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HomeMy WebLinkAboutFebruary_5_2008_Briefing_MinutesIREDELL COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS BRIEFING MINUTES FEBRUARY 5, 2008 The Iredell County Board of Commissioners met in Briefing Session on Tuesday, February 5, 2008, at 5:00 P.M., in the Iredell County Government Center (South Wing Conference 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, Deputy County Manager Susan Blumenstein, Assistant County Manager Tracy Jackson, Library Director Steve Messick, Assistant Library Director Peggy Carter, Planning/Development Director Ron Smith, Tax Collector Bill Furches, Cooperative Extension Service Director Ken Vaughn, Purchasing Agent Dean Lail, Sheriff's Chief Deputy Rick Dowdle, and Clerk to the Board Jean Moore. CALL TO ORDER by Chairman Norman. INTRODUCTION OF RETHA GAITHER: County Manager Joel Mashburn introduced Retha Gaither, the new Executive Assistant for his office. The board members welcomed Mrs. Gaither to the Administration Department. (Note: Mrs. Gaither transferred to the manager's office from the Register of Deeds' office. Prior to her work in Iredell County, Gaither worked for two county managers in Davie County.) DELETION FROM THE 7 P.M. MEETING OF A PRESENTATION FROM MR. VICTOR CROSBY REGARDING A COALITION OF COUNTIES TO ADDRESS WATER, SEWER, TRANSPORTATION, ENERGY, COMMUNICATION AND MEDICAL ISSUES: County Manager Mashburn said Mr. Crosby had spoken at the January 15 meeting during the public comment period. Mashburn said since that time, letters had been sent to six nearby counties inquiring about a joint effort to address some of Mr. Crosby's concerns, and four responses had been received. Mr. Mashburn said that due to not having all of the responses, and a water resources overview being scheduled at the upcoming retreat, he had suggested for Mr. Crosby to delay the presentation. Several board members suggested that Mr. Crosby narrow the focus of his requests. DISCUSSION REGARDING THE STATESVILLE BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT'S VARIANCE DECISION ON THE SHERIFF'S STORAGE BUILDING LOCATED ON SHARPE STREET: Assistant County Manager Tracy Jackson said a couple years ago, the county was given approval to construct a storage building on Sharpe Street for the Sheriff's Department. He said that when the metal sheeting was being applied, the city advised that building facades in Statesville's central business perimeter had to be 75% masonry or of non- metal materials. Jackson said the county submitted a variance request, and the Statesville Board of Adjustment (BOA) approved a waiver for the 75% masonry or non-metal materials. He said, however, there were stipulations. He said the city was requiring approximately $10,000 worth of "significant" landscaping on the north, west and south sides of the property, along with assistance from the city arborist in developing a landscape plan. Commissioner Johnson asked if a board of adjustment had legal authority to require the landscaping. County Manager Mashburn said the city BOA approved the variance contingent upon the landscaping improvements. He said the certificate of occupancy could be pulled if the county occupied the building and did not comply. Mashburn said if the commissioners agreed to purchase the landscaping, a $10,000 budget amendment would be needed with the funds to be taken out of contingency. Chief Deputy Rick Dowdle said the sheriff's department was not agreeable to purchasing the landscaping out of seized funds. Jackson said a brick fapade would cost $26,000. A discussion then occurred about the pros and cons of purchasing the landscaping. Another discussion occurred about deleting the item from the agenda and basically ignoring the landscaping stipulation. Commissioner Robertson suggested that the board contact Attorney Pope for his guidance. (The item was deleted from the Feb. 5 agenda, and Attorney Pope will be consulted.) ADJOURNMENT: Chairman Norman adjourned the briefing session at 6:05 p.m. Approval: 2 Clerk to the Board