HomeMy WebLinkAboutFebruary 18 2003 Briefing MinutesIREDELL COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
BRIEFING MINUTES
FEBRUARY 18, 2003
The Iredell County Board of Commissioners met in Briefing Session on
Tuesday, February 18, 2003, at 5:00 p.m., in the Iredell County Government Center
(South Wing Conference Room), 200 South Center Street, Statesville, NC.
Present were:
Chairman Steve D. Johnson
Vice Chairman Godfrey Williams
Doug Madison
Marvin Norman
Sara Haire Tice
Staff present: County Manager Joel Mashburn, Tax Collector Joe Ketchie,
Finance Director Susan Blumenstein, Health Director Ray Rabe, and Clerk to the Board
Jean Moore.
CALL TO ORDER by Chairman Johnson.
FOUR ITEMS ON THE AGENDA PERTAINING TO MILLARD
REFRIGERATED SERVICES: County Manager Mashburn said contracts with
EnergyUnited Water Corporation, the City of Statesville, and Millard Refrigerated
Services, Inc., were on the agenda for approval; however, an engineer from West
Engineering was needed to explain the needed board action. He said that if the engineer
did not arrive by the 7:00 p.m. meeting, the items would need to be withdrawn from the
agenda. Mashburn said another item pertained to the Millard sewer bids, and it too
needed to be described by the engineer. Mr. Mashburn said that recently another
industrial prospect had shown an interest in the area where Millard planned to locate;
however, the sewer capacity was not adequate to serve both companies. He said the
current plans were for a four -inch line, but some discussion had occurred about
enlarging it to six -inches. Mashburn said an additional $70,000 would be needed if the
sewer line size increased.
UPDATE ON NEW LIBRARY: Mashburn said the board recently discussed
pouring a concrete slab in the lower level of the new library building. He said the
county could use the area for storage, and the work (10,000 sq. ft. concrete slab) would
not delay the plans. Mashburn recommended, however, that an area be left unfinished
for restroom fixtures.
UPDATE ON MASTER CLEANERS RELOCATION: Mashburn said he
recently met with Mr. Hughes Alborte about the relocation of Alborte's dry-cleaning
business. Mashburn said originally, Alborte wanted to move his business to Troutman,
but he later decided on a location in Statesville (old Smith's Cleaners). He said now,
Alborte wanted to move the business to Mooresville. Mashburn said Alborte was
having difficulty obtaining utilities (gas) due to some "arrearages." He said Alborte
had asked if the county would allow some of the money ($25,800), previously offered
to assist with the retrofitting of a building, to be used in clearing up some of his debts.
The commissioners agreed to assist with the retrofitting of the Mooresville
building; however, they were not agreeable to assisting with any deposits or
"arrearages." Mashburn said he would work with Attorney Pope in drafting a letter to
Mr. Alborte about the conditions on the $25,800 and stating the funds had to be used
within 30 days.
UPDATE FROM HEALTH DIRECTOR ON BIO -TERRORISM
FUNDING: Health Director Ray Rabe said he had been notified that $39,800 would be
appropriated to the county from the federal government to aid in bio -terrorism response
and awareness. He said the funds had to be spent this fiscal year, and his preliminary
plans on their usage were as follows.
$ 3,000 training
4,300 community information campaign
32,500 ($13,500 for generator at Mooresville office; $3,000 computer; $3,000
training; $3,000 for software to monitor food -related incidences;
and other miscellaneous expenses)
39 800
REVALUATION & TAX RATE: Several commissioners mentioned the
many calls they had been receiving from county citizens about the revaluation. They
said some citizens were finding that their tax values had doubled since last year.
Commissioner Williams said he was reviewing a 42¢ tax rate. He said many
farmers "were hit with a 40% increase four years ago, and they were now being hit with
another 40%." Williams said that for the upcoming budget, he would like for (1) the
schools to have increased funding (2) the $1.5 million to be placed back into capital
reserve and (3) the county's fund balance to be increased. He said there were also
county vehicle and equipment needs, but he didn't feel the revaluation should "bail the
county out."
Commissioners Madison and Williams requested that Finance Director
Blumenstein "put together some numbers" on the anticipated revenue.
Mashburn said the county needed to let the revaluation appeal process occur.
He noted that 20 or 21 % of the county's revenue was from personal property taxes.
Chairman Johnson was agreeable to having the staff prepare some revenue
information, but he said, "I believe there should be a reduction in the tax rate."
QUIET WATERS CHRISTIAN RETREAT FACILITY: Commissioner
Tice said she had received several letters from citizens about Quiet Waters. She said
the citizens were concerned because the retreat center was still operating.
Mashburn said the special use permit the retreat owners had tried to obtain from
the board of adjustment was denied, and the denial was appealed to Superior Court. He
said it was his understanding the attorneys for the county and Quiet Waters were
negotiating on something to be presented to the courts.
ADJOURNMENT: Chairman Johnson adjourned the briefing at 6:25 p.m.
Approved:
2
Clerk to the Board