HomeMy WebLinkAboutJune_5_2008_Budget_SessionIREDELL COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
BUDGET SESSION MINUTES
JUNE 5, 2008
The Iredell County Board of Commissioners met for a Budget Review Session on
Thursday, June 5, 2008, at 5:30 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
Godfrey Williams
Absent: Commissioner Ken Robertson
Staff present: County Manager Joel Mashburn, Deputy County Manager Susan
Blumenstein, Assistant County Manager Tracy Jackson, Assistant Finance Director Deb Alford,
Transportation Director Ben Garrison, Solid Waste Director David Lambert, Administrative
Officer Susan Cornell, and Clerk to the Board Jean Moore.
CALL TO ORDER by Chairman Norman.
TRANSPORTATION SERVICES: Ben Garrison, the transportation director, said
formulating a budget this year had been difficult due to (1) the rising fuel costs and (2) the
diifficulty in obtaining information from the state regarding grant funds. Garrison said more
than ever before, the transportation department had to be efficient, and a new software package
being installed this month would help improve customer service as well as efficiency. He said
28 vehicles were in the ICATS fleet with 19 or 20 of them usually on the road at the same time.
Garrison said one concern centered on federal transit funds. He said the state department
of transportation was the recipient of these funds and the counties were sub -recipients. Garrison
said obtaining grants was crucial in maintaining the services for the jobs (JARC) transports along
with having services for the elderly and low income. He said the following options were
available, if fuel costs continued to increase.
1. Discontinue one of the Statesville loops
2. Prioritize trips, for example, medical appointments are given first priority, etc.
3. Tighten the trip zones
4. Add fares for the supplemental elderly trips ($1 a fare, etc.)
5. Continue to monitor efficiency (Is the Saturday service still practical?)
6. Review the service per mile charge
When asked if the arrangement to allow advertisements on the vans was providing any
revenue, Garrison said the practice had been discontinued due to the advertiser not paying. Mr.
Garrison said the health department, through grant funds, was now advertising on the vans.
The total budget for the transportation department is $1,829,060.00, and this includes an
increased per mile charge from $1.36 to $1.42. Passenger fares will remain at $2.00 but it
remains an option to increase these to $2.50, if needed.
Commissioner Johnson said the social services' department would be impacted if the per
mile charge had to be increased again. He asked Garrison to monitor the costs, and if in the new
budget, increases were still needed, to provide some lead time when notifying affected agencies.
The commissioners directed Mr. Garrison to draft a letter for Chairman Norman's
signature to be sent to the county's legislative delegation about the grant funds.
SOLID WASTE: David Lambert, the Solid Waste Director, along with Susan Cornell,
the Administrative Officer for Solid Waste, discussed the need to increase the Mooresville
Transfer Station commercial transportation fee from $8 to $12. In addition, all customers will
pay S 12 for demolition materials.
In regards to the countywide household availability fee, they said there was a proposal to
increase the rate from $35 to $40.50 along with increasing the elderly exemption rates from
$17.50 to $20.25.
Deputy County Manager Blumenstein said a contingency fund in the amount of $129,500
was created for solid waste due to the unpredictability of fuel costs; however, board approval
would have to be obtained before any funds were used.
HEALTH CARE BENEFITS FUND: Deputy County Manager Blumenstein said the
FY 07-08 health benefits fund amount was $6,945,935 compared to the proposed FY 08-09 total
of $7,312,585.
County Manager Mashburn said the new wellness coordinator position was included in
this budget as was the part-time nurse position.
WORKERS' COMP: Deputy County Manager Blumenstein said the estimated
workers' comp self-insurance fund balance at June 30 was $1,485,331. She said the county was
up for a policy renewal (claims paid directly) and she suggested a two-year extension with
$400,000 in coverage for excess workers' comp.
There was board consensus for Blumenstein to proceed with the two-year extension as
presented.
CONCLUSION OF THE BUDGET DELIBERATIONS: County Manager Mashburn
asked if the board members needed any further changes or clarifications in the budget. No one
advised of anything, and Mr. Mashburn said the budget ordinance would be drafted for official
approval at the regular meeting on June 17.
CLOSED SESSION: MOTION by Chairman Norman, at 6:45 P.M., to enter into closed
session for the purpose of discussing economic development matters pursuant to G.S. 143-
318.11 (a) (4).
VOTING: Ayes — 4; Nays — 0.
NOTE: Prior to the closed session, Commissioner Robertson was telephoned and briefed
on the economic development matters. Robertson voiced no objections to the board holding the
closed session.
(RETURN TO OPEN SESSION AT 7:20 P.M.)
ADJOURNMENT: MOTION by Commissioner Tice to adjourn the meeting at 7:20
P.M. (NEXT MEETING: Tuesday, June 17, 2008, at 5 & 7 P.M., in the Iredell County
Government Center, 200 South Center Street, Statesville, NC.)
VOTING: Ayes — 4; Nays — 0.
Approval:
2
Clerk to the Board