The Board of Commissioners of the County of Stokes, State of North Carolina, met for a Regular Meeting in the Stokes County Administration Building in the Commissioners Chambers located in Danbury, North Carolina on Monday November 22, 2021 at 2:00 pm with the following members present:

Board of Commissioners Present: Chairman Andy Nickelston, Vice Chairman Sonya Cox, Commissioner Ronnie Mendenhall, and Commissioner Rick Morris

County Administration Present: Interim County Manager Shannon Shaver, Assistant County Manager/Clerk to the Board Amber Brown, County Attorney Ty Browder, and Finance Director Julia Edwards

Absent: Commissioner Wayne Barneycastle

Chairman Nickelston called the Regular Meeting of the Board of Commissioners to order.

Vice Chair Cox delivered the Invocation.

Chairman Nickelston led the Board in the Pledge of Allegiance and invited those in attendance to join.

Chairman Nickelston opened the floor for Public Comments at 2:04 pm.

The following spoke during Public Comments:

Bob Ritter 

1055 Cardinal Lane

Walnut Cove, NC 27052

RE: Concerns about water tower locations for Danbury/Meadows Water System Interconnection Project. 

Brad Chandler 

1457 Forrest Road

Westfield, NC 27053

RE: Proposed contract for County Manager. 

Larry Barger

1459 Bradley Road

Pinnacle, NC 27043

RE: Proposed contract for County Manager and use of County funds. 

Rob Wall

1182 Dunlap Road 

Madison, NC 27025

RE: Proposed contract for County Manager. 

With no other individuals signed up to speak Chairman Nickelston closed the floor for Public Comments at 2:20 pm. 

Commissioner Morris commented: 

• Three things I'd like to mention first.
• First, I serve as Chair of the Board of Trustees for the hospital and the Hospital Operations Committee. 
• We got it validated this past week that we are going to receive 10 million dollars in the State budget for renovations and repair of our hospital up here. 
• Hopefully, it can be leveraged to get more money. 
• The Hospital Operations Committee is going to putting on some town hall meetings. 
• It was on this agenda or the Board of Trustees agenda one recently where this group approved presentations. 
• They are going to be held out and around the county, will be advertised, and they will have yellow signs up warning people that those are going to occur. 
• The purpose of those is to give information to the community on what's going on with the hospital and medical services and then to solicit feedback from the community on what they would like to see in the future on medical services in the county. 
• We hope to gather all of that information and have it available for our next Board of Trustees meeting to give feedback to the commissioners and for their role as trustees. 
• We ask you and encourage you to come to the one that's in your community. 
• Secondly, our Board which is also the Board of Trustees, has interest in the vaccine mandate that's going on at the hospital. I thought I'd give a quick update on that. 
• Since the last meeting where Pam Tillman gave an update, not a lot has changed. They developed their policy which they are required to do which includes a medical and religious exemption process.
• All the hospitals in North Carolina or maybe nationally are doing calls today with the Center for Medicaid and Medicare Services and the Nursing Home Association to get further guidance on implementing those mandates. 
  
• So we should hopefully have some more updated information on that for the next Board of Trustees meeting which will be prior to our next regular commissioner meeting in December. 
• The last thing I had was I saw a U.S. attorney talking on TV the other day and he made a comment. 
• I think there were comments going on either at a commissioner meeting or a school system in another state. 
• He made a comment that it was unconstitutional to require the speakers to give their home address.
• I'd like to ask our attorney to check into that and see if there's any validity to that or not. 
• If it is, we may need to change our process a little bit. 
• Welcome everybody that's here. 

Commissioner Mendenhall commented: 

• Welcome everybody for coming out and participating in our governmental process. 
• Thank you for being here today and for anyone that is watching livestream, I also want to say welcome to you. 

Vice Chair Cox commented:

• I'd like to thank everybody for being here today. 
• I wish everybody a Happy Thanksgiving this week. 
• I hope everybody was able to find their turkeys and got a good deal on them and didn't get price gauged. 
• I'd like to thank Kyle Hall publicly for the State Budget and the money that is coming to Stokes County. 
• Commissioner Morris alluded to just part of what we're getting money in there for. 
• We're getting money for the water project in Danbury, connection of the Meadows Water Project, the sewer project for King. 
• There's a lot of stuff in there, around 60 million dollars coming to Stokes County, so that's huge. 
• We're planning to make the best of it, maybe with this RFP we're going to talk about for Broadband.
• Hopefully, we can start leveraging all of that money that's available from the state, federal, and local to make that happen for the rural areas. 
• I'd like to thank Mr. Wall for his service, we appreciate the comments that you had. 
  
• As a matter of fact, when we hired Amber we had a veteran that applied and we interviewed him.
• He was a great candidate. Wasn't quite the fit for that job but we all said if we had anything we could utilize him for we encouraged him to keep applying for other things. 
• He did a great job and had a great interview, so hopefully, you'll have the same success. 
• The fact that you served our country and anybody that does, that ranks really high with me and I really appreciate that. 

Chairman Nickelston commented: 

• It's good to see everybody here today and that's watching online. 
• I really encourage you to get your info from these meetings here and that's why we're having livestream for those that can't make it.
• You don't have to take time from work and can just watch it anytime you want to. 
• I do share with what Commissioner Cox said about our veterans. 
• Thank you all for your service, I have high respect for each and every one of you. 
• It got addressed a minute ago by a comment about a meeting that happened two weeks ago about the way I treated an administrator.
• If you go back and watch that meeting, the only thing it was was questions because it was clarifying what a lot of people in the community was hearing. 
• Everything that got answered in that meeting got contradicted, so that's being more transparent. 
• That's exactly what the whole point of that meeting there was.
• There was no one who was rude. There was no one who got angry, it was just questions asked and questions answered. 
• What was more concerning that meeting was about the employees. 
• Everybody should have their right to be vaccinated or to not be vaccinated, that's part of being in America. 
• When you start to come down and be short on employees, including this hospital, I fear what might happen if they don't get the religious exemption. 
• I fear we're in a real bad shape if they don't get that exemption. 
• With that, I'm going to read something here just real quick that God had laid on my heart. 
• With the recent events that have happened, a lot of lies have been spread. 
• For those that don't follow the word of God: Psalms 101:7 "He who works in deceit shall not dwell in my house; He who tells lies shall not continue in my presence". 
• That's some strong words. 
• Deceit being deliberate and concealing of the truth, dishonesty, and trickery. Sounds a lot like Washington, DC., CNN, CNBC, and many other things including Facebook. 
• This is why our country is in the shape it's in right now. 
• When you open up your eyes, it's all around us. I choose to live in the presence of God. 
• Am I perfect? No. None of us are. The Bible is very clear on that. 
• Proverbs 12:17 tells us that "Whoever speaks the truth shall give honest evidence, but a false witness utters in deceit". 
• In my house, we turned off the news over a year ago. I have done away with the Facebook App. I will not look at lies. I will not follow lies and I will not fight a lie. A lie will not survive. 
• Instead, we turned our energy towards taking a class called Kineo MTC which helps you study the Bible. 
• If anyone wants the information, I'll be glad to give it to you. It's a good thing. 
• With my closing comments before I turn it over to our County Manager. Proverbs 6 tells us that there are six things that the Lord hates, seven things that are detestable to him. 
• Let me share four of these with you
  • 1) a lying tongue. Proverbs 18:21 - we are warned that a lie and death are in the power of the tongue. When we lie, we trample on the greater indignity that God is placing on humans. 
  • 2) a heart that deceives wicked schemes
  • 3) a false witness who pours out lies 
  • 4) a person who stirs up conflict in the community. The climax of the weaknesses and the one who purposefully causes division. The kind of conflict that is done in secret, done by one who won't appeal through proper channels and does not submit to proper authority. It is the one who stirs up conflict for the sole purpose of stirring up conflict. 
• In those comments, I'll ask that you get your information right here. 
• Each and every one of us has a phone number that is listed. We have an email and I live right here in this county. 
• I'm not very hard to find. Most of the time just be looking for five kids attached to me and you'll find me. 

Interim County Manager Shannon Shaver commented: 

• Welcome to everybody here, it's nice to everybody here today. 
• If the Board is okay with it, I have a few things that I'd like to address that were spoke about. 
• First of all to our gentleman who spoke earlier, thank you for your service. My dad is a veteran and I hold that in high regard and I appreciate you being here today. 
• I think everybody in this room I know in one way or another. 
• Many of you in the past have asked me me for information, I think I've always been able to provide you with what you needed.
• For Mr. Barger, if you want to contact me at anytime I'll be glad to go over with you anything that you may have information about. 
• I've lived in Stokes County my whole life, I really care about what happens in our county. 
• I want the best person possible to be in every job that we have. 
• I truly hope that nobody would quit their job if I were the permanent County Manager. 
• I feel like I have a really good working relationship with all of our department heads and employees. 
• A lot of them have reached out to me and have said these same things. 
• That being said, it doesn't matter to me how we do the process, if it's posted or if it's what anybody wants to do. 
• Our former County Manager who retired in August of this year was appointed in June of 2018 with that same exact contract other than the five year part. 
• That part doesn't matter to me, if it's one year, two year, three years and you can take out the line seven. I'm not going to do anything that's going to want anybody to fire me for no cause.
• If I do something wrong, by all means fire me. I don't think anyone is going to want to fire me just because they don't like me. 
• I don't have an issue with any of those things not being in there. 
• I'm just gonna work my hardest and try my best to make it as good as it can be. 
• I think since I've been here in both of these jobs, I kind of have done them both. 
• Amber and I have a good working relationship. We're still working on some training and things but she's doing a good job. 
• Since I've been here, we started that digital agenda system and I think everybody enjoys that. That was something that we didn't have before and that I put in place. Our Board uses that and the community is able to look at it and see the information for the meetings and that is a positive thing.
• I'm working closely with other departments and department heads on their issues and right now I'm really focusing on Animal Control and their constraint with the shelter and doing the shelter committee. 
• All the CARES Act funding from last year that we had all the strenuous reporting with and nonprofit business programs. Now we're dealing with the ARPA funding as well that Julia and I and Amber and other staff have been working on for that. 
• I'd like to see some of these projects to completion and hopefully do what's good for Stokes County. 
• In the end, it's up to our Board and what they decide to do. I'm willing to keep working here as interim, permanent, somewhere else, whichever. 
• I just want to see Stokes County go forward and be prosperous in the future. 

Chairman Nickelston asked if any Board members had a conflict of interest with any of the items presented on the agenda for the meeting or one that could be perceived as a conflict of interest. 

With no commissioners stating any conflicts of interest, the meeting continued. 

All attachments presented on the Agenda are available in the attachments of the Agenda on the County Website and are available upon request from the Clerk, with the exception of the minutes approved which are located on the County Website under the minutes tab.

All attachments presented on the Agenda are available in the attachments of the Agenda on the County Website and are available upon request from the Clerk, with the exception of the minutes approved which are located on the County Website under the minutes tab.

Chairman Nickelston turned the floor over to Joan Sherif, Director of the Northwestern Regional Library.

Ms. Sherif presented updates to the Board about the Northwestern Regional Library and introduced the librarians from around the County. Danbury Librarian Lisa Lawless, King Librarian Gretchen Parker, and Walnut Cove Librarian Christine Boles all presented updates and information about their respective libraries. 

After some discussion, the Board moved on to the Discussion Agenda. 

All attachments presented on the Agenda are available in the attachments of the Agenda on the County Website and are available upon request from the Clerk, with the exception of the minutes approved which are located on the County Website under the minutes tab.

Chairman Nickelston turned the floor over to Tax Administrator Richard Brim. 

Tax Administrator Richard Brim presented the following to the Board: 

1.  Monthly Reports for the month of October 2021.

     a.  Tax Collections Status Report FY 2021-2022.    

     b.  Real and Personal Releases less than $100.00 per N.C.G.S. 105-381(b).

     c.  Real and Personal Refunds less than $100.00 per N.C.G.S. 105-381(b).

 2.  Real and Personal Releases more than $100.00.

 3.  Real and Personal Refunds more than $100.00.

 4.  Late Applications for Elderly Exemptions.

Chairman Nickelston opened the floor for any discussion/questions/comments.

With full consensus of the Board, the below items were moved to the Consent Agenda for the December 13, 2021 Board of Commissioners Meeting: 

 1.  Real and Personal Releases more than $100.00.

 2.  Real and Personal Refunds more than $100.00.

 3.  Late Applications for Elderly Exemptions.

Chairman Nickelston turned the floor over to Soil and Water Conservation Director Janice Pack.

Director Janice Pack presented a request to approve the newly revised Voluntary Agriculture District ordinance and briefly went over some of the changes made. 

Chairman Nickelston opened the floor for any discussion/questions/comments.

After some discussion, this item was moved to the Action Agenda for the December 13, 2021 Board of Commissioners Meeting. 

Chairman Nickelston turned the floor over to Assistant County Manager/Clerk to the Board Amber Brown. 

Brown presented a request to update the risk management job descriptions. While working on creating an updated Risk Management Plan for the County, it was discovered that the two main positions dealing with risk management needed to be updated to reflect accurate involvement. The two positions being updated were Assistant HR Director/Risk Management Coordinator and Administrative Aide: Fire Marshal. The Mercer group worked with Administration to make the necessary updates. Both of the descriptions now reflect the duties and responsibilities pertaining to risk management that were not included in the current descriptions. As the employee in the Administrative Aide: Fire Marshal position does a majority of the risk management duties not currently reflected in their description, the title and pay grade have been slightly altered to make it accurate and fair. 

Chairman Nickelston opened the floor for any discussion/questions/comments.

After some discussion, this item was moved to the Action Agenda for the December 13, 2021 Board of Commissioners Meeting. 

Chairman Nickelston turned the floor over to Interim County Manager Shannon Shaver. 

County Manager Shaver presented a request to the Board for approval of a lease with United Fund of Stokes County. The United Fund of Stokes requested to rent a vacant room in the bottom of the old school building to use for office space due to their current space no longer being available for rent. A lease agreement was drawn up by County Attorney Browder detailing all of the specifics.

Chairman Nickelston opened the floor for any discussion/questions/comments.

After some discussion, this item was moved to the Action Agenda for the December 13, 2021 Board of Commissioners Meeting. 

Chairman Nickelston turned the floor over to Assistant County Manager/Clerk to the Board Amber Brown.

Brown presented a request from Kathy Payne, the Executive Director of YVEDDI. Director Payne requested that the Stokes County appointments for the YVEDDI Board be revisited since the two current appointees were unable to continue serving on the Board. The current appointees representing Stokes were Commissioner Barneycastle and Chairman Nickelston. To fill these positions, two more commissioners needed to be appointed or designees appointed that were chosen by the commissioners to represent Stokes. However, the designees must work in a public agency in the County.

Chairman Nickelston opened the floor for any discussion/questions/comments.

The Board recommended asking Commissioner Barneycastle to continue serving on the Board since he would retire soon and have more spare time to attend these meetings. They also requested inquiring with Director Payne about the possibility of virtual attendance for YVEDDI Board meetings to free up more commissioners who would be able to attend. 

After some discussion, this item was moved back to the Discussion Agenda for the December 13, 2021 Board of Commissioners Meeting. 

Chairman Nickelston turned the floor over to Interim County Manager Shannon Shaver. 

Shaver presented a draft RFP on Wireless and Fiber Infrastructure for review, discussion, and input from the Board. 

Chairman Nickelston opened the floor for any discussion/questions/comments.

After some discussion and recommended changes to the RFP, this item was moved to the Action Agenda for today's Board of Commissioners Meeting.

Chairman Nickelston turned the floor over to Interim County Manager Shannon Shaver. 

Shaver requested approval for changing the format for the County Christmas Luncheon this year due to COVID still being a problem. In years past, all departments gathered together at one event for a lunch that was catered. Because of the continued presence of COVID, Shaver recommended that each department head organize their own Christmas Lunch in whatever manner they wanted to with the County covering costs set at a maximum of $15 per person. 

Chairman Nickelston opened the floor for any discussion/questions/comments.

After some discussion and with full consensus, the Board agreed to the individual department Christmas lunch and approved of the $15 per person limit for cost. 

All attachments presented on the Agenda are available in the attachments of the Agenda on the County Website and are available upon request from the Clerk, with the exception of the minutes approved which are located on the County Website under the minutes tab.

At the last meeting, the consensus of the Board was to nominate Commissioner Sonya Cox and DSS Director Stacey Elmes to the VAYA Regional Board. 

Chairman Nickelston opened the floor for any further nominations.

Commissioner Mendenhall moved to close the floor for nominations. 

Commissioner Morris seconded the motion. The motion Passed. 

Absent: Barneycastle 

Chairman Nickelston polled the Board, each commissioner present nominated Sonya Cox and Stacey Elmes to serve on the VAYA Regional Board for Stokes County. 

Chairman Nickelston entertained a motion on the item as presented at today's meeting. 

Chairman Nickelston entertained a motion on the item as presented at today's meeting. 

Chairman Nickelston entertained a motion on the item as presented at today's meeting. 

Chairman Nickelston entertained a motion on the item as presented at today's meeting. 

Chairman Nickelston entertained a motion on the item as presented at today's meeting. 

With no further business to come before the Board, Chairman Nickelston entertained a motion to adjourn.