HomeMy WebLinkAboutDecember 16 2003 Regular MinutesIREDELL COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
REGULAR MINUTES
DECEMBER 16 2003
The Iredell County Board of Commissioners met in Regular Session on
Tuesday, December 16, 2003, at 7:00 p.m., in the Iredell County Government Center
(Commissioners' Meeting Room), 200 South Center Street, Statesville, NC.
Present were:
Chairman Steve D. Johnson
Vice Chairman Godfrey Williams
Doug Madison
Sara Haire Tice
Absent: Commissioner Marvin Norman was absent due to illness.
Staff present: County Manager Joel Mashburn, Finance Director Susan
Blumenstein, and Clerk to the Board Jean Moore.
Absent: County Attorney Bill Pope was absent due to another commitment.
CALL TO ORDER by Chairman Johnson.
INVOCATION by Commissioner Madison.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG
ADJUSTMENTS OF THE AGENDA: MOTION by Chairman Johnson to
revise the agenda by the following adjustment.
Addition: Request for Approval of a Letter of Endorsement for Third Creek
Elementary School's US EPA Environmental Educational Grant
VOTING: Ayes — 4; Nays — 0.
PRESENTATION OF SPECIAL RECOGNITIONS & AWARDS
Presentation of a Plaque to Health Department Retiree Faye Brincefield:
Mrs. Brincefield retired on December 1, 2003, after 20 years of county service. Health
Director Ray Rabe praised Mrs. Brincefield's work performance. He said Brincefield
was one of the most professional and caring employees that he had ever observed in his
30 years of employment in the health-care field.
Chairman Johnson presented Brincefield with an appreciation plaque and
expressed thanks for her years of service.
Presentation of a Plaque to EMS Department Retiree Donnie Perry: Mr.
Perry retired on November 28, 2003, after 30 years of service. EMS Director Lee
Darnell said Mr. Perry was a "pioneer" in the EMS profession, as well as a leader in the
community, and his services would be greatly missed.
Chairman Johnson presented Perry with an appreciation plaque and expressed
thanks for his years of service.
R.B. Bryan, the Clinical Manager for Counseling Insights, Inc., Speaks in
Reference to the Distribution of Alcoholism Funds (ABC Bottle Tax) and the Need
in Iredell County for the Establishment of a Spanish Speaking Counselor
Position for the Purpose of Providing Treatment, Counseling, and Education in
the Latino Community Concerning North Carolina Alcohol and Traffic Laws: Mr.
Bryan said G.S. 18B -804(b)(6) stipulated that a charge of one cent on each bottle
containing 50 milliliters or less, and five cents on each container with more than 50
milliliters would be collected on all alcoholic beverages. He said G.S. 1813-805(b)(4)
stated that each month the local ABC Board would pay to the commissioners the bottle
proceeds, and they were to be used for the treatment of alcoholism and substance abuse,
or for research and education. Bryan said he understood that in the past, the proceeds
had been distributed to Crossroads Behavioral Healthcare. He said that under the new
mental health laws, Crossroads would not be providing services. Mr. Bryan said he was
employed with Counseling Insights, Inc., a nonprofit 501(c)(3) entity, and that
Crossroads contracted with the agency for alcohol and substance abuse services. Bryan
said the Latino population continued to grow in Iredell County, and there was a need for
a Spanish-speaking counselor who could offer alcoholism and substance abuse services.
He requested that the board utilize all, or a part of, the ABC revenues for the
establishment of this type of position.
Commissioner Williams asked if the request had been proposed to Crossroads.
Bryan said no, due to the new mental health laws and Crossroads becoming a
management entity instead of a service provider. Mr. Bryan said counties were not
limited to distributing their ABC funds to mental health agencies. He said a halfway
house in Caldwell County was funded by ABC taxes.
Chairman Johnson asked how much money was generated in Iredell County
from the bottle tax on an annual basis.
Finance Director Blumenstein said $25,000 a year had been budgeted for the
past several years.
Chairman Johnson mentioned the difficulties that might start occurring if the
county entered into contracts with Crossroads' contractors. He said it would be difficult
for the county staff to administer and monitor the contracts. Mr. Johnson asked
Commissioner Williams if the mental health board had discussed the bottle tax
distributions in conjunction with the new mental health law.
Commissioner Williams said the board had not, and Crossroads should probably
share some information on how the bottle tax was being disbursed. Mr. Williams
agreed that any contractors needed to be monitored by someone, and it would be
difficult for the county staff to assume the responsibility.
Chairman Johnson said $25,000 would not cover the full salary costs of a
qualified substance abuse person. He also said he didn't think it was equitable to spend
all of the money on one targeted population. Mr. Johnson said he thought adequate
accommodations had already been made since the drivers' manuals were written in
Spanish and so were the tests. He said anyone with a valid North Carolina license
should have a fundamental understanding that it was against the law to drink and drive.
--------------------------------------------CONSENT AGENDA ----------------------------------
OTION by Chairman Johnson to approve the following eleven (11) consent
agenda items.
VOTING: Ayes — 4; Nays — 0.
1. Request from the Iredell-Statesville School System for Approval of a
Capital Outlay Amendment for Celeste Elementary and East Elementary Fire
Systems: At the briefing session, Finance Director Blumenstein said a capital outlay
budget revision was needed by the Iredell-Statesville System for the purchase of fire
systems that were to be installed at Celeste and East Elementary Schools. She said the
school system had originally budgeted the costs ($54,000) in renovations, but they
should have been reflected in the equipment line item.
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2. Request for Approval of the November 2003 Refunds and Releases: County
Assessor Bill Doolittle, during the briefing session, requested approval of the following
releases and refunds.
NOVEMBER
2003 TAX RELEASES & REFUNDS
Releases
Refunds
County
38,784.01
1,207.04
Solid Waste Fees
572.00
52.22
East Alexander Co. Fire #1
7.57
0
Shepherd's Fire # 2
290.62
1,320.32
Mount Mourne Fire # 3
31.80
20.89
All County Fire # 4
1,576.90
2,033.24
Statesville City
7,337.85
587.66
Statesville Downtown
47.27
0
Mooresville Town
13,160.28
200.26
Mooresville Downtown
84.95
0
Mooresville School
1,711.65
278.95
Love Valle
0
0
7.40
0
-Harmony
Troutman
321.95
0
Total
$ 63,934.25
$5,700.58
A complete tax refund and release listing is hereby incorporated into the minutes by
reference.
3. Request for Permission to Apply for a 2004 Community Waste Reduction
& Recycling Grant for $25,000: Recycling Coordinator Carla Parks requested
permission to apply for a grant that would assist in placing recycling bins, storage carts,
educational materials, and incentive contest flyers in the Iredell-Statesville Schools
located within the Statesville city limits, in local offices, two private schools, and at
Mitchell Community College. She said the funds would also purchase brochures
encouraging participation in the Statesville curbside program, and buy additional
trailers for an aluminum can waste reduction and recycling effort. Mrs. Parks said this
particular grant would be viewed more favorably if it included participation from other
government entities or groups, and for this reason, the 10% match for the $25,000 grant
would be obtained from the college, the Iredell-Statesville Schools, and the City of
Statesville at $500 each. Parks said the county would provide the remaining $1,000.
4. Request for Approval to Apply for a $10,000 Computer/Electronics
Recycling Grant from Dell Computers: Mrs. Parks requested permission to apply
for a $10,000 grant that would enable the county to recycle computer monitors, copiers,
and televisions at the Annual Electronics Recycling Day at no cost to the public. She
said previously, a $5 charge was applied to some items to be recycled, and $50 on
others, due to the CRT hazardous materials they contained. Parks said the charges
discouraged people from recycling, and the grant funds would be used to pay the
recycling fees along with the costs for advertising and handouts. She said a local match
was not needed for the grant.
5. Request from the Sheriffs Department for Permission to Join Other Law
Enforcement Agencies in Submitting a Collaborative Grant Request to the
Governor's Crime Commission for the Purpose of Seeking Funds to Obtain "Data
Sharing Technology" (Matching funds to be Obtained from Seized Funds with
$6,622.50 being needed for Year 1 and $1,997.50 for Year 2): Captain Mike Phillips
with the Sheriff's Department requested permission, at the briefing session, to apply for
a P2P (Police to Police Data Sharing Technology) grant from the Governor's Crime
Commission (GCC). He said over 50 North Carolina law enforcement offices were
utilizing the technology to help solve crimes and obtain information. Phillips said the
GCC would provide 75% of the cost for two years, and the other public safety agencies
would be required to pay the remaining 25%.
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6. Request from Bonanza Development for the Release of Zoning/Subdivision
Jurisdiction (ETJ) to the Town of Mooresville on 1.1 Acres of Property: During the
agenda briefing, Planning Supervisor Smith said Bonanza Development had requested the
release of zoning and subdivision jurisdiction to Mooresville for property located at 918
Brawley School Road, in Mooresville, NC. He said the tract was adjacent to the Mooresville
town limits, it was within the urban services boundary, and it had been approved for a utility
extension and annexation by the Town for 2004. Smith continued by saying the property was
currently zoned Residential Agricultural, and it was designated for transitional usage in the
Brawley School Peninsula Small Area Plan. He said the staff recommended approval.
7. Request for Approval to Enter into a 60 -Month Contract with BellSouth
(Voice/Data Lines): At the 5 p.m. meeting, Purchasing Agent Caldwell asked for permission
to renew the county's voice and data phone line contract with BellSouth. Caldwell said she had
worked with BellSouth's representative to combine as many services as possible to achieve
volume discounts and to reduce the overall costs. She said a $24,325 annual savings had been
achieved, and the contract was now below the NC State Contract. Caldwell said the county's
affiliation with BellSouth dated back to 1986, and the county had never been without service,
even during and after Hurricane Hugo. She said the new contract extended for 60 months, but
if the county became dissatisfied with any components, adjustments could be made.
8. Request for Approval of a School Capital Project Ordinance in Conjunction with
the Series 2003 Certificates of Participation (COPS): Finance Director Blumenstein, at the
briefing, said a project ordinance had been drafted to account for the proceeds originating out of
the Series 2003 Certificates of Participation. She said that after the bond closing, the funds
would be available for the school systems. The ordinance is as follows:
Iredell County, North Carolina
Project Ordinance
Certificates of Participation, Series 2003, School Projects
December 16, 2003
Be it Ordained by the Board of County Commissioners of Iredell County, North
Carolina:
Section 1. Funding for the projects shall be provided by the following sources:
Par Amount of the Series 2003 Bonds $37,055,000
Add: Accrued Interest 11,905
Bond Premium 970,443
Deduct: Original Issue Discount (173,008)
Total Sources of Funds S37,864,340
Section 2. Capital Outlay will be financed for the Iredell-Statesville Schools, Mitchell
Community College, and the Mooresville Graded School District as follows:
Projects
Iredell-Statesville Schools — Harmony Elementary School 7,051,200
Scotts Elementary 6,528,000
Woodland Heights 10,420,800
Mitchell Community College -Workforce Dev. Bldg. 1,000,000
Mooresville Graded Schools -Mooresville Intermediate School 12,222,610
$37,222,610
Issuance Costs for the Series 2003 Certificates of Participation
Underwriter's Discount 175,750
Bond Insurance Premium 284,285
Legal, ratings agencies, printing, other 11,905
Deposit to Interest Payment Account 3,790
641,730
Total Uses of Funds37.R�fi4340
Section 3. This Capital Project Fund shall continue until the projects are complete.
Section 4. Payments from this Capital Project Fund shall be authorized by a representative of each
school administrative unit and copied to the Iredell Co. Director of Finance & Adm.
Section 5. Upon completion of the construction project, all funds remaining in this
Capital Project Fund will be disbursed in accordance with the Trust
Agreement by and between Iredell County Public Facilities Corporation and
First Citizens Bank Corporate Trust.
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9. Request for Approval of an Amendment to the West Farm Water/Sewer
Community Development Block Grant Capital Project Ordinance: Finance
Director Blumenstein said a project ordinance was adopted at a previous meeting, but
since that time, it had been learned that the Committee of 100 had contracted grant
administration fees directly with Paula Bass, a consultant, in the amount of $24,000.
Blumenstein said the $24,000 was considered a part of the $100,000 loan from the
Committee of 100 to the West family, and the ordinance needed to be amended to
reflect the difference. A copy of the ordinance is as follows:
Iredell County, North Carolina
Amended Capital Project Ordinance
CDBG Water/Sewer Project Fund
Be it Ordained by the Board of County Commissioners of Iredell County, North Carolina:
Section 1. Funds for the Sewer Project of this Capital Project Fund will be provided from the following sources:
Millard Refrigeration
Greater Statesville Dev. Corp.
Iredell County General Fund
$ 160,465
50,000
66,575
$ 277,040
Section 2. Funds for the Water Tank Project of this Capital Project Fund will be provided from the following sources:
CDBG-ED Grant $
Rural Center Grant
Golden Leaf Pass-thru Grant from
the Committee of 100
USDA Rural Economic
Development Loan - to be repaid by
Energy United Electric
West Family Commitment
Contingency Commitment from
Project Participants
240,000
150,000
150,000
240,000
276,000 (reducedby$24,000)
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$1,098,310
Section 3. The following costs to design, engineer and construct the sewer line and lift station are as follows:
Design, Engineering, & Other Costs S 7,800
Contingency 8,775
General Construction 260,465
$ 277,040
Section 4. The following costs to design, engineer and construct the water tank are as follows:
Professional Fees -Engineering,
Surveying, Inspections S 87,310
Grant Administration
Construction of Water Storage Tank
Construction Contingency
- (reduced by $24, 000)
961,000
50,000
$1,098,310
Section 5. This Capital Project Fund shall continue until the project is complete.
Section 6. Payments from this Capital Project Fund shall be authorized by the County Manager or his designee.
Section 7. Millard Refrigeration will be billed for its proportionate share of the sewer project construction contract as
each invoice is received from the contractor.
Section 8. Two-thirds of the finds committed by the West family shall be due prior to the Countys first payment on
the water storage tank construction contract. The balance of the commitment shall be due alter all other
project funds have been drawn down and expended.
Section 9. County funds remaining in this Capital Project Fund after completion of the construction project will
be transferred to the Capital Reserve Fund.
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10. Request for Approval of a Letter of Endorsement Pertaining to Third
Creek Elementary School's US EPA Environmental Education Grant:
Commissioner Williams advised during the briefing session that Third Creek
Elementary School had asked for a letter of endorsement pertaining to its water
quality educational program grant request. He said no commitment from the county
was needed, other than assistance from the planning and inspections staff in sharing
information about the local building and development guidelines relating to water
quality standards.
11. Request for Approval of the December 2, 2003 Minutes
-------------------------------------END OF CONSENT AGENDA -----------------------------
APPOINTMENTS TO BOARDS & COMMISSIONS
Personnel Advisory Board 1 appointment): No nominations were submitted,
and Commissioner Madison motione to postpone the appointment until the January 6
meeting.
VOTING: Ayes — 4; Nays — 0.
Adult Care Home Community Advisory Committee (2 appointments): No
nominations were submitted, and Commissioner Madison imotione to postpone the
appointments until the January 6 meeting.
VOTING: Ayes — 4; Nays — 0.
Board of Equalization & Review for 2004 (6 appointments): Commissioner
Williams nominated Dan Schmidt, John Douglas, Anita Johnson, L.W. Lambert, and
Wayne Robertson.
MOTTO by Commissioner Madison to close the nominations and to appoint
Schmidt, Douglas, Johnson, Lambert, and Robertson by acclamation.
VOTING: Ayes — 4; Nays — 0.
Appointment of the Board of Equalization & Review Chairman: Commissioner
Williams nominated Dan Schmidt for the position of Chairman for the Board of
Equalization and Review.
MOTION by Commissioner Madison to close the nominations and to appoint
Dan Schmidt as the Chairman for the Board of Equalization and Review.
VOTING: Ayes — 4; Nays — 0.
Appointment of the Board of Equalization and Review Vice Chairman:
Commissioner Williams nominated John Douglas for the position of Vice Chairman for the
Board of Equalization and Review.
MOTION by Commissioner Madison to close the nominations and to appoint
John Douglas as the Vice Chairman for the Board of Equalization and Review.
VOTING: Ayes — 4; Nays — 0.
Note: The appointment of an E & R Board alternate member will be postponed
until the January 6, 2004 meeting.
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NEW BUSINESS: Commissioner Tice said a member of the planning board had
asked if the commissioners would consider a joint meeting in the future. She said the
purpose of the meeting would be to insure that everyone had a clear understanding of the
county's goals and objectives pertaining to planning and growth. Mrs. Tice said an
opportune time to meet with the planning board would be at the winter retreat.
Chairman Johnson asked the clerk to contact the planning board chairman and
arrange a time for the two groups to meet at the February winter planning session.
COUNTY MANAGER'S REPORT: The county manager reminded the board
members about the Annual Christmas Luncheon to be held on Friday,
December 19, 2003 from 11:30 a.m. — 1:30 p.m., at the Statesville Civic Center.
CLOSED SESSION: MOTION by Chairman Johnson at 7:30 p.m., to enter
into closed session for the purpose of discussing an economic development matter
pursuant to G.S. 143-318.11 (a) (4).
VOTING: Ayes — 4; Nays — 0.
(RETURN TO OPEN SESSION AT 8:39 P.M.)
ADJOURNMENT: MOTION by Chairman Johnson at 8:40 p.m., to adjourn
the meeting. (NEXT MEETING: Tuesday, January 6, 2004, at 5:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m.,
in the Iredell County Government Center, 200 South Center Street, Statesville, NC.)
VOTING: Ayes — 4; Nays — 0.
Approved:
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Clerk to the Board