HomeMy WebLinkAboutFebruary_3_2009_Briefing_MinutesIREDELL COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
BRIEFING MINUTES
FEBRUARY 3, 2009
The Iredell County Board of Commissioners met in Briefing Session on Tuesday,
February 3, 2009, 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 Godfrey Williams
Vice Chairman Marvin Norman
Steve Johnson
Scott Keadle
Ken Robertson
Staff present: County Manager Joel Mashburn, Deputy County Manager Tracy
Jackson, Finance Director Susan Blumenstein, Planning Director Ron Smith, Tax
Collector Bill Furches, Fire Marshal Lloyd Ramsey, Library Director Steve Messick,
Human Resources Director Carolyn Harris, and Clerk to the Board Jean Moore.
CALL TO ORDER by Chairman Williams
REQUEST FOR APPROVAL OF A ZONING ORDINANCE AMENDMENT
FOR BILLBOARDS; DARLENE PAYNE, WITH AMERICAN ADVERTISING,
REQUESTS AN AMENDMENT TO ARTICLE XI SIGNS (SECTION 11.19 SIGNS
PERMITTED IN NON-RESIDENTIAL ZONING DISTRICTS) TO ALLOW
ELECTRONIC CHANGEABLE FACE (DIGITAL) BILLBOARDS: Planning
Director Ron Smith said an applicant had requested an amendment to the zoning ordinance
to allow electronic billboards. He said there were regulations for static billboards in the
ordinance, but electronic or changeable billboards were not addressed. Smith said it was
recommended to address these types of billboards in the ordinance to prevent the risk of
having to work with them in the same manner as static billboards, which had lesser
standards. Mr. Smith then briefly described the amendment and mentioned that most of
the electronic billboards would be replacements and not many were anticipated. He
mentioned that one other request might follow, and it was north of Statesville at Fort
Dobbs Hardware. Smith said that even though this was in a residential area, no problems
were anticipated, due to the hardware store owner actually owning most of the nearby
homes.
Commissioner Keadle mentioned the possibility of "accordion traffic jams" with
the electronic signs, and Commissioner Robertson noted concerns about the billboards in
residential areas.
Smith said controls would be implemented due to the brightness of the billboards,
and he said they had to be dimmed significantly at dusk. He mentioned that advertising
companies could already install the electronic billboards due to there not being any "real
standards in place." He added that the county could not significantly restrict the
advertising or lawsuits could occur. Smith added that the regular sign ordinance could
also be reviewed.
Chairman Williams said the sign ordinance was restrictive enough.
Commissioner Johnson and Commissioner Keadle asked if the billboards could be
restricted pertaining to content or public decency standards. Mr. Johnson said the statute
regulating this type of issue was subjective.
Smith said the county, within reason, could prohibit obscenity. (Additional
information may be found in the regular minutes.)
REPORT CONCERNING THE EAST ALEXANDER VOLUNTEER FIRE
DEPARTMENT'S PLANS TO BUILD A SUBSTATION IN ALEXANDER
COUNTY & REQUEST FROM THE FIRE TAX DISTRICT BOARD FOR
APPROVAL TO ALLOW THE STAFF TO PROCEED WITH THE PETITION
PROCESS:
Riverwalk Development
Fire Marshal Lloyd Ramsey and Fire Tax District Board Chairman Carroll
Goodman said the East Alexander VFD desired to build a new substation in Alexander
County that would protect, within a five -mile distance, an area ("no man's land")
not being covered by any VFDs in Iredell County. Ramsey said this area, referred to as
the Riverwalk development, could become a part of East Alexander's fire district through
a petition process. He said once the substation was built, the Riverwalk residents should
experience an insurance premium reduction. Ramsey said the homeowners currently had
a ten insurance rating, and even though West Iredell VFD served the area, the Riverwalk
development was not within the department's six -mile response area. Ramsey said the
new substation could provide a five rating for the residents, and the West Iredell VFD
had no objections to the new substation. Fire Marshal Ramsey said East Alexander VFD
had a voted -in district, and as such, the Riverwalk residents would have to request to join
the district, and at least two-thirds of the property owners would have to sign the petition.
Commissioner Norman asked if there were any negatives.
Ramsey said none, with the exception that the residents might wonder why they
paid Iredell County taxes, and that East Alexander, a VFD in Alexander County,
provided their fire protection.
Goodman said the East Alexander VFD held a public hearing on the substation,
and the Riverwalk residents attended, they showed tremendous support, and they wanted
to join the fire department.
Ramsey said as a matter of fact, eleven individuals were interested in volunteering
with the East Alexander VFD.
Bolick Road Area
Additionally, Ramsey said the Bolick Road area was in the West Iredell VFD's
six mile district; however, the area was within five miles of the proposed East Alexander
substation. He said similar to the Riverwalk development, the Bolick Road residents
would have lower insurance premiums if they signed the petition to be in East
Alexander's district. Ramsey said the tax department would have to identify the
property owners for both areas.
Goodman said the East Alexander VFD was not requesting any funding from
Iredell County for the new station.
It was the consensus of the board to allow the staff and fire tax board to assist
with the petitioning for both locations (Riverwalk Development and Bolick Road Area).
REQUEST FOR APPROVAL OF A REVISED SHARED LEAVE POLICY:
Human Resources Director Carolyn Harris reviewed an amendment to the shared leave
policy that was initially approved on November 18. Harris said the primary reason to
amend the ordinance was to allow employees to donate leave time to specific employees.
She reviewed the ordinance, and noted that now, sick leave as well as vacation, or annual
leave, could be donated.
Chairman Williams mentioned that employees might be caring for other family
members not included in the ordinance. He said the ordinance mentioned spouse, child,
or parent as family members an employee could assist, but that other family members,
such as grandchildren, might live with an employee and need care. Mr. Williams
2
suggested that employees be allowed to care for other family members upon approval by
the board of commissioners.
(All other February 3 agenda items were reviewed, and a summary about these
matters may be found in the regular minutes.)
ADJOURNMENT: Chairman Williams adjourned the briefing session at 5:55
p.m.
Approval:
Clerk to the Board