HomeMy WebLinkAboutAugust_17_2004_Briefing_MinutesIREDELL COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
BRIEFING MINUTES
AUGUST 17, 2004
The Iredell County Board of Commissioners met in Briefing Session on
Tuesday, August 17, 2004, 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, Tax Administrator Bill Doolittle, Library Director Steve Messick, Health
Director Donna Campbell, Emergency Management Director Tracy Jackson, and Clerk
to the Board Jean Moore.
CALL TO ORDER by Chairman Johnson.
REQUEST FROM THE CITY OF MONROE FOR AN OPPORTUNITY
TO DISCUSS A PROPOSED NATURAL GAS PIPELINE PROJECT AND THE
ACQUISITION OF RIGHTS-OF-WAY: Joining the commissioners for this segment
of the meeting were City of Monroe Councilman Robert "Bob" Smith, Monroe City
Manager Doug Spell, Monroe City Attorney Terry Sholar and the City of Monroe's
Energy Services Director, the Economic Development Director, and an Engineering
Consultant. Statesville Mayor John Marshall also attended the meeting.
Councilman Smith said approval was being requested to acquire rights-of-way
in Iredell County for the purpose of constructing a gas pipeline. He said the affected
property in Iredell County was primarily located in -and -around the intersection of
Highway 115/Langtree Road in Mooresville. Smith said the line would start in Union
County and extend through Cabarrus and Mecklenburg Counties with a tap connection
at the Transcontinental Pipeline located in Iredell County. He said the City of Monroe
currently purchased gas from Piedmont Natural Gas, but the contract expired in
December of 2006. He said an energy study had been completed, and it indicated the
City's most economical method to obtain services would be to become a direct
customer of the Transcontinental Pipeline. Smith said project support had been
obtained from members of Congress and the North Carolina State Department of
Commerce. He added that the pipeline's extension would be an economic asset for the
entire region, or all of the counties involved. Mr. Smith said Monroe was only
interested in building the pipeline -- not "cherry picking" energy customers along the
way.
Commissioner Tice inquired about the route of the pipeline. She also asked if
the company intended to condemn property if the owners were reluctant to sell the
rights -of way.
Smith said the City of Monroe wanted to purchase the rights-of-way, and the
municipality would not have any authority to condemn property in Cabarrus or Iredell
County.
Commissioner Williams noted that the maps submitted by the City indicated that
a large housing development (Johnson Dairy Road & Shearer Roads) would be affected.
Smith said the maps were not exact. He said that as much as possible, the
pipeline route would follow the power lines. Mr. Smith said the power line actually
extended through the subdivision, as shown on the map. He said the City could try to
work around condemnation, and this could be put in writing.
The City of Monroe attorney clarified the condemnation matter by saying the
General Statutes allowed a municipality to purchase property not within its territorial
boundaries, but it would be up to the governing body having jurisdiction to make the
actual condemnation.
Tice asked what would happen to Monroe's existing gas line.
Smith said it belonged to Piedmont Natural gas, and it would remain with the
company.
Statesville Mayor John Marshall said Monroe and Statesville had almost the
same electric load, but Statesville didn't sell gas. He said the City of Monroe was
trying to increase its tax base while at the same time aid and promote economic
development.
Commissioner Madison mentioned that Piedmont Natural Gas paid taxes. He
asked if the City of Monroe would pay taxes on the pipeline asset.
The Monroe representatives said no. Mayor Marshall added that the City of
Statesville didn't pay taxes on "distribution."
Chairman Johnson said the project would impact the lives of several property
owners.
Smith said the project would be of economic benefit, and it would help to retain
industry and jobs.
Monroe City Manager Spell said compensation would be given to the owners,
and the property would be appraised, if necessary.
Commissioner Norman asked the Monroe officials if they actually felt the
property owners would agree to sell the rights-of-way.
Spell said there would probably be different circumstances with each property
owner.
Commissioner Williams noted that the property being discussed was some of
Iredell's most valuable, and there shouldn't be a rush in making a decision.
Norman said the property owners needed to be informed about the project, and a
public meeting might be the best way to address the matter.
Tice agreed. She said some owners knew about the project, but she would not
be comfortable making a decision without the public being fully informed.
Commissioner Madison said he didn't have any problems with the project, but
he had concerns about condemnations.
County Manager Mashburn said there were several facilities in the Mooresville
area that might be available for a public meeting, and that Iredell's GIS Department
could supply a name and address listing of the affected property owners. He said the
Monroe city officials could then notify the owners about the project and public meeting.
Tice said, "Our first consideration or concern should be for our own citizens."
Madison said advertisements of the meeting also needed to be in the local
papers.
Note: A fact sheet distributed by the City of Monroe offered the following information
about the proposed project.
Impacts to Iredell County
• Pipeline, depending on final route, will cross no more than 60 parcels or as few as
11 ifpossible.
• The right-of-way will vary from 20 to 50 feet in width, with a majority of the route
being 30 feet wide.
• The right- of -way will parallel existing railroad, pipeline, electric transmission lines,
or highway rights-of-way.
• The proposed project, depending on the final route will encompass between 13 or 30
acres.
• Iredell's property owners will receive fair market value from the City of Monroe for
Request for the Appointment of Additional Assistant Emergency
Management Coordinators: Emergency Management Director Tracy Jackson said
additional individuals knowledgeable about emergency management principles and
practices would be beneficial during times of disasters or critical situations. He
recommended the appointment of ten county employees who could be used
approximately three times a year for drills and emergency responses. Jackson said
funds were available from the state for training.
Commissioner Tice said a recent newspaper article advised that the Town of
Mooresville had obtained grant funds for an 800 Mhz system. She asked how this
would work with the county's system.
Jackson said it wouldn't impact the county's system, and the telecommunicators
would still be able to dispatch to Mooresville. He said 800 system would offer more
flexibility for the Mooresville users -- they would be able to communicate with agencies
using the same system.
Request from Wilson Security Service for an Increase in the Hourly Rate
for Work Performed by Security Guards: County Manager Mashburn said the
owner of Wilson's Security Service had requested an hourly rate increase for security
guard services. He said the county currently paid $10.17 an hour for unarmed guards
and $10.52 for armed services. Mashburn said the company's owner, Mr. Wilson, had
requested a flat rate of $11 an hour for both service types due to the rising costs of
workers compensation.
Commissioner Williams said it would have been preferable to make a decision
on the request prior to the adoption of the budget.
Commissioner Norman asked where the money would be found to pay the
increase.
Mashburn said the departments using the services (library, courts, social
services, and health) would have to absorb their share of the costs; however, if their
individual budgets were not sufficient, the county's contingency fund would have to be
used.
Commissioner Williams mentioned that previously, other security guard
suppliers had offered bids for the services, but the department heads wanted to remain
with Wilson's Security due to the security guards being familiar with the employees and
the day-to-day operations of the offices.
Finance Director Blumenstein said the request would be about a seven to eight
percent increase, or a difference of about $24,537 based on one month's billable hours.
Commissioner Norman said the best time to evaluate the merit of the request
would be during the budget season. He said that even if bids were requested, they still
might not be lower than Wilson's services.
Williams said that seeking bids for the security services would be useless if the
department heads started making requests to remain with Wilson Security.
Commissioner Madison noted that Mr. Wilson had indicated in his letter that the
service would continue at the present rates, if the board members found the request
"unrealistic."
Chairman Johnson said he understood that Mr. Wilson planned to attend the
7:00 p.m. meeting, and the board could discuss the matter again at that time.
ADJOURNMENT: Chairman Johnson adjourned the briefing at 6:05 p.m.
Approval:
Clerk to the Board