HomeMy WebLinkAboutMarch_20_2007_Regular_MinutesIREDELL COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
REGULAR MINUTES
MARCH 20, 2007
The Iredell County Board of Commissioners met in Regular Session on Tuesday,
March 20, 2007, at 7:00 P.M., in the Iredell County Government Center (Commissioners'
Meeting Room), 200 South Center Street, Statesville, NC.
Board Members Present
Chairman Marvin Norman
Vice Chairman Sara Haire Tice
Steve Johnson
Ken Robertson
Godfrey Williams
Staff present: County Manager Joel Mashburn, County Attorney Bill Pope, Deputy
County Manager Susan Blumenstein, Acting Planning Director Steve Warren, and Clerk to the
Board Jean Moore.
CALL TO ORDER by Chairman Norman
INVOCATION by Commissioner Johnson
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
ADJUSTMENTS OF THE AGENDA: MOTION by Commissioner Tice to adjust the
agenda by the following actions:
Deletions: • Request for Review of a Residential Growth Management System Ordinance for
the Brawley School Road Peninsula & Call for a Public Hearing
(A work session will be held at 4 p.m. on April 3 regarding this ordinance.)
*Announcement of District Meetings for the North Carolina Association of County
Commissioners in April and Announcement of the Annual Conference of the
National Association of Counties in July (This announcement was for informational
purposes.)
Addition: • Request to Postpone Action on the Rezoning of Property owned by the McLain
Family on Snow Creek Road
VOTING: Ayes — 5; Nays — 0.
PUBLIC HEARING
Chairman Norman declared the meeting to be in a public hearing.
Consideration of an Economic Development Incentive for R P. Machine Enterprises,
Inc.: Greater Statesville Development Corporation Director Mike Smith said R.P. Machine had
conducted business in the county for the past eleven years, and the company now had plans to
expand and add 15 new jobs. He said a $3 million taxable investment would be made, and this
would make the company eligible for a $55,800 incentive over a five-year period.
No one else desired to speak, and Chairman Norman adjourned the hearing.
MOTION by Commissioner Tice to grant the economic development incentive of $55,800
over a five-year period to R.P. Machine Enterprises, Inc., based upon a $3 million investment in
Iredell County.
VOTING: Ayes — 5; Nays — 0.
(Note: This company was previously identified as the Rpm Company.)
Presentation from Tax Administrator Bill Doolittle Regarding the Value Changes
Across the County due to the 2007 Reappraisal: Mr. Doolittle introduced Steve Ervin, Kathy
Hoover, and Chip Parks, the lead team members of the reappraisal staff. Doolittle said the tax
base was comprised of several components but 80% was real estate. He said inflation played a
role in the change of values, and over the past four years, this had been about 12%. Doolittle said,
however, steel, concrete, wood, and petroleum-based products had risen more than this
percentage. He said other reasons for property value changes were location, property use
conversion (farmland to commercial, industrial or residential, etc.), and that the old value may
have shown the site as vacant land while something had now been built upon it.
Doolittle said market value had present use and homestead exemptions deducted, and he
primarily wanted to discuss assessed values. He said overall, real property changed about 23% or
$2.9 billion, but approximately $1.2 billion of this was from new buildings or subdivisions that
had been constructed during the past four years. Mr. Doolittle noted that not all properties
increased in value due to depreciation of older homes, location, and removal of buildings.
Doolittle said that by using township averages, the properties near the lake had increased the most
along with land bordering I-77. He said tax value notices would be mailed March 28.
----------------------------------CONSENT AGENDA ---------------------------------------
MOTION by Commissioner Johnson to approve the following 13 consent agenda items.
VOTING: Ayes — 5; Nays — 0.
(All items were discussed during the agenda briefing.)
1. Request for Approval of the February 2007 Refunds and Releases: Tax Administrator
Bill Doolittle requested approval of the following refunds and releases.
FEBRUARY
2007 TAX RELEASES & REFUNDS
Releases
Refunds
County
$35,325.73
$2,028.24
Solid Waste Fees
598.00
0
East Alexander Co. Fire # 1
17.85
0
Shepherd's Fire # 2
80.87
0
Mount Mourne Fire # 3
238.79
106.16
All County Fire # 4
879.28
84.17
Statesville City
13,497.06
68.70
Statesville Downtown
0
0
Mooresville Town
12,239.29
78.11
Mooresville Downtown
0
0
Mooresville School
1,067.14
39.97
Love Valley
3.04
0
Harmony
1.68
0
Troutman
284.23
0
Total
$64,232.96
$2,405.35
A complete list, of the individual tax releases and refunds,
into the minutes by reference.
is hereby incorporated
2. Request from the Mooresville School System for Approval of an Annexation Petition to
the Town of Mooresville for 42.41 acres (PIN# 4666-91-9021): Mooresville Schools'
Finance Director David Dutton said a new intermediate school was as proposed for a site located
behind the existing Mooresville Intermediate School (near/around 1438 Coddle Creek Highway).
He said water sewer was needed and an annexation petition had been submitted to the Town.
Dutton said the property was deeded to Iredell County due to the 2006 Certificates of
Participation
Note: Mooresville Schools' Interim Superintendent Roger Hyatt and Director of Operations Steve Young
accompanied Dutton to the meeting.
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3. Request for Approval of a Resolution Authorizing the Award of an Employment Badge
to Retiree Sam Counts & the Sale of a Service Sidearm: County Manager Mashburn said it
was county tradition to award employment badges to retiring law enforcement officers and to
allow them to purchase ($1) their service sidearms as authorized by state law. He then requested
approval of the following resolution in regards to Sheriff's Department Retiree Sam Counts.
WHEREAS, Deputy Sam Counts has served honorably in the Iredell County Sheriff's
Of and has successfully met the requirements for retirement and does, upon the occasion of
his retirement, request to be permitted to keep his badge and to purchase his service sidearm.
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, by the Board of Commissioners of Iredell
County, that said badge be awarded to Deputy Counts at no charge and that he be allowed to
purchase his service sidearm for the sum of One Dollar ($1.00), as provided by G.S. 20-187.2
One (1) Glock Model 22
Serial # GMT785
4. Request for Approval to Award a Janitorial Services Bid to Rainbow Janitorial for the
Building Standards Center (effective immediately): Purchasing Agent Dean Lail said Rainbow
Janitorial currently had a contract with the county, and this company was also the low bidder for
cleaning services at the Building Standards Center located on North Center Street. He suggested
that an "add-on" be made to Rainbow's current contract.
Bids received, for the cleaning of this building are as follows:
JANITORIAL SERVICES, BUILDING STANDARDS CENTER BID SUMMARY
VENDOR
Bid/Month CURRENT NEW
Rainbow Janitorial
$1,660 Yes -contract
South ark Services
$2,400 Yes -contract
By Faith Cleaning
No Bid Yes
Hook's Cleaning
No Bid Yes
Letters were sent to all participants in a previous bid for Cleaning Services and new vendors on the bid list.
Advertisement was placed in Statesville Record & Landmark for general invitation. Only vendors who attended
scheduled pre-bid were allowed to offer bids. Vendors listed above did attend the pre-bid conference.
5. Request for Approval of a Senior Discount Fee Schedule for the Stumpy Creek Boat
Landing: Recreation Director Robert Woody requested approval of the following fee schedule
that would be used for individuals 65 years or older who used the Stumpy Creek boat landing.
Woody said it wasn't anticipated that the discounts would impact the park's revenue.
Current Fee Schedule
Proposed Senior Discount Fee
Schedule
January
$50
January
$35
February
$50
February
$35
March
$50
March
$35
April
$45
Aril
$31.50
May
$40
May
$28
June
$35
June
$24.50
Jul
$30
Jul
$21
August
$25
August
$17.50
September
$20
September
$14
October
$15
October
$10.50
November
$10
November
$7
December
$5
December
$3.50
6. Request from the Social Services Department for Approval of an Electing County
Status Designation for the FY 07-09 Work First Program: Social Services Director Don
Wall said that on March 12, 2007, the Welfare Reform Planning Committee unanimously voted
to recommend that Iredell County remain an Electing County for FY 07-09. He said that even
though the General Assembly was proposing cash assistance reductions for "electing" counties,
this status would still be more financially beneficial than "standard" due to the following:
• An Electing County must spend only 90% Maintenance of Effort while a standard county must
spend 100%. ( Maintenance of Effort savings for Iredell County are $147,793 per year.)
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• An Electing County may transfer underspent TANF cash payment funds to the TANF Child
Welfare Program to help offset county funds. (In FY 06-07, cash savings will be
approximately $765,113. With the proposed reductions, the county's cash savings for FY 07-
08 will be approximately $195,127. If there is an additional 7% reduction, as anticipated, cash
savings will be approximately $128,101. )
• An Electing County may develop its own policies and rules geared towards the community's
needs. (Generally, electing county policies are more conservative than standard county
policies.)
Commissioner Johnson, the Welfare Reform Committee Chairman, said for the next two
years there was a recommendation to remain as an electing county, but after 2009, a change
might be needed. He said "Raleigh" evidently wanted all counties to be "standard," and this was
why the cash reductions were occurring.
Income Maintenance Supervisor Lynn Deal then explained changes in the Welfare
Reform Plan. She said the changes were primarily in the Medicaid program (honor date for
assistance, and the appeals process).
7. Request for Authorization to Allow the Board Vice Chairman to Sign an Escrow
Deposit Agreement in Conjunction with an Iredell Memorial Hospital Bond Refunding:
Deputy County Manager Blumenstein said Iredell Memorial Hospital officials wanted to issue
$30 million in bonds through the NC Medical Care Commission and approximately $9.3 million
would be used to redeem the Series 1997 revenue bonds. She said the county would not be a
party to the new issuance; however, it would play a role in the Escrow Deposit Agreement
necessary for repayment of the Series 1997 outstanding principal balance (redemption to occur
on October 1, 2007). Blumenstein said the county wouldn't have an obligation to repay any of
the debt.
Note: Chairman Norman is a hospital trustee, and this is why the Vice Chair will sign the documents.
8. Request for Approval of a Lease Agreement with Crossroads Behavioral Healthcare
for Space in the Iredell County Government Center -South: Deputy County Manager
Blumenstein said a five-year office space lease needed approval for Crossroads Behavioral
Healthcare to use the Iredell County Government Center -South (2nd floor). She said the county
would not be charging a rental fee; however, Crossroads would be responsible for utilities and
operating costs. (Space to be leased is 5,283 sq. ft.)
9. Request for Approval of the FY 07-08 Criminal Justice Partnership Program (CJPP)
Budget: Appropriate Punishment Options Director Pam Navey presented a $127,622 budget
for the upcoming year. She said the funding would be used for the resource center, and the
budget had been approved by the CJPP board.
10. Request for Review of a Minimum Housing Ordinance & Call for a Public Hearing on
April 3, 2007 at 7:00 PM: Inspections Director Lynn Niblock presented a minimum housing
ordinance almost identical to the document presented at the Winter Planning Session. He said
the first year's cost to enforce the ordinance would be $109,375.00, and the second year's costs
was estimated at $87,875. Niblock said the costs would be for one certified building inspector
and one clerical position with both individuals being trained to work in other areas of the
department. He said the program would primarily be complaint driven, and the department
received, on average, a couple of minimum housing complaints each week. He said the
department would notify the public about the ordinance through the county web site, pamphlets,
and a press release.
11. Request for Approval of a Resolution Regarding the State Ethics Long Form
Disclosure Statement: The Board discussed a new disclosure statement required of members
serving on state boards and committees, and the following resolution was approved.
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RESOLUTION
REGARDING THE
STATE ETHICS LONG FORM DISCLOSURE STATEMENT
WHEREAS, the North Carolina State Legislature has taken steps to ensure public confidence in
a variety of boards that oversee and operate with public funds, and it was with the best of intentions that a
State Ethics Long Form Disclosure Statement was created and required of members participating on
some boards; and
WHEREAS, the effect of this document is beginning to be felt and the Iredell County Board of
Commissioners respectfully requests a review of the document and the subsequent impact that has
resulted from its implementation; and
WHEREAS, Iredell County is grateful to the citizens who have volunteered their time and
expertise to sit on boards; and
WHEREAS, the volunteers have agreed to accept these positions that can demand significant
time and commitment; and
WHEREAS, volunteers are serving as representatives of state government, county government,
and of their communities, in operating and overseeing the mission and function of a variety of mandated
agencies and departments; and
WHEREAS, the welfare and operation of the boards appointed by the Iredell County Board of
Commissioners are now in jeopardy; and
WHEREAS, while ethics in state and local governments are important, the public access to this
private information is excessive and may impede the recruitment efforts for qualified local business
people to serve on the boards.
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Iredell County Board of Commissioners
requests that state representatives who have been elected to represent Iredell County review the State
Ethics Long Form Disclosure Statement and the impact it is having on the functioning of local and state
governments.
This the 201h day of March 2007.
12. Request for Approval of Minutes (February 23 & 24 Winter Planning Session &
March 6, 2007)
13. Request to Postpone Action on the Rezoning of Property owned by the McLain
Family on Snow Creek Road: Acting Planning Director Steve Warren said the McLain family
had a rezoning case scheduled before the board on April 3. Warren said a letter had been
received requesting a postponement. (The board granted the delay as requested.)
---------------------------------------END OF CONSENT AGENDA -------------------------------------
ANNOUNCEMENT OF VACANCIES OCCURRING ON BOARDS &
COMMISSIONS
• Nursing Home Advisory Committee (I announcement)
APPOINTMENTS TO BOARDS & COMMISSIONS
Adult Care Home Community Advisory Committee (5 appointments): No nominations
were submitted, and Commissioner Tice made a motion to postpone the five appointments until
the April 3 meeting.
VOTING: Ayes — 5; Nays — 0.
Nursing Home Advisory Committee (1 appointment): Commissioner Tice nominated Nikki
Howard.
Chairman Norman made a inotioni to close the nominations and appoint Howard by
acclamation.
VOTING: Ayes — 5; Nays - 0.
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UNFINISHED BUSINESS
Case No. 0611-3 • J.C. Faw Property — A Request to Rezone Property From
Residential Agricultural & Neighborhood Business Conditional Use District to
Neighborhood Business: Acting Planning Director Steve Warren said a public hearing was
held and adjourned on December 6, 2006 for this case. He said the request had been postponed
to allow time for Mr. Wood to resolve a road right-of-way acquisition with the state highway
department. Warren said recent correspondence confirmed the state had purchased the rights-of-
way for the Brawley School Road widening project.
(The staff report, as of December 2006, is as follows. It should be noted that as of
March 20, 2007, Mr. Eric Wood is the current owner of the property.)
CASE NO. 0611-3
OWNER: J C Faw
PO Bos 410
Wilkesboro, NC 28697
AGENT: F.ric Wood
410 Auction Drive
Salisbury, NC 28147
(704) 202-1524
LOCATION. At the corner of Brawley School Road and Drye Drive, more spec f tally
PIN As 4647-01-3786 & 4647-01-3588. Directions: Brawley School Road, right Drye
Drive, on right.
REQUESTED ACTION AND CONDITIONS: Rezone the property from RA, Residential
Agricultural District and NB -CUD, Neighborhood Business -Conditional Use District to
NB, Neighborhood Business.
PROPOSED USE: Off ce building.
SIZE: The proposed area to be rezoned is 2.38 acres.
EXISTING LAND USE: Vacant and residential.
SURROUNDING LAND USE: Commercial and residential.
WATERSHED REGULATIONS: This property is located in the WSIV-CA Watershed
TRAFFIC: According to the 1993 Iredell County Thoroughfare Plan, the capacity for
this stretch of Brawley School Road is 9,000 vehicles per day. In 2005, the estimated
daily traffic count was 24, 000 vehicles per day.
ZONING HISTORY.. The parcel to the north has been zoned RA since County wide
zoning occurred in 1990. The parcel to the south was rezoned from RA to NB -CUD on
March 2, 1999. The condition was that the only, use permitted was a convenience store
with gasoline sales. The property to the east was zoned CB -CUD in July 2001 and April
2003. Mooresville has zoning jurisdiction to the East and south.
STAFF COMMENTS: The NB District designation request and intended use, (offices)
are both supported by the Brawley School Peninsula Small Area Plan. Nearby land uses
include an office building across the road and this segment of Brawley School Road is
more suitable for the intent of the district namely providing services to nearby residences
than future residential sites. Planning staff is in favor of this request.
PLANNING BOARD ACTION: On November 1, 2006, the Planning Board voted 11-0 to
recommend approval of this request and to advise that it is consistent with the Brawley
Peninsula Small Area Plan.
Warren said a commercial office building would not impact the area as much as the
original proposed use as a convenience store. He said Mr. Wood was asking for a conventional
zoning district, and findings -of -fact were not necessary.
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way.
Eric Wood said about 15 feet of the secondary lot would be needed due to the right-of-
OTION by Commissioner Johnson to approve the zoning map amendment and to make
a finding that approval was consistent with the adopted Brawley Peninsula Small Area Plan and
that said approval was reasonable and in the public's interest due to consistency with the
Brawley Peninsula Small Area Plan; as a result, said approval furthers the goals and objectives of
the Brawley Peninsula Small Area Plan.
VOTING: Ayes — 5; Nays - 0.
PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD
Alan Boyce, of 119 Lightship Drive, Mooresville, NC (off Brawley School Road) said he
was a board member of The Point Homeowners Association and the Growth Study Commission.
Boyce voiced concerns about the March 6 decision to release zoning authority to Mooresville of
three lots on the Brawley School Road. He said Mooresville would probably annex the 30 acres,
and numerous people would be impacted. Boyce said these same citizens would then have to
appear before Mooresville officials regarding land use matters. He said no notification had been
given to the community about the release request, but he understood new procedures had been
adopted effective March 1. Mr. Boyce stressed the importance of notifying affected property
owners when a zoning jurisdiction release was being considered.
Commissioner Johnson suggested that the planning department send an e-mail to the
Growth Study Commission when similar requests were presented. He said this would be a "safety
valve."
Acting Planning Director Steve Warren said a new policy had been implemented as of
March 1, and the first case falling under the new guidelines would be presented on April 3.
Warren said the staff now (1) posted a sign (2) published legal notices (3) sent letters to adjoining
property owners and (4) held a public hearing. He said additionally, if a zoning release request
in/around the Brawley School Road were submitted, the staff would notify the Growth Study
Commission.
NEW BUSINESS
Building Permits: Commissioner Johnson said a conversation with the Inspections Director
revealed that the commercial building permit backlog had decreased, and a part of increase had
been due to builders trying to obtain permits before building code changes were enacted. He said
the conversation also revealed that from March 20, 2005 to March 19, 2006, 363 commercial
building permits were issued compared to the issuance of 657 commercial building permits from
March 20, 2006 to March 19, 2007.
COUNTY MANAGER'S REPORT: County Manager Joel Mashburn distributed a
written activity report.
ADJOURNMENT: There being no further business to conduct, Chairman Norman made
a knotio to adjourn the meeting at 7:35 p.m. (NEXT MEETING: Tuesday, April 3, 2007, at 5 and
7 P.M., in the Iredell County Government Center, 200 South Center Street, Statesville, NC)
VOTING: Ayes — 5; Nays — 0.
Approved:
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Clerk to the Board