HomeMy WebLinkAboutAugust 16 2005 Regular MinutesIREDELL COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
REGULAR MINUTES
AUGUST 16, 2005
The Iredell County Board of Commissioners met in Regular Session on
Tuesday, August 16, 2005, at 7:00 p.m., in the Iredell County Government Center
(Commissioners' Meeting 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, County Attorney Bill Pope,
Deputy County Manager Susan Blumenstein, Planning Supervisor Steve Warren, Chief
Deputy Rick Dowdle, Solid Waste Director David Lambert, and Clerk to the Board
Jean Moore.
CALL TO ORDER by Chairman Tice.
INVOCATION by Commissioner Johnson.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: Members of Boy Scout Troop 618 attended
the meeting and led the Pledge. Adult leaders who accompanied the boys were
Mike York and Billy Barnes. Troop 618 is sponsored by New Prospect Baptist Church
located at 509 Prospect Road, in Statesville, NC.
Chairman Tice mentioned that Troop 618 was organized in 1971 by
Commissioner Godfrey Williams.
ADJUSTMENTS OF THE AGENDA: MOTION by Chairman Tice to
approve the following agenda adjustments.
Addition: Closed Session Pursuant to G.S. 148-318.11(a) (3) — Attorney/Client
Revision of A ee nda: The county manager requested that one agenda request be
delayed until after the closed session.
VOTING: Ayes — 5; Nays — 0
David Swann, Chief Executive Officer for Crossroads Behavioral
Healthcare, presented a plaque to Mr. Cecil Maynor for service on the Consumer and
Family Advisory Committee. In other business, Mr. Swann discussed the following
two items.
1. Request for Approval of a Joint Resolution with the other Boards of
Commissioners To Confirm Approval of the Conveyance of Certain Real Property
(Paragon Place Site) to Crossroads Behavioral Healthcare: Mr. Swann said last
year a resolution was approved for the conveyance of the Paragon Place property to
Crossroads; however, a complete site description was not available. He said a revised
document had been drafted that contained a more thorough property description, and it
needed approval by the three counties.
MOTION by Commissioner Williams to approve the joint resolution with
Yadkin and Surry Counties for the Conveyance of the Paragon Place property to
Crossroads Behavioral Healthcare.
VOTING: Ayes — 5; Nays — 0.
The portion of the resolution that describes the property is as follows:
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED jointly by the boards of county commissioners
of Iredell County, of Surry County, and of Yadkin County as follows:
Pursuant to North Carolina General Statute 122C -I47, Crossroads Behavioral Healthcare,
the Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities and Substance Abuse Area Authority is
hereby authorized to acquire and to hold title to the following described real property:
(A-21687; out of 4755123304) City of Statesville, Statesville (Inside) Township, Iredell
County, North Carolina;
Being all of Lot No. 2 of Paragon Place, containing L 26 acres or 54,938 square feet, more
or less, as shown on that plat of survey recorded in Plat Book 46, Page 2 Iredell County
Registry to which reference is made and which said plat is incorporated herein by
reference.
TOGETHER WITH AND SUBJECT TO, HOWEVER, TO THE FOLLOWING:
1. Declaration of Restrictive Covenants for Paragon Place recorded on October 22, 2004,
in Book 1594, Page 1592 Iredell County Registry.
2. Amended Declaration of Restrictive Covenants for Paragon Place recorded on
November 4, 2004, in Book 1598, Page 1142 Iredell County Registry.
SUBJECT TO, HOWEVER, TO THE FOLLOWING
1. Easement to Crescent Electric Membership Corporation recorded in Book 787, Page
832 Iredell County Registry.
2. Easement to City of Statesville recorded in Book 910, Page 771 Iredell County
Registry.
3. Right of way to North Carolina Department of Transportation recorded in Book 759,
Page 357Iredell County Registry.
4. Easements and restrictions of record.
2. Presentation of the FY 2004-05 Report on Crossroads' Activities &
Services: Mr. Swann said the General Statutes required an end -of -the -year report
on the managing entity's progress in fulfilling the local business plan. He shared
the following statistics for the past year.
Combined Crossroads Population: 251,318
2005-06 Annual Budget: $25,908,663 (down from $31,052,760 in FY 04-05 due
to the direct payment to providers by the Division of Medical Assistance of
Medicaid Funds.
Local Managing Entitv Funding: Statewide cost is $153 million ($63 million
Medicaid and $90 million state -- no county funds). Crossroads will
receive $5,270,427 ($1.76 per citizen per month) to provide the Local Managing
Entity functions (public policy management, utilization review, access to care 24/7,
quality management and monitoring of providers, provider development, planning
and coordination, consumer (member) services, information technology, business
and finance and compliance).
Persons served: 7,285 in total for FY 04-05 (area wide).
2,877 persons served from Iredell County in FY 2004-05
Summary of Service Visits for Iredell Countv July 2004 -June 2005
Type
Adults
Children
Total
Clinical office visits
14,148
4,217
18,365
Crisis visits
455
120
575
Evaluations/Screenings
769
227
996
Rehabilitation Services
33,905
14,296
48,201
Residential Services
15,090
18,413
33,503
Grand Total
64,367
37,273
101,640
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New Admissions to Crossroads between July 2004 and June 2005
Total — 3493
Owner
Iredell County =
1704
Surry County =
1 188
Yadkin County=
400
Other Counties=
201
Swann said all potential Crossroads customers were within 30 miles or 30
minutes of a Basic Service Provider but improvement was still needed. Mr. Swann
then shared several charts that depicted the types of screenings and dispositions being
provided by the agency.
---------------------------------------CONSENT AGENDA ------------------------------------
OTION by Commissioner Norman to approve the following fourteen (14)
consent agenda items.
VOTING: Ayes — 5; Nays — 0.
1. Request from the Iredell-Statesville School System for Permission to
Purchase Land Near Statesville High School & Shepherd Elementary:
Representatives from the school system discussed the purchase of the following
properties during the 5 o'clock meeting.
Location
Price
Owner
School
512 Poplar Street
$55,914.11
Collins
Statesville High
303 Bingham Street
$ 41,977.00
Collins
Statesville High
310 East Bingham St.
56,500.00
Holdsclaw
Statesville High
316 East Bingham St.
$68,500.00
Holdsclaw
Statesville High
517 Poplar Street
$54,181.56
Hoe
Statesville High
524 Poplar Street
548,769.74
Hoe
Statesville High
516 Poplar Street
$110,000.00 (still
negotiating)
Knox
Statesville High
520 Poplar Street
$110,377.00
Campbell
Statesville High
528 Poplar Street
$61,000.00
Johnson
Statesville High
1756 Charlotte Hwy
5135,000.00
Davis
Shepard Elementary
500 Poplar Street
$5,935.96
Hoe
Statesville High
2. Request for Approval of the July Refunds and Releases: During the agenda
briefing, Tax Administrator Bill Doolittle requested approval of the following refunds
and releases.
JULY 2005 TAX RELEASES & REFUNDS
Releases
Refunds
County
13,064.18
517.65
Solid Waste Fees
0
0
East Alexander Co. Fire #1
7.75
0
Shepherd's Fire # 2
115.50
18.98
Mount Mourne Fire # 3
29.41
0
All County Fire # 4
421.05
5.00
Statesville City
1,264.97
0
Statesville Downtown
1.59
0
Mooresville Town
7,042.23
296.39
Mooresville Downtown
24.04
0
Mooresville School
1,892.57
83.85
Love Valley
0
0
Harmony
1.50
0
Troutman
192.07
0
Total
$ 24,056.86
$921.87
A complete list, of the individual tax releases and refunds, is hereby incorporated into the
minutes by reference.
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3. 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: (See briefing minutes for additional
information regarding this matter.)
4. Request for Approval of a Resolution Allowing Deputy Junior Hoover to
Retain his Service Badge and to Purchase his Sidearm upon Retirement in
September: Chief Deputy Rick Dowdle, at the briefing session, requested permission
for Officer Junior Hoover to retain his service badge and to purchase his sidearm upon
retirement in September.
The following resolution was approved to formalize the request.
Resolution Regarding the Badge and Sidearm
Of
Deputy Junior Hoover
WHEREAS, Junior Hoover has served in the Iredell County Sheriff's Office and has
requested that upon his retirement on September 1, 2005, that he be permitted to retain his
badge (Number 392) and to purchase his service sidearm.
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, by the Board of Commissioners of Iredell
County, that said badge be awarded to Deputy Hoover at no charge and that his sidearm be
sold to him for the sum of One Dollar ($1.00), as provided by G.S. 20-187.2.
One (1) Glock Model 222
Serial #IEVB364US
5. 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: During the briefing session, Planning
Supervisor Steve Warren said he would compose a letter of support pertaining to the
state's proposal to purchase land for expansion of the Lake Norman State Park. The
letter will be sent to the Director of the North Carolina Department of Environment and
Natural Resources.
6. 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)
• The Permit Fee Waiver may be used only when a Local State of Emergency
has been declared.
•The Permit Fee Waiver Policy will be in effect immediately.
(Additional information about the waiver policy may be found in the briefing minutes.)
7. Request for Approval of the Reorganization of the Planning & Enforcement
Department: Planning and Code Enforcement Director Lynn Niblock explained during
the briefing session that the Inspections Supervisor, who was a long-term employee,
recently resigned. He said the employee not only held a Level III certification in four
areas, but he also had much expertise in computer systems and software applications.
Due to the difficulty in finding and hiring an employee containing the same types of
skills, Niblock suggested an office reorganization. He said duties could be reassigned,
and there would be a need for some reclassifications.
The major components of Niblock's plan were as follows:
► Planning & Code Enforcement Director (Niblock) would assume the daily
administrative duties of the Inspections Division previously performed by the former
employee.
► The Planning Supervisor would be reclassified as a Deputy Director, and he would
assume the administration of the inspection division when Niblock was absent.
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► One inspector would be reclassified as an Inspection Field Supervisor.
► One Plan Review Specialist would be reclassified as a Data System Administrator &
Plan Review Coordinator.
► One Plan Review Specialist would be hired.
► To address pay scale compaction and to maintain pay equity in the salary
grades, salaries would have to be increased. (It was noted that a two-step
difference in pay grades between the director's position and the planning
supervisor's position had to be maintained. The reorganization/reclassifications
would entail a two-step increase.)
Mr. Niblock said no additional funding would be needed to implement the plan,
and a savings of $14,550 could be realized in this year's budget.
The reorganization/reclassifications will become effective September 1, 2005.
8. Request from the Animal Control Department for the Establishment of a
Permanent Part -Time Kennel Position with the Employee to Work Weekends &
Holidays: Chief Animal Control Officer Robb Tatham said at the briefing session that
no new money would be needed this year to hire a permanent part-time employee to
work weekends and holidays, but funding would be needed next year. He said five
years ago, a person was on staff who worked the designated time periods. Tatham said
$4,700 needed to be transferred from regular salaries (lapsed salary funds) to the part-time
salaries fund. He said the part-time employee would allow the other officers to perform more
patrol or field calls rather than staying at the shelter and cleaning the kennels. Tatham said
another advantage would be in the reduction of overtime hours for the animal control officers.
9. Request from the Animal Control Department for Approval to Increase Fees Due
to Increased Prices in the Spay/Neuter Clinic: Chief Animal Control Officer Robb Tatham
explained at the briefing session that the spay/neuter clinic had increased its prices and this
would necessitate a departmental fee increase. The following fee proposal was shared.
Surgeries:
Does Proposed Current
Females $80.00* $70.00
Males $60.00* $60.00
*Additional charges for dogs over 40 lbs is $10. For larger dogs, additional charges may be as
much as $25 (extra fee to be determined by spay/neuter clinic).
Cats Proposed Current
Females $55.00 $55.00
Males $40.00 $40.00
(The clinic is no longer honoring feral prices. In the past, the cost was $30 for either sex.)
If the owner qualifies for the low cost spay/neuter program, the surgery fee will still be $10.00,
but the cost of the vaccinations will go up to $10 each.
General public vaccination costs will be $10 for each vaccination.
Vaccinations available are rabies, distemper/Parvo for dogs, Fel-o-vax and Feline Leukemia for
cats. (These were $18.00, but now they will be $10.00.)
Additional services available (new services)
Heartworm test $20
Feline combo test $25 (Leukemia & Feline AIDS)
Deworming $5
Nail Trim $5
Flea & Tick preventative cats $25
Single dose $12
Flea & Tick preventative—dogs
Up to 22 lbs. $25
23-44 lbs $27
45-88lbs $30
single dose $15
10. Request for Approval of a Consent to Assignment for DTE Biomass
Energy, Inc., in Conjunction with a Landfill Gas Rights Agreement Subject to an
Execution of Release and Estoppel Agreement in a Form Satisfactory to the
County Attorney: County Manager Mashburn mentioned during the briefing session
that in 1995, the county entered into an agreement with Enerdyne Power Systems, Inc.,
for landfill gas rights. He said the agreement stipulated that any assignment of the gas
rights had to be approved by the other party. Mashburn said Enerdyne had now made a
request for a gas rights assignment to DTE Biomass Energy. He said the county,
however, was stipulating that the assignment be contingent upon a release and estoppel
agreement that was in a form satisfactory to the county attorney.
11. Request for Approval of Budget Amendment #4 for the Acceptance of a
Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) Marketing Grant from the State
Library of North Carolina: At the briefing session, Library Director Steve Messick
said a $25,000 marketing grant had been approved for the library, and the Friends of the
Library organization had agreed to provide the local match of $2,500. He said the grant
funds would be used to purchase equipment (color laser printer/large format
printer/paper folding machine/laminator). Messick said the equipment would be used to
create publications and pamphlets advertising the library's services and to promote
reading.
12. Request for Approval of Budget Amendment #5 for the Acceptance of a
Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) Internet Infrastructure
Improvement Grant from the State Library of North Carolina: Library Director
Steve Messick said at the 5 o'clock meeting that a $8,960 LSTA grant had been
approved for the library, and the funds would be used to purchase nine notebook
computers and a wireless network access point. He said $2,240 would be needed for
the local match, and these funds could be obtained out of 5354/Supplies and transferred
to 6100 Depreciable Assets. Messick said the new computers would allow the staff to
inventory books if power outages occurred. He said that in addition, other county staff
members could use the computers should it be necessary to convert the library facility
into an Emergency Operations Center.
13. Request from Wilson Security Services for a Contract Increase: During the
briefing session, County Manager Mashburn said Don Wilson, the owner of Wilson
Security Services, had requested a security guard rate increase from $10.52 to $11.50
per hour. Mr. Mashburn said he was recommending, instead, a five percent increase.
He said the finance director had reviewed the budgets for the departments utilizing
security services, and determined they could manage the increase with the exception of
the courts. Mashburn said the courts' overall budget was going to be about $7,000 short
even before any security guard rate increases.
The amended departmental budgets reflecting the 5% increase are as follows:
2005-06 Budeet
Courts
$226,848*
Health Dept.
6,300
Human Services Bldg
28,340
DSS
31,154
Public Library
36,606
$329,248
*Courts include:
Hall of Justice
$ 75,030
Hall of Justice Annex
50,073
ICGC-South
101,745
$ 226,848
14. Request for Approval of the August 2, 2005 Minutes
-------------------------------------END OF CONSENT AGENDA ----------------------------
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ANNOUNCEMENT OF VACANCIES OCCURRING ON
BOARDS & COMMISSIONS
Adult Care Home Community Advisory Committee (1 announcement)
APPOINTMENTS TO BOARDS & COMMISSIONS
Adult Care Home Communitv Advisory Committee (6 appointments): No
nominations were submitted, and Chairman Tice made a mction to postpone the six
appointments until the next meeting.
VOTING: Ayes — 5; Nays — 0.
Juvenile Crime Prevention Council 1 appointment): A nomination was not
submitted, and Commissioner Norman made a motio to postpone the appointment until
the next meeting.
VOTING: Ayes — 5; Nays — 0.
Nursing Home Advisory Committee 2 appointments): No nominations were
submitted, and Chairman Tice made a �nofiopj to postpone the two appointments until the
next meeting.
VOTING: Ayes — 5; Nays — 0.
Region F Aging Advisory Committee (2 appointments): No nominations were
submitted, and Chairman Tice made a motion to postpone the appointments until the
September 6, 2005 meeting.
VOTING: Ayes — 5; Nays — 0.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
Request from the Sheriff for Permission to Implement A Separate Employee
Performance Appraisal System: Commissioner Norman mentioned that in the past, the
board members had discussed Sheriff Redmond's request to implement his own merit
program, but a decision had never been made.
Commissioner Johnson said the nature of law enforcement work and the amount of
training and expertise needed to operate law enforcement equipment were somewhat
different from the other county departments. He said also, the sheriffs department was
supervised by an elected official who was responsible to the voters. Johnson said he was
in favor of allowing the sheriff to have a pilot program for one year, even though the
county manager had concerns. He said other elected officials might also desire to
implement a similar program, and he would be sympathetic to their requests. Johnson
said the sheriffs merit program should be monitored carefully, and the board needed to be
made aware of any administrative problems.
Commissioner Norman said a final determination needed to be made because the
sheriff s department had not been submitting employee job performance reviews since the
start of this budget year.
Commissioner Williams asked if the other elected official (Register of Deeds) had
been submitting performance reviews, and he was told yes. Mr. Williams said he agreed
with the pilot program concept, and the board members should monitor it carefully.
Commissioner Robertson said the term "pilot program" implied that a decision
would be made later on. He asked what the criteria for success would be, or what would
be the bar a year from now. Robertson asked if it would be retention or something else.
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Commissioner Williams said that in the next year, the sheriff would discover
whether or not the program had been successful. He said also, the employees would give
the commissioners feedback.
Commissioner Johnson said that in any evaluation program there was some degree
of subjectivity, and no one knew if a system was fair.
Commissioner Robertson said it was usually the people who didn't get a good
evaluation that would provide the feedback.
County Manager Mashburn said he was understanding that the board desired to
provide an amount of money for the sheriff to allocate towards his own merit program.
Mashburn said the FY 05-06 budget had a plan for merit increases and no one, unless
there was a reclassification, would receive more than two percent. He asked if the same
guidelines would apply to the sheriff's department.
Chairman Tice said it was her understanding that a block of money would be set
aside for the sheriff's department, and when it was spent, nothing more would be
forthcoming in this budget year.
Commissioner Williams said placing conditions on the money would detract from
the sheriffs initial request.
Chief Deputy Rick Dowdle was asked his opinion on placing conditions on the
merit program.
Dowdle said he felt Sheriff Redmond needed the discretion to go higher than two
percent, if necessary.
Robertson asked the definition of "success," if the board approved a pilot program.
Dowdle said the sheriff would have an opportunity to evaluate his people for the
positions they held.
Robertson again said the board was looking at a pilot program, but what
determined whether or not it was successful. He asked the criteria.
Dowdle said the job performance of the employee, and the product that would be
given to the county citizens. He said the end result for the citizens would be greater.
Chairman Tice clarified that Mr. Dowdle was saying the sheriff should be able to
set the percentage.
Dowdle said this was correct.
Mashburn asked if the board was just talking about the merit program. He asked
about reclassifications. Mashburn said reclassifications were sometimes studied and
recommended by in-house personnel, and then, other positions might be referred to
outside sources. He said recently, the sheriffs department had submitted reclassification
requests without any documentation. Mashburn said reclassifications and merit increases
this year had an impact on next year's funding.
Chairman Tice said the request pertained to only the merit system.
Commissioners Johnson and Norman agreed, and Commissioner Robertson said
the request pertained to a performance assessment system.
Commissioner Johnson said the system offered by the sheriff was job specific. He
said it was his understanding the new process would raise the threshold for someone to
receive a merit increase. Johnson said the sheriffs department would have to
continuously check to see how much money was available in the program.
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Commissioner Robertson said he still had not heard what a quantifiable threshold
for success would be during the next year. He said the system shouldn't be called a pilot
program until someone could explain the measure of success. Robertson said gauging the
pilot program's success on how many people called and complained was not a good
system. He said he would not feel comfortable with that being the criteria.
Commissioner Johnson said "pilot program" did have the connotation that it would
be measured to see how it worked. He withdrew the term "pilot," and stated it would be a
trial program.
Commissioner Robertson said that even with a trial program, the sheriffs
department should develop some measures or criteria that defined success. He said the
definition for success should be set now, and not a year from now.
Johnson said documentation was needed for reclassifications even though this was
not a part of the sheriffs merit system request.
OTION by Commissioner Robertson to accept the sheriffs proposal for a
performance appraisal system without a limitation or cap of two percent and for the
system to be reviewed with the Sheriffs Department and the Human Resources
Department in one year to determine if the program would continue.
VOTING: Ayes — 5; Nays — 0.
NEW BUSINESS
SUSPENSION OF BOARD'S RULES TO ALLOW NATIONAL ANTHEM
TO BE PERFORMED: MOTIO by Commissioner Williams to suspend the
board's Rules of Procedure regarding the agenda guidelines for the purpose of allowing a
group to sing the National Anthem at the first meeting in September and for this agenda
adjustment to be only for the September 6 meeting.
VOTING: Ayes — 5; Nays — 0.
APPRECIATION LETTER FROM SONS OF CONFEDERATE
VETERANS: Commissioner Johnson said a letter of thanks had been sent to him for
the Vance House Museum's $2,500 appropriation. Johnson said the "Carolinas
Campaign" was a statewide historical trail that followed the events of the Civil War in
North Carolina, and the Vance House Museum would be listed in a pamphlet as a site
destination.
NORTH CAROLINA STATE BUDGET: Commissioner Johnson said he
wanted to issue a warning to the county's taxpayers. Johnson said in other states,
legislators had made decisions that impacted the budgets of local governments, and this
was occurring in Raleigh. He said, increasingly, decisions were being made in the
legislature that impacted the budgets of local government, and the commissioners were
having diminishing control. Mr. Johnson said a larger and larger percentage of the
money the county spent was dictated and mandated in Raleigh. He cited Medicaid as
an example. Johnson said it was becoming less important who was being elected on the
local level since the decisions were being made in Raleigh. Mr. Johnson said the state
budget was $17.2 billion, up by $1.6 billion, with state revenues being up by ten
percent, but the Raleigh officials were saying they didn't have enough money.
Mr. Johnson said the state officials had no wisdom in their spending, and an example
was spending $400,000 on a teapot museum. He said there was an estimate that "pet
projects" would cost $50 million. Mr. Johnson said state government was not a
democratic republic rather it was an oligarchy with a few people who had appointed
themselves as the rulers.
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COUNTY MANAGER'S REPORT: County Manager Mashburn said a
written activity report had been distributed.
CLOSED SESSION: OTION by Chairman Tice at 8:15 p.m., to enter into
closed session pursuant to Attorney -Client— G.S. 143-318.11 (a) (3).
VOTING: Ayes — 5; Nays —0.
(Return to Open Session at 8:30 p.m.)
REQUEST FROM THE SOLID WASTE DEPARTMENT FOR A
DISCUSSION/DECISION REGARDING THE TRANSFER OF LAND OWNED
BY THE COUNTY: MOT10N by Chairman Tice to transfer property to the Iredell
County Public Facilities Corporation with the property being on the south side of the
Twin Oaks property and being adjacent to the new landfill.
VOTING: Ayes — 5; Nays — 0.
ADJOURNMENT: There being no further business, Chairman Tice made a
otio to adjourn the meeting at 8:30 p.m. (NEXT MEETING: Tuesday,
September 6, 2005, 5 & 7 p.m., in the Iredell County Government Center, 200 South
Center Street, Statesville, NC 28677.
VOTING: Ayes — 5; Nays — 0.
Approval:
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Clerk to the Board