HomeMy WebLinkAboutAugust 15 2006 Regular MinutesIREDELL COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
REGULAR MINUTES
AUGUST 15, 2006
The Iredell County Board of Commissioners met in Regular Session on Tuesday,
August 15, 2006, 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
Steve Johnson
Marvin Norman
Ken Robertson
Absent: Vice Chairman Godfrey Williams was absent due to being out of the state.
Staffrep sent: County Manager Joel Mashburn, County Attorney Bill Pope, Deputy
County Manager Susan Blumenstein, and Clerk to the Board Jean Moore.
CALL TO ORDER by Chairman Tice
INVOCATION by Commissioner Johnson
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
ADJUSTMENTS OF THE AGENDA: MOT10N by Chairman Tice to approve the
following agenda adjustments:
Deletion: • Josh Swift, Health Education Coordinator, with a Presentation on the
Action for Children North Carolina Report (This report will be given in September.)
Addition • Request for Approval of a Connect CTY or NTI Agreement
• Closed Session Pursuant to G.S. 143-318.11(a)(3)- Legal
VOTING: Ayes — 4; Nays — 0.
155.1901101Oki 11101M.311007kialIII=I117.11311
Request from the North Iredell Emergency Training Facilities, Inc., Organization
for Funding to Purchase Property: Gene Powers, Chief of the Harmony Volunteer Fire
Department (VFD) and President of the North Iredell Emergency Training Facilities, Inc.,
requested funding to purchase 14 acres of property at a cost of $120,000. (Initially, the cost
was $135,000.) Powers said the agency consisted of the Central, County Line, Harmony,
Sheffield Calahan, Lone Hickory, Wilkes-Iredell and Union Grove VFDs. He said (1) the
organization was incorporated (2) it was funded through the training grounds (3) the training
grounds funding would assist in the future upkeep of the property and (4) the adjacent property
owners were aware of the proposed usage, and there didn't seem to be opposition. He said the
future monetary needs of the organization were unknown, but the group's present request was
for funds to purchase the property.
Commissioner Johnson asked the legal status of the organization -- whether or not it
could own property. He also asked if the rescue squads were involved in the request.
Powers said the organization could hold title to property. He said the rescue squads
were aware of the request, but their boards of directors had not made a decision regarding
membership. Mr. Powers said the first priority of the organization was to work on the "driving
facility," due to this being a requirement for the VFDs. He said this type of facility would be
an asset to the rescue squads.
Johnson asked if a joint venture with the Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) was still being
reviewed.
Powers said, initially, the FOP had planned on allowing the group to use the North
Iredell property free of charge, but then, their (FOP) location changed to Hwy. 70.
Johnson said the board of adjustment had met regarding the special use permit for the
property near Hwy. 70, but the request was denied. He asked if the FOP was looking at
another site.
Powers said not to his knowledge. He said the FOP had encountered different
problems, for example, being too close to poultry houses for a firing range.
Commissioner Robertson asked if the driving facility could be placed on fourteen acres.
Powers said yes. He said they were proposing a 400 x 600 graveled facility. Powers
said each fireman was supposed to train each year by driving an apparatus. He said in years
past, the firemen had practiced at Gulistan Carpets in Turnersburg and at North Iredell High.
Robertson asked the training locations of the other departments.
Mr. Powers said he didn't know where the southern end was practicing. He said the
northern end was contemplating the usage of the Turnersburg Cattle Market.
Johnson said some departments in the southern end had talked about working with the
Shepherd's VFD.
Attorney Pope said he noticed an Employer Identification Number on the organization's
documents, but he didn't see a tax-exempt status.
Wayne Kahl said the group was in the process of receiving this status.
Commissioner Norman asked if the group had discussed the driving course with the
county sheriff.
Powers said the sheriff was aware of the group's plans.
Johnson suggested that he and Commissioner Robertson meet with the group about the
request. He said Sheriff Redmond would also be contacted. In addition, Johnson said he
wanted to discuss the matter with the rescue squads. He said it was understood there were
time constraints, due to the property being on the market.
Powers said the group was flexible and would meet when convenient.
MOTION by Chairman Tice to authorize Commissioners Johnson and Robertson to
meet with the North Iredell Emergency Training Facilities group on Thursday,
September 7, 2006, at 7 p.m., at the Central Volunteer Fire Department.
VOTING: Ayes — 4; Nays — 0.
PUBLIC HEARING
Chairman Tice declared the meeting to be in a public hearing.
Consideration of an Economic Development Incentive for L.B. Plastics, Inc:
Mooresville -South Iredell Economic Developer Keith Klopp said L.B. Plastics had operated
since 1977, and company officials now planned a $3.5 million expansion. He said nine new jobs
would be created with the possibility of more positions. Mr. Klopp said the company had been
an excellent corporate citizen, and approval of the $65,100 (over a five-year period) incentive
was recommended.
No one else desired to speak, and Chairman Tice adjourned the hearing.
MOTIO by Commissioner Robertson to grant the $65,100 economic incentive, over a
five-year period, for L.B. Plastics, Inc., based on a $3.5 million investment.
VOTING: Ayes — 4; Nays — 0.
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----------------------------------------------CONSENT AGENDA ------------------------------------------
MOTION by Commissioner Johnson to approve the following 15 consent agenda items.
VOTING: Ayes — 4; Nays — 0.
(All items were described during the five o'clock brief ng session.)
1. Request for Approval of a Service Agreement with Centralina COG at a Cost of
$1,587 plus 7.5 member hours for the Planning/Growth Management Public Forums:
Planner Bill Duston, with Centralina, has agreed to facilitate three public input meetings for the
county planning board. Centralina has submitted a service agreement at a cost of $1,587 plus
7.5 county membership hours.
2. Request from the Town of Troutman for Revisions to the Plat Review Officer Listing:
In an e-mail request, Troutman Town Manager David Saleeby requested the removal of Donald
Duncan as a plat review officer, and the addition of Emily Jackson. (Ms. Jackson, a resident of
the county, and an employee of Benchmark CMR, is working for the Town on a contractual
basis.)
The updated listing will be as follows:
IREDELL COUNTY: Steve Warren
William Allison
Rebecca M. Harper
Matthew Todd
Barry Whitesides
TOWN OF MOORESVILLE: Timothy D. Brown
Craig Culbertson
Jim King
CITY OF STATESVILLE: David Currier
Sherry Ashley
Elaine Anthony
TOWN OF TROUTMAN: Emily Jackson
John Garland
3. Request for Approval of the July Refunds and Releases: Tax Administrator Bill Doolittle
requested approval of the following refunds and releases.
JULY
2006 TAX RELEASES & REFUNDS
Releases
Refunds
County
24,522.33
181.48
Solid Waste Fees
45.69
0
East Alexander Co. Fire #1
10.70
0
Shepherd's Fire # 2
99.75
0
Mount Mourne Fire # 3
46.00
0
All County Fire # 4
667.57
0
Statesville City
1,219.96
158.54
Statesville Downtown
0
0
Mooresville Town
17,337.96
0
Mooresville Downtown
0
0
Mooresville School
4,531.65
0
Love Valley
0
0
Harmony
3.32
0
Troutman
92.08
0
$48,577.01
$340.02
A complete list, of the individual tax releases and refunds, is hereby incorporated into the
minutes by reference.
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4. Request for Adoption of a Local Government Resolution Authorizing Lt. Rick Eades to
Enter into a Highway Safety Project Contract and Approval of Budget Amendment #6
to Appropriate Grant Funds of $34,950 from the Governor's Highway Safety Program
for the Purchase of Equipment: Chief Deputy Rick Dowdle said the board on March 14
agreed to allow an application to be submitted for these grant funds. He said a $6,277 local
match would be derived from drug seizure money, and the following equipment items would be
purchased.
30 alto -sensors (1 @ $320)
50 traffic cones (1@ $15)
30 reflective vests (iC $20)
4 sets of checkpoint signs (1 set at $950)
4 handheld stop/slow signs (1 C $19)
9 radars (outlined in grant total cost of $14,760)
lights/radios for 3 motorcycles at $5,174
1000 breath tubes @ $0.19 each for a cost of $190
Total $34,950
The approved resolution is as follows:
North Carolina Governor's Highway Safety Program
LOCAL GOVERNMENTAL RESOLUTION Form GHSP-02-A
WHEREAS, the Iredell County Sheriffs Office (herein called the "agency) has completed an application
contract for traffic safety funding and that Sheriff Phillip H. Redmond of Iredell County has thoroughly
considered the problem identified and has reviewed the project as described in the contract.
THEREFORE, NOW BE IT RESOLVED BY THE Iredell County Board of Commissioners in Open
meeting assembled in Statesville, North Carolina on the 15'h day of August 2006 as follows:
1. That the project referenced above is in the best interest of the governing body and the general public; and
2. That Lt. Rick Eades is to file, on behalf of the Governing Body, an application contract in the form
prescribed by the Governor's Highway Safety Program for federal funding in the amount of $28,673 to be
made to the Governing Body to assist in defraying the cost of the project described in the contract
application; and
3. That the Governing Body has formally appropriated the cash contribution of $6,277 as required by the
project contract; and
4. That the Project Director designated in the application contract shall furnish or make arrangements for
other appropriate persons to furnish such information, data, documents and reports as required by the
contract, if approved, or as may be required by the Governor's Highway Safety Program, and
5. That certified copies of this resolution be included as part of the contract referenced above; and
6. That this resolution shall take effect immediately upon adoption.
5. Request from the Sheriff's Department for Approval of Budget Amendment #7 to
Appropriate $60,000 from Seized Funds for the Placement of a Pole -Frame Building at the
County Garage: Chief Deputy Rick Dowdle said the City of Statesville had agreed to allow a
pole -frame building to be constructed at the county garage (Meeting Street). He said the
storage area would be expanded, and a section would be used as a luminol chamber to process
crime vehicles.
6. Request from the Sheriffs Department for Approval of Budget Amendment #8 to
Appropriate $13,000 from Departmental Supplies to Depreciable Assets for the
Purchase of a K-9 (Replacement of K-9 Ringo): Chief Deputy Dowdle said an animal in the
canine unit died on June 2, 2006, and the department desired to transfer $13,000 out of supplies
to purchase a replacement.
7. Request from the Cooperative Extension Service for Approval of Budget Amendment
#9 to Appropriate Grant Funds ($8,600) Received from the Lowe's Charitable and
Education Foundation for Improvements at the Horticultural Demonstration Garden:
Deputy County Manager Blumenstein said a $8,600 grant had been received by the Cooperative
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Extension Service, and it would be combined with $700 received from fundraisers to purchase
garden enhancement items (brick pavers, walkway edging, landscape timbers, four -watering
stations, storage building, signage, and rental costs for equipment, e.g., skid steer, trencher,
tamper and brick saw).
8. Request for Approval of Budget Amendment #10 to Appropriate the Second -Year
Funding ($99,975) for a Juvenile Justice & Delinquency Prevention Demonstration Grant:
Deputy County Manager Blumenstein said this was the second year of funding for a home-
based family counseling program provided by SCAN (Stop Child Abuse Now). She requested
approval of the budget amendment to recognize the funds and for distribution to SCAN.
9. Request for the First Reading of a Proposed Ambulance Franchise Ordinance (See
briefing minutes for additional information. A public hearing is required for adoption of this
ordinance.)
10. Request for Approval of a Lease Renewal with the Iredell County Firemen's
Association for the Housing of a Mobile Air Unit and the Fire Education House at the Old
Vehicle Services Center (186 Stevenson Farm Road): Assistant County Manager Tracy
Jackson requested renewal of this five-year agreement that begins on September 15, 2006 and
terminates on September 14, 2011.
11. Request for Approval of an Amendment to the Lease with LifeSpan, Inc., for Usage
of Property at 147 Iredell Avenue, Troutman, NC (former Iredell Vocational Workshop):
The board agreed to the amendment with a stipulation for the staff and attorney to revise the
termination paragraph. The original amendment included a termination statement as follows:
"This lease may be terminated by either party hereto upon 90 days written notice of the
terminating party's intention to the other. " Assistant County Manager Jackson said the LifeSpan
officials were concerned about this short notice, and the commissioners agreed to replace the 90
days with one -year's written notice.
12. Request for Approval of the Annual Agreement with the State of North Carolina
Department of Environment and Natural Resources for Forestry Services: Deputy County
Manager Blumenstein said each year the state required a new agreement for forestry services.
She said the county's 40% share ($49,096) out of the $122,739 agreement was budgeted, and
approval was recommended.
13. Request for Adoption of a Resolution for an Update to Iredell County's Plan to
Further Fair Housing in Conjunction with the Community Development Block Grant
(CDBG) Program: Deputy County Manager Blumenstein said the North Carolina
Department of Commerce required periodic updates to the Fair Housing Plan. She said the
update included activities that would occur during the Pratt Industries CDBG project period.
RESOLUTION FOR IREDELL COUNTY'S PLAN
TO FURTHER FAIR HOUSING COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT PROGRAM
WHEREAS, Iredell County is participating in the Community Development Block Grant Program under the Housing
and Community Development Act of 1974 as administered through the North Carolina Department of Commerce;
and,
WHEREAS, a Fair Housing Plan is required for the County's CDBG project; and
WHEREAS, the County desires that its citizens be afforded the opportunity to obtain the national objective of a
decent, safe and sound living environment; and,
WHEREAS, the County deplores discrimination in the provision of housing on the basis of race, religion, color,
creed and/or national origin; and,
WHEREAS, the County desires that every citizen be afforded the opportunity to select a home of their choice.
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that to accomplish the above, the Iredell County Board of
Commissioners hereby adopts an Update of the attached Plan to Further Fair Housing to be used throughout the
implementation of the County's Community Development Block Grant project, and takes the following action:
(1) The Board of Commissioners does hereby appoint the County Manager, or his designate, as Fair
Housing Compliance Officer; and,
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(2) The Fair Housing Compliance Officer shall receive and review any and all grievances concerning
discrimination in the provision of housing. Within ten (10) working days of receiving a housing discrimination complaint, the
Fair Housing Compliance Officer or his designee shall inform the North Carolina Human Relations Council (NCHRC) about
the complaint and will advise the complainant of this action. The Fair Housing Compliance Officer or his designee will then
assist the NCHRC and the complainant in filing an official written discrimination complaint with the NCHRC, pursuant to the
State Fair Housing Act and Title Vlll of the Civil Rights Act of 1968.
14. Request for Approval of the August 1, 2006 Minutes
15. Request for Approval of a Connect CTY or NTI Agreement: Assistant County
Manager Tracy Jackson said the mass notification program agreement was ready for approval.
He said the company (NTI) would maintain a database of contact information (up to two phone
numbers along with one e-mail address). Jackson said the term of the agreement was three
years and eight months at a rate of $1.50 per household for the first eight months, and $2 per
household for the remaining three years. He said with 52,755 households, the cost would be
$79,132.50 for the first eight months and $105,510 a year for each of the three remaining years.
Jackson said $150,000 had been budgeted, and the municipalities of Statesville, Troutman, and
Mooresville had individual contracts with the company.
Commissioner Robertson stressed the importance of receiving an update on the project
before renewal.
Jackson said there was a 30 -day termination clause. He said, however, the agreement was
in blocks of fiscal years, and the county paid a year in advance.
Commissioner Johnson suggested a project report at budget time.
County Manager Mashburn said guidelines would have to be determined for the project,
that is, the types of emergencies/non emergencies that would necessitate notification.
------------------------------------------END OF CONSENT AGENDA --------------------------------
ANNOUNCEMENT OF VACANCIES OCCURRING ON BOARDS &
COMMISSIONS
Region F Aging Advisory Committee (1 announcement)
APPOINTMENTS TO BOARDS & COMMISSIONS
Troutman Planning Board (ETJ) (1 appointment): Commissioner Johnson nominated
Gary Smith.
No other nominations were submitted, and Chairman Tice made a motio to appoint Smith
by acclamation.
VOTING: Ayes — 4; Nays — 0.
were submitted, and Chairman Tice made a
September 5 meeting.
VOTING: Ayes — 4; Nays — 0.
tee (4 appointments): No nominations
to postpone the appointments until the
Region N Aging Advisory Uommittee t alternate appointment): No nominations were
submitted, and Chairman Tice made a kwtio to postpone the appointment until the September 5
meeting.
VOTING: Ayes — 4; Nays — 0.
Strategic Plan's Steering Committee (5 appointments): Chairman Tice nominated
Dr. Jane Testerman.
Commissioner Norman nominated Jonathan Byers.
Commissioner Robertson nominated Bill Newell.
Commissioner Johnson nominated Cecil Stallard.
Due to Commissioner Williams being unable to attend the meeting but recommending
the appointment of Vaughn Sprinkle, Chairman Tice nominated Mr. Sprinkle.
No other nominations were submitted, and Chairman Tice made a Voti-on to appoint
Testerman, Byers, Newell, Stallard, and Sprinkle by acclamation.
VOTING: Ayes - 4; Nays - 0.
PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD: A comment period was offered, but no one chose to speak.
NEW BUSINESS
Hospice Fundraiser Rodeo: Commissioner Robertson said Hospice was having an event
on Friday, August 18 in Love Valley. He said the fundraiser would be at 8 p.m., at a cost of
$10.00, and each commissioner had been invited to participate in a "stick -pony" race.
Robertson encouraged participation, and he said that on a daily basis, the organization served
90 patients and their families. He said in 2005, 473 patients and families were assisted.
COUNTY MANAGER'S REPORT: Mr. Mashburn expressed appreciation to Deputy
County Manager Blumenstein for her assistance during his recent absence due to surgery.
CLOSED SESSION: Pursuant to G.S. 143-318.11(a) - Legal, Chairman Tice at 7:35
p.m., made a knolioi to enter into closed session.
VOTING: Ayes - 4; Nays - 0.
(RETURN TO OPEN SESSION AT 7:50 P.M.)
ADJOURNMENT: Chairman Tice at 7:50 p.m., made a motion to adjourn the meeting.
(NEXT MEETING: Tuesday, September 5, 2006, at 5 and 7 p.m., in the Iredell County
Government Center, 200 South Center Street, Statesville, NC).
VOTING: Ayes - 4; Nays - 0.
Approval:
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Clerk to the Board