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HomeMy WebLinkAboutSeptember_6_2005_Briefing_MinutesIREDELL COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS BRIEFING MINUTES SEPTEMBER 6 2005 The Iredell County Board of Commissioners met in Briefing Session on Tuesday, September 6, 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, Inspections & Planning Director Lynn Niblock, Planning Supervisor Steve Warren, Health Director Donna Campbell, Environmental Health Supervisor Kelly Sheeks, Purchasing Agent Dean Lail, Social Services Director Don Wall, and Clerk to the Board Jean Moore. CALL TO ORDER by Chairman Tice. REQUEST FROM THE HARMONY MAYOR AND ALDERMEN FOR IREDELL COUNTY TO ADMINISTER ZONING INSIDE THE TOWN LIMITS: Joining the commissioners to discuss this matter were Harmony Mayor John Ray Campbell and Aldermen Ray Lewis and Robert Moore. Mayor Campbell said the town board on August 30, 2005 requested that Iredell County administer zoning within the town's municipal boundaries. Inspections and Planning Director Niblock said the town did not have any zoning, and several public hearings would be needed to make the request lawful. Niblock said some time would be involved in accomplishing the preliminary work, but after this, he didn't foresee that his office would be impacted that much by enforcing the town's zoning. He said a land use plan would need to be created, and then zoning designations would need to be applied. Niblock said rezoning requests would be handled similarly to the county's method. He said the need for zoning had been prompted by the town's sewer project and the desire to set aside some areas for industrial sites. Chairman Tice said she understood citizens would make their rezoning requests before the county planning board. Niblock said it could be the Harmony board or the county's planning board. Tice mentioned that Harmony would have the final say on the requests. Niblock said this was correct, especially since the county's planning board was an advisory body. He said the county's planning board would hear the request and make a rcommendation to the Harmony Town Board. Commissioner Williams expressed concerns about the planning board members having to learn another system. Niblock said his recommendation would be for the county's ordinance to be utilized along with current designations, (RA, R-20, NB & HB). He said some of the county's zoning categories would not be needed in Harmony. It was the consensus of the board to allow Niblock to work with the Harmony officials on a land use plan and ordinance with the understanding that the county staff would enforce the zoning within the town limits. REQUEST FROM THE CLERK OF COURT FOR A DISCUSSION/DECISION REGARDING VIDEO ARRAIGNMENT EQUIPMENT FOR THE IREDELL COUNTY GOVERNMENT CENTER - SOUTH: Clerk of Court Rena Turner, along with Chief District Court Judge Wayne Michael, explained the need for video arraignment equipment at the court facility in Mooresville. Mrs. Turner provided the following cost estimates: Equipment: $ 60,000 Installation: $ 1,578 (one-time cost) Bell South T-1 line: $ 573 (monthly) Judge Michael said the court system would be more efficient by holding court only in Statesville, but this would not be convenient and time productive for many law enforcement officials and others. He said there were some disruptions when incarcerated individuals in Statesville had "first appearances" and criminal court was being conducted in Mooresville (two days a week). Michael said the hearings were assigned and sometimes judges had to be "called in." He said the Mooresville court facility was used 12 out of 20 days a month for some type of judicial proceeding (administrative, civil and criminal). Judge Michael said the new equipment would have a cost, but arraignments could be done much more efficiently with the use of a video system. He said the detained individuals could have their arraignment hearings with technology linking the detention center and the Mooresville building, and this would reduce the risk of escape. He said it would also eliminate the costs associated with inmate transports to Mooresville. Michael said there would still be a need for "holding cells" at the government center -south, even if the equipment were purchased. Turner said the mileage to Mooresville was 32 miles (round-trip) and either a van or a patrol car was used for the inmate transfers. She added that sometimes three officers had to be involved, especially if meals were provided. Turner said the state would not monetarily assist in the purchase of the equipment. Commissioner Robertson asked Judge Michael what had specifically led or driven the court officials to ask for the equipment at this particular time. Michael said the increasing number of court cases was a factor, and the docket at present was almost to the point of adding another session of court. He said everyone wanted to limit court to five days a week, but another day might be necessary. Judge Michael said the arraignment equipment would make the court process more efficient. Commissioner Williams asked if the courthouse was at total capacity. Michael said yes for criminal court. He said the staff tried not to put criminal court in the Hall of Justice Annex, but inmates sometimes had to be transported when there was juvenile or civil court. Commissioner Robertson asked Tracy Jackson, the county official over emergency management, if there might be federal funds available for the equipment. Jackson said the county could try to obtain homeland security funds, but he was doubtful the request would be successful. County Manager Mashburn said the video arraignment system had proven to be an effective way to conduct court proceedings, and this was the way to go if a monetary source could be identified. Commissioner Johnson said he would be inclined to approve the request if the county's costs could be recovered over a period of time. Commissioner Williams asked how long it would take to install the equipment. 2 Mrs. Turner said one day. She said the employees were already familiar with the technology so there wouldn't be much of a learning curve. When asked how much remained in the county's contingency fund, Deputy County Manager Blumenstein said $270,000 or $280,000.* Commissioner Robertson suggested that the county staff review the costs involved in the current method (labor, fuel, etc.). He said the law enforcement officers who were now being used to transport inmates might be better utilized in some other area. Judge Michael said a similar request for the equipment was made to the officials in Davidson County; however, they were delaying the matter until next fiscal year. He said the request was for court facilities in Thomasville since the video equipment was already being used in Lexington. It was the consensus of the board to remove the request from the agenda and to direct the county manager to work with the clerk of court in ascertaining a better cost estimate (cost of retaining the current method or doing nothing vs. purchasing the equipment, etc.) The manager said he would have the information available at the September 20 meeting. *(Note: Mrs. Blumenstein later advised that the contingency fund contained $250,000.) Department heads and other staff members then described their agenda requests. Details may be found in the regular minutes. ADJOURNMENT: Chairman Tice adjourned the briefing at 6:33 p.m. Approval: 3 Clerk to the Board