HomeMy WebLinkAboutAugust_16_2005_Briefing_MinutesIREDELL COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
BRIEFING MINUTES
AUGUST 16, 2005
The Iredell County Board of Commissioners met in Briefing Session on
Tuesday, August 16, 2005, at 5:00 p.m., in the Iredell County Government Center
(South Wing Conference Room), 200 South Center Street, Statesville, NC.
Present were:
Sara Haire Tice, Chairman
Vice Chairman Godfrey Williams
Steve Johnson
Marvin Norman
Ken Robertson
Staff present: County Manager Joel Mashburn, Deputy County Manager Susan
Blumenstein, Inspections & Planning Director Lynn Niblock, Planning Supervisor
Steve Warren, Tax Administrator Bill Doolittle, Chief Deputy Rick Dowdle, Assistant
County Manager Tracy Jackson, Chief Animal Control Officer Robb Tatham, Solid
Waste Director David Lambert, Library Director Steve Messick, and Clerk to the Board
Jean Moore.
CALL TO ORDER by Chairman Tice.
RECOGNITION OF BOY SCOUTS: Boy Scouts from Troop 171, affiliated
with Williamson Chapel Methodist Church, in Mooresville, NC, were welcomed to the
meeting. The scouts, Jacob McNeill, Ryan W. Fanant, and Adam Webb were
accompanied by their adult leader, Mr. Jim McNeill. (At the conclusion of the
meeting, Commissioner Robertson, who is associated with Troop 171 and the church,
provided the scouts with a tour of the county offices.)
REQUEST FROM THE IREDELL-STATESVILLE SCHOOL SYSTEM
FOR PERMISSION TO PURCHASE LAND NEAR STATESVILLE HIGH
SCHOOL & SHEPHERD ELEMENTARY: Representatives from the Iredell-
Statesville School System who attended the meeting to present this request were
Dr. Terry Holliday (Supt.), Kay Fulp (Finance Officer), and Rob Jackson (Director of
Construction). Jackson said eleven properties were needed by the school system and
all of them, with the exception of one, were located near Statesville High School. He
said adjacent property to Shepherd Elementary was available, and it would be beneficial
due to the school being landlocked. Jackson said nearly three acres were available that
contained frontage (300 ft.) to Highway 21, which would allow both front and back
entrances. Jackson said all of the properties would cost approximately $698,153.00,
and the school system had the money in fund balance. He said some properties around
Statesville High were still being negotiated.
(A complete listing of the properties, and their estimated costs may be found in the regular
meeting minutes.)
REQUEST FROM THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT FOR APPROVAL
OF BUDGET AMENDMENT #3 FOR THE TRANSFER OF $9,000 FROM
FEDERAL EQUITY SHARING FUNDS FOR THE PURCHASE OF AN ARSON
DOG & KENNEL: Chief Deputy Rick Dowdle requested permission to transfer
$9,000 out of drug seizure money to purchase an arson dog and kennel. He said canines
were quicker and more reliable in determining if an accelerant had been used in a fire,
and the animals could detect up to eight different accelerants. Dowdle said crime
scenes were also better preserved when using a canine. He said other counties would
request the services of the animal, and they would be charged for any costs. Dowdle
said Captain Phillips was working with the fire marshal's office to develop guidelines
for the animal's usage, and the canine would be assigned to either a sheriffs department
officer or an assistant fire marshal. He said the animal was highly specialized, and it
would be with one trainer or handler. When asked the frequency or number of calls
where arson was suspected, Dowdle said he didn't have any figures, but these types of
investigations were increasing.
REQUEST FOR DISCUSSION/DECISION CONCERNING A LETTER
OF SUPPORT TO THE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT & NATURAL
RESOURCES REGARDING THE PROPOSED EXPANSION OF THE LAKE
NORMAN STATE PARK: Planning Supervisor Steve Warren said that in
conjunction with Duke Power's relicensing, discussions had been occurring about the
expansion of Lake Norman State Park. He said the state desired to purchase 486 acres
of land, at fair market value, that adjoined the existing park property. Warren said
initial plans were to allow recreational activities at the site including a public swimming
area. He was asked if the Town of Troutman still wanted the property for a subdivision,
and he indicated this was no longer an issue. Mr. Warren said previously Crescent
Resources wanted to create a water intake with Troutman but those plans had changed.
REQUEST FOR APPROVAL OF A PERMIT FEE WAIVER POLICY
FOR EMERGENCY REPAIRS NECESSARY TO CORRECT DAMAGES
CAUSED BY NATURAL DISASTERS (LOCAL STATE OF EMERGENCY HAS
BEEN DECLARED): Planning & Code Enforcement Director Lynn Niblock said that in
the past, when a state of emergency had been declared, there had been a waiver of
permit fees for construction necessitated by natural disasters. He said the situations had
been handled on a case-by-case basis, and a policy would help provide faster assistance
when emergency repairs were needed. Niblock requested approval of the permit fee
waiver policy effective immediately, and he said a significant loss of revenue was not
anticipated.
ADJOURNMENT: Chairman Tice adjourned the briefing at 6:00 P.M.
Approval:
2
Clerk to the Board