HomeMy WebLinkAboutDecember 7 2004 Joint Meeting With School BoardIREDELL COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
MINUTES FOR THE JOINT MEETING WITH THE IREDELL-STATESVILLE
SCHOOL BOARD & THE DECEMBER 7 AGENDA BRIEFING
DECEMBER 7, 2004
The Iredell County Board of Commissioners met with the Board of Education
for the Iredell-Statesville School System on Tuesday, December 7, 2004, at 5:00 p.m.,
in the Iredell County Government Center (South Wing Conference Room), 200 South
Center Street, Statesville, NC.
Iredell County Commissioners Present Were:
Chairman Sara Haire Tice
Vice Chairman Godfrey Williams
Steve D. Johnson
Marvin Norman
Ken M. Robertson
County staff present were: County Manager Joel Mashburn, Finance Director
Susan Blumenstein, and Clerk to the Board Jean Moore.
Board of Education Members In Attendance Were:
Dr. David Cash (Chairman)
Tara Cashion (Vice Chairman)
Jim Head
Charles Kelly
Keith Williams
Dr. Kenneth Wilson
School system staff members present were: Dr. Terry Holliday
(Superintendent), Dr. Steve Lane (Deputy Supt.), Terry Haas (Finance Officer), Rob
Jackson (Construction Manager), and Dr. Kenny Miller (Maintenance Services
Director).
Force.
Also in attendance was Carmen Boggs, a member of the Joint Facilities Task
CALL TO ORDER by Chairman Tice.
Dr. Cash explained the composition and purpose of the Joint Facilities Task
Force. He said the task force had studied the facility needs of the school system and
created a list of priorities. Dr. Cash said the hiring of a consultant was now needed.
Rob Jackson said the projects had been divided into three phases.
Commissioner Johnson said it was his understanding the consultant would be
confined to Phase I of the plan, and then, the costs would be compared to the amount of
money in the revenue stream.
Chairman Tice asked the cost for the consultant.
Jackson said $29,371.00, and this would be for the Construction Control
Corporation.
Dr. Cash said the school board desired to have a commitment from the
commissioners on all three phases of the plan. He said the school board wanted to have
an on-going, long-term plan.
Commissioner Robertson said he preferred to know the cost of each segment or
part before approval.
County Manager Mashburn said a thorough background check had been
performed on Cost Control Construction, and the company had received high marks.
Chairman Tice asked what fund, in the county's budget, would be used for the
$29,371 consultant's payment.
Blumenstein said it would have to be contingency.
Commissioner Williams asked about alternate proposals. He asked if they could
be looked at, along the way, if needed.
Commissioner Johnson said some flexibility was needed, and Chairman Tice
reminded everyone that one board of commissioners could not bind a future board.
Dr. Cash said he hoped the dialogue between the two boards would continue in
the future.
Commissioner Robertson asked about large housing developments that might
occur and how these would impact the plan.
Dr. Cash said the school system was trying to stay "attuned" to projected
growth, and he said, "We have to be flexible."
Commissioner Johnson said he wanted to stress that a timeframe and funding
methodology had not been approved by the task force. He said this was inaccurately
reported in the paper, and he wanted to make sure everyone understood they had not
been approved.
Commissioner Norman said that in addition, no financial figure had ever been
approved by the task force.
MOTIO by Commissioner Norman to suspend the Board of Commissioner's
Rules of Procedures to allow for a vote regarding the task force's plan and the hiring of
a consultant.
VOTING: Ayes — 5; Nays — 0.
(Note: The Rules of Procedure do not allow motions to be considered at the briefing or
5 o'clock session except to recess or adjourn, or affix the time to adjourn. This was the reason
for the suspension ofthe rules.)
MOTION by Commissioner Johnson to adopt the Joint School Facilities Task
Force's Plan that establishes the priorities of school needs with the understanding that
there is not a timeframe or commitment of revenues.
VOTING: Ayes — 5; Nays — 0.
OT1ON by Commissioner Johnson to (1) accept the recommendation of the
Iredell-Statesville Board of Education by hiring the Construction Control Corporation
for the consulting work associated with the facility needs, (2) for the costs to not exceed
$29,271.00, and (3) for the $29,271.00 to be derived from the county's contingency
fund.
VOTING: Ayes — 5; Nays — 0.
(Note: This will be Budget Amendment # 27.)
Commissioner Johnson stressed the importance of informing the consultant that
quality buildings were needed and to forego any unnecessary amenities -- bell towers,
for example.
2
Dr. Cash said the system wanted to build efficient buildings -- "no extra bells or
whistles."
Dr. Cash then called his board to order and motions were made and seconded to
approve the plan and consultant.
Phase I Priorities are as follows:
• Elementary Schools — Troutman, NB Mills, Monticello, Sharon, and Mt. Mourne
• Middle Schools — North, Troutman, West and Brawley*
• High Schools - Lake Norman, West, and Statesville (part one)
• Consultants - Provide cost estimates based on current bid climate
• Land — Purchase land for future southern zone elementary
* West and Brawley projects will be completed if funds are available
Phase II Priorities are as follows:
• Elementary Schools — Northview, Ebenezer, East Iredell, Shepherd, Celeste
• Middle Schools — Statesville and remaining items for West and Brawley
• High Schools — North, South, and Statesville (part 2)
Phase III Priorities are as follows:
• Elementary Schools — Cool Springs, Union Grove, Lake Norman, new southern
zone school
RECESS: Chairman Tice at 5:35 p.m., called for a brief recess. The school
board members and staff then departed.
The commissioners resumed their meeting at 5:50 p.m., for the purpose of
allowing some of the county employees to explain their agenda requests.
Request from the Wayside Volunteer Fire Department for Permission to
Pursue Financing for the Purchase of a Replacement Fire Truck: Finance Director
Blumenstein said the board on November 23, 2004, requested that she obtain financial
proposals from banking institutions relating to Wayside's 2004 American LaFrance
pumper/tanker vehicle. Blumenstein said the RFP stated the county would not be a
party to the financing; however, annual operating funds would be supplied, along with
$50,000 annually, for three years, from the Fire Tax District Board. She said the RFP
stipulated that Wayside desired to finance $240,000 of the total $389,735 purchase
price. Blumenstein said the RFP also included the following two options:
Option A: Five level annual payments beginning one year after delivery date
(estimated delivery to be mid-January 2005)
Option B: $50,000 principal plus interest annual payment Years 1-3 and
$22,500 principal plus interest annual payment Years 4-7
Mrs. Blumenstein then explained the following proposals that were received.
3
Wayside Volunteer Fire Department
Financing Propos Is
5-vear amortization
7—vear amortization
Annual
Closing
Prepayment
Total
Annual
Closing
Prepayment
Total
Interest
Costs
Penalty
Interest
Interest
Costs
Penalty
Interest &
Rate
& Costs
Rate
Costs
BB&T
3.61%
$ 587
0%
$27,193
3.78%
$587
0%
$30,638
Bank of
4.50%
-
2%
$33,350
4.75%
-
2%
$38,299
America
DaimlerChrysler
3.50%
-
0%
$25,776
3.80%
-
0%
$30,210
(American
LaFrance)
First Citizens
3.70%
$ 600
0%
$27,285
3.99%
$600
0%
$31,721
Bank
SouthTrust
3.61%
*
0%
$26,606
3.83%
*
0%
$30,449
Bank
+ costs
+costs
*Attorney's
opinion,
recording fees
No $ amount
listed
United Financial
Did not submit a proposal
Note: United Financial is the company that Wayside initially contacted and entered into a
financing arrangement with on May 3, 2004.
Mrs. Blumenstein said it appeared the Daimler/Chrysler proposal would have
the lowest cost. She said the fire department officials had entered into a lease and
option agreement with United Financial in May of this year; however, she felt the
commitment would be nonbinding, especially if the county refused to offer a letter of
support. (Traditionally, United Financial has always requested letters of support from
the county when the VFDs obtained financings.)
Request for the Appointment of a Voting Delegate for the Legislative Goals
Conference Sponsored by the North Carolina Association of County
Commissioners Scheduled for Thursday and Friday, January 13-14, 2005, at the
Radisson Hotel, in High Point, NC: The board discussed the legislative conference
and decided to postpone any decisions until the December 21 meeting.
ADJOURNMENT: Chairman Tice adjourned the briefing session at 6:30 p.m.
Approved:
4
Clerk to the Board