HomeMy WebLinkAboutDecember 16 2008 Regular MinutesIREDELL COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
REGULAR MINUTES
DECEMBER 16 2008
The Iredell County Board of Commissioners met in Regular Session on Tuesday,
December 16, 2008, at 7:00 P.M., in the Iredell County Government Center (Commissioners'
Meeting Room), 200 South Center Street, Statesville, NC.
Board Members Present
Chairman Godfrey Williams
Vice Chairman Marvin Norman
Steve Johnson
Scott Keadle
Ken Robertson
Staff present: County Manager Joel Mashburn, County Attorney Bill Pope, Planning &
Development Director Ron Smith, and Clerk to the Board Jean Moore.
CALL TO ORDER by Chairman Williams.
INVOCATION by Commissioner Johnson.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
RECOGNITION OF A BOY SCOUT: Chairman Williams welcomed Boy Scout
Travis Austin with Troop 607 (Concord United Methodist Church). Travis was working on his
Citizenship in the Community Merit Badge.
ADJUSTMENTS OF THE AGENDA: MOTION by Commissioner Johnson to
approve the following agenda adjustments.
Deletion: *Request from Ron Smith, Planning and Development Director, to Discuss a
Comprehensive Land Use Plan Update and Urban Service Areas
Addition: *Request for Approval of the December 1, 2008 Incumbent Board Meeting
Minutes, along with the Organizational Meeting Minutes, and the December 2, 2008
Regular Meeting Minutes
VOTING: Ayes — 5; Nays — 0.
REQUEST FROM MITCHELL COMMUNITY COLLEGE FOR $3,662,894 TO
COMPLETE THE MOORESVILLE CAMPUS CLASSROOM BUILDING PROJECT:
Mitchell Community College President Dr. Doug Eason said his board of trustees had voted to
request $3,662,894 to complete the funding needed for the Mooresville Campus Classroom
Building Project. Eason said 17 new classrooms would be built. He supplied the following
financial information about the project.
Estimated cost $6,662,894.00
Funds available
Balance of County Bond $1,705,880.00
State Capital Allocation 900,000.00
County Capital Projects Interest Earned 41,321.23
Gifts for M'ville Classroom Bldg. 300,000.00
2008 County Capital Allocation to M'ville Classroom 50,000.00
Interest earned to date for cash on hand 2,798.77
Anticipated cash available for the M'ville Classroom Bldg. 3,000,000.00
Cash needed for Mooresville Classroom Building $3,662,894.00
MOTTO by Commissioner Johnson to approve the request from Mitchell Community
College for $2,785,000 in additional funding for the design and construction of the Mooresville
Classroom Building and to authorize Finance Director Susan Blumenstein to take the steps
necessary to file an application with the Local Government Commission for approval of a direct
placement, installment purchase financing.
VOTING: Ayes — 5; Nays — 0.
Note: Commissioner Johnson said the revenue stream was already dedicated to pay of
the bank financing for the project.
---------------------------------------------CONSENT AGENDA ---------------------------------------------
items.
OTIO by Commissioner Norman to approve the following eleven consent agenda
VOTNG: Ayes — 5; Nays — 0.
(All items were explained during the briefing session.)
1. Request for Approval of Budget Amendment #30 for Adjustments Necessary to
Recognize New Loan Proceeds and Budget Amendment #30(a) for the Appropriation of
$214,928 in Interest Savings: Finance Director Susan Blumenstein said that in November the
county issued a direct placement Installment Payment Revenue Refunding Bond to refinance the
variable rate 2003 Installment Payment Revenue Refunding Bond that included the termination
of the variable to fixed rate Swap Agreement with the Bank of America. She said BA#30 was
needed to (1) recognize the loan proceeds from RBC bank (2) pay the outstanding 2003 bonds
(3) swap the termination payment and (4) pay the closing costs.
In addition, Blumenstein BA# 30a was needed to appropriate fund balance reserved for
schools (interest savings from the 2003 refunding) for the payment of interest on the 2003
Refunding Bond that resulted from the Ambac Assurance Company downgrade and recent
market conditions.
2. Request for Approval of Budget Amendment #31 for the Transfer of Funds of
$686,840 from School Capital Outlay to Non -GO Interest Expenditure Line Items to Cover
Interest Costs: Finance Director Susan Blumenstein said that after the county's annual audit, a
settlement consisting of net receipts over the amounts budgeted for the community college and
the two school systems had to be appropriated. She said the $686,840 settlement consisted of
$599,046 to Iredell-Statesville; $69,610 to Mooresville -Graded; and $18,184 to Mitchell
College.
3. Request from the Sheriffs Department for Approval of Budget Amendment #32 in
the Amount of $11,497.01 to Update Interview Recording Equipment: Chief Deputy Rick
Dowdle said new legislation required that all suspect interviews in "major" cases be video taped
and audio recorded. He said a new system was needed, and it would record onto a computer
hard drive allowing the staff to download and transfer the interviews to a DVD. Dowdle said the
$11,497.01 system included security safeguards to prevent unauthorized personnel from
tampering with the data, and the cost quote included installation, software licenses, updates and
other equipment. He said the system would also help in providing evidence to the District
Attorney's Office.
4. Request from the Sheriffs Department to Approve Budget Amendment #33 for the
Transfer of $150,000 from the Seized Fund Account for a Special Operations Project: Chief
Deputy Rick Dowdle requested permission to appropriate $150,000 in Federal Equity Sharing
Funds for a Special Operations Project.
5. Request from Planning and Development Director Ron Smith to Endorse a
Resolution Supporting the Town of Mooresville's Application for a "Safe Routes to School
Infrastructure Grant" to build sidewalks along Oak Tree Road: Planning & Development
Director Ron Smith said the Iredell-Statesville Schools had initiated a request for grant funding
from the North Carolina Department of Transportation Safe Routes to School Fund to build
sidewalks on both sides of Oak Tree Road. He said the road was situated between Lake Norman
Elementary School and the Brawley School Road. Mr. Smith said (1) the request had been
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endorsed by the Lake Norman Rural Planning Organization (2) no matching funds were needed
from the county and (3) other schools would later be reviewed to determine if sidewalks would
also be beneficial to them. A copy of the resolution is as follows:
RESOLUTION
To Endorse the Development of a Sidewalk along Oak Tree Road to Serve the Students of Lake
Norman Elementary School -Facilitated by the Town of Mooresville and a
NCDOT Safe Routes to School Grant
WHEREAS, the Safe Routes to School infrastructure grant facilitates the design and
construction of sidewalks that encourage children to walk and bicycle to school, thus improving safety
and reducing traffic,,fuel consumption, and air pollution in the vicinity of school; and
WHEREAS, the North Carolina Department of Transportation Division of Bicycle and
Pedestrian Transportation has issued a call for projects for the Safe Routes to School Program; and
WHEREAS, Iredell County encourages development of transportation modal choices including
pedestrian and bicycle options that connect residential areas to schools, commercial districts, and other
public facilities; and
WHEREAS, the Town of Mooresville will be responsible for administering the infrastructure
grant
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that Iredell County endorses and supports the
development of the NCDOT Safe Routes to School Infrastructure Grant.
6. Request from the Administration Department to Amend the Policy Governing the Use
of Meeting Rooms in the Government Center by Increasing the After Hours Charge from
$18 to $30: County Manager Joel Mashburn said that since 1991, the county had charged $18
an hour, with a minimum of three hours, for usage of the South Wing Conference Room and the
Commissioners' Meeting Room. He said the charge was only applied after 5:00 p.m., when the
county offices closed, and the money was used to cover the security person's salary. Mashburn
said the school system used the facility free of charge; however, their security person insured the
building was locked after use. He said area non -profits and other groups used the facilities free of
charge during the normal work hours; however, county functions and departments had first
priority. Mashburn said the cost of labor had increased, and the average overtime salary was
$27.66 an hour for the security staff (Facilities Service Department).
7. Request from Fire Marshal Lloyd Ramsey to Authorize the County Manager to
Sign Membership Renewals for the Fire Marshal's Office to Continue as Members of the
N.C. State Firemen's Association: Fire Marshal Lloyd Ramsey said the county fire staff had
been members of the State Firemen's Association for many years, but now, a governing body
official was required to certify the list of eligible firemen. Ramsey said all individuals listed on
the form were eligible for line -of -duty -death benefits as well as pension fund credits. (The board
authorized the county manager to sign the annual certification of firemen on a perpetual or
continuing basis.)
8. Request from Fire Marshal Lloyd Ramsey to Approve the Funding ($150,000) to
Purchase Land for the Construction of a New South Iredell VFD Facility: Attending the
meeting with Fire Marshal Lloyd Ramsey to explain this request were Fire Tax District Board
member Frank Phillips, and Brian Weatherman with the South Iredell Volunteer Fire Department.
Ramsey said the South Iredell VFD was requesting $150,000 for the purchase of four acres of
land for the construction of a new fire station. He said the VFD was requesting $75,000 out of the
FY 08-09 budget, and $75,000 out of the FY 09-10 budget. Mr. Ramsey said the actual cost was
$200,000.00; however, the VFD already had $50,000. He said the funds would be derived out of
unreserved -undesignated fund balance. Ramsey said the Fire Tax Board had approved the
funding, and the new building was needed due to the current facility being landlocked with no
room to expand.
Weatherman said the four acres were located at the corner of Linwood and Bromley
Roads. He said the funding was strictly to purchase the property that was in a watershed
protected area, and that water and sewer were not available. Mr. Weatherman said the VFD
building was built in the 1960s, and the firemen were "strapped" for space.
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Phillips said the new building would assist in lowering the insurance rating; however, it
would be the entire package (vehicle, equipment, supplies, etc.) that would help when an
inspection occurred.
9. Request from the Tax Administration Department for Approval of Refunds and
Releases: Tax Administrator Bill Doolittle requested approval of the following refunds and
releases for the month of November.
Releases for the month of November 2008
$69,879.22
County
$42,934.10
Solid Waste Fees
$404.75
E. Alex. Co. Fire #1
$17.21
Shepherd's Fire #2
$143.97
Mt. Mourne Fire #3
$230.95
All County Fire #4
$2,820.48
B&F Fire #5
$124.01
Statesville City
$3,927.25
Statesville Downtown
$14.19
Mooresville Town
$16,600.67
Mooresville Downtown
$0.00
Mooresville School
$2,316.53
Love Valley
$56.81
Harmony
$66.22
Troutman
$222.08
Davidson
$0.00
Refunds for the month of November 2008
$7,887.25
County
$3,417.30
Solid Waste Fees
$60.75
E. Alex. Co. Fire #1
$0.00
Shepherd's Fire #2
$0.00
Mt. Mourne Fire #3
$16.95
All County Fire #4
$63.81
B&F Fire #5
$0.00
Statesville City
$191.71
Statesville Downtown
$0.00
Mooresville Town
$3,338.71
Mooresville Downtown
$0.00
Mooresville School
$715.06
Love Valley
$0.00
Harmony
$0.00
Troutman
$82.96
Davidson
$0.00
10. Request from Bill Doolittle, Tax Assessor, to Accept Resolutions Replacing the
Property Tax on Certain Heavy Equipment with Gross Receipts Tax and also to Modify the
Tax Collection Contracts with the City of Statesville and Town of Mooresville: Tax
Administrator Bill Doolittle said Mooresville and Statesville had requested acceptance of
resolutions seeking the levy and collection of a gross receipts tax originating out of retail short-
term leases/rentals on heavy equipment pursuant to Senate Bill 1852. He said the resolutions had
to be accepted or this type of property would no longer be subject to property taxes. Continuing,
he said this tax was for equipment over 1500 lbs., but not used on the road. He said the
companies would collect the tax, and the funds would then pass-through to the county. Doolittle
added that the county was not involved in the passage of the new law.
Mooresville's resolution is as follows, and additionally, the county approved an
addendum to the inter -local agreement for the collection of ad valorem property taxes.
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The City of Statesville's resolution is as follows, and additionally, the county approved a
"second modification agreement" for the collection of ad valorem property taxes.
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11. Request from Tax Administrator Bill Doolittle to Approve an Audit Contract with Tax
Management Associates, Inc., and to Authorize the County Manager to Sign the Contract:
Tax Administrator Bill Doolittle said several factors influenced his department in seeking a
different company to perform audits that would verify the accuracy of business taxpayer listings.
He said Tax Management Associates, located in Charlotte, NC, was a large firm having much
court experience, plus the fees would be the same as for the previous company that was located
in Hickory, NC.
----------------------------------------END OF CONSENT AGENDA --------------------------------------
PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD: The public was offered an opportunity to speak, but no
one accepted the offer.
COUNTY MANAGER'S REPORT: County Manager Joel Mashburn said an activity
report had been distributed to each commissioner. He also mentioned the following:
► Reminder about the County Employee Christmas Luncheon on December 17, 2008
from 11:30 — 1:30 P.M., at the Statesville Civic Center.
► Fuel Prices: Fuel prices have significantly dropped in the past few days. The
county currently pays the following amounts:
Diesel $ 1.5715
Unleaded $ 1.1770
Mid -Grade $ 1.2390
Premium $ 1.4100
► Euthanasia Chamber: Several months ago, an electrical fire occurred in the Animal
Control Department's euthanasia chamber (exhaust fan). A new fan motor was installed, several
tests were performed, an outside consultant made an inspection, the staff received training, and
will continue to receive training on the chamber's operations and safety procedures. Mr.
Mashburn said the staff continued to believe this method of animal disposal was necessary, and
usage of the chamber would resume
in early 2009.
P.M.
ADJOURNMENT: MOTION by Chairman Williams to adjourn the meeting at 7:12
VOTING: Ayes — 5; Nays — 0.
Approval:
Clerk to the Board
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