HomeMy WebLinkAboutOctober_5_2004_Briefing_MinutesIREDELL COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
BRIEFING MINUTES
OCTOBER 5, 2004
The Iredeil County Board of Commissioners met in Briefing Session on
Tuesday, October 5, 2004, 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, and Clerk to the Board Jean Moore.
CALL TO ORDER by Chairman Johnson.
RECOGNITION OF A SPECIAL GUEST: Boy Scout Andrew Jones, with
Troop 171, attended the meeting in conjunction with completing the requirements for a
communication merit badge.
PLANNING & ZONING REQUESTS: Planning Supervisor Ron Smith
described the 7:00 p.m., public hearing matters.
Commissioner Tice asked the status of the sewer treatment plant at Quiet Cove.
Smith said Aqua, N.C., had requested to expand its sewer treatment plant
located at the corner of Quiet Cove and Hwy. 150. He said the current capacity was
around 100K gallons per day, and the expansion request was up to 300K. Smith said
the request had been submitted to the North Carolina Department of Environment and
Natural Resources, where it was pending further action.
REQUEST FROM THE MOUNT MOURNE VOLUNTEER FIRE
DEPARTMENT FOR A DISCUSSION AND/OR APPROVAL OF AN
ADDITIONAL PAID FIREMAN'S POSITION: Blake Lawing, Wayne Turner,
Herman Newton, and Rick Howard, all representatives of the Mount Mourne VFD
presented a revised 2004-05 budget. Mr. Turner said revisions had been made to
accommodate for a second full-time position beginning October 1, 2004. He said the
additional cost would be paid from the VFD's fund balance with no adjustment of the
current tax rate. Turner said there would be some budgetary impact from the new
position; however, the department was in good financial condition.
Possible Housing of an EMS Unit at the Mount Mourne VFD: Turner said the
department's building had been constructed in anticipation of growth. He said space
was available, if the county desired to lease an area for EMS usage.
County Manager Mashburn said it was anticipated that the EMS base located at
the Iredell County Government Center -South facility would be relocated. He said an
analysis needed to be made regarding whether or not the Mooresville base needed to be
separated into two units.
Emergency Services Director Tracy Jackson was requested to review the EMS
calls to determine the best site(s) to meet the needs of the Mooresville citizens.
Chairman Johnson welcomed Mr. Lawing, the new Mount Mourne VFD Chief
to the meeting. Johnson encouraged Chief Lawing, and the other Mount Mourne
representatives, to advise the board of commissioners well in advance of any potential
budgetary problems.
REQUEST FOR APPROVAL OF A RESOLUTION RELATING TO THE
AWARDING OF AUTOMATED DEMAND RESPONSE AND PARATRANSIT
SCHEDULING & ROUTING SOFTWARE SYSTEM BIDS: Transportation
Director Ben Garrison said an automated demand response software package would aid
in route optimizing. He said citizens telephoning the office and requesting
transportation would be automatically placed on the appropriate route. Garrison said
the present system was cumbersome, and a new system would print a map for the van
drivers to use. In addition, he said an automated vehicle locator would track the
vehicles and advise as to whether or not a stop was made. He said Iredell County had
been asked by the state to serve as the lead agency in procuring requests for proposals
(RFPs) for the described systems. Garrison said, however, the county had no obligation
to purchase any of the systems. (See regular minutes for additional information.)
REQUEST FOR A DISCUSSION AND/OR APPROVAL TO AWARD
BIDS FOR THE NEW SOCIAL SERVICES BUILDING: Support Services
Director Jim Vernon, along with MBAJ Architects Rob Johnson and Grace Wallace
attended the meeting to discuss the bids for the new social services building.
Vernon said he, along with the architects, recommended for the bids to be
awarded to the separate prime bidders along with a separate prime alternate for an
emergency generator. He said the cost would be $6,058,650.00, but this didn't include
contingencies and other "soft" costs. Vernon then shared an amended capital project
ordinance that placed the project's cost at $6,950,000.00.
Commissioner Norman mentioned that in a past meeting, an elevator had been
deleted. He asked if this was still correct.
Vernon said the $6 million included only one elevator for the building.
County Manager Mashburn said there was only one flight of stairs to the second
floor. He asked Social Services Director Wall about the location of most of the public
assistance programs.
Wall said the public assistance programs were primarily on the first floor, and
this was where most of the elderly persons would be served.
Commissioner Williams asked about the possibility of rising steel costs.
Both Vernon and Architect Johnson assured Mr. Williams that the steel prices
were "locked in."
Commissioner Madison asked the budgeted amount.
Blumenstein said $6.5 to $6.8 million.
Commissioner Madison expressed concern about the increased costs.
Chairman Johnson asked if the project could be "trimmed" in any areas.
Architect Johnson said he was pleased with the bid results. He said that in
reference to another elevator, this decision needed to be made "early on."
(The bids were not placed on the consent agenda. See regular minutes for
additional information regarding this matter.)
ADJOURNMENT: Chairman Johnson adjourned the briefing session at 6:15
p.m.
Approved:
2
Clerk to the Board