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HomeMy WebLinkAboutOctober_18_2005_Briefing_MinutesIREDELL COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS BRIEFING MINUTES OCTOBER 18, 2005 The Iredell County Board of Commissioners met in Briefing Session on Tuesday, October 18, 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 Ken Robertson Marvin Norman Staff present: County Manager Joel Mashburn, Deputy County Manager Susan Blumenstein, Assistant County Manager Tracy Jackson, Tax Administrator Bill Doolittle, Parks & Recreation Director Robert Woody, Planning & Inspections Director Lynn Niblock, Planning Supervisor Steve Warren, Planner Richard McHargue, and Clerk to the Board Jean Moore. CALL TO ORDER by Chairman Tice. REQUEST FROM THE RECREATION DEPARTMENT FOR APPROVAL OF A CONTRACT WITH SITE SOLUTIONS FOR NORTH IREDELL PARK DESIGN SERVICES: Parks & Recreation Director Robert Woody recommended the selection of Site Solutions, a Charlotte, NC, architectural firm for the North Iredell Park master plan. Woody said several proposals were reviewed, but Site Solutions seemed to have a better understanding of the department's strategy or approach for the recreational complex. He said 2006 would be focused on raising money for the park, and the company was willing to create a master plan while the department built a line -item budget. Woody said a capital project ordinance had already been approved by the board, and $45,000 was included for the master plan. REQUEST FOR APPROVAL OF A RESOLUTION CERTIFYING AND DECLARING THE RESULTS OF THE SPECIAL BOND REFERENDUM HELD IN THE COUNTY OF IREDELL ON OCTOBER 11, 2005 UPON THE QUESTIONS OF APPROVING $44,630,000 IN SCHOOL BONDS AND $6,000,000 IN COMMUNITY COLLEGE BONDS: Deputy County Manager Blumenstein said the Iredell County Board of Elections had officially certified the bond referendum results. Blumenstein said the bonds would be sold on January 24, 2006, and a special revenue fund would be established for the proceeds that would be spent as the school systems submitted invoices. Blumenstein said the bond payments would be structured so nothing would be due until 2006. Blumenstein said much of the material used in the Preliminary Official Statement for the General Obligation Bonds would be used for the Certificates of Participation (COPS). She said the COPS would be sold about six weeks after the GO bonds. REQUEST FOR APPROVAL OF A RESOLUTION SUPPORTING EVACUEES OF HURRICANE KATRINA: Planning and Code Enforcement Director Lynn Niblock said the former Hill Haven nursing facility was scheduled to house several Gulf Coast evacuees. Niblock said the facility was being brought up to code (smoke detectors, doors into corridors, etc.); however, a congregate shelter did not fit with the rural agricultural zoning in the area. He said Hill Haven previously operated as a nursing/rest home establishment, and in 1990, when county -wide zoning was adopted, the facility was zoning compliant due to being grandfathered. Niblock said the facility was now vacant, and the grandfathering provision could no longer be used. He requested approval of a resolution to enable the evacuees to stay at the facility while the staff drafted a zoning ordinance text amendment. Mr. Niblock said the amendment would remedy any similar future occurrences. Planning Supervisor Warren said a text amendment could be presented to the planning board in December, and the board of commissioners could review it in January. REQUEST FOR REVIEW OF A DRAFT INTER -GOVERNMENTAL AGREEMENT FOR PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT IN URBAN SERVICE AREAS (USA): Planner Richard McHargue said the purpose of the USA between the county and the City of Statesville would be to smooth out the process when infrastructure improvements were needed due to growth. He said the USA involved the county adopting the city's development standards to help "fashion an orderly land development procedure." Commissioner Johnson said that about three years ago, Statesville officials requested that someone from the county serve on the city's land use planning committee. He said during the meetings, extra -territorial zoning jurisdiction was discussed, and this was how the urban services area concept developed. Johnson said the USA would have the county adopting the city's standards, but the county would retain jurisdictional authority. McHargue said the planning staff felt the USA could be worked out in a "day- to-day" process, and the larger policy issues would be centered around equity. He said the city had not completed a Capital Improvement Program, and this was needed. McHargue said a timeframe for when the city could provide water sewer for a major subdivision was not included in the agreement, and this might also be needed. Additionally, he said sidewalk maintenance in the urban service areas was not addressed. Commissioner Johnson referenced Section 2(B)6(b) in the agreement and the staff's concern that "some critical decision-making authority within the USA might be removed from the governing body for whom its citizens could vote." Johnson asked the staff to convey to the city that all final say regarding the zoning rested with the board of commissioners. Pertaining to Section 4(C) on subdivisions, Johnson said he felt there should be a timetable. Code Enforcement & Planning Director Niblock said that in regards to Section 4(C), the agreement did not indicate a timetable as to when the city manager would make a determination when an area would be served by "central water and/or wastewater services." Chairman Tice asked Niblock what a reasonable time might be, and he said 30 days. It was the consensus of the board that 30 days would be sufficient time for a decision from the city manager. The commissioners were also in agreement that at least one more meeting was needed with the city to discuss the USA. Commissioner Johnson emphasized that at a previous USA meeting with the Statesville officials, he had requested that they discuss the project with the Troutman town board members. (He mentioned this fact due to the Troutman Town Mayor e - mailing a note containing four issues of concern with the USA. The Town of Troutman indicated the "Town was never consulted about the possible impact" of the Statesville USA project.) VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENTS & RETIREMENT PAYMENTS: Commissioner Williams asked if the county paid the volunteer firemen's retirement. Deputy County Manager Blumenstein said retirement had never been paid by the county, and the individual VFDs were responsible for the cost. Blumenstein said 2 the only benefits paid directly for the VFDs/firemen were property liability and workers comp. Commissioner Williams said there seemed to be some confusion about the retirement. He suggested that Tracy Jackson, the Assistant County Manager, send a memo to the VFDs informing them that retirement payments were their responsibility. Blumenstein mentioned the memo might also include a reminder that the VFDs were eligible to receive sales tax refunds. She said the most recent material from the State Treasurer's office revealed that only two VFDs had applied for the refunds. DUKE POWER RELICENSING (CATAWBA WATEREE PROJECT): Chairman Tice requested that the planning supervisor coordinate a meeting with Duke Power representative David Hart about the company's re -licensing project. She suggested that a meeting be scheduled right before a regularly scheduled agenda briefing. WINTER PLANNING SESSION SCHEDULED FOR FEBRUARY 25 & 26, 2006: Commissioner Johnson requested that information be shared at the winter planning session regarding a minimum housing ordinance. He said several citizens had called and complained about burned -out houses and trailers, and at the present, the county did not have any enforcement authority over the situations. Commissioner Williams said junked cars might also be reviewed. Chairman Tice said the county had an ordinance that allowed a household to have up to six vehicles that did not have tags or registration. EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT GRANT APPLICATION: County Manager Mashburn said each year the county applied for a S 15,000 grant from the state. He requested permission to discontinue the application due to the "strings" attached to the funding. Mashburn said accepting the grant funds would necessitate the county following state guidelines if any personnel problems occurred in the emergency management office. It was the consensus of the board members to allow the staff to discontinue the application for this particular grant. ADJOURNMENT: Chairman Tice adjourned the briefing session at 6:28 p.m. Approval: 3 Clerk to the Board