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HomeMy WebLinkAboutFebruary 4 2003 Regular MinutesIREDELL COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS REGULAR MINUTES FEBRUARY 4, 2003 The Iredell County Board of Commissioners met in Regular Session on Tuesday, February 4, 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 Marvin Norman Sara Haire Tice Staff present: County Manager Joel Mashburn, County Attorney Bill Pope, Finance Director Susan Blumenstein, Planning Supervisor Ron Smith, Social Services Director Don Wall, and Clerk to the Board Jean Moore. CALL TO ORDER by Chairman Johnson. INVOCATION by Commissioner Norman. ADJUSTMENTS TO THE AGENDA: OTION by Chairman Johnson to adjust the agenda by: Deletions: Request for Approval of an Agreement between Millard Refrigeration, Inc., and Iredell County for the Operation and Maintenance of a Sewer Line Request for Approval of an Agreement Between EnergyUnited Water Corporation and Iredell County for the Operation and Maintenance of a Water Tank Additions: Closed Session for Personnel: G.S. 143-318.11 (a) (6) Request for Approval of an Amendment to the Library Capital Project Ordinance to Recognize $200,000 for the New Library Request from the Shepherd's Volunteer Fire Department for the Waiver of Tipping Fees Associated with Demolition Debris from the Department's Former Building Announcement of 22 Vacancies on the Local Emergency Planning Committee VOTING: Ayes — 5; Nays — 0. APPOINTMENTS BEFORE THE BOARD Mr. Hughes Alborte Requests an Appointment Before the Board Regarding the Relocation of Master Cleaners and the Assistance Offered by the County on November 4, 2002: Mr. Alborte said the county had previously offered to financially assist in the relocation of his business to Troutman. He said the original offer of $25,800 was to aid in the plumbing and electrical costs for the new site. Alborte said a different location was now being considered (old Smith's Cleaners), and it was being offered to him in an "as is" condition. Alborte said carpentry work was needed, especially for the installation of new windows. Chairman Johnson asked if the new site would be purchased or leased. Alborte said leased. Commissioner Williams asked Mr. Alborte if he was asking for additional money, or if he was asking to spend the money on improvements other than plumbing and electrical. Alborte said he was not seeking additional money. Johnson asked Mr. Alborte if there was an itemized listing of the expected costs for the building. Alborte said he could make a list. County Manager Mashburn said that when the Master Cleaner's building was purchased by the county, the plan, at that time, was to use the county staff to relocate the cleaning business equipment to a new location. He said, however, the staff was not equipped to reconnect the electrical wiring and plumbing components. Mashburn said quotes from plumbing and electrical contractors were obtained, and the cost was $25,800 for a site in Troutman. He said the board of commissioners in November 2002 agreed to financially assist Mr. Alborte in the amount of $25,800 for the plumbing and electrical work. Mashburn said later, Mr. Alborte met with him and discussed the new site. Mashburn said Mr. Alborte was also requesting a letter of commitment from the board, if the new request was granted. He said Alborte wanted to take the letter to financial institutions to show that he had a portion of the renovation money. Commissioner Norman asked if the $25,800 would be connected to invoices submitted by Mr. Alborte. Mashburn said yes. He said Mr. Alborte would submit the invoices to the county for payment. Chairman Johnson said he felt the county had a moral obligation to assist Mr. Alborte; however, he had concerns about making structural changes on a leased building. OTION by Commissioner Madison to approve Mr. Alborte's financial request of $25,800 to be used in the relocation of his dry cleaning business with the following stipulations: 1. Cost estimates for the relocation work will be submitted to the county manager. 2. The county manager will submit the estimates to the commissioners. 3. Once the work has been accomplished, the invoices will be submitted to the county, and the vendors will be paid up to $25,800. VOTING: Ayes — 5; Nays — 0. (Note: A letter of intent will also be prepared for Mr. Alborte to use at the banking institutions.) Presentation of the Child Protection/Fatality Team (CP/FT)Annual Report by Social Services Director Don Wall: Mr. Wall described the many projects, services, and programs, his staff, along with other county departments and the community had worked on during the last year to make the lives of Iredell County's children safer and healthier. Some statistics shared by Wall for the year 2002 were: (1) 25 child protective services cases were reviewed by the CP/FT. (2) 20 child fatality cases were reviewed by the team. PUBLIC HEARINGS Chairman Johnson declared the meeting to be in a public hearing. Case No. 0212-1; Dennis & Julie Tomlin Request an Amendment to the Iredell County Land Use Plan and a Rezoning of Property located at 1024 Tomlin Mill Road, Statesville, NC, from Residential Agricultural to General Business District: Planning Supervisor Smith said the applicants desired to rezone 5.24 acres 2 from Residential Agricultural to General Business. He said the property (PIN#4749-93- 3925) was surrounded by commercial, residential, and farm uses. Smith said the staff recommended approval, and that on January 8, 2003, the planning board unanimously recommended approval. Attorney Bedford Cannon, representing the applicants, said the request was consistent with the future development of the properties at the 1-77 interchange, and a contract was pending. No one else desired to speak, and Chairman Johnson adjourned the hearing. OTION by Commissioner Norman to (1) amend the Land Use Plan in reference to Case No. 0212-1 (Tomlin) and (2) grant the rezoning request from Residential Agricultural to General Business District. VOTING: Ayes — 5; Nays — 0. Chairman Johnson declared the meeting to be in a public hearing. Case No. 0212-2; Eight Property Owners Request for their Properties located at the Intersection of Taylorsville Highway and Antietam Road, in the Scotts Community, to be Rezoned from Neighborhood Business to Highway Business District: Planning Supervisor Smith said the owners/applicants desired to rezone approximately seven acres (total acreage 12.81) from Neighborhood Business to a Highway Business Zoning District. Smith said the applicant desired to sell used cars on his property. He said that due to the surrounding property being mostly residential, the staff preferred for the property to remain Neighborhood Business; however, on January 8, 2003, in a 6-4 vote, the planning board recommended approval of the applicant's request. The owners of the property are: Joseph Norris Feimster (also applicant) P.O. Box 81 Scotts, NC 28699 Nina Garris 112 Bambi Lane Statesville, NC 28625 Public Service Company of NC P.O. Box 1398 Gastonia, NC 28053-1398 Paul L. Feimster & Janice Walters 801 Cherry Hill Road Bloomsburg, PA 17815 Kim F. Mayberry 422 East Lackey Farm Road Stony Point, NC 28678 Robert Feimster P.O. Box 13 Scotts, NC 28699-0013 Kingdom Way Church in Jesus P.O. Box 110 Scotts, NC 28699 Mary Diane & Danny Mason 216 New Amity Road Statesville, NC 28625-1804 The PIN #s for the property are: #4706-47-5932; 4706-47-6733; 4706-47-7614; 4706-47-8812; 4706-48-4002, and a portion of #s 4706-47-2721, 4706-47-0888, 4706- 47-3439.4706-47-4483. No one else desired to speak, and Chairman Johnson adjourned the hearing. OTION by Commissioner Tice to rezone Case No. 0212-2 (Eight Property Owners) from Neighborhood Business Zoning District to Highway Business Zoning District. VOTING: Ayes — 5; Nays — 0. Chairman Johnson declared the meeting to be in a public hearing and requested all persons desiring to speak in reference to Case No. 0212-3 to come forward and be sworn in. 3 Case No. 0212-3; Mark Lancaster, the Applicant for Marian Properties, Inc., Requests an Amendment to a Conditional Use Zoning for Property (PIN#4730-72- 5706) located at 1156 Perth Road, in Troutman, NC (The property is currently zoned General Business Conditional Use District.) Planning Supervisor Smith said the owner/applicant desired to revise the conditions that were established in 2001 on property currently being used as a dock and pier building facility with 17 boat slips. Smith said the amendment would be for a charter boat with the following additional conditions: Routes of operation — Lake Norman Passenger capacity — 35 Boat Size -14' x 56' Noise level — minimal Hours of operation — when charters are reserved Frequency of operation — when charters are reserved Proximity (distance from) to the shoreline while in operation — 150' from dock or shoreline Sewage disposal and method of disposal — pump out at Blue Parrott or Queens Landing or mobile unit from Maggie Ann's Marina On shore supporting facilities — existing building or boardwalk area Smith said the size of the property was just over one and half acres and it was adjacent to Skippers Dry Storage. He said the surrounding property uses were the lake, as well as commercial and residential properties. Mr. Smith said the request was lake oriented and the staff was comfortable with the amendment. He said the planning board unanimously voted approval of the request on January 8, 2003. Commissioner Tice said she understood there was no opposition voiced at the planning board meeting about the amendment. Smith said this was correct. No one else desired to speak, and Chairman Johnson adjourned the hearing. MOTION by Commissioner Williams, after reviewing the findings of fact and determining them to be in order, to approve an amendment to a conditional use zoning for Case No. 0212-3 (Mark Lancaster/ Marlan Properties, Inc.). VOTING: Ayes — 5; Nays — 0. Chairman Johnson declared the meeting to be in a public hearing and requested all persons desiring to speak in reference to Case No. 030 1 -1 to come forward and be sworn in. Case No. 0301-1; E. Charles Dalton Requests an Amendment to the Iredell County Land Use Plan and a Rezoning from Residential Agricultural & General Business to General Business Conditional Use District for property located at 2110 Statesville Highway in Mooresville, NC: Planning Supervisor Smith said the owner/applicant was requesting to rezone a portion of property (.18 acres of a total .53 parcel — PIN#4658-74-9671) to be used for any and all uses allowed in the General Business District with the following conditions: Shall be used for open air uses and parking affiliated with the property currently zoned General Business to the north No internally lighted signs allowed on the property 36 square foot maximum sign copy area Smith said the staff would prefer for the tract to be zoned Neighborhood Business, but the property has been listed General Business since zoning was first established. He said; however, the conditions that Mr. Dalton had agreed to minimized the impact on the surrounding properties. Mr. Smith said that on January 8, 2003, the planning recommended approval in a 7-3 vote. 4 No one else desired to speak, and Chairman Johnson adjourned the hearing. MOTION by Commissioner Tice, after reviewing the findings of fact and determining them to be in order, to (1) amend the Iredell County Land Use Plan, and (2) approve the rezoning request of Case No. 0301-1 (Dalton) from Residential Agricultural & General Business to General Business Conditional Use District. VOTING: Ayes — 5; Nays — 0. Chairman Johnson declared the meeting to be in a public hearing and requested all persons desiring to speak in reference to Case No. 0212-4 to come forward and be sworn in. Case No. 0212-4; Thomas S. Wilson, the Applicant for the Lake Norman Airport Property, Requests an Amendment to a Heavy Manufacturing Conditional Use District Zoning and to Rezone a Portion of Property located at 149 Yeager Road in Mooresville, NC, from Residential Agricultural (RA) and Single Family Residential (R-20) to Heavy Manufacturing Conditional Use District (M-2 CUD) (PIN#4638-62-0564): Planning Supervisor Smith said the applicant desired to rezone a small piece of property (.21 acres) from RA and R-20 to M-2 CUD and to add new conditions to an existing M-2 CUD. He said the proposed conditions were: 1. Limit the new M-2 zoning area to: a. no new construction, paving, or expansion b. existing paved areas shall be used for parking planes (tie -downs) and only internal traffic movement 2. Add to the conditions of the M-2 CUD to allow for fuel sales, as approved by the fire marshal Smith said the existing land use was an airport surrounded by an airpark, and the surrounding land uses were residential as well as vacant parcels. Mr. Smith said the staff had been working with Dr. Wilson, the applicant, this past year in an effort to correct several zoning violations involving the existing hangars, the buffering, and the M-2 conditions. Smith said the change in the conditions and the rezoning request would help to correct the violations. He said the rezoning would allow Dr. Wilson to have a buffer that was basically non-existent at the present. Smith said the proposed change in the existing conditions concerned the fuel tank that was on the property. He said Dr. Wilson had appealed the staff's interpretation of the zoning violations, but the board of adjustment had upheld the staff's findings. He said the planning board on January 8, 2003, unanimously recommended approval of the requests. Mac Queen expressed concerns about the property values for the residents and their quality of life. Queen said he was not in favor of granting the rezoning request for the "triangular" section, and he would limit the fuel sales to one tank containing 100 low -lead at one location. (He also mentioned that he didn't believe any of the residents had ever received "deeded lake access" on their deeds.) Rick Gamble said he was opposed to any "commercialization" at the airpark, and he was at the meeting on behalf of the Grand Bay Homeowners Association. Gamble distributed a letter signed by Shannon Marshall, the President of the Association, requesting that any zoning or rezoning requests be denied that might lead to further commercialization of the airpark. Jake Atteberry said he wanted uses at the airpark that benefited his property. Mr. Atteberry said that at the planning board meeting, he requested that a gate be placed at the fuel tank entrance. He said a letter had been sent to the commissioners from Sheriff Phil Redmond regarding security concerns at the fuel area. John Schroeder said he was in favor of the rezoning request. He said it involved an "honest attempt to resolve some issues that could be blamed on both sides." Mr. Schroeder <s said he didn't see any problems with the fuel sales, and he would simply say "aviation fuel instead of low -lead" due to the possibility of planes using something different in the future. He said the airplane owners were asked about having fuel available at the park, and 78 were in favor and 5 were against. Mr. Schroeder said some of the violations had occurred due to advice from the county. Anthony "Tony" Mariano said he didn't want to see any future development of the airpark, but the rezoning request was justified. Mariano said there was fuel at the site when he purchased his property, and he expected it to be available in the future along with the maintenance facility. He said it was the responsibility of the commissioners, and the planning board members, to remind future developers that the vacant properties were in an airport traffic area. Howard Cochoran said he supported the zoning change. He said he couldn't understand the opposition to the request "to move the line a few feet for the purposes of planting some additional buffers to help alleviate the noise." Cochoran said he also supported fuel sales and the maintenance facility. Walter Smith the President of the Lake Norman Airpark Owners Association, said that in 1994, an agreement occurred between the residents and Dr. Wilson. He said the runway and 43 acres were deeded to the Association. In exchange, the Association gave Dr. Wilson "some certain rights to develop." He said the agreement/contract also stipulated the owners would support any rezoning efforts by Dr. Wilson. Donald Sink said he didn't necessarily like everything that happened at the airpark, but the proposed revisions would help to "correct some rough edges." He said fuel availability was a necessity. Rob Porter said he lived adjacent to the area being proposed for the rezoning. He said he didn't have any complaints about the "tie -down areas" or the fuel sales, but he did have a problem with the rezoning. Porter said, "The way it is now, I would be very hard pressed to find a qualified buyer when it's disclosed to them that my property is next door to an industrial operation." He said that if there was going to be "an industrial strength operation, there should be an industrial strength buffer." Porter requested for the commissioners to be careful on the conditional uses. David Parker, an attorney representing the applicant, said he felt that if given time, a "consensus" could be built to resolve the issues. He also mentioned the letter sent by Sheriff Redmond expressing homeland security concerns, and he requested for the hearing to be continued for about four weeks to build a "consensus." Jim Slate said the site was a residential airpark and not an airport. He said there were "tens of millions of dollars in residential homes in the area, and there were a few million dollars in commercial properties." He said 85% of the traffic was due to the commercial aspect, and the remaining 15 from residential. Slate said he didn't want the airpark to expand. He suggested a noise barrier wall similar to what was used on the interstates to separate Mr. Porter's property from the park. Mr. Slate brought a small Leyland Cypress to illustrate how ineffective it was to eliminate noise. Sandy McCurdy, a member of the planning board, said she excused herself from voting when the rezoning request was presented at the January 8 meeting. McCurdy, a resident of 460 Normandy Road, said she had owned her property since 1975. She said Dr. Wilson, in the past, had promised that the airpark would not be commercial and it would be used for residential purposes. McCurdy said she was not against the fuel sales, but it needed to occur in a secure area. She said, however, jet fuel should not be sold. McCurdy voiced concerns about the safety of the children attending schools in the area. She said a copy of the January Environmental Protection Agency Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) inspection report revealed that runoff was a problem. MOTION by Commissioner Tice to continue the public hearing for four weeks in an effort to allow Dr. Wilson and the residents to build a consensus on some of the issues. 6 Commissioner Madison said he felt the continuation was appropriate, and he hoped that in the next four weeks the homeowner's association and Dr. Wilson developed a "realistic" approach to the entire area. He said there should be some mechanism in place to remove the more offensive operations away from the residential area. Madison suggested that a berm or solid fencing be used instead of the trees. In reference to the fuel, he said it should be secured as the sheriff and Ms. McCurdy had indicated. Commissioner Williams and Norman both agreed with the four-week continuation. Chairman Johnson said he understood there was an effort underway to change the taxiways. Walter Smith said there were several options, and he recently met with a contractor about repaving. He said there were some funds available. Smith said the airpark had been surveyed and there was about an 85% consensus on about 95% of the issues. He said there had been some discussion on tearing up parts of the taxiway to improve the vegetation buffer. Smith said he wanted to make sure the association didn't return to the board of commissioners with anything "too broad in scope." Chairman Johnson said, "In the M-2 area, in what is now 149 Yeager Road, there needs to be additional conditions on the hangar. I think it's unreasonable to assume there will not be contention when there is M-2 activity in an area that close to residential property. I am sympathetic to Mr. Porter and the problem he has with noise. I am sympathetic enough that if this request comes down to the noise issue, and if there is no relief for Mr. Porter, I will not vote in favor for the request. I feel the hangar at 149 Yeager Road should be for aircraft storage only. I feel there should be something more than Leyland Cypress trees as a buffer. There needs to be additional fencing around the fuel tanks for security. There should be some regulation on the fuel, to some degree, as to what type of planes will find it to their advantage to land at the site. I think the area that is now commercial needs to remain economically viable. I will vote for a proposal that continues to allow the sale of fuel. I realize this is an activity that is now occurring in violation of the rules, but if you don't have fuel sales, you don't have an airfield. I could agree to relaxing the conditions in the M-2 CUD area, as far as upholstery, an avionics shop, and as far as aircraft restoration and maintenance, etc. I do have a particular problem with the helicopters, especially with student pilots. As far as the check haulers, 1 could live with this if the homeowner's association could reroute the taxiways as far away as possible to alleviate some of the conditions around the residential area, I could allow the continuation of the flight school. I don't want to be too specific and preclude any opportunities. In general terms, I don't want to do anything punitive against the applicant that would damage his possibility of being economically viable. I will support any effort to maintain the integrity of the residential area. I think that's in the best interest of the airpark as a whole." VOTING: Ayes — 5; Nays — 0. --------------------------------------------CONSENT AGENDA ---------------------------------- OTION by Commissioner Madison to approve the following 11 consent agenda items. VOTING: Ayes — 5; Nays — 0. 1. Request for the Appointment of an Interim County Assessor: Mr. Bobby Miller, of Hickory, N.C., was appointed on a contractual basis as the interim county assessor. Miller will be paid $500 a day, plus mileage. (The county manager said, during the briefing session, that applications had been received for the position, and it was hoped an appointment could be made by the first of April.) 2. Request from the Library Director for Authorization to Apply for a Telecommunication E -Rate Program Discount: During the briefing, Library Director Steve Messick said the county was eligible to receive $7,926 in N reimbursements from the Federal Communications Commission's E -Rate Program for Internet and regular telephone access services at the Statesville and Harmony libraries. 3. Request from the Sheriff's Department for the Transfer of $40,000 from the Overtime Line Item to the Part -Time Help Line Item: Chief Deputy Rick Dowdle advised during the briefing that for several reasons, one being that an employee was out on maternity leave, that the department was requesting for $40,000 to be shifted from overtime to the part-time help line item. 4. Request from the Sheriff's Department for Approval of Budget Amendment #28 for the Transfer of $1,500 from the Commissary Account to Jail Supplies for the Purchase of a Cooking Table & (2) the Purchase of a Generator with the funds ($63,250) to be derived from Seized (Other) Funds: Also during the briefing, Chief Deputy Rick Dowdle explained a request for the purchase of the following two items. (a) Stainless Steel Cooking or Preparation Table with a #10 Can Opener ($1,500) (b) Generator to be installed behind the South Wing Annex of the Iredell County Government Center to help in the maintenance of the Division of Criminal Information (DCI) Mainframe 5. Request for the Re -Establishment of the Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC): Emergency Services Director Tracy Jackson explained during the briefing that a LEPC was organized in 1987, but it disbanded in the early to mid-1990s. He requested the re-establishment of the committee for several reasons, e.g., domestic preparedness and the monitoring of facilities that store, transport and utilize hazardous chemicals in the county. 6. Request from the Emergency Services Director for Permission to Apply for a Weapons of Mass Destruction Grant from the Department of Justice: Emergency Services Director Jackson requested permission to apply for $40,699 ($37,058 for equipment) and $3,641 (exercise expenses) from the Department of Justice to assist emergency responders in the event of a weapons of mass destruction occurrence. 7. Request for Approval of a Bank of America Banking Resolution Regarding the Iredell County Government Center -South (ICGC-S) Project: During the briefing, Finance Director Blumenstein said the financing proceeds for the ICGC-S project were through a temporary checking account with Bank of America. She said the bank was requesting approval of a resolution indicating the signatories for the banking services. 8. Request for Approval of Budget Amendment #27 for the Recognition/Appropriation of Reimbursements from Insurance Claims: Blumenstein said that for the period extending from July 1, 2002 — January 21, 2003, a total of $31,083 had been received from insurance claims. She said the amendment would recognize the money and appropriate it to the proper budget line items. 9. Request for Approval of an Addendum to the Inter -Local Government Agreement between the City of Statesville and Iredell County Regarding the new Iredell County Library and a Request for the Approval of an Amendment to the Library Capital Project Ordinance in Recognition of $200,000 for the new Library from an Anonymous Donor: The addendum to the October 7, 2002 Inter -Local Agreement will reflect a $200,000 anonymous contribution to the new Iredell County Library. Finance Director Blumenstein amended the library ordinance to recognize the $200,000. The amended ordinance is: Amended Capital Project Ordinance Be it Ordained by the Board of Commissioners of Iredell County, North Carolina: Section 1. Funds for this Capital Project Fund will be provided from the following source: i City of Statesville Contribution $ 1,200,000 Value of Donated Building Materials 50,000 Transfers from Capital Reserve Fund 5,377,682 $6.627.682 Section 2. The following costs for the design, construction, and furnishing of the Iredell County Public Library are to be financed by this fund: Design, Engineering, & Other Costs $ 341,110 Property Acquisition 496,250 Demolition & Land Preparation 75,000 General Construction 5,715,322 $ 6.627.682 Section 3. This Capital Project Fund shall continue until the project is complete. Section 4. Payments from this Capital Project Fund shall be authorized by the County Manager or his designee. Section 5. Payments from the City of Statesville will be in accordance with the agreement between the City and Iredell County. Section 6. County funds remaining in this Capital Project Fund after completion of the construction project will be transferred back to the Capital Reserve Fund. 10. Request for Approval of the January 21, 2003 Minutes 11. Request from the Shepherd's Volunteer Fire Department for the Waiver of Tipping Fees Associated with the Demolition Debris for the Department's Former Building: (The department's new facility has been completed, and the VFD plans to demolish the former building. During the briefing, Shepherd's Fire Chief Kelly Robinson said the one-time tipping fee waiver was being requested for the disposal of debris at the county landfill.) ----------------------------------------END OF CONSENT AGENDA -------------------------- ANNOUNCEMENT OF VACANCIES OCCURRING ON BOARDS & COMMISSIONS Juvenile Crime Prevention Council (1 announcement) APPOINTMENTS TO BOARDS & COMMISSIONS Nursing Home Advisory Committee (6 appointments): Commissioner Tice nominated LaRue Burleigh and Deborah Okamuro for reappointments. No other nominations were submitted. Commissioner Madison iriovvd to close the nominations, accept Burleigh and Okamoto by acclamation, and to postpone the other four appointments until the February 18 meeting. VOTING: Ayes — 5; Nays — 0. Adult Care Home Community Advisory Committee (5 appointments): No nominations were submitted, and Commissioner Madison Mvi4 to postpone the appointments until the February 18 meeting. VOTING: Ayes — 5; Nays — 0. Juvenile Crime Prevention Council (1 appointment): Commissioner Madison nominated Carrie Clodfelter, an Assistant District Attorney, to represent the district attorney's office on the council. 9 Chairman Johnson ove to close the nominations and accept Clodfelter by acclamation. VOTING: Ayes — 5; Nays — 0. Board of Health (1 appointment): Commissioner Tice nominated Dr. LuAnne Gatlin as the physician appointee for the board of health. Commissioner Madisonoved for the nominations to be closed and to accept Dr. Gatlin by acclamation. VOTING: Ayes — 5; Nays — 0. UNFINISHED BUSINESS Appointments to the Three Committees Needine Commissioner Representation: Commissioner Williams nominated Commissioner Doug Madison for appointments to the Smart Start/Iredell Partnership for Young Children Committee, the Centralina Council Board of Delegates, and the Home and Community Care Block Grant Committee. MOTION by Chairman Johnson to close the nominations and appoint Mr. Madison by acclamation to the three committees. VOTING: Ayes — 5; Nays — 0. COUNTY MANAGER'S REPORT Proposed Agenda for the Winter Planning Session on February 14 & 15: The county manager requested the board members to review the proposed agenda and to let him know if any items needed to be deleted or added. Delay on the Animal Control Ordinance Re -write: County Manager Mashburn said that at the January 21 meeting, the board had instructed the staff to prepare revisions to the animal control ordinance and to present them at the February 18 meeting. Mashburn said the staff needed additional time to modify the document, but that it should be ready by the first meeting in March (March 4, 2003). CLOSED SESSION: MOTION by Chairman Johnson to enter into closed session at 9:30 p.m., for the purpose of discussing economic development — G.S. 143- 318.11 (a) (4) and personnel — G.S. 143-318.11 (a) (6). VOTING: Ayes — 5; Nays — 0. RETURN TO OPEN SESSION AT 9:45 P.M. NGK Ceramics USA Inc., Economic Grant Incentive: MOTION by Commissioner Norman to call for a public hearing on Tuesday, February 18, 2003, at 7:00 p.m., regarding an annual economic incentive grant of $118,665 (over a six-year period) for NGK Ceramics, Inc., based on an expansion project totaling $31,365,000 to be completed by January of 2005. VOTING: Ayes — 5; Nays — 0. Merit Increase for the Register of Deeds: MOTION by Chairman Johnson to increase the salary of Register of Deeds Brenda Bell by 3.5% (merit pay) effective February 4, 2003. VOTING: Ayes — 5; Nays - 0. 10 Merit Increase for the Sheriff: MOTION by Commissioner Williams to increase the salary of Sheriff Phil Redmond by 3.5% (merit pay) effective February 4, 2003. VOTING: Ayes — 5; Nays — 0. Merit Increase for the County Manager: MOTION by Commissioner Tice to increase the salary of County Manager Joel Mashburn by 3.5% (merit pay) effective February 4, 2003. VOTING: Ayes — 5; Nays — 0. ADJOURNMENT: MOTION by Chairman Johnson to adjourn the meeting at 9:50 p.m. NEXT MEETING: Tuesday, February 18, 2003, 5:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m., in the Iredell County Government Center, 200 South Center Street, Statesville, NC. VOTING: Ayes — 5; Nays — 0. Approved: 11 Clerk to the Board