The Monday, May 6, Carroll County Board of Supervisors meeting was packed with information, with many topics being discussed in length by the Board in addition to usual business. The first major point of business in this meeting was concerning the Board purchasing a 2013 F250 for Beat 4. Chancery Clerk, Casey Carpenter supplied Beat 4 Supervisor Claude Fluker with three quotes, Supervisor Fluker motioning to accept the lowest in the amount of $13,000 which was seconded by Beat 3 Supervisor Dill Tucker.
“The reason I’m doing this is because USDA has taken away Beat 4’s status for a 75 percent to 25 percent match. The reason it is being taken away is because during the census, people did not fill out their census. So, right now, we’re having to buy everything. Spend taxpayer money on everything, with no help from the Federal government. So that is the reason I’m going the route I’m going,” Supervisor Fluker clarified. “I need this truck to pull my little excavator around,” he explained the necessity of the vehicle to Beat 4’s infrastructure work.
The next major point of discussion was concerning tire disposal areas within the county. Clerk Carpenter stated that the Board would need to have fencing and sign-in sheets put up at each site to deter unauthorized dumping. Beat 3 Supervisor Tucker motioned to close Beat 3 and 2 tire disposal sites, seconded by Beat 2 Supervisor Josh Hurst. Beat 5 Supervisor Randy Browning aired his concerns about the storage trailer at the Beat 5 site, requesting consideration for repairing the trailer or removing it and replacing it with a new building for containing the tires.
Seemingly the most pressing point of discussion for the meeting was brought before the Board by Sheriff Clint Walker concerning a public safety issue involving the lack of ordinance for policing clubs and roadhouses.
Sheriff Walker explained the situation which gave rise to his concerns, stating, “In our county, the last couple of weeks, we had a restaurant in the county that rented itself out.”
He explained that the restaurant utilized Facebook to gather interest which resulted in, according to his estimate, over 200 individuals from within the area as well as nonresidents from neighboring states. The dense crowd turn-out caused trouble for the Carroll County Sheriff’s Deputies who responded to issues in the area all night Saturday.
“From around 9 o’clock to 3 o’clock they were back-to-back doing their best to diffuse stuff and keep law and order, but it’s a public issue all around,” Sheriff Walker spoke.
He presented the Board with an ordinance from Clay County as a reference for what he was suggesting being put in place in Carroll County to protect the residents.
“We just need something in place to control this. We had a homicide recently at a little club here in the county,” Sheriff Walker voiced his concerns.
Board Attorney Horan discussed the legality of passing an ordinance for the county, his only concern being an issue of pre-existing or ensuing municipal ordinances taking precedence over a county-imposed ordinance. Sheriff Walker also stated that Vaiden officials have requested assistance from Carroll County in addressing the issue.
“Thiers [Clay County’s ordinance] came as the result of about four homicides, so we want something as the result of about one homicide,” Sheriff Walker noted. “Don’t wait till it’s three or four.”
In other business, the Board:
- Approved the minutes for all April meetings (1, 15, 19, & 29).
- Approved the USDA notice of grant and agreement award for County Roads 172, 231, 104, 105, and 115.
- l Accepted to pay the county credit card bill in the amount of $1,852.85 and a Tractor Supply bill in the amount of $469.98 for Beat 5.
- Approved new 2024 Homestead Exemption Applications, of which there were 256 in the county.
- Agreed to spread the following items: Casey Carpenter, Clerk of Board, presented the Board the Comparative Budget for April 2024. The Carroll County Regional Correctional Facility Meal Report for the month of April 2024. Fiscal Year 2024 Bridge Posting for County Road 78. Balance sheets and financials for USDA Grants, originals delivered to NCPDD on May 1, 2024. Joe Hallman, Roshaun Daniels, and Constables Annual Financial Report. Request for Payment EMPG in the amount of $5,555.27.
- Agreed to the payment in the amount of $257.93 for the cost of 3 pairs of rubber boots for bridge crews.
- Did not accept the bids for Beat 1 Rotary Cutter HX15 Flex Wing in the amount of $2,377.77 and Beat 1 1984 Motor Grader 710A Champion in the amount of $2,577.77.
- Accepted the bid for Beat 1 John Deere 310 SG Backhoe in the amount of $6,777.77.
- Approved the transfer of funding in the amount of $216,576 from the ARPA fund to the general fund.
- Agreed to the allocation of $80,000 each for Beats 1-5 and The Sheriff’s Office.
- Moved the discussion for the MASIT Memorandum to the May 28 meeting.
- Agreed to recess until Tuesday, May 28, at 9 a.m. at the Carroll County courthouse.
