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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMarch 18 2003 Briefing MinutesIREDELL COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS BRIEFING MINUTES MARCH 18, 2003 The Iredell County Board of Commissioners met in Briefing Session on Tuesday, March 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, Finance Director Susan Blumenstein, Interim County Assessor Bob Miller, Chief Deputy Rick Dowdle, Support Services Director Jim Vernon, Code Enforcement and Planning Director Lynn Niblock, Emergency Services Director Tracy Jackson, Emergency Medical Services Director Lee Darnell, Assistant Fire Marshal Tim Warren, Planning Supervisor Ron Smith, and Clerk to the Board Jean Moore. Call to order by Chairman Johnson. Request for Approval of the January & February Refunds and Releases: Interim County Assessor Bob Miller presented the January and February 2003 refunds and releases and requested their approval. He said the refund/release listings did not include any properties owned by the commissioners. Request from the Town of Troutman Regarding a Correction to the Iredell County Code: Section 5-28 (Fire Code Enforcement): Donald Duncan, the Administrator for the Town of Troutman, said one of the county's fire marshals had recently reviewed the county code and discovered a section that was inaccurate. Mr. Duncan said the county had been providing fire inspections for Troutman for many years; however, the code's language indicated the Town had its own Fire Prevention Code. He said the code could be corrected by the omission of the Town of Troutman in the last sentence of Section 5-28. Request from the Emergency Medical Service (EMS) Department for Approval of a "Write -Off Procedure for Accounts Involving the Homeless, Indigent, and Transient Parties" after Four Months: Tracy Jackson and Lee Darnell requested approval of a new policy that would allow the "write off' of EMS debts that were incurred by homeless, indigent and transient individuals after four months. Jackson said the current practice was to invoice patients once per month for four months, and then, the accounts were submitted to a collection agency. He said delinquent accounts remained "on the books" for three years. Mr. Jackson said $1.8 million was currently owed, and he felt it would be more beneficial for the staff to pursue the accounts or individuals that might pay. He said there were two office workers in EMS, and one did collections and the other performed invoicing tasks. EMS Director Darnell said the accounts involved in the request averaged about $1,000 a month, or $12,000 a year. Commissioner Madison stressed the importance of someone in the EMS department checking the county tax records to determine if a debtor owned property, or vehicles, before the accounts were written off. Jackson said liens had not been pursued in the past, but credit-reporting companies were notified about delinquent accounts. Finance Director Blumenstein said the Debt Setoff Program allowed counties to submit delinquent accounts to a Department of Revenue clearinghouse. She said that if a person owed money to the county, a claim could be filed on state income tax refunds due to the individual. She said, however, it was mandatory to have the correct social security number. It was the consensus of the board members to delete this item from the agenda and to discuss it again on Tuesday, April 1, 2003. Request from the Emergency Services Director for Permission to Apply for a 2003 Emergency Management Performance Grant (Emergency Operations Center) in the Amount of $5,200: Jackson requested permission to apply for $5,200 in grant funds for the purchase of equipment and supplies for the emergency operations center. He said the supplies would be especially useful if the operations center had to temporarily relocate due to unforeseen circumstances. Request from the Appropriate Punishment Options Director for Approval of the Criminal Justice Partnership Program (CJPP) Budget for FY 2003-04: Pam Navey, the Appropriate Punishment Options Executive Director, requested approval of the 2003-04 budget for the Iredell County Day Resource Center. She said that on March 13, 2003, the CJPP Advisory Board approved the $121,929 budget. Chairman Johnson asked Ms. Navey to return to the board with an update if the State made cutbacks to the program. Commissioner Williams asked how the budget cuts affected the program this year and how the mental health reform laws would impact the center. Navey said the number of participants dropped from 120 to 0. She said the program currently had 47 clients, and she was working with Chief Dowdle in an effort to alleviate some of the jail overcrowding. In reference to the new mental health laws, Navey said, "This will mean more business for us." Request for Discussion/Approval of the Five -Year Capital Projects Plan: Support Services Director Jim Vernon, Finance Director Blumenstein, and County Manager Mashburn shared a five-year capital projects plan that included an appropriation of $1.5 million from the General Fund to a Capital Reserve Fund on an annual basis. (The plan included 16 potential projects with a possible funding source for each.) Commissioner Williams said he felt it would be presumptuous to approve the plan without knowing about cost over -runs. Chairman Johnson said he could envision the plan as a working document; however, he desired more time to review it. He also suggested that the board develop a capital projects priority listing. Blumenstein said the county was currently seeking architectural Request for Qualifications for the new social services building. She mentioned the financing that would occur in November for the schools, but she said there would not be enough time to include the social services project. In addition, Mrs. Blumenstein said another bank placement loan could not be done this fiscal year. She said the final payment for the Highway 21 health building would be on July 10, 2003. Commissioner Norman noted the needs of the communication department. He mentioned they were not included in the plan. Mashburn said communications would need a substantial amount of money, regardless of whether the 800 megahertz or the VHF high -band system was chosen. He said the staff was still trying to evaluate what was needed and the costs. 2 Commissioner Madison mentioned the 911 revenue fund and the possibility of obtaining the communication improvements money from this account. Mashburn said this could probably be done; however, the current rate (43¢ per telephone line) might need to be reviewed. It was the consensus of the board members to delay any action on the plan until April 15. Chairman Johnson said he would like to see the major projects separated out, e.g., social services building. (Mashburn said a groundbreaking ceremony for the new library would be scheduled in June.) Request for Approval of a Resolution for the Lake Norman Volunteer Fire Department (VFD) Regarding the Purchase of Land for a New Building: Frank Phillips, a member of Fire Tax District Board and the Lake Norman Volunteer Fire Department said the VFD desired to borrow $189,000 (3.4% interest rate) from First Charter Bank for approximately seven acres of land on Southfork Road and Brawley School Road. He said the VFD planned to build a new building, and the bank needed a resolution from the county acknowledging the debt. He said, however, the resolution stipulated the county was not liable for the loan. Williams mentioned the possibility of having an EMS base and a sheriff's satellite office at the same location, or under the same roof with the fire department. He asked when construction would begin. Phillips said the department did not have any drawings yet. He said the department would "entertain the idea of having the sheriff and EMS close by, with them paying their own way." Chairman Johnson said that perhaps space for the sheriff's office and EMS could be included as alternates in the bid. Presentation from City of Statesville Officials Regarding Future Plans for the Civic Center Area (West Front & Meeting Street vicinity): Statesville Mayor John Marshall appeared before the board to inquire about the county participating with the city (50150 basis) on a plan to improve the appearance of an area located at the corner of West Front Street and Meeting Street. Marshall said the city had recently demolished the former Raymer Building, and the site was already much improved. He suggested that the county and city acquire the adjacent properties and demolish the structures. (This suggestion included the building currently occupied by the recreation department.) Mayor Marshall said 130 parking places could be achieved by the project. He said the council had not formally voted in reference to the joint project, but he was optimistic that approval could be obtained. Marshall said "nice" landscaping was also needed. Chairman Johnson said he felt that if the area were cleared and used for parking, that it should be used for citizens conducting county business. He said the Mitchell College representatives had recently discussed the need for more parking. Mr. Johnson said that as the parking areas near the college campus filled up, the students would probably start using lots closer to the government center. Commissioner Madison asked the timeframe for relocating the recreation department. Mashburn said the current plans were to move the recreation department to the maintenance facility -- in about a year. Commissioner Tice said the office space previously used by the elections department (bottom of Iredell County Government Center) was now vacant. She asked why recreation couldn't use it at the present time. 3 It was the consensus of the board to allow the county and city staff, i.e., County Support Services Director Jim Vernon and Statesville Director of Public Works Wayne Lambert to review the mayor's improvement plan and to develop some cost figures. (No date was given on when the staff members would return to the board with their findings.) ADJOURNMENT: Chairman Johnson adjourned the briefing at 6:30 p.m. Approved: 4 Clerk to the Board