HomeMy WebLinkAboutFebruary 4 2003 Briefing MinutesIREDELL COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
BRIEFING MINUTES
FEBRUARY 4, 2003
The Iredell County Board of Commissioners met in Briefing Session on
Tuesday, February 4, 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, Finance Director Susan
Blumenstein, Planning Supervisor Ron Smith, Library Director Steve Messick, Jail
Administrator Rick Dowdle, Emergency Services Director Tracy Jackson, and Clerk to
the Board Jean Moore.
CALL TO ORDER by Chairman Johnson.
REQUEST FROM THE SHEPHERD'S VOLUNTEER FIRE
DEPARTMENT FOR THE WAIVER OF TIPPING FEES ASSOCIATED WITH
THE DEMOLITION OF THE DEPARTMENT'S FORMER BUILDING: Kelly
Robinson, Chief of the Shepherd's VFD, requested a one-time waiver of tipping fees
($3,000 to $3,500) for debris resulting from the demolition of the department's former
building.
REQUEST FOR THE APPOINTMENT OF AN INTERIM COUNTY
ASSESSOR: County Manager Mashburn said the General Statutes did not address
interim assessors; however, conversations with representatives of the Institute of
Government and the Department of Revenue advised of the importance of having a
knowledgeable taxation person in the tax office, especially during a revaluation year.
Mashburn said approximately 50 applications had been received for the county
assessor's position, but only four or five of the candidates were certified. He said the
statutes did, however, allow individuals to work towards certification after employment.
Mashburn estimated it would be the first of April before an assessor could be hired. He
proposed that between now and April, that Mr. Bobby Miller serve as the interim
assessor on a contractual basis. Mashburn said Miller had retired from Catawba County
after 33 years of service in the tax office. He said Miller was presently serving as the
interim assessor in Union County, but his association there would soon end. Mashburn
said Miller would be paid $500 a day (Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday), plus
mileage. He said Miller would be familiar with the land types in the county, and this
was important because the upcoming budget would be dependent upon an accurate base
value.
PLANNING & ZONING CASES: Planning Supervisor Ron Smith explained
the five public hearing cases. In reference to Case 0212-4 (Lake Norman Airport),
David Parker, an attorney for the applicant (Dr. Thomas Wilson), requested a
postponement of the request for 30 days. Parker said some homeland security issues
had surfaced, and his client wanted to obtain a "consensus" with the community before
a decision was made.
Chairman Johnson said he felt the public hearing should proceed as planned
to allow the residents to voice their concerns. He said this was needed to know what
issues had to be addressed to reach a "consensus."
UPDATE ON HWY. 21 SATELLITE JAIL (former prison unit): Chief
Deputy Rick Dowdle said 267 inmates were in the jail this weekend. He said the
inmate count was now down to 248, but he reminded the board members that the jail
was built to hold 201. Dowdle said the former prison site could hold 92 inmates, and
the state was still reviewing the lease documents.
Mashburn said the county had been working with an engineer (John Garland) on
the sewer system for the site. He said all of the sewer options would be expensive
($750,000 to $1 million).
UPDATE ON THE REFUNDING OF THE 2000 INSTALLMENT
PAYMENT NOTE: Finance Director Blumenstein said it appeared the bond
refunding would save approximately $1 million over the life of the bonds. She said the
closing for the documents was scheduled for February 20 and 21 in Charlotte.
ADJOURNMENT: Chairman Johnson adjourned the briefing session at 6:25
p.m.
APPROVED:
2
Clerk to the Board