🧵 In Today’s Edition

1. Greensboro’s own Mark and Yolanda Robinson are back in the news. An administrative law judge found Balanced Nutrition, the nonprofit operated by the wife of the former lieutenant governor, must repay the state $101,000.00. The judge found the nonprofit violated federal regulations, claimed unallowable costs, and failed to keep important records.

2. The Agenda: Your guide to the week in local government.

Balanced Nutrition Must Repay State $101,000 

Yolanda Hill and Mark Robinson. (Photo by Peyton Sickles)

The nonprofit operated by Yolanda Hill, the wife of former Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson, has until Saturday to repay the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services $101,142 following a year-long dispute that dogged Robinson’s failed campaign for governor. 

Last year, the DHHS sought to recoup more than $100,000 from Balanced Nutrition, which it accused of violating federal regulations and failing to keep records. On March 24, an administrative law judge sided with the agency. Under state law, Hill had 30 days to appeal. 

The deadline appeared to pass on April 23 without an appeal being filed, according to a search of court records. A DHHS spokesperson also told The Assembly that the agency had not received a notice of appeal.

On March 26, the DHHS sent Balanced Nutrition a demand letter giving it 30 days upon receipt to pay, according to documents obtained by The Assembly. (Balanced Nutrition received the letter a day later.) If it fails to do so, state and federal regulations say the agency must assess interest and eventually pursue “legal remedies.”

Read the full story here.

Read our story about Mark Robinson’s history with Greensboro’s porn shops here.

Read our story about Robinson’s formative days in Greensboro, devotion to professional wrestling and its impact on his life and career here.

— Jeffrey Billman

Thanks for reading The Thread, a 3x week newsletter written by Greensboro editor Joe Killian and reporters Sayaka Matsuoka and Gale Melcher. Reach us with tips or ideas at greensboro@theassemblync.com.

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(Photo: Courtesy of the City of Greensboro)

The Agenda

There’s a lot going on in local government this week—and we’re here to help you make sense of city-speak and stay engaged and connected.

Let’s dive into this week’s agenda.

Guilford County Board of Commissioners 

Commissioners will meet on Thursday on the second floor of the Old County Courthouse at 301 W. Market St.

Discussions will include:

• A $28,255 budget amendment for a one-year doula program grant, beginning on Jan. 1, 2025, and ending on Dec. 31.
• A $2.15 million contract for laboratory goods and services.
• A contract for public health interpreter services.
• Updating the Juvenile Crime Prevention Council’s bylaws and funding.
• Various boards and commissions appointments.
• A budget performance report.
• The meeting can also be viewed online at the county’s Facebook page.

Guilford County Board of Education

The board will meet twice on Wednesday. At 2 p.m., they’ll have a policy committee meeting in the board room of 712 N. Eugene St. They’ll review revisions to policies related to employee health certificates, tobacco/smoke free workplaces, communicable diseases and employee safety, injury and loss prevention, service animals in schools, face coverings and bloodborne pathogens exposure control.

Then, at 4 p.m., they’ll hold a joint capital/facilities committee meeting in the third floor conference room of the Truist Building at 201 W. Market St.

Go to the meetings in person or watch them live on their YouTube channel.

Greensboro City Council

On Thursday, the council will convene for a special meeting to discuss the upcoming fiscal year’s budget, which will be finalized in June and go into effect in July. The budget for the 2024-25 fiscal year was $802 million. This budget meeting will be held at 12 p.m. in the Founder’s Lounge of the Tanger Center at 300 N. Elm St.

The city is also hosting community budget sessions this week.

District 1: Monday, April 28, at 6 p.m. at Barber Park Event Center, 1502 Barber Park Drive.

District 5: Thursday, May 1, at 6 p.m. at Griffin Recreation Center, 5301 Hilltop Road.

If you didn’t make it to last week’s sessions for districts 2, 3, and 4, or if you’re unable to attend this week’s sessions, fill out the city’s form with any questions you have about the budget or what topics you would like to see addressed during this year’s budget discussions.

Not sure which council district you live in? Check out the city’s interactive map to find out.

There are two city board and commission meetings this week.

The city’s Board of Adjustment will meet on Monday, April 28, at 5:30 p.m. in the Katie Dorsett Council Chamber of the Melvin Municipal Office Building (MMOB) at 300 W. Washington St. This board’s responsibilities include hearing and deciding appeals, variance requests, special exceptions, and interpretations of the zoning regulations.

Plus, the city’s Historic Preservation Commission will meet on Wednesday, April 30, at 4 p.m. in the Plaza Level Conference Room of the MMOB. This commission reviews applications for certificates of appropriateness for exterior work in Greensboro’s three local historic districts.

Links to local board meetings and agendas:

Guilford County – Board of Commissioners

Guilford County – School Board

Greensboro – City Council

High Point – City Council

– Gale Melcher

Read this newsletter online or contact The Thread team with tips and feedback at greensboro@theassemblync.com.

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