HomeMy WebLinkAboutDecember_19_2006_Briefing_MinutesIREDELL COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
BRIEFING MINUTES
DECEMBER 19 2006
The Iredeil County Board of Commissioners met in Briefing Session on Tuesday,
December 19, 2006, at 5 P.M., in the South Wing Conference Room, of the Iredell County
Government Center, 200 South Center Street, Statesville, NC.
Present were:
Chairman Marvin Norman
Vice Chairman Sara Haire Tice
Steve Johnson
Ken Robertson
Godfrey Williams
STAFF PRESENT: County Manager Joel Mashburn, Deputy County Manager Susan
Blumenstein, Assistant County Manager Tracy Jackson, EMS Director David Cloer, Inspections
Director Lynn Niblock, Health Director Donna Campbell, Tax Administrator Bill Doolittle,
Solid Waste Director David Lambert, Purchasing Agent Dean Lail, Acting Planning Director
Steve Warren, and Clerk to the Board Jean Moore.
CALL TO ORDER by Chairman Norman.
STRATEGIC PLANNING PROJECT UPDATE AND SUMMARY FROM
GERALD WEXELBAUM OF STRATEGIC PLANNING ASSOCIATES INC:
Wexelbaum pointed out that the strategic plan was for the community and not for county
government. He reminded the board members that, initially, five members (Johnathan Byers,
Bill Newell, Vaughn Sprinkle, Cecil Stallard, Jane Testerman) were appointed, and these
individuals selected the other members. He said seven core values for the county were
identified by the group, and these were:
•Good moral base
•Importance of education
*Public safety and health
•Support for agriculture
*Environmental sensitivity
•Encouragement of business and commerce
•Cultural enrichment
Wexelbaum continued his presentation by describing 34 improvement strategies for the
following topic areas (1) Land Use/Environmental (2) Economic Vitality (3) Transportation (4)
Collaborative Government (5) Education/Culture/Recreation (6) Comprehensive Health Care and
(7) Public Safety.
Mr. Wexelbaum commended the committee's 24 members and said they desired to
remain as a standing committee with a chairman and a county staff person serving as a
coordinator. He said the group would periodically evaluate and update the plan, plus assist in
getting all accountable organizations to implement the suggestions.
County Manager Mashburn said the plan would be presented in more detail at the
February Planning Session, and endorsement would eventually be requested.
Commissioner Robertson mentioned that under education, there was a strategy to
"benchmark other communities to identify an action plan for programs and funding." He asked
what communities might be used, and expressed concern that Charlotte or Mecklenburg County
might be used as a model.
Wexelbaum said the community was outside of Atlanta, Georgia.
Commissioner Johnson expressed concern about the transportation goal. Johnson said
he supported transportation; however, when "alternative transportation methods" were
mentioned this usually meant light rail. He said light rail was expensive, and it didn't
accomplish the results that it was advertised or touted to achieve. Mr. Johnson also mentioned
concerns about the cultural arts and comprehensive health care funding goals. Pertaining to
cultural arts, Mr. Johnson said he wouldn't desire to work towards anything similar to
Mecklenburg County. On the item pertaining to health care, he said the federal government
already dictated services for "under -served populations or non-English speaking" and no one
should expect him to voluntarily provide additional programs.
Commissioner Robertson agreed with Mr. Johnson. Mr. Robertson also mentioned that
pertaining to economic vitality, the county should pursue ways to utilize the "Life Sciences"
project in Kannapolis and to also use the financial institutions or resources in Charlotte.
Commissioner Tice and Chairman Norman thanked the strategic planning committee
members for their work on the plan.
REQUEST FROM THE IREDELL-STATESVILLE SCHOOLS FOR APPROVAL
OF A LIGHTING CONTRACT: Dr. Kenny Miller, Director of Facilities and Planning for
the school system, said that due to an aging infrastructure on some of the recreational fields, a
lease -purchase agreement with EnergyUnited for lighting fixtures had been pursued. Miller said
the fields were tested every two years, but some of the wiring, poles, and insulation at some of
the facilities were 30 to 40 years old. Additionally he said the upkeep, maintenance and failure
rate had increased to the point that fixture replacements were warranted. He said the agreement
costs would be paid out of capital funding with an interest rate of 6.75%; however, he was still
negotiating for a lower rate.
Deputy County Manager Blumenstein said the county had to approve the request due to
the lease -purchase arrangement. She said once the agreement was paid out, the county would
own the lighting fixtures.
This request was not placed on the consent agenda, and additional information may be
found in the regular meeting minutes.
(All other agenda items were then presented.)
ADJOURNMENT: Chairman Norman adjourned the briefing session at 6:40 p.m.
Approved:
2
Clerk to the Board