HomeMy WebLinkAboutFebruary 15 2005 Regular MinutesIREDELL COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
REGULAR MINUTES
FEBRUARY 15, 2005
The Iredell County Board of Commissioners met in Regular Session on
Tuesday, February 15, 2005, at 7:00 p.m., in the Iredell County Government Center
(Commissioners' Meeting Room), 200 South Center Street, Statesville, NC.
Present were:
Chairman Sara Haire Tice
Vice Chairman Godfrey Williams
Steve D. Johnson
Marvin Norman
Ken Robertson
Staff present: County Manager Joel Mashburn, County Attorney Bill Pope,
Finance Director Susan Blumenstein, and Clerk to the Board Jean Moore.
CALL TO ORDER by Chairman Tice.
INVOCATION by Commissioner Johnson.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG: Boy Scout Josh Souther
with Troop 360, affiliated with Western Avenue Baptist Church, Statesville, N.C., led
the Pledge of Allegiance. Josh attended the meeting in conjunction with his
communications merit badge, and he was accompanied by his father, Michael.
ADJUSTMENTS OF THE AGENDA: MOTION by Chairman Tice to adjust
the agenda by the following actions:
Additions: • Request for Approval of an Inter -Local Agreement with the City of
Statesville for Fiber Optic Cable Services
• Closed Session for Economic Development: G.S. 143-318.11 (a) (4)
• Closed Session for Property Acquisition: G.S. 143-318.11 (a) (5)
VOTING: Ayes — 5; Nays — 0.
Proclamation in Recognition of the Mooresville Graded School District's
Centennial Year: MOTION by Chairman Tice to approve the following
proclamation.
VOTING: Ayes — 5; Nays- 0.
Proclamation
In Celebration of the Centennial Year of the Mooresville Graded School District
WHEREAS, the Mooresville Graded School District is a public school district,
established in 1905 by the North Carolina legislature; and
WHEREAS, the district has grown to over 4,400 students, 600 employees, and seven
campuses in Mooresville, and is currently fulfilling its original purpose of offering exceptional
educational opportunities to children in Mooresville; and
WHEREAS, February 25, 2005, has been designated as a day of celebration for the
Mooresville Graded School District in recognition of 100 years of service provided to the
children of Mooresville; and
WHEREAS, schools are community hubs, bringing together adults and children,
educators and volunteers, business leaders, and elected officials for a common endeavor; and
WHEREAS, the faculty and staff of the school district continue to contribute
significantly to the educational and overall quality of the community while continually
equipping students for success in our rapidly changing world.
NOW, THEREFORE, the Iredell County Board of Commissioners proclaims Friday,
February 25, 2005, as a day to recognize the many achievements of the Mooresville Graded
School District and to encourage all Iredell County citizens to participate in the centennial
events that have been organized to celebrate this prestigious milestone and accomplishment.
Dr. Bruce Boyles, the Superintendent for the Mooresville Schools, accepted the
proclamation.
ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS
Request for Approval of the January 2005 Refunds and Releases: County
Manager Mashburn requested approval of the January refunds and releases.
MOTION by Commissioner Johnson to approve the following refunds and
releases.
VOTING: Ayes — 5; Nays — 0.
JANUARY
2004 TAX RELEASES & REFUNDS
Releases
Refunds
County
$ 4,793.80
$22,512.54
Solid Waste Fees
416.00
273.00
East Alexander Co. Fire #1
5.79
54.96
Fire # 2
149.62
60.97
-Shepherd's
Mount Mourne Fire # 3
1.00
171.58
All County Fire # 4
366.27
967.90
Statesville City
463.45
2,695.85
Statesville Downtown
10.06
1.04
Mooresville Town
732.08
9,677.62
Mooresville Downtown
0
0
Mooresville School
369.65
1,118.06
Love Valley
0
0
Harmony
0
0
Troutman
0
57.66
Total
$7,307.72
$37,591.18
A complete list, of the individual tax releases and refunds,
into the minutes by reference.
is hereby incorporated
Request for Approval to Apply for Two Library Services & Technology Act
Grants Through the State Library of North Carolina: Library Director Steve
Messick asked permission to apply for two grants. He said an EZ -Basic Equipment
grant would be used to purchase nine notebook computers and a wireless access point to
provide computer -training classes. Messick said the $10,500 grant would have an 85/15
split with $8,925 coming from the state and $1,575 being a local match.
Pertaining to the second grant, Messick said the funding would be used for a
marketing plan for the new library. He said one grant goal would be to encourage the
county's citizenry to become a "community of readers." Mr. Messick said the total
project cost would be $25,000.00, and this included a ten percent ($2,500) local match
that would be provided by the Friends of the Library organization. He said the funding
would be used to purchase (1) two heavy-duty color printers along with supplies that
would be used to produce newsletters and other promotional materials (2) postage (3)
printing company services to help in the newsletter's design and creation (4) staff
training in computer graphic design programs and (4) speaker honoraria.
MOTTO by Commissioner Norman to approve the two grant requests as
presented.
VOTING: Ayes — 5; Nays — 0.
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Request from the Library for Approval to Apply for E -Rate Discounts
(Internet & Regular Telephone Service) from the Federal Communications
Commission: Library Director Messick asked for permission to apply for the following
E -rate discounts:
Service
Annual Cost
% Covered by
Total E -Rate
County cost
eligible for E-
E -Rate
Reimbursement
after
rate
reimbursement
Main Connection
$ 8,596.80
60%
$ 5,158.08
$ 3,438.72
Harmon
Main Internet
$10,019.40
60%
$ 6,011.64
$ 4,007.76
Main Telephones
$ 8,643.60
60%
$ 5,186.16
$ 3 ,457.44
Harmony
$ 1,263.48
60%
$ 758.09
$ 505.39
Telephones
$28,523.28
$ 17,113.97
$11,409.31
Messick said discounts were currently being given in all of the listed services. He
said the reimbursement period for the new application would be July 1, 2005 through
June 30, 2006.
OTION by Commissioner Williams to approve the E -Rate Discount grant
request as presented.
VOTING: Ayes — 5; Nays — 0.
Request from Crossroads Behavioral Healthcare for Permission to Sub -
Lease Space at Two Facilities (Turnersburg Road, Statesville site & East Center
Avenue, Mooresville site) to Telecare Mental Health Services of North Carolina
beginning March 1, 2005: County Manager Mashburn said the Crossroads
Director/CEO had requested permission to sub -lease space at two facilities to Telecare
Mental Health Services of North Carolina. Mashburn said the Crossroads/County
lease for the Mooresville site allowed sub -leasing; however, the Statesville, or Hwy. 21
lease, needed to be revised. He said the same language used in the Mooresville lease
could be used for the Statesville document.
MOTTO by Commissioner Williams to allow the sub -leasing as requested by
Crossroads and to amend the Statesville lease as presented by the county manager.
VOTING: Ayes — 5; Nays — 0.
Request for Approval to Revise the Plat Review Officer Listing by Adding
Steve Warren to Iredell County's List: County Manager Mashburn said Planning
Supervisor Steve Warren was recently hired to replace Ron Smith. He said this
development would necessitate revisions to the plat review officer listing. Mashburn
said the listing would need to be revised by (1) eliminating Smith from the county's
designation (2) deleting Warren from the City of Statesville's designation, and (3)
adding Warren to the county's designation as a plat review officer.
OTION by Commissioner Johnson to approve the revisions as presented by
the county manager.
VOTING: Ayes — 5; Nays — 0.
Request for Approval of a Resolution Supporting State Assumption of the
County Share of Medicaid: County Manager Mashburn said there were only two
states (North Carolina and New York) in the nation that required their counties to
participate in Medicaid. He said the North Carolina Association of County
Commissioners had prepared a "model" resolution to be adopted by each county to
show the need for Medicaid "relief." Mashburn said statistics relevant to Iredell
County had been inserted into the resolution, and it was being submitted for adoption.
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MOTION by Commissioner Norman to approve the following resolution
pertaining to Medicaid.
VOTING: Ayes — 5; Nays — 0.
RESOLUTION
SUPPORTING STATE ASSUMPTION OF COUNTY SHARE
OF
MEDICAID
WHEREAS, Iredell County pays $4,932,666 or 4.4% of its expenditures for
services to Medicaid eligible citizens; and
WHEREAS, the counties share of Medicaid reimbursements has increased over
67 percent in the last five years and now totals approximately $440 million; and
WHEREAS, North Carolina is one of only two states in the nation that require
counties to pay a share of all Medicaid services costs; and
WHEREAS, in Iredell County, the $4,932,666 budgeted for 2004-05 equals
3.80¢ of the tax rate or $37 per capita; and
WHEREAS, the increase in the local share of Medicaid spending has averaged
11% per year for the prior five fiscal years and totaled $20.26 million.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Iredell County Board of
Commissioners urges the North Carolina General Assembly to provide immediate
Medicaid relief to Iredell County.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this resolution be transmitted to
the members of the General Assembly representing Iredell County.
Request for Approval of the January 25 & the February 1, 2005 Minutes:
MOTTO by Commissioner Johnson to approve the minutes as presented.
VOTING: Ayes — 5; Nays — 0.
Request for Approval of an Inter -Local Agreement with the City of
Statesville for Fiber Optic Cable Services: County Manager Mashburn said
improved internal data communications were needed between the county's information
services department and other county departments (board of elections, library, and law
enforcement). He said in the past, the service or connection had been provided by a
donated supply of fiber optic cable, but Statesville's transmission poles were never
used. Mashburn said the City of Statesville on February 7, 2005, approved an
agreement that would allow the utilization of power poles, if the county provided the
cable and paid the installation costs. He said the county would have the exclusive use
of eight strands of fiber optic cable, and the remaining four strands would be reserved
for the city's use. Mashburn said the arrangement would adequately meet the current
and future needs of the county.
MOTION by Commissioner Johnson to approve the Inter -Local Agreement
with the City of Statesville and authorize the chairman to sign the document.
VOTING: Ayes — 5; Nays — 0.
ANNOUNCEMENT OF VACANCIES OCCURRING ON BOARDS &
COMMISSIONS
Hazardous Waste & Low -Level Radioactive Waste Management Board (3
announcements)
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APPOINTMENTS TO BOARDS & COMMISSIONS
Adult Care Community Advisory Committee (6 appointments): Commissioner
Norman nominated the Reverend James Henderson.
MOTION by Chairman Tice to (1) close the nominations, (2) appoint
Henderson by acclamation, and (3) postpone the remaining five appointments until the
March 1 meeting.
VOTING: Ayes — 5; Nays — 0.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
James Hoffner Property: County Manager Mashburn said that at the February 1
meeting, the James Heffner family had made an appearance before the board in
reference to their property that was split between Iredell and Rowan Counties.
Mashburn said the family had requested that the two boards of commissioners work
together in an effort to release the family's residential property, or home, to Rowan
County. He said a request had been made to the Iredell-Statesville School System for a
review of the policies used in surrounding counties pertaining to students who might
live in one county and attend school in another county, especially in conjunction with
how tuition was handled and if the local dollars followed the students. He said that
possibly by the next meeting, some information on the request might be available.
Mashburn said this might address some of the concerns of the family.
NEW BUSINESS
Update on Statesville Airport: Commissioner Johnson said the first international
flight recently occurred at the Statesville Airport. He said the flight originated in
Statesville and flew non-stop overseas. Johnson said many requests had occurred from
companies wanting to locate at the airport, but the airport commission had decided to
obtain an overlay plan prior to making any decisions. He said once the plan was
evaluated and put in place, the area would have a "tremendous tax base." Johnson said
Bethlehem Road would have to be temporarily closed due to the need to fully satisfy the
Federal Aviation Administration's concerns that traffic on the roadway would not
interfere with the ILS approach system.
Commissioner Williams asked the status of Airport Road.
Johnson said it was supposed to be opened before Christmas, but the cold
weather and rain caused delays. He said it was now predicted the road would re -open
the end of February, or the first week of March.
COUNTY MANAGER'S REPORT: County Manager Mashburn distributed a
written report.
CLOSED SESSION: At 7:42 p.m., Chairman Tice made a knotion to enter into
closed session for the purpose of discussing matters relating to Attorney -Client — G.S.
143-318.11 (a) (3), Property Acquisition — G.S. 143-318.11 (a) (5), and Economic
Development — G.S. 143-318.11 (a) (4).
VOTING: Ayes — 5; Nays — 0.
(RETURN TO OPEN SESSION AT 8:50 P.M.)
ADJOURNMENT: MOTION by Chairman Tice to adjourn the meeting at 8:50
p.m. (NEXT MEETING: Winter Planning Session, February 25, 2005, beginning at 8
a.m., at the Agricultural Resource Center, 444 Bristol Drive, Statesville, NC.)
VOTING: Ayes — 5; Nays — 0.
Approved:
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Clerk to the Board