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HomeMy WebLinkAboutApril 21 2009 Regular MinutesIREDELL COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS REGULAR MINUTES APRIL 21, 2009 The Iredell County Board of Commissioners met in Regular Session on Tuesday, April 21, 2009, 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 Steve Johnson Ken Robertson Scott Keadle Absent: Vice Chairman Marvin Norman Staff present: County Manager Joel Mashburn, County Attorney Bill Pope, Deputy County Manager Tracy Jackson, Tax Administrator Bill Doolittle, Transportation Director Ben Garrison, Planning & Development Director Ron Smith, Health Director Donna Campbell, Chief Deputy Rick Dowdle, Captain Mike Phillips, both representatives of the Sheriff's Department, and Clerk to the Board Jean Moore. CALL TO ORDER by Chairman Williams. INVOCATION by Commissioner Johnson. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE ADJUSTMENTS OF THE AGENDA: MOTION by Chairman Williams to approve the following agenda adjustments as were presented by the county manager. Deletions: • Request from the Sheriff's Department for Consent to Apply for a 2009 Recovery Act Grant Entitled "Community Oriented Policing Services -- COPS Hiring Recovery Program" (No funding match required and the funds will be used to hire four entry-level of to patrol the western part of the county) • Mr. Donald Howard has notified the board that he will not be able to serve on the Adult Care Home Community Advisory Committee. (His volunteer application needs to be deleted from the applicant pool.) VOTING: Ayes — 4; Nays — 0. ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS Request for Approval of the March 2009 Refunds and Releases: Tax Administrator Bill Doolittle requested approval of the following refunds and releases. Monthly Releases for the Month of March 2009 Total Breakdown of Releases: $27,761.35 County $15,491.96 Solid Waste Fees $60.75 E. Alex. Co. Fire #1 $0.41 Shepherd's Fire #2 $109.01 Mt. Mourne Fire #3 $47.02 All County Fire #4 $626.91 B&F Fire #5 $85.80 Statesville City $1,153.51 Statesville Downtown $0.00 Mooresville Town $8,838.34 Mooresville Downtown $0.00 Mooresville School $1,220.14 Love Valley $20.60 Harmony $0.00 Troutman $106.90 Davidson $0.00 Refunds for the Month of March 2009 Breakdown of Refunds County $3,344.72 Solid Waste Fees $40.50 E. Alex. Co. Fire #1 $0.00 Shepherd's Fire #2 $28.46 Mt. Mourne Fire #3 $1.18 All County Fire #4 $310.97 B&F Fire #5 $0.00 Statesville City $0.00 Statesville Downtown $0.00 Mooresville Town $996.08 Mooresville Downtown $0.00 Mooresville School $225.39 Love Valley $0.00 Harmony $0.00 Troutman $0.00 Davidson $0.00 Monthly Total $4,947.30 OTION by Commissioner Keadle to approve the March 2009 Refunds and Releases as presented. VOTING: Ayes — 4; Nays — 0. Request from the Health Department for Approval of Budget Amendment #50 to Allocate Women's Preventive Health Grant Revenue and Expenditures: Health Director Donna Campbell advised that on April 2, 2009, her department was notified that all counties would be receiving an additional $2,800 in Federal Title X bonus funds. In addition, she said Iredell County was one of 57 counties slated to receive additional performance-based funds in the amount $20,111 for a total amount of $22,911. She mentioned that due to county accounting deadlines, purchases made from the funds had to be invoiced to the county by May 21, 2009. Campbell said family planning supplies and equipment would be purchased. $ 2,303 will purchase two exam tables $15,094 will purchase computer equipment and other departmental supplies used in processing family planning patients $ 5.515 will be used to purchase medical supplies and equipment. OTION by Commissioner Keadle to approve Budget Amendment #50 as presented by the health director. VOTING: Ayes — 4; Nays — 0. The following three requests were from the Sheriff's Department, and one motion was provided for approval of all of them. (The motion is after the 3`a request.) 1. Request from the Sheriffs Department for Consent to Apply for a 2009 Recovery Act Grant Entitled "Assistance to Law Enforcement Agencies to Combat Crime and Drugs" (No matching funds required and funding will be used to hire four new Interstate Criminal Enforcement Officers and Equipment): Chief Deputy Rick Dowdle and Captain Mike Phillips, with the sheriff's department, presented the following three items. Captain Phillips said this particular grant would be used to hire four new Interstate Criminal Enforcement Officers. He said the grant funding ($1.3 million) was "all encompassing," and it covered salaries for two years along with the purchase of new equipment. Commissioner Johnson said he assumed, and this pertained to all three requests, that the equipment to be purchased, along with the new personnel hired with the grant funding, would have been requested anyway in forthcoming budgets. 2 Phillips said this was correct. He said that after the two-year grant period, it was anticipated the employees would be included in the sheriff's budget. Johnson said he wasn't overly optimistic that in two or three years the economy would be appreciably better than at the current time. He said that even in the interim, there were capital needs needing to be addressed, especially the jail. Commissioner Johnson said the board needed to maintain integrity of the budget, and any decision making on it should be left to the board's discretion. He said law enforcement was at the top of the board's priorities, but it would have to compete for other money if the economy did not improve. Phillips said the department was only asking for permission to apply for the grants at this particular time. Commissioner Robertson asked if the county was obligated to continue the positions for a certain period of time, after the grant funding ended. Phillips said there was a 12 month retainment period. Commissioner Robertson said he was understanding the county was obligated to continue the employee positions for at least 12 months after the grant ended. Phillips said this was correct. (see motion after P request) 2. Request from the Sheriffs Department for Consent to Apply for a 2009 Recovery Act Grant Entitled Local Youth Mentoring Initiative: Captain Phillips said the funding ($150,000) in this mentoring grant did not require a local match, and it would be used to increase and enhance the programs already in place -- mentoring programs in the schools as well as the athletic and creative arts programs. He said no new employee positions were being requested, however, there would be overtime set aside for the officers working in the programs. Commissioner Robertson noted the memo from the sheriffs department that indicated there were no upfront costs. He asked if the county was obligated to maintain the funding after the three -year -grant cycle. Phillips said the program was already funded through seized funds and other "avenues." He said it wasn't anticipated there would be any significant program increase after the grant ended because the equipment would have already been purchased. (see motion after 3rd request) 3. Request from the Sheriffs Department for Consent to Apply for a 2009 Recovery Act Justice Assistance Grant (JAG): Captain Phillips said this $107,000 grant had been placed under the 2009 Recovery Act, and the funding would be used to purchase in -car cameras for patrol vehicles. He said no funding match or extra personnel were needed for this grant. Commissioner Johnson said that due to the county being obligated for one year on the grants, he felt the county manager should be directed, in the preceding year prior to when the grants ended, to inform the sheriffs department about the possibility of the positions being funded in the subsequent or fourth year. He said the sheriffs department could then adjust its budget accordingly. Johnson said that if the grants were used for three years, and then the county had to fund them during the fourth year, with no money, then adjustments made a year ahead might provide the department an opportunity, such as when a person retired, to move someone into the positions. Commissioner Keadle asked the legality of the directive, especially when dealing with federal funding. Chairman Williams said comparable requests had been submitted before, and they had been handled similarly to Mr. Johnson's proposal. Williams said it was just an alert to let everyone know that during the next year, the board would have to come up with the money one way or another. 3 MOTIO by Commissioner Johnson to approve the three requests with the understanding that the county's ability to fund the projects in subsequent years would be determined by the availability of revenue. VOTING: Ayes — 4; Nays — 0. Request for Discussion/Approval of a Law Enforcement Service Sidearm & Badge Resolution: County Manager Joel Mashburn said this resolution had been drafted by Attorney Pope due to a board directive on March 17. He said the county attorney had been requested to review the statutes in an effort to establish a policy regarding the presentation of sidearms and badges to retiring law enforcement officers. Mashburn said the resolution allowed the chairman of the board, after consulting with the sheriff, to present the sidearms and badges to the retiring deputies. Attorney Pope said it was important to maintain the dignity and solemnity of the occasion, and that from time to time (once a year or every quarter), a ceremony might be held to recognize the employees for their service and to present them with their plaques or certificates. He said the proposed resolution was broad enough to allow this. OTIO by Commissioner Keadle to adopt the law enforcement service sidearms and badges resolution. VOTING: Ayes — 4; Nays — 0. RESOLUTION FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT SERVICE SIDEARMS & BADGES WHEREAS, sworn law enforcements officers protect the public safety and assist the public in all kinds of emergencies; and, WHEREAS, career law enforcement officers are among the most esteemed and valued public servants; and, WHEREAS, it is the policy of Iredell County to recognize and honor, upon retirement, career public servants, including career law enforcement personnel; and, WHEREAS, as a token of appreciation, Iredeil County has traditionally awarded to retiring law enforcement officers the badge worn by them and has offered for sale at a nominal sum the service sidearm carried by them; and WHEREAS, it is the desire of the Board of Commissioners of Iredell County to make the process more efficient, but to maintain the tradition and the dignity of the occasion. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IS RESOLVED: 1. Upon recommendation of the sheriff, the Chair of the County Commission is hereby empowered, without approval of the Board of County Commissioners: a. To present to the retiring officer or to the family of a deceased career law enforcement officer the badge worn or carried by such officer. b. To sell to the officer or the family of a deceased career law enforcement officer the service sidearm of such officer for a price of One Dollar upon receipt of satisfactory proof that the recipient holds a valid permit as required by G. S. 14- 402 et seq. or G. S. 14-409.1 et seq., or without such a permit if the sidearm shall have been rendered incapable of being fired. c. To present such plaques, certificates or awards as shall under the circumstances seem appropriate. d. Such presentations may, in the discretion of the Chairman of the County Commission, be with such ceremony and at such location as shall seem appropriate under the circumstances then existing. 4 Request from the Centralina Council of Governments for Approval of a Lake Norman Rural Planning Organization (RPO) Service Agreement (FY 09-10 administrative services ,for the RPO @ $4,504 + 15 membership hours): Ron Smith, the Director of Planning and Development said a FY 09-10 RPO service agreement had been prepared by Centralina. He said approval of the agreement would allow Centralina to continue to provide services related to the administration and work tasks of the Lake Norman RPO next fiscal year, and an invoice would be submitted later. Smith said the RPO program was "pretty much mandated," and he recommended approval of the agreement. OTIO by Commissioner Robertson to allocate the $4,504 plus the 15 membership hours for the Centralina Service Agreement relating to the Lake Norman RPO work. VOTING: Ayes — 4; Nays — 0. Request to Call for a Public Hearing on May 5, 2009 Regarding the Iredell County Area Transportation System's Application with the North Carolina Department of Transportation for Federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act Funding: Transportation Director Ben Garrison requested that a public hearing be held at the first meeting in May in reference to a grant application. He said the grant funding would purchase eight replacement vehicles and automatic vehicle locator/mobile data computer systems for seven vehicles, along with funding for preventative vehicle maintenance, replacement windows for the ICATS building, and parking area video surveillance equipment. Garrison said a local match wasn't needed, but a resolution had to be submitted by May 15, 2009, after a public hearing was held. OTIO by Commissioner Johnson to call for a public hearing on Tuesday, May 5, 2009, regarding the Iredell County Area Transportation System's Application with the North Carolina Department of Transportation for Federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funding. VOTING: Ayes — 4; Nays — 0. Request for Approval of the April 7, 2009 Minutes: Commissioner Keadle asked if he should vote on the minutes due to his absence at the April 7 meeting. Keadle said it was assumed that he should vote along with the other board members. County Manager Mashburn said this was correct. Chairman Williams said a board member could recuse himself, however, then, the person would be voting with the majority. County Manager Mashburn said the board members were required to vote on every issue that was before them unless they had a personal financial interest in the matter. Mashburn said it was his opinion that the board members were required to vote. MOTIO by Chairman Williams to approve the April 7, 2009 minutes as presented. VOTING: Ayes — 4; Nays — 0. ANNOUNCEMENT OF VACANCIES OCCURRING ON BOARDS & COMMISSIONS Industrial Facilities & Pollution Control Financing Authority (2 announcements) APPOINTMENTS TO BOARDS & COMMISSIONS Statesville Planning Board (ET.I) (I appointment): OTIO by Commissioner Johnson to postpone this appointment until the May 5 meeting. VOTING: Ayes — 4; Nays — 0. Animal Grievance Committee (1 appointment): MOTION by Commissioner Robertson to postpone this appointment until the May 5 meeting. VOTING: Ayes — 4; Nays — 0. 5 Nursing Home Advisory Committee (1 appointment): MOTION by Commissioner Keadle to postpone this appointment until the May 5 meeting. VOTING: Ayes — 4; Nays — 0. Adult Care Home Communitv Advisory Committee (3 appointments): MOTION by Commissioner Keadle to postpone these three appointments until the May 5 meeting. VOTING: Ayes — 4; Nays — 0. Fairgrounds Capital Improvement Committee (9 appointments): MOTION by Commissioner Johnson to postpone the nine appointments until the May 5 meeting. VOTING: Ayes — 4; Nays — 0. UNFINISHED BUSINESS NC Aeronautics Meeting: Commissioner Johnson reminded the board members about the aeronautics meeting to be held on Friday, May 8 at the Statesville Airport (Lowes Hangar). He invited the other board members and mentioned that if they would like to attend, to let him know. PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD: Chairman Williams provided an opportunity for the public to speak; however, no one accepted. COUNTY MANAGER'S REPORT: County Manager Mashburn provided a written activity report and read parts of the following update regarding budget reductions. Manager's Report With the support of the board, the staff has been working diligently over the past few weeks to identify areas where we can reduce expenditures in FY 09110 without having a drastic impact on services. Early in the budgeting process it was recognized that, for the first time in my recollection, the goals could not be achieved without significant reduction in personnel costs. To achieve that end, it was necessary to eliminate positions, curtail salary increases effective July 1, 2009, cancel contracts, take unpaid leave days, reduce work hours and lay offsome employees. The first step was to designate several unpaid leave days (5 have been identified to date) which is estimated to save the county over $500,000. It was decided to spread these leave days over a year and delete some days if there is a quick recovery in the economy. If things should worsen, then additional unpaid leave days can be added. This action applies to all employees except emergency workers who are on a shift schedule. In effect, everyone from the Manager to the person on the bottom of the pay scale will forfeit I week's pay. In addition, certain positions in the Planning and Development Department and the Inspections Department have been reduced to 32 hours a week. This reduction is directly related to a decrease in building activity, in the county. Again, it is hopeful that this economic downturn will be short in duration, but so far most feel that we will not see a turn around until the end of 2009 or the first of 2010, and even then any upward movement is expected to be slow. Without going into, fine details, listed below are some of the actions that have been taken to date, and other actions that are still under consideration. •Eliminate funding for 11 positions totaling $623,580 *Cancel contracts and utilize county employees whose workloads are reduced due to slow down in building *Eliminate Sunday Library hours *Reduce daily Library hours *Phase out bookmobile *Drastically reduce overtime/part time hours *Reduce or eliminate funding to outside agencies •Inclusive of the above, it is anticipated that the proposed budget for FY 09110 will be 3.5% less than the FY 08109 budget. Even with all this, it will be necessary, to consider future reductions. More positions will need to be eliminated, and much of this can be achieved by attrition. At some point, consideration will need to be given to ways to increase revenue. A large portion of the county's revenue is based on fees for services, and it may be necessary to take a closer look at these fees in order to avoid the possibility of increasing taxes. 6 One way to improve the business climate in Iredell County is to encourage expansion and attract new businesses. In the past the county has restricted its incentive almost exclusively to manufacturing that paid 120% of the county's average wage and had a threshold of $3 million to qualify. Recently the Town of Mooresville lowered its threshold and emphasized a desire to target local business expansion. This is a route the county may want to follow. There is still work that has to be done before the budget is presented to the board in May, although adequate steps have been taken to insure a balanced budget for 09110. However, without further steps being taken now, FY 10/11 is going to be even more difficult to balance than this year has been, unless the economy takes a quick and dramatic rebound. In closing, the board should be aware that the action 1 have outlined would not have been possible without the support and cooperation ofeveryone involved. In my 35 years ofexperience, this is the first time that employees had to be terminated, or their pay reduced because of something they had no control over. It is not a good feeling to ask our employees to make these sacrifices although they do understand and appreciate the effort to minimize the impact on them. In the end, some will have no job and others will see their take home pay reduced by about 20% or more. Let's all hope recovery comes soon and moves fast when it does finally begin to arrive. Joel Mashburn ADJOURNMENT: There being no further business to conduct, Commissioner Johnson made a motio at 7:55 P.M. to adjourn. (Next Meeting: Tuesday, May 5, 2009, at 5 and 7 P.M., in the Iredell County Government Center, 200 South Center Street, Statesville, NC.) VOTING: Ayes — 4; Nays — 0. Approval: 7 Clerk to the Board