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083021 Federal Recovery Funds August 30, 2021 — Special Meeting — Federal Recovery Funds The Randolph County Board of Commissioners met in special session at 5:00 p.m. in the 1909 Randolph County Historic Courthouse Meeting Room, 145 Worth Street, Asheboro, NC. Chairman Darrell Frye, Vice-Chairman David Allen, Commissioner Kenny Kidd, Commissioner Maxton McDowell, and Commissioner Hope Haywood were present. Also present were County Manager Hal Johnson, Assistant County Manager/Finance Officer Will Massie, County Attorney Ben Morgan, Deputy Clerk to the Board Sarah Pack, and Clerk to the Board Dana Crisco. The meeting was livestreamed on Facebook and Youtube. Chairman Frye called the meeting to order and thanked audience members for their attendance. He explained the purpose of the Recovery Funds. Sixteen requests are being heard at this meeting. Chairman Frye explained the procedures for hearing requests. County Manager Hal Johnson said that The American Rescue Plan was passed by Congress and signed into law on March 11, 2021. This legislation was created to assist local communities to recover from the negative impacts of the coronavirus pandemic. Randolph County government has been allocated $27,905,631 in Recovery Funds. The money will be distributed in two installments with the final distribution no earlier than May of 2022. Funds must be committed by December 2024. Encumbered funds can be used through December 2026. Each municipality in Randolph County has also been awarded Federal Recovery Funds based on population. Recovery Funds available to our municipalities total $15,900,000. The total combined amount allotted to Randolph County and its municipalities is $42,683,330. The U.S. Treasury Department has provided Interim Rule Guidance on the use of Recovery Funds. Final Rule Guidance is expected to be provided by the Treasury Department in the next month. There are many Federal Guidelines and restrictions that must be followed for use of this Recovery Funds. Funds must be used to address negative effects of the pandemic. The State of North Carolina has also received Federal Recovery Funds. One of the challenges facing local governments will be to wait upon State action concerning the use of their funds so that they ensure maximum impact of project funding. Tonight’s meeting is an opportunity for our Board of County Commissioners to receive feedback from the community, including what are the community’s needs, what projects and funding requests would address these needs, what projects and funding would truly be transformational for Randolph County, and to give the County Commissioners options as they move forward. Family Crisis Center Dare Spicer, Executive Director of Randolph County Family Crisis Center, said that Emmy’s House is a children’s advocacy center. Referrals have increased by 67%. While children were not in school, fewer referrals were received. Now that children are back in school, there has been a spike in referrals. The requested funds would be for a nurse practitioner and a forensic interviewer. Without additional help, current staff will not be able to keep up with referrals and there would be a waiting period for children to be seen. There could be detrimental effects on the child and the 8/30/21 offender would still be at large possibly preying on other children. It is crucial that assistance is received. This spike is in direct correlation with the pandemic. Commissioner Haywood asked if Emmy’s House currently contracts with local physicians. Ms. Spicer said yes, but the availability is scarce. Commissioner Haywood asked if the contracting will continue. Ms. Spicer said a contract will be maintained with one physician as needed, but there will be a full-time staff physician. Chairman Frye asked if the money would support a full-time medical provider and Ms. Spicer said yes. Vice-Chairman Allen asked the duration that this money would support the requested position. Ms. Spicer answered two years. This is a short-term response to the critical pandemic issue, but the plan is sustainable. Randolph Arts Guild Grace Moffitt, Arts Guild Board of Directors representative, said the COVID-19 pandemic has been devastating, especially for arts programming. The Arts Guild is the only arts organization in the county that advocates for all forms of art. Their request is to fund a full-time program manager for two years, which would allow them to return to pre-pandemic programming. Programming will be accessible to all citizens in their communities. Many events will be planned in collaboration with community programs that appeal to all demographics. Both in-person and virtual experiences will be available. Chairman Frye asked if the request included benefits for the position and Ms. Moffitt said yes. He asked if requests will be made of other entities. Ms. Moffitt said yes but to this point they have not received any additional funds. Vice-Chairman Allen asked if there will be funding in two years to maintain the position and Ms. Moffitt said with programming ramping up, the position would be sustainable. Asheboro Randolph Chamber Linda Brown, President of the Asheboro-Randolph Chamber of Commerce, said that COVID- 19 has caused change in the community; one-hundred eleven members were lost in 2020, forty businesses closed, thirty-five said resources were too tight to continue membership, twenty-four relocated outside the county, twelve businesses merged, and forty-five new members joined. This illustrates the impact COVID-19 had on small business. There has been a 62.5% increase in new business startups in 2020. These are people who have been displaced from their jobs due to the pandemic. New businesses are trying to establish themselves and current businesses are trying to reinvent themselves. Many of these businesses come to the Randolph Community College (RCC) Small Business Center, VentureAsheboro, and the Chamber. The Business Gym was established to be a learning portal open to everyone with on-demand training. Ms. Brown gave an overview of The Business Gym’s website. There will be extensive resources available to everyone. The idea is to make this a free service. This is a great way for the Board of Commissioners to show support for small business. 8/30/21 Vice-Chairman Allen asked who is providing the content. Ms. Brown said local experts will provide content of all types. Content will be geared towards business “in the now.” Content will be available on demand with videos typically five to eight minutes long. There will also be downloadable content. Commissioner Haywood said the application shows question marks next to RCC’s Small Business Center. Ms. Brown said she wasn’t sure what dollar amount to list, but they will be providing content. The Chamber has communicated with the City of Asheboro about an extension of this program as well. Communities in Schools Paula Owens, Executive Director of Communities in Schools, said two success coaches are being requested who will be hired, trained, and deployed by Communities in Schools to help mitigate the impact of COVID-19 in schools. She has met with the principals of Asheboro High School and Southeast Randolph Middle School who have compelling data suggesting that these positions would be valuable. The success coaches will be able to build relationships with students to facilitate success. All work is completed via referrals. Ms. Owens explained the process by which success coaches would work with students and how progress will be measured. Many demographics of students have been impacted by COVID-19. Ms. Owens gave data showing the changes in student performance in 2020. Communities in Schools is ready to help but to do that, more staff is needed. Chairman Frye said these issues are likely in more than just two schools. Ms. Owens said Asheboro High School has been looked at for several years. Demographics are changing and students need help transitioning between virtual and in-person learning. Chairman Frye asked if the positions would be expected to be permanent. Ms. Owens said ideally, they would be, but more funding would need to be obtained in the future. Commissioner Haywood asked what the qualifications for success coaches would be. Ms. Owens said qualifications would be looked at very carefully. Applicants may have varied backgrounds. Chairman Frye asked if homelife factors are contributing to difficulties students face. Ms. Owens said often parent engagement is a challenge. There are already programs in place that involve parent contact. Partnership for Children Lisa Hayworth, Executive Director of Partnership for Children, said the pandemic has had serious consequences on children. Overdoses, neglect, and abuse increased in 2020. Programs supporting children are filled to capacity. The number of children in foster care has skyrocketed, as has the number of child abuse cases. Ross Holt, Public Library Director, said that library users have faced challenges and library staff have encountered library users who need help. The library is a trusted institution and is a 8/30/21 “safe place” that provides help, resources, and support. Library staff can support users but the scope of their reach doesn’t generally extend beyond the walls of the library. A social worker in the library would be beneficial to the community as an extension of the assistance the library can provide. Social workers can help with many forms of assistance and can follow through and manage cases. They can identify people in crisis and can forge partnerships in the community. Social workers can also train library staff to help with things like mental health first aid and human trafficking awareness. This is an accessible “wellness program.” Ms. Hayworth said ultimately, they’d like to see fewer children in the foster care system. She introduced a parent, Cheri Pemberton. Ms. Pemberton said people feel safe and secure in libraries. This program is community based and takes away the stigma behind social work. Nobody should feel “less than” just because they need help. Families may not know where to turn for help. This program will help citizens navigate challenges with support to eliminate confusion. She thanked the Board for considering the application. Chairman Frye asked if the requested amount includes three years of funding. Ms. Hayworth said yes, that includes funding in full. It will take three years to see the full results of this program. These staff will be integrated into the library environment. Chairman Frye asked if social workers would rotate libraries. Ms. Hayworth said yes; two social workers will work at two libraries each and the third would handle three libraries. Commissioner Haywood said she was surprised at the high percentage of adults who do not have a high school diploma. She appreciates the accessibility of this program to the community. This is a chance to break the cycle. Chairman Frye asked how these social workers are different from the workers at Social Services. Ms. Hayworth said these workers are the same; social work degrees are required and these workers would be trained to work specifically with children. Ms. Pemberton said there are children raising children; reaching into the community like this will improve accessibility especially for those who may not have the ability to get to the Social Services office. Chairman Frye asked if they partner with Social Services. Ms. Hayworth said yes. Commissioner McDowell asked which entities partnered in this application. Ms. Hayworth said Public Health, Social Services, the Public Library, and the Partnership for Children. Town of Franklinville Mac Whatley, Franklinville Commissioner, said the Franklinville Library is the oldest public library in Randolph County. The library has been housed in a variety of places and is currently on the second floor of the Town Hall. The building was renovated in 1983 but is still not accessible to those with disabilities. The library needs a building that is larger and more accessible for regional users. This library serves ten percent of county library users. The 2014 Strategic Plan referred to the library as “cramped” among other descriptive imagery. 8/30/21 Chairman Frye asked how current the cost estimate is. Mr. Whatley said the estimate is current. The biggest concern is borrowing power. Chairman Frye asked if there was a combination of potential funding sources for the remainder of the needed funds. Mr. Whatley said yes but additional funding will be needed. Vice-Chairman Allen asked if the Town of Franklinville owned the land where the library would be built. Mr. Whatley said yes and an environmental impact study has been completed. Commissioner Haywood said it seems that libraries can benefit students needing virtual instruction who may have broadband or technology issues. Mr. Whatley said yes, digital learning is the wave of the future. With enough space, they would provide this support. Chairman Frye asked if additional staff would be needed. Mr. Whatley said it depends; there will be community meeting rooms that won’t need additional staff. Additional people would be needed, but the library would be able to provide service for additional hours. Tourism Development Authority Amber Scarlett, Tourism Authority Director, said tourism has been the hardest hit industry in the United States due to the pandemic. There was a $500 billion loss in tourism in 2019. She gave statistics regarding the effect of the pandemic on the country’s economy. Tax revenues in Randolph County dropped. Hospitality staff have faced numerous challenges and tourism partners are working hard to overcome financial difficulties caused by the pandemic. Funding would provide for staff replacement; full-time employees dropped from six to two during the pandemic. More staff is needed to increase travel to and within Randolph County. Funding would also provide for sponsorship support. The pandemic forced denial of requests from tourism partners in 2020. Marketing initiatives would be increased to accommodate for those that were put off during the pandemic. This would draw content creators which would increase tourism dollars. Personal protective equipment promotional items can also be used at events and distributed in the community. Chairman Frye asked if there is an increase in revenues and will that be sufficient to return to normal. Ms. Scarlett said that there has been an increase. Vice-Chairman Allen asked how long the funding would support these initiatives. Ms. Scarlett said two years. Town of Liberty Warren Dixon, Local Historian, said funds are requested to build a museum to bring tourism dollars and field trip opportunities to Liberty. This is not a new project; it has been ongoing since 2018. The current building, which was donated, is not suitable for a museum for a variety of reasons. Mr. Dixon said artifacts are currently being stored in numerous places and a museum is needed to protect and preserve these pieces of our heritage. Of the 21 merchants surveyed in Liberty, two went out of business, three were deemed essential, two were closed for the duration of the 2020 year, fourteen were closed for at least several months, and the senior centers were closed for most of the year. The museum would draw tourism dollars which would have a positive 8/30/21 impact on surrounding businesses. $50,000 will be donated by a community partner, Friends of the Patterson Cottage, to renovate the donated hardware store building. Vice-Chairman Allen asked what the museum hours would be. Mr. Dixon said at least every Saturday of the year and possibly special occasions. Volunteers may be utilized as well. Commissioner Haywood said using volunteers would be very successful. Randolph Heritage Conservancy Mac Whatley, Local Historian, said Randolph County has a special place in history when it comes to textile mills. The mills have had a major impact on the history and development of the county. He thanked senator Jerry Tillman for pushing a bill for a feasibility study for a textile museum. The collection of artifacts from the American Textile History Museum includes machines from the 1780s to the 1970s built in America. Mr. Whatley showed a plaque from the American Society of Mechanical Engineers designating the American Textile History Museum as a landmark. There is no other collection of American machinery like this one, making it internationally significant. The COVID-19 pandemic has delayed and disrupted the progress of the roof repair on the museum. The feasibility study shows that this museum will provide jobs and bring upwards of 100,000 visitors annually. Chairman Frye said the State is going through a similar process with their Recovery Act funds and each representative has been asked to supply a “wishlist.” Mr. Whatley said he was not aware of anything from our representatives. Vice-Chairman Allen asked the amount of the State allocation. Mr. Whatley said it was about $500,000. This funding request is just to get a start on the museum. There is a process to get this plan underway. City of Asheboro City of Asheboro Mayor David Smith introduced several audience members who were present to support their request for the McCrary Park renovation. This park has ties to tourism, entertainment, and quality of life in Asheboro. He introduced City Manager John Ogburn. Mr. Ogburn said tourism and restaurants were most impacted by COVID-19. He showed multiple examples of events being canceled which, in turn, impacted tourism dollars. There was a 32% decrease in hotel occupancy in 2020 compared to 2019. The hotel industry is not expected to recover until 2023 nationally. This includes tourism and business travel. Mr. Ogburn said McCrary Park is a huge tourism site in Randolph County but it needs some renovations. He showed photo renderings of the park, including proposed additions such as a field house. The primary goal is to bring more visitors to McCrary Park and area businesses. Service- oriented workers account for 25% of the county’s workforce. He showed statistics about the effect of sporting events on local economies. Each year Asheboro has hosted an American Legion regional baseball game causing every hotel room in the county has been booked. The requested 8/30/21 funds account for 20% of the projected ballpark renovation costs. This would be combined with a portion of city recovery funds. $1.1 million in charitable gifts have been received. Chairman Frye asked if the projected numbers were current. Mr. Ogburn said yes. Chairman Frye asked where the remaining funds will come from. Mr. Ogburn said the city’s cash reserves. Vice-Chairman Allen asked if the seating capacity will change. Mr. Ogburn said there will be roughly 3300 people accommodated under the new plan. The current capacity is 1400. Commissioner Kidd asked if this is solely for tourism. Mr. Ogburn said yes; the City of Asheboro is currently unable to host Legion tournaments and others that would greatly benefit the county. Commissioner Kidd asked if those events would be possible with the renovation and Mr. Ogburn said yes. Chairman Frye asked what the timeline would be. Mr. Ogburn said Phase One would need to begin immediately. This includes demolition, construction of the grandstand, and field renovations. The playing field must be completed in the off season. The phased approach would take place over three years. Mr. Ogburn thanked the Board for the relationship with the City of Asheboro. Town of Seagrove Seagrove Mayor David Fernandez said there are two projects being presented that are already in progress. The potteries were all closed last year. The two requested projects will be transformational for Seagrove and Randolph County as a whole. Seagrove is known for its pottery. These two projects will take tourism in Seagrove to the next level. Dean Lail, Chairman of the Luck’s Advisory Committee, said Luck’s Cannery is being renovated. $750,000 has already been raised for this project. Phase One is nearly complete. This investment will open access to the upper level for development. Visitors will be attracted from all over the region. This project also prevents the building from becoming derelict. A non-profit advisory board is overseeing the project and making recommendations to the Town of Seagrove. Chairman Frye asked if a request was made to the State. Mayor Fernandez said this request is for the first phase. Chairman Frye asked if the two requests were separate and Mayor Fernandez said yes. Seagrove doesn’t have much capacity for funding and this request is transformational. Sue Spencer, Head of the Historical Society for Seagrove, said thousands of visitors visit Seagrove annually to see the pottery. Many shops closed during the pandemic and many are still closed. The annual Pottery Festival will be cancelled for the second year in a row. Just as the pandemic hit, a project was undertaken to renovate the Seagrove Train Depot. This will be a welcome center, a gathering place for senior citizens, and a local history museum. The project includes renovating the original depot. Ms. Spencer gave a brief history of the depot and showed some slides of artifacts, in particular, a seal from the Seagrove Telephone Company. 8/30/21 Vice-Chairman Allen asked what renovations would be required. Ms. Spencer said the building has been moved and roofed. Restrooms will need to be built. There are no public restrooms outside of businesses in town. The platform has been expanded for event hosting. Chairman Frye asked if Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) accommodations will be considered. Mayor Fernandez said an architect was hired to work with engineers and plans have been drawn up and approved that include accommodations. Juvenile Day Reporting Center Pam Resch, Juvenile Day Reporting Center (JDRC) Director, said JDRC works to increase graduation rates, improve social skills, and prevent entry into the justice system. She described the goals of JDRC. The pandemic has impacted many community members. Youth have been faced with drastic changes that negatively impact them. JDRC has seen an increase in demand for services. Funding will allow for response to this increased demand. A substance abuse education class has been implemented due to the rising numbers of overdoses by those under 18 years of age. Programming is free and transportation is provided. Ms. Resch said that drug screens that can be completed in-house will eliminate the need for a third-party partner. Funding would allow for a clinician and increased programming. Due to virtual schooling, students are negatively impacted and the numbers of program participants has increased. Computers are needed and educators are needed after hours to help with tutoring. Family dynamics have been impacted as well. There have been increases in abuse and domestic violence calls. Funding will allow for additional staff training. There will be a one-time startup cost for an evidence-based parenting class. Classes will be expanded and will have virtual opportunities. Chairman Frye asked if the funding would be for additional staff or current staff. Ms. Resch said it will go towards training current staff. Grants from the State and fundraising will provide additional funds. Commissioner Haywood asked how many students were in tutoring. Ms. Resch said six. Chairman Frye asked how the budget was established. Ms. Resch explained the budget breakdown by year. The first year is higher due to the one-time startup costs for classes and student support. A vehicle is needed as well. Vice-Chairman Allen asked if the proposed positions are funded. Ms. Resch said the positions are funded in the County budget; this money would result in a decrease in County budgeting costs for JDRC. Cooperative Extension Kenny Sherin, Cooperative Extension Director, introduced Annie Mills, Cooperative Extension Agriculture-Horticulture Agent. Ms. Mills requested funding for a Food Systems Coordinator position. This position would work with the County and State, as well as community agencies, to 8/30/21 build a reliable food system. The pandemic exposed weak points in the food supply system. A 2019 Community Health Assessment expressly stated food security as being a major issue. Ms. Mills discussed project goals for the Food Systems Coordinator. The intended outcome is for Randolph County to be more food resilient. There will also be economic benefits and residents will have improved nutrition and food access. Chairman Frye asked if the State shared in the salary for this position and Mr. Sherin said no. Commissioner Haywood asked if Cooperative Extension has a hand in the farmer’s markets. Mr. Sherin said Cooperative Extension doesn’t run the farmer’s markets, but aids in bringing together vendors and consumers. This would include any farmer’s markets in the county. Mr. Sherin proposed a Digital Literacy and Skills Coordinator position. This initiative is already underway with work on broadband access in the county. A Digital Alliance has been established to improve access to digital resources. The pandemic exacerbated the need for digital access. Awareness is being promoted and a new ambassador will continue addressing awareness. The Skills Coordinator will help to facilitate use of digital resources. This person will help to develop skills in digital literacy. For over 100 years, Cooperative Extension has been the source of non-formal education to help people. This position will be a full-time Extension Agent position. Commissioner Haywood asked how a mobile classroom will be utilized. Mr. Sherin said it would allow them to get into the community and take computers out into the county. They can work with the library to enhance digital literacy programs and make them more accessible. Mr. Sherin said this initiative is proactive rather than reactive. Chairman Frye asked if the request includes funding for all three years and Mr. Sherin said yes. Deep River Trails Mary Joan Pugh, Trails/Natural Heritage Coordinator, said Randolph County is fortunate to have quality trails. She showed a map of Deep River State Trail and gave a brief history of the trail. A brochure was created mapping the trail. Outdoor exercise is vital during the pandemic and contributes to physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual health and well-being. The top priority in the Deep River Trail conceptual plan is to connect several segments of the trail with the Sandy Creek Bridge. The Ramseur Trailhead extension involves land purchase to create the trail. Preliminary engineering for bridges is needed for 19 stream crossings. The Franklinville to Cedar Falls trail is ready to be completed. The Paddleway from Franklinville to Ramseur is ready to be completed. Chairman Frye asked if money had been requested from the State for trails completion. Ms. Pugh said it would cost $8 million to complete all projects. Chairman Frye asked Ms. Pugh to elaborate on what projects would still need to be completed. Ms. Pugh listed several other trail sections and bridges that still need to be completed. The current request is to fund investment-ready projects. This request will create 5 miles of trail and will connect 3.25 miles of trail. 8/30/21 Adjournment At 7:55 p.m. on motion of Allen, seconded by Haywood, the Board voted 5-0 to adjourn. _______________________________ ________________________________ Darrell Frye, Chairman David Allen ________________________________ _________________________________ Kenny Kidd Maxton McDowell ________________________________ _________________________________ Hope Haywood Sarah Pack, Deputy Clerk to the Board 8/30/21