HomeMy WebLinkAboutMarch_17_2009_Briefing_MinutesIREDELL COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
BRIEFING MINUTES
MARCH 17, 2009
The Iredell County Board of Commissioners met in Briefing Session on Tuesday,
March 17, 2009, at 5:00 P.M., in the Iredell County Government Center (South Wing
Conference Meeting 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, Tax Administrator Bill Doolittle, Planning & Development Director Ron Smith,
Fire Marshal Lloyd Ramsey, Parks & Recreation Director Robert Woody, Finance
Director Susan Blumenstein, Health Director Donna Campbell, Mike Phillips with the
Sheriff's Department, and Clerk to the Board Jean Moore.
CALL TO ORDER by Chairman Williams.
UPDATE FROM THE PLANNING & DEVELOPMENT OFFICE
REGARDING THE 1997 & 2008 EIGHT-HOUR OZONE STANDARD (AIR
QUALITY): Planning & Development Director Ron Smith said information was
recently received indicating that Iredell County's nonattainment area for air quality might
be expanded to include the entire county. A memo from the planning department
provided some history on the air quality issue, and Smith reviewed the information, some
of which is as follows:
• 1955 - Clean Air Act created
• 1997 - The United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) designated the
Metrolina Region (Cabarrus, Gaston, Lincoln, Mecklenburg, Rowan, and Union
counties, along with two townships in Iredell County (Davidson and Coddle Creek) as
nonattainment areas for air quality standards
• 2007 (June 15) The North Carolina Division of Air Quality (NCDAQ) submitted
a plan indicating attainment would occur by June 15, 2010. (The document
included Motor Vehicle Emission budgets, or the emission level that vehicles in an
area would have to remain under to comply with the state implementation plan.)
• 2008 (November 17) USEPA notified the NCDAQ that it was felt the attainment
standard could not be reached by June 15, 2010, and the state plan would be
disapproved. The USEPA said the state could avoid disapproval, if a new
classification, "serious nonattainment" was accepted with an attainment date extension
of June 15, 2013. (The "serious designation" requires industry to provide additional
analysis for potential controls, additional expense in permitting fees, increased
emission offset requirements from 1.15 to 1.2, as well as other requirements.)
North Carolina did not agree with the "serious designation," and withdrew the plan
from the USEPA. The NCDAQ is currently working on a new plan, with a possible
attainment date extension of June 10, 2011.
2008 Eight -Hour Ozone Standard
In March, a new ozone standard was enacted to begin the process in determining
new nonattainment boundaries. The state proposes for the nonattainment area to only
include current areas; however, the federal EPA has proposed that all of Iredell County
be included.
Smith suggested that an informal "working group" be formed to discuss air
quality. He said the group could consist of representatives from the local municipalities,
corporations, school systems, health department, and the economic development
commissions.
Commissioner Robertson asked what would be the specific purpose of the
"working group." He said the board of commissioners couldn't tell people to stay off the
interstates. Robertson said a good example of not having any enforcement power related
to the Pandemic Preparedness Committee. He said the committee members had several
meetings, but then, the industrial representatives said, "We don't think this is such a big
deal to us."
Chairman Williams said the "working group" might give the board information
on what could be done.
Commissioner Norman said he preferred to be prepared and having a group to
bounce ideas off of might help.
(This item was not placed on the consent agenda.)
Request for Approval of Budget Amendment #48 to Appropriate $350,000 to
the Cool Springs VFD for the Purchase of a Service Truck, a Used Fire Engine, plus
Equipment for both and for the Appropriation of $2,597.16 to the Harmony VFD
for Truck Repair Expenses: Fire Marshal Lloyd Ramsey and Fire Tax District Board
Member Carroll Goodman attended the meeting to explain these two requests.
The board members agreed to place the Cool Springs VFD appropriation of
$350,000 on the consent agenda.
In regards to the Harmony VFD appropriation of $2,597.16, County Manager
Mashburn said the fire department had $233,750 in the FY 08-09 budget for operations,
plus $350,000 for truck purchases, and $158,964 for debt retirement. Mashburn
recommended for the VFD to take the $2,597.16 out of the operations money.
The board members agreed with the county manager, and this portion of Budget
Amendment #48 was deleted. In addition, this request will be removed from the 7:00
p.m., agenda.
Request from the Health Department for Approval of a Septic Pump
Inspection Fee of $120 Effective April 1, 2009: Health Director Donna Campbell
said septic pump inspections were required by law (15A NCAC 18A.1961) to be
performed every three to five years based on the pump system type. She said, however,
the inspections had not been done in the past due to septic permit backlogs and the
workload. Campbell said the demand for well and septic permits had now decreased, and
the health department was recommending for the program to start with a fee of $120 per
inspection. She said 4,500 pump systems had been identified, and it was predicted that
1,100 inspections could be accomplished each year.
Commissioner Norman asked what the $120 covered.
Campbell said a registered sanitarian would visit the site, inspect the pump, and if
needed, provide education to the owner about maintenance. She said the "higher level"
pumps needed to be inspected more frequently.
Commissioner Johnson asked what happened if the county didn't implement the
program.
Campbell said the county would be out of state compliance. Additionally, she
said that in the fall, the health department would be up for recertification and having the
pump inspection program would help. She said the program had not been implemented
in the past due to the department concentrating on wells and the work backlog for septic
permits.
(This item was not placed on the consent agenda.)
2
Request from the Sheriff's Department for Approval to Allow the Sale of a
Service Sidearm and to Award an Employment Badge to Retiring Deputy
James G. Craven: The board members were in consensus to allow Deputy Craven to
purchase his sidearm and to retain his badge; however, Commissioner Keadle asked if a
method could be created whereby the county manager could approve these requests in the
future.
County Manager Mashburn said a state law governed the sale of firearms to the
retirees.
(All other agenda matters were explained, and a summary about these items may
be found in the regular minutes.)
ADJOURNMENT: Chairman Williams adjourned the briefing at approximately
6:00 P.M.
Approval:
3
Clerk to the Board