HomeMy WebLinkAboutJune 3 2003 Regular MinutesIREDELL COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
REGULAR MINUTES
JUNE 3, 2003
The Iredell County Board of Commissioners met in Regular Session on
Tuesday, June 3, 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, Animal Control
Supervisor Sidney Weisner, and Clerk to the Board Jean Moore.
CALL TO ORDER by Chairman Johnson.
INVOCATION by Vice Chairman Williams.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
ADJUSTMENTS OF THE AGENDA: MOTION by Chairman Johnson to
adjust the agenda by the following actions.
Additions: Request for Approval of Budget Amendment #45 in the Amount of
$53,000 for the Purpose of Transferring Unspent Funds in the General
Fund to the Capital Project Fund for HVAC (Chiller) Modifications at the
Iredell County Government Center -South
Request for Permission to Rescind the Board Action Made on May 20, 2003
to Accept the Low Bid and Award the Contract for a 12" Waterline
Extension for the Millard Refrigeration/West Farm Development Project
in the Amount of $126,620
Closed Sessions for the Purpose of Discussing two Economic Development
Projects: G.S. 143-318.1l(a) (4).
VOTING: Ayes — 5; Nays — 0.
Note: During the agenda briefing, the EMS Director gave a brief update on the
Emergency Medical Services Plan that will be presented for adoption at the June 17
meeting. No action was needed regarding the item.
PUBLIC HEARINGS
Chairman Johnson declared the meeting to be in a public hearing.
Public Comments in Reference to the Iredell Countv Budget for FY 2003-2004
Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Southern Piedmont Executive Director J.C.
Byers said his agency had 319 volunteers, and he was requesting $5,000 on an annual
basis for the next five years to assist in the mentoring program. Mr. Byers said it was
important to have adequate funds to insure the volunteer/child matches were carried out
appropriately. He said the summer Primetime program started Monday, June 2 with
106 volunteers.
Buddy Hemric said the size and scope of the government from the county to the
federal level continued to grow. He said this was a revaluation year and property
values were up 25%. Hemric said the 25% increase should be enough for the county
tax rate to be at 39.5 cents per $100. Mr. Hemric said the proposed budget could be
balanced by reducing the number of new employees. Hemric said he felt Commissioner
Williams' idea of a 42 -cent rate with $1.2 million going to the reserve fund was a good
proposal. Hemric said, however, that if 42 cents became the rate, there would still be a
tax increase.
No one else desired to speak, and Chairman Johnson adjourned the FY 2003-04
budget public hearing.
Chairman Johnson declared the meeting to be in a rezoning conditional use
district public hearing, and invited all persons desiring to speak to come forward for the
swearing-in oath.
Case No. 0305-1; New Covenant Partners; A Request to Rezone a Portion
of Property from Residential Agricultural to Light Manufacturing Conditional
Use District (Site location: Martin Lane adjacent to I-40 in Statesville, NC —
PIN#4755-96-7995): Planning Supervisor Smith said New Covenant Partners desired
to rezone 3.13 acres of a 24.356 acre tract for the warehousing and storing of stage and
lighting equipment. Smith said the rezoning condition was that SR 2207, Martin Road,
would be used as the only access to the property. He continued by saying his staff
recommended approval of the rezoning with the condition; however, they were not
recommending an amendment to the Land Use Plan. He said none of the property was
located in an industrial zone and any amendments could potentially allow for the
establishment of future industrial development along Martin Road. He further said the
planning board on May 7, 2003, voted unanimously to approve the rezoning.
No one else desired to speak, and Chairman Johnson adjourned the hearing.
OTION by Commissioner Madison, after reviewing the findings of fact and
determining them to be in order, to rezone the property involved in Case #0305-1 (New
Covenant Partners) from Residential Agricultural to Light Industrial Conditional Use
Zoning with the condition being that all ingress/egress be from Martin Lane.
VOTING: Ayes — 5; Nays — 0.
Request from the Animal Control Ad Hoc Committee for Review/Approval
of Animal Control Ordinance Amendments: Animal Control Supervisor Sidney
Weisner reviewed the changes suggested by the ad hoc committee.
Humane Society President Margaret Lane (also a member of the animal control
ad hoc committee appointed on April 1) said a balanced approach had been taken in the
amendments. She said this was why there were now two classifications: dangerous and
potentially dangerous dogs. Mrs. Lane said the severe injury definition had been
amended, and she felt it was important to retain the wording in the ordinance. Lane said
she wanted the ordinance to leave some discretion for the hearing board in order for
informed judgments to be made.
MOTION by Commissioner Norman to approve the amendments.
Amendment to the Motio : Commissioner Madison said he could support the
amendments with the exception of the definition of a severe injury. He said the
definition stated that a "severe injury meant any physical injury that required medical
treatment by a medical professional," and he felt this placed an undue burden on the
victim rather than on the dog owner. Madison said he felt the former definition should
be used (severe injury means any physical injury that results in broken bones or broken
skin). Mr. Madison said he could support the amendments if Mr. Norman amended the
motion to this effect.
Mr. Norman said he could not amend the motion due to the animal control
supervisor's comments during the briefing.
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Chairman Johnson said Mr. Weisner felt the evidence provided by medical
professionals would carry more weight in the courts than information provided by the
animal control officers.
VOTING ON COMMISSIONER NORMAN'S MOTION: Ayes — 4; Nays — 1
(Madison).
Note: See briefing minutes for additional information.
---------------------------------------CONSENT AGENDA
OTION by Commissioner Tice to approve the following nine (9) consent
agenda items.
VOTING: Ayes — 5; Nays — 0.
1. Request for Approval of the Emergency Medical Services Write -Off Policy
for Homeless, Indigent, and Transient Patients: The approved policy is as follows.
EMS BILLING POLICIES & PROCEDURES
WRITE-OFF PROCEDURE FOR HOMELESS, INDIGENT, AND TRANSIENT PARTIES
L Definition: For the purposes of this policy, homeless means having no home or
permanent place of residence, indigent means lacking the necessities of life because
of poverty, and transient means a person who stays in the area for a short time.
H. Purpose: The purpose of this policy is to avoid allowing excess amounts of debt to
accumulate in the Accounts Receivable Balance due to the inability to identify
and/or locate the responsible party after- repeated attempts.
LII. Procedure: EMS will make every reasonable effort to identify each patient it
encounters. This will be done as follows:
1. EMS Field Personnel:
a. Field personnel will collect the following information for each
patient.
Full legal name (first name, middle initial, last name, any suffix)
Date of Birth
Mailing Address
Social Security Number
Medical Insurance Provider and Personal Insurance Number
b. Completed information will be documented on the ambulance call
report and forwarded to the EMS Supervisor for review.
c. If unable to obtain complete demographic information, the on -duty
EMS Operations Supervisor will flag the ambulance call report and
submit to EMS billing.
2. EMS Billing Stuff
a. EMS Billing staff will make every reasonable attempt to obtain
incomplete demographic information. This may include researching
telephone directories, contacting local hospitals and local homeless
shelters, etc.
b. After failing to locate an accurate identity and/or mailing address for
a homeless, indigent, and transient party, the EMS Billing Staff will
write-off the debt of the individual in question after a period of four
months from the original date of transport has elapsed.
2. Request for Permission to Apply for a Citizen Corps Council Development
Grant in the amount of $2,500: Emergency Services Director Tracy Jackson
explained this grant during the briefing session. (A total of $798 will be used to
purchase equipment, and $1,702 will be used for supplies and other operating expenses.
The purpose of the citizen corp will be to (1) provide information to the public about
volunteer programs to improve community preparedness and family safety (2) utilize
local agencies in the training (3) support/coordinate/promote three Community
Emergency Response Team (CERT) training courses during year 2003 (4) plan for one
annual community-based event that promotes safety and preparedness during the 2003-
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04 budget year, and (5) collaborate with local emergency management personnel to
include volunteer coordination as a part of the Iredell County Emergency Operations
Plan.
3. Request for Permission to Apply for a Community Emergency Response
Team Program Grant in the amount of $10,000: During the briefing session,
Emergency Services Director Tracy Jackson requested approval of this grant. (A total
of $6,486 will be used to purchase equipment, and $3,514 will be used for supplies and
other operating expenses.) The purpose of the CERT Program will be to (1) enhance
the overall preparedness of Iredell County's citizenry, (2) provide information about the
CERT program and improve preparedness and safety, (3) utilize local agencies in the
training, (4) collaborate with local agencies to promote/support Neighborhood
Watch/Community Watch programs and Volunteers in Policing programs, and (5)
obtain commitment from the citizen corp council and local emergency planning
committee to support the CERT efforts/programs.
4. Request from the Downtown Statesville Development Corporation (DSDC)
and the Statesville Convention and Visitors Bureau for Permission to Place a
Historical Marker on a Site in Front of the Iredell County Government Center
(Old Courthouse) in Conjunction with the Multi -State Civil War Trails Program:
Support Services Director Vernon explained this request during the briefing. He said
the monument placement would not require any funds from the county. A handout
describing the Civil War Trails Program indicated that (1) Maryland and Virginia were
already connected (2) North Carolina had over 100 sites and was in the beginning stages
of the program (3) South Carolina and Georgia would follow after North Carolina (4)
the program connected trail stops with the usage of highway directional signs,
trailblazers, and other materials, and (5) the program's information packet was the
second most requested travel item in both Virginia and North Carolina.
5. Request for Approval of Budget Amendment #44 for the Appropriation of
Funds from Capital Reserve to the Capital Project Fund for the Iredell County
Government Center -South Project (Phase II — North Carolina Department of
Environment & Natural Resources Upfit) in Order to Begin Demolition in the
Area to be Leased: Support Services Director Vernon described this request during
the briefing. The amendment and capital project ordinance are as follows.
Account # Existing Chane Amended
BA#44
344880 499500
Capital Reserve Fund
Appropriated Fund Balance
(2,742,682
(145,625)
(2,888,307)
34080057604010904
Transfer to capital project
NCDENR upfit
145,625
145,625
IREDELL COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA
CAPITAL PROJECT ORDINANCE
ICGC-South/Phase II/NCDENR Upfit
Be it ordained by the Board of County Commissioners of Iredell County, North
Carolina:
Section 1. This capital project fund shall finance the cost of planning, design, & renovations of
the space to be leased to NCDENR located in the ICGC-South.
Demolition $ 145,625
Total $ 145,625
Section 2. Funds for this Capital Project Fund will be provided from the following sources.
Transfer from Capital Reserve Fund $ 145,625
Total 145,625
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. Upon completion of the construction project, all funds remaining in this Capital
Project Fund shall be transferred back to the Capital Reserve Fund.
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6. Request for Approval of Budget Amendment #45 in the Amount of $53,000
for the Purpose of Transferring Unspent Funds in the General Fund to the Capital
Project Fund for HVAC (Chiller) Modifications at the Iredell County Government
Center -South: Support Services Director Vernon described this request during the
briefing. The amendment and capital project ordinance are as follows.
Account # Existing Chane Amended
BA#45
Professional Fees -Other
General Fund
Asbestos Removal
97,241
General Construction
100465 532500
Courts/Main & Repairs/Bldgs & Grounds
217,214
(53,000)
164,214
100800576040
Transfer to Capital Project Fund
-
53,000
53,000
16,500
ICGC-South-Capital Project
404880495010 10040
Transfer in from General Fund
-
(53,000)
(53,000)
400480 580220 10040
Construction Costs -Other
6605
53,000
59,605
Iredell County, North Carolina
Amended Capital Project Ordinance
Iredell County Government Services Building - South
Be it Ordained by the Board of County Commissioners of Iredell County, North Carolina:
Section 1. This capital project fund shall finance the cost of planning, design, and
construction of the Iredell County Government Center -South.
Professional Fees
$ 220,500
Professional Fees -Other
17,122
Asbestos Removal
97,241
General Construction
1,523,498
Fixtures, Furniture & Equipment
88,084
Construction Costs -Other
59,605
Contingency
-
Retire HMA Promissory Note
1,900,000
Closing Costs of Financing
16,500
$ 3,922,550
Section 2. Funds for this Capital Project fund will be provided from the following sources:
Financing Proceeds — Bank of America $ 3,510,000
Transfer from Capital Reserve Fund 250,000
Operating Transfer from General Fund 53,000
Contribution — Town of Mooresville 100,000
Interest Earned on Construction Fund 9,550
$ 3,922,550
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. Upon completion for the construction project, all funds remaining in this
Capital Project Fund shall be transferred back to the Capital Reserve Fund.
Section 6. The county manager is authorized to approve expenditures from the
Contingency line item in amounts not to exceed $25,000 with an expenditure
report to the board at its next regularly scheduled meeting.
7. Request for a Discussion Regarding Riparian Buffer Permanent Rules for the
Catawba River Basin: Recently, the Alexander County Board of Commissioners shared
a letter that had been written to Governor Easley asking for further review of the
referenced rules. The letter stated the Alexander officials were in support of regulations to
improve water quality, but that the action should occur without imposing undue
restrictions on the property owners. The Iredell County commissioners will send a similar
letter.
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8. Request for Approval of the May 20, 2003 Minutes
9. Request for Permission to Rescind the Board Action Made on May 20, 2003 to
Accept the Low Bid and Award the Contract for a 12" Waterline Extension for the
Millard Refrigeration/West Farm Development Project in the Amount of $126,620:
The county manager explained during the briefing, that EnergyUnited Water had decided
to pay for the referenced waterline. This action will free up the $126,620.00, and this
amount will now be applied towards the million gallon water tank purchase.
-------------------------------------END OF CONSENT AGENDA -------------------------------
APPOINTMENTS TO BOARDS & COMMISSIONS
Carolinas Partnership (I appointment): No nominations were submitted, and
Chairman Johnson moved to postpone the appointment until the June 17 meeting.
VOTING: Ayes — 5; Nays — 0.
Region F Aging Advisory Committee (3 appointments): No nominations were
submitted, and Commissioner Norman move to postpone the three appointments until
the June 17 meeting.
VOTING: Ayes — 5; Nays — 0.
Farmland Preservation Board (2 appointments): Commissioner Williams
nominated Danny Allen and Rex Bell for reappointments.
Commissioner Madison move to close the nominations and appoint Allen and
Bell by acclamation.
VOTING: Ayes — 5; Nays — 0.
Fire Tax District Board (1 appointment): Commissioner Norman nominated
Earl Elmore for a reappointment.
MOTION by Chairman Johnson to close the nominations and appoint Elmore
by acclamation.
VOTING: Ayes — 5; Nays — 0.
Statesville Planning Board (ETJ) (2 appointments): Commissioner Madison
nominated Pressley White and Skyler Little for reappointments.
MOTION by Chairman Johnson to close the nominations and appoint White and
Little by acclamation.
VOTING: Ayes — 5; Nays — 0.
Jury Commission (1 appointment) Commissioner Tice nominated Teresa Turner.
OTION by Commissioner Madison to close the nominations and appoint Turner
by acclamation.
VOTING: Ayes — 5; Nays — 0.
Juvenile Crime Prevention Council (14 appointments) Commissioner Tice
nominated Kathy Douglas, Steve Lane, John Crone, Cheryl Hilderbrand/Julie Gibson,
Carrie Garvey, Carl Duncan, David Crosby, Angela Williams, Jean Moore, Marvin
Norman, Judge Lynn Gullett, Ray Rabe, Pat Reichart, and Pam Navey.
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MOTION by Commissioner Madison to close the nominations and to
reapppoint the 14 individuals.
VOTING: Ayes — 5; Nays — 0.
Mitchell Community College Board of Trustees (1 appointment): Commissioner
Williams nominated Wally Riddle for a reappointment.
MOTION by Chairman Johnson to close the nominations and appoint Riddle by
acclamation.
VOTING: Ayes — 5; Nays — 0.
Mooresville Planning Board (ETJ) (2 appointments): Commissioner Tice
nominated Nancy Ham DeCaron and Delores Sink
MOTION by Commissioner Madison to close the nominations and appoint
DeCaron and Sink by acclamation.
VOTING: Ayes — 5; Nays — 0.
Iredell County Planning Board (3 appointments): Commissioner Williams
nominated Franklin Rash.
Commissioner Tice nominated Kristi Pfeufer.
Chairman Johnson nominated Alan Williams.
OTION by Commissioner Madison to close the nominations and appoint Rash,
Pfeufer, and Williams by acclamation.
VOTING: Ayes — 5; Nays — 0.
Region F Emergency Medical Services Committee (I appointment
Commissioner Madison nominated Debbie Rinehardt.
MOTION by Commissioner Tice to close the nominations and appoint Rinehardt
by acclamation.
VOTING: Ayes — 5; Nays — 0.
Nursing Home Advisory Committee (2 appointments): No nominations were
submitted, and Commissioner Madison moved to postpone the two appointments until
the June 17 meeting.
VOTING: Ayes — 5; Nays — 0.
Adult Care Home Community Advisory Committee (7 appointments):
Commissioner Madison nominated Pamela Thompson.
No other nominations were submitted, and Commissioner Tice �movedl to close
the nominations, appoint Thompson by acclamation, and postpone the remaining six
appointments until the June 17 meeting.
VOTING: Ayes — 5; Nays — 0.
COUNTY MANAGER'S REPORT: County Manager Mashburn reported on
the following items.
2003 National Holstein Convention: The convention was held in Winston-
Salem, N.C., and appreciation was expressed to Ken Vaughn, Iredell County's
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Cooperative Extension Director. The convention's program was dedicated to Mr.
Vaughn for his many years of assistance.
Library Bid Opening on June 4, 2003: The bids will probably be presented to
the commissioners on June 17. A groundbreaking was proposed by Mashburn at 4:00
p.m., on Tuesday, July 15, 2003.
July Meeting Schedule: Traditionally, the board of commissioners has held one
meeting in July due to the extra budget meetings in May and June.
MOTION by Commissioner Johnson to cancel the July 1, 2003 meeting and to
hold a library groundbreaking on July 15, 2003, at 4:00 p.m., with the regular agenda
briefing to follow at 5:00 p.m., and the business meeting at 7:00 p.m.
VOTING: Ayes — 5; Nays — 0.
Appointment of Finance Director Susan Blumenstein as Acting County
Manager: Mr. Mashburn recommended that Mrs. Blumenstein be appointed as the
acting county manager from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., on Friday, June 6, 2003. He said
the reason for the request was due to a medical procedure he would be having on
that particular date.
MOTION by Commissioner Madison to appoint Susan Blumenstein as the
Acting County Manager on Friday, June 6, 2003 (7:00 a.m. — 7:00 p.m.).
VOTING: Ayes — 5; Nays — 0.
CLOSED SESSION: MOTION by Commissioner Norman at 8:09 p.m., to
enter into closed session for the purpose of discussing two economic development
matters: G.S. 143-318.11(a) (4).
VOTING: Ayes — 5; Nays — 0.
(RETURN TO OPEN SESSION AT 8:52 P.M.)
CALL FOR PUBLIC HEARING REGARDING PIT INSTRUCTION AND
TRAINING, LLC: MOTION by Chairman Johnson to call for a public hearing on
Tuesday, June 17, 2003 at 7:00 p.m. regarding an economic development incentive of
$112,800.00, over a five-year period, for PIT Instruction and Training L.L.C., based on
a $6 million investment in Iredell County.
VOTING: Ayes — 5; Nays — 0.
ADJOURNMENT: OTION by Chairman Johnson at 8:53 p.m. to adjourn
the meeting. NEXT MEETING: Thursday, June 5, 2003, at 6:00 p.m., for the purpose
of reviewing the proposed budget (Iredell County Government Center, South Wing
Conference Room, 200 South Center Street, Statesville, NC).
VOTING: Ayes - 5; Nays — 0.
Approved:
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Clerk to the Board