HomeMy WebLinkAboutJune_17_2008_Briefing_MinutesIREDELL COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
BRIEFING MINUTES
JUNE 17, 2008
The Iredell County Board of Commissioners met in Briefing Session on Tuesday,
June 17, 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,
Tax Administrator Bill Doolittle, Tax Collector Bill Furehes, Purchasing Agent Dean Lail, Fire
Marshal Lloyd Ramsey, Transportation Director Ben Garrison, Health Director Donna Campbell,
Planning & Development Director Ron Smith, and Clerk to the Board Jean Moore.
CALL TO ORDER by Chairman Norman.
Request for Consideration/Approval of a Resolution in Opposition to House Bill 1889 —
An Act To Provide Property Tax Relief for Qualifying Wildlife Conservation Land and to Clarify the
Present -Use valuation of Property Subject to a Conservation Easement: Tax Administrator
Bill Doolittle said this legislation might conserve farm and woodland acreage from future
development, but the local government financial impact was unknown. Doolittle said a study had not
been completed on how much tax base would be lost, plus the legislation neglected to identify funding
sources to cover the losses. Doolittle said (1) the legislation had already passed in the House (2) if
ratification occurred, approximately $600 million in Iredell County's tax base might be lost (3) the
entire piece of legislation was lengthy (570 pages) (4) the legislation included hunting clubs and
wildlife which didn't have to be endangered (5) the legislation was tacked onto the present -use value
system and (6) unlike current present -use provisions, the legislation didn't require production or
income. Doolittle requested that a resolution in opposition be sent to the county's NC Senatorial
delegates.
Cooperative Extension Agent Ken Vaughn mentioned "serious reservations" about the law due
to so many unanswered questions. He said the current present -use system was sufficient as written.
Doolittle said the Farm Bureau did not support the legislation. He said the law covered some
aspects of conservation easements but the document primarily pertained to wildlife. Doolittle said the
State Association of Tax Assessors did not want the legislation to be a part of the present -use system.
The board placed the matter on the consent agenda, and a copy of the resolution may be found
in the regular meeting minutes.
(All other agenda requests were explained, and a summary may be found in the regular
minutes.)
REQUEST FROM IREDELL-STATESVILLE SCHOOLS FOR THE FACILITY TASK
FORCE TO RECONVENE: County Manager Mashburn said Superintendent Dr. Terry Holliday had
requested a meeting of the school facility task force to discuss Phase III needs.
Chairman Norman and Commissioner Johnson, both members of the task force, said they
preferred to wait until after the next board meeting (July 15). They asked that Dr. Holliday provide
two or three days as options for the meeting.
ADJOURNMENT: Chairman Norman adjourned the briefing session at 5:46 p.m.
Approval:
Clerk to the Board
