HomeMy WebLinkAboutSeptember_2_2003_Briefing_SessionIREDELL COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
BRIEFING MINUTES
SEPTEMBER 2 2003
The Iredell County Board of Commissioners met in Briefing Session on
Tuesday, September 2, 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 (arrived at approximately 5:10 p.m.)
Vice Chairman Godfrey Williams
Doug Madison
Marvin Norman
Sara Haire Tice
Staff present: County Manager Joel Mashburn, Finance Director Susan
Blumenstein, Library Director Steve Messick, Planning Supervisor Ron Smith, Human
Resources Director Carolyn Harris, Health Director Ray Rabe, and Clerk to the Board
Jean Moore.
CALL TO ORDER by Vice Chairman Williams.
Request from the City of Statesville for the Approval of an Easement for
Sidewalk Construction at Iredell Memorial Hospital (pedestrian loop around the
hospital and surrounding neighborhood): Wayne Lambert, the City of Statesville's
Director of Public Works, requested approval of an easement for sidewalk construction
on property being leased to Iredell Memorial Hospital. He said the intent of the project
was to provide a pedestrian loop around the hospital and the surrounding neighborhood.
Lambert then presented a diagram with the easement dimensions.
Commissioner Norman asked if a ten foot right-of-way was standard.
Lambert said it was this size due to the catch basin lid.
Commissioner Madison asked if the lease with Iredell Memorial had been
reviewed to determine if easements were allowed.
County Manager Mashburn said Arnold Nunnery, Iredell Memorial's
administrator, had advised that the hospital's board of trustees had no objections to the
easement.
Request from the Iredell Friends of the Library Organization for
Permission to Conduct Fundraisers on behalf of the new Library Building: Library
Director Steve Messick, along with Friends of the Library Chairman Arlene Foster and
Vice Chairman Lisa McBane explained fundraising ideas on behalf of the new library.
McBane requested permission to conduct the following fundraisers:
Children's Self Portrait Tiles: Ceramic tiles would be sold at $50 and placed in the
children's area. This would be an on-going project with a potential of $15,000 being made.
The funds would be used to enhance the children's section.
Engraved Brick Tribute: Personalized bricks would be available for $150.00. They
would be placed on the walkway of the library's main entrance. After expenses, this project
has the potential of earning approximately $112,000.
Leave a Legacv Program: Plaques recognizing donors would be placed in the library.
The levels of participation are as follows:
Patron
$100-$249
Donor
$250-499
Supporter
$500-999
Benefactor
$1,000-$2,499
Founder
$2,500-$4,999
(Special Recognition
for donors giving $5,000 or more)
In addition, McBane said the public could join the Friends of the Library
organization, and there were four membership levels.
Commissioner Norman asked how many members were in the group, and he
was advised there were around 186.
Messick added that the library's architect was familiar with the organization's
plans.
Request for Approval of a Revision to the Workers' Compensation Policy
(Article Vl. Holidays and Leave, Section 11 of the Iredell County Personnel
Ordinance): Human Resources Director Harris said the 2002 Homeland Security Act
had a two-phase smallpox vaccination plan. She said that after Phase I, a question was
raised as to whether or not smallpox was a covered illness under the N.C. Workers'
Compensation Act. Harris said that in June of this year, the legislature ratified House
Bill 273 stating that state employees who received the vaccination, and subsequently
suffered adverse reactions, would be given workers compensation coverage. She said
the Bill also required local governments to adopt a policy addressing sick leave and
salary continuation for employees in similar situations. Mrs. Harris requested that
Section 11 in the county's personnel ordinance be revised to reflect the requirements of
House Bill 273.
Request from the Health Department for Approval of a Budget
Amendment to Allocate Bioterrorism Grant Revenue in the Amount of $3,000 for
the Purchase of a Public Health Laboratory Computer System: Health Director
Rabe said $3,000 had been received from the state for the specific purpose of
purchasing a public health laboratory computer system that would be of assistance in
the event of bioterrorism events.
Announcement from the Health Director in Reference to $32,307 being
received in Bioterrorism Funding: Health Director Rabe said notice had been
received that $32,307 had been awarded to his department. He said that since the funds
were being allocated for bioterrorism response, Emerency Services Director Tracy
Jackson would be contacted about the needs of the county. Rabe said that when a need
was identified, he would return to the board with a budget amendment.
Discussion and Announcement Regarding a $200,000 Rural Health Care
Services Outreach Grant (Dental Services): Health Director Rabe said he recently
learned that 25 federal grants would be awarded throughout the country for a "wide
range of health services," and he had envisioned the funding could be used for dental
services. Rabe said the Partnership for Young Children had hired a grant writer, who
could fill out the application, but there was not enough time for his staff to "pull the
data together" by the September 12, 2003 deadline. He said for this reason, the grant
would not be pursued this year, but in the near future he would probably discuss the
county's need for more dental services. Rabe said there was a goal to create one large
dental clinic in the Troutman area. He said the current duplication of services,
equipment, and staff could be eliminated with one clinic and the costs would be
reduced. He said the health department currently treated children from 5 to 18 years of
age, but if grant funding were received, the services could be expanded to cover low-
income people of all ages as well as a "component out of the highly underutilized
facility at Fifth Street's Open Door Clinic." Rabe said a facility in Troutman would
offer a centrally located clinic for all of the people in the county.
Fifth Street Ministries Board Member Chandler Bryan, who attended the
meeting with Rabe, also stressed the need for more dental services. He said many
dentists would not treat Medicaid patients.
Commissioner Norman encouraged the health director to search for grants that
would help to provide dental services in the county.
2
Commissioner Tice said that in the past, dental equipment had been donated for
a facility in Mooresville.
Rabe said alternative sources would be searched, and this particular grant would
be reviewed again next year.
Request for Approval of a Resolution Declaring 600 Cases of Library
Books Surplus and a Request to Sell them through a Private Sale: Finance
Director Susan Blumenstein said the library had more books than could be stored, and
the next surplus sale would not occur until June. She asked for permission to declare
600 cases of books surplus and to sell them through a private sale.
Commissioner Williams said that other counties donated unused books to their
Friends of the Library organizations. He asked if the members of Iredell County's
chapter had been approached to see if they could use the books.
Chairman Johnson mentioned that in the past, when he had attended the surplus
sales, that many of the books appeared to have never been checked out or used. He
asked if more scrutiny could be given when making the book purchases.
The commissioners agreed to offer the books to the Friends of the Library as a
donation, if the organization desired to have them.
ADJOURNMENT: Chairman Johnson adjourned the briefing session at 6:10
p.m.
Approval:
3
Clerk to the Board