycle this year I was at Poplar Springs pretty much for long hours everyday helping those that were running.
- I got a thank you from Sonya and a thank you from Wayne Barneycastle and I spent a lot of hours out there.
- What I saw on Saturday was absolutely a travesty in this county.
- When a floor is open to nominations it should be open to nominations completely.
- There was one nomination made by Mr. Ronnie Mendenhall that was seconded by Andy Nickelston and a vote was taken.
- That is not the way that meetings are supposed to be run and if you two guys don't know that maybe you don't need to have the positions that you have.
- I can promise you come the next election I will do everything I can to see that you Ronnie Mendenhall and you Andy Nickelston are off this Board.
(County Attorney Browder stopped Mr. James public comments due to the political nature) With no other individuals signed up for public comments Chairman Nickelston closed the floor for public comments at 6:19 pm. |