HomeMy WebLinkAboutJune_21_2011_Regular_MinutesIREDELL COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
REGULAR MINUTES
JUNE 21, 2011
The Iredell County Board of Commissioners met on Tuesday, June 21, 2011, at 7:00
P.M., in the Iredell County Government Center (Commissioners' Meeting Room), 200 South
Center Street, Statesville, NC.
Board Members Present
Chairman Steve Johnson
Vice Chairman Marvin Norman
Renee Griffith
Frank Mitchell
Ken Robertson
Staff present: County Manager Joel Mashburn, County Attorney Bill Pope, Deputy
County Manager Tracy Jackson, Assistant County Manager Ron Smith, Finance Director Susan
Blumenstein, Fire Marshal Ronny Thompson, Purchasing Agent Dean Lail, Health Director
Donna Campbell, Health Nursing Director Susan Johnson, and Clerk to the Board Jean Moore.
CALL TO ORDER by Chairman Johnson
INVOCATION: Chairman Johnson mentioned Lance Corporal Nicholas O'Brien, a21 -
year -old Marine from Gaston County, who was recently killed while serving in Afghanistan.
Johnson requested that prayers be said for the O'Brien family as well as for Lance Corporal
Josh Cawthorne, a friend of Nicholas, who was injured in the same military combat operation.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
ADJUSTMENTS OF THE AGENDA: County Manager Mashburn advised that there
were two additions to the agenda as follows:
Additions: -Request for the Adoption of an Amended Mitchell Community College Construction
Project Ordinance - 2008 Project
-Request to Call for a Public Hearing on Tuesday, July 19, 2011 Regarding an
Economic Development Incentive for an Undisclosed Company
Due to several appointments before the board, and the public comment period being on
the agenda, Chairman Johnson asked permission to create a consent agenda with the following
items.
---------------------------------------CONSENT AGENDA---------------------------------
• Request from the Iredell-Statesville Board of Education for Approval to Allow
the Department of Transportation to purchase Rights of Way at Cloverleaf, Northview,
and Pressley Schools in Conjunction with the Widening of 1-40 and I-77:
The total purchase price will be $54,395 for all three pieces ofproperty. At Northview, the
right-of-way will be I S' off the corner for $3,900. The Pressley property will be 15' around a corner in a
wooded area at a price (?1'$17,370. At Cloverleaf, the right- of -way will be sold for $33,125.00, and it
will be located at the top of a ridge allowing the school system to retain a buffer zone as well as a slope
down towards the highway.
• Request from the Health Department for Approval of the 2011-2012 Fee Policy
and Fee Schedule - Changes to the policy and a copy of the new schedule are as follows:
Fee Policy Changes
Additions are shown with underlining
Deletions are shown with strikeouts
Page 4
Exception -Family To comply with Title X regulations, if patients do not present with
Planning acceptable forms of income documentation, we will accept self -declaration
of income. Patients who will not self -declare will be given the option to be
seen at 100% or reschedule their appointment.
Page 9
Donation Acceptance: Donations can be accepted for any program or service of the health
department, including Family Planning. All donations must be accepted in
accordance to the departments Solicitations for Donations Policy.
19
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• Request from the Parks and Recreation Department for the
Approval/Acceptance of the Scotts Rosenwald Parks and Recreation Trust Fund (PARTF)
Grant:
The ,$183,650 grant will be provided by the North Carolina Department of Environment
and Natural Resources. Grant funds will be used to renovate the existing community center,
walking trail, playground surfacing, basketball court, horseshoe court, access routes, security
system, fencing, entrance gates, signage, erosion control, planning costs, and contingency.
E
• Request for Approval of Budget Amendment #57 to recognize Additional
Healthcare Benefits Fund Revenue and to Appropriate for Health Claim Payments:
The county's healthcare benefits internal service fund has had significant increases in
claims payments over the last three months, and it is anticipated the total annual costs will
exceed the budgeted amount. There are funds available from the current year's operations of the
fund to pay the claims. No additional appropriation will be needed,- however, an amendment is
required to recognize the additional revenue and to appropriate the funds for payment. A copy
of this budget amendment is as follows.
• Request for Approval of Budget Amendment #58 for $6,000 to Recognize
Additional Sales in the Jail Commissary and to Appropriate to Commissary Supplies for
Inventory Purchases:
Through May of 2011, sales in thecommissary totaled almost $240,000, and it is estimated
another $20,000 in sales will occur during June. To date, $195,452 has been spent for supplies sold to
inmates, $28,000 has been paid to Wilson Security, and $6,548 has been used for jail stafJ'training. The
following budget amendment recognizes additional revenues expected during.lune.
BA#58
612V2011
To recognize additional sales in the Jail Commissary and
expenditure line item for inventory purchases
appropriate to
Account #
Current
Budget
Change
Amended
Budget
(250,000)
231,573
(6,000)
6,000
(256,000)
237,573
104520 4822.00
105520 5301.00
Commissary Sales
Commissary Supplies
• Request for the Renewal of a Health Services Agreement with Southern Health
Partners, Inc., for Jail Inmate Care:
The county has contracted with this company since 2005 and renewals have occurred each year.
For 2011-12, the company is proposing a 2.5% increase in the base contract fee and per diem rate. The
costs will be as follows:
Base Annualized Fee of $584,740.09
Base Monthly Fee $48,728.34
Contract ADP Limit 330 Inmates
Per diem rate: $2.83 (for each inmate per month in excess of 330)
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• Request from the Rural Center for an Amendment to the Longitude 80 Building
Renovation Contract
In November of 2009, the county entered into an agreement with the Rural Center in conjunction
with a grant for the Longitude 80 Dairies project. Originally, a $480,000 grant was requested; however,
only $240,000 was awarded by the Rural Center. Hartigan Management, the consultant for the project,
has now requested an amendment to the contract due to a revised budget and scope of work.
• Request from the Tax Department for Approval of the May 2011 Refunds and
Releases: A list is as follows that shows the refunds/releases.
Releases for the month of May 2011
Monthly $12,398.17
Total
Breakdown of Releases:
County
$7,100.59
Solid Waste Fees
$6075
E. Alex. Co. Fire #1
$0.00
Shepherd's Fire 92
$46.17
Mt. Mourne Fire #3
$14.84
All County Fire#4
$31822
B&F Fire #5
$52.33
Statesville City
$937.51
Statesville Downtown
$0.00
Mooresville Town
$3,192.48
Mooresville Downtown
$0.00
Mooresville School
$594.94
Love Valley
$0.00
Harmony
$0.00
Troutman
$80.34
Davidson
$0.00
Refunds for the month of May 2011
Monthly $994.32
Total
Breakdown of Refunds:
County
$795.23
Solid Waste Fees
$0.00
E. Alex. Co. Fire #1
$0.00
Shepherd's Fire #2
$0.00
Mt- Mourne Fire #3
$0.00
All County Fire #4
$69.96
B&F Fire #5
$24.73
Statesville City
$0.,00
Statesville Downtown
$0.00
Mooresville Town
$0.00
Mooresville Downtown
$0.00
Mooresville School.
$104.40
Love Valley
$0.00
Harmony
$0.00
Troutman
$0.00
Davidson
$0.00
• Request for Approval of the June 2, 7, & 9, 2011 Minutes
• Request for the Adoption of an Amended Mitchell Community College
Construction Project Ordinance - 2008 Project: This amendment is needed to recognize
additional revenue and to increase the transfer to the Mooresville Classroom Building Project.
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• Request to Call for a Public Hearing on Tuesday, July 19, 2011 Regarding an
Economic Development Incentive for an Undisclosed Company:
This public hearing will be held for an undisclosed company based on an investment in the county
ranging between $3, 000, 000 up to $6,385, 000.
MOTION by Chairman Johnson to approve the aforementioned consent agenda items.
VOTING: Ayes — 5; Nays — 0.
This following item was also added to the consent agenda; however, due to a conflict of
interest, Chairman Johnson asked to be recused from the vote.
• Request for Approval of a Banking Resolution with Citibank for a Prepaid
Expenditure Account and Authorization for the Incoming County Manager to Sign a
Letter of Understanding Regarding the Same:
This request pertains to the administrative transition of the county's Employee Healthcare Benefit
Plan from the NCA CC Health Insurance Pool to CIGNA on July 1, 2011. CIGNA will create a bank
account on the county's behalf with Citibank, N.A. as a prepaid expenditure account for the sole purpose
ofpaying contractual healthcare costs. To meet a requirement of the Local Government Commission, the
account may not be established as an "official depository" of the county. On July 1, 2011, CIGNA will
initiate an ACH debit from the county's First Citizens Bank account of $220,000. CIGNA will process
payments against the $220,000 prepaid expenditure account for healthcare claims and administrative
costs, and will advise as to when the prepaid account needs to be replenished to the $220, 000 balance.
MOTIO by Commissioner Mitchell to approve the Citibank resolution and to authorize
the Incoming County Manager to Sign a Letter of Understanding.
VOTING: Ayes — 4; Nays — 0. (Chairman Johnson was recused from the vote.)
-------------------------------END OF CONSENT AGENDA -----------------------------
PRESENTATION OF SPECIAL RECOGNITIONS AND AWARDS
Presentation of a Retirement Plaque and Adoption of a Resolution Honoring the
Public Service of Iredell County Manager Joel Mashburn: Chairman Johnson said it was
with great pleasure that he presented Mr. Mashburn with a resolution recognizing his outstanding
public service.
Mr. Mashburn invited his wife, Janie, to join him at the dais. Mashburn said he had been
honored to serve as the County Manager for 23 years, and it had been a privilege to work with
some of the best commissioners in North Carolina. Mashburn said the commissioners had been
true leaders, and they had been an inspiration to him.
(Additional comments regarding Mr. Mashburn and his service to the county may be found
near the end of the minutes.)
RESOLUTION HONORING THE
PUBLIC SERVICE
OF
JOEL RAY MASHBURN
WHEREAS, Joel Ray Mashburn is retiring following a distinguished 35 -year career as a
county manager; and
WHEREAS, Joel was born in Waynesville, North Carolina on March 28, 1946 to
Benjamin Ray and Ethel Johnson Mashburn; and
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WHEREAS, in 1969, Joel graduated from Western Carolina University with a Bachelor
of Science Degree in Business Administration, and in 1984, he was awarded a Masters Degree in
Public Affairs; and
WHEREAS, Joel honorably served in the United States Army with service in Germany
and Vietnam; and
WHEREAS, during Joel's impressive county management career, he served as the
county manager for Macon County, NC from 1975-1979; the county administrator for
Henderson County, NC from 1979-1984; the county administrator for Greenville County, SC
from 1984-1988; and the Iredell County Manager from February 1988 through June 30, 2011;
and
WHEREAS, Joel has provided professional, ethical, skillful, and energetic management
during his 23 -year tenure in Iredell County; and
WHEREAS, to date, Joel is the longest serving county manager in Iredell County which
demonstrates his dedication and devotion to the county as well as his "true grit" in becoming
adaptive and responsive to the needs and demands of the board members, past and present, and
to the general public; and
WHEREAS, Iredell County has prospered and grown through the guidance and
leadership of Joel Ray Mashburn as can be evidenced by the county's population of 90,866 in
1988 compared to $159,437 in year 2011;
WHEREAS, Joel has been a member of the International City/County Management
Association, where he was designated as a Credentialed Senior Management Executive, and the
North Carolina City/County Management Association, plus he has been a member of the board
of directors for the Greater Statesville Development Corporation, and the South Iredell
Community Development Corporation as well as countless other local and civic organizations
thereby contributing greatly to the welfare of not only Iredell County but to the state and nation
as well: and
WHEREAS, Joel received North Carolina's highest award, the Order of the Long Leaf
Pine, on May 1, 2001, for his exemplary high standards and performance both in the workplace
as well as the community; and
WHEREAS, during Joel's impressive career, he has been a devoted husband, a proud
father and grandfather and has served his church, Oakdale Baptist Church, by holding officer
positions as well as teaching Sunday School; and
WHEREAS, Joel exemplifies the highest standards and performance that could possibly
be expected of a county manager.
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Iredell County Board of
Commissioners expresses sincere appreciation and gratitude to Joel Ray Mashburn for his
steadfast, loyal, and trustworthy service to Iredell County.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that Joel Ray Mashburn is offered the board's respect,
admiration, and best wishes for a long and happy retirement.
APPOINTMENTS BEFORE THE BOARD
Presentation from David Sides, on Behalf of the Farm Bureau, in Recognition of
Iredell County Manager Joel Mashburn: Iredell County Farm Bureau President David Sides
presented a plaque to County Manager Mashburn. Sides thanked Mr. Mashburn for his friendship
and assistance to the farming community.
Presentation from Council on Aging Executive Director Anna Rice on the FV 12
Home and Community Care Block Grant Funding Plan: Rice said Iredell County's 60+
population exceeded 27,000 and continued to show significant growth. She said the first of the
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baby boomers were now in their early 60s and eligible for aging services. Rice said on the other
end of the spectrum, the frail elderly (85 years of age and over) were the fastest growing segment
of the aging population. She said the county, similar to the entire state, and nation, was facing a
challenge in providing services to both groups.
Rice said the Home and Community Care Block Grant Committee met recently to
determine the funding for the services. She said the plan was an interim allocation that the
Division of Aging had released to prevent the disruption of services due to the uncertainty of
federal and state funding. She said a ten percent local match was required, and by providing this,
$9 in federal funding was received for every $1 contributed by the county.
A copy of the HCCBG FY 12 Provider Services Summary is as follows:
MOTION by Vice Chairman Norman to approve the FY 12 HCCBG plan as presented by
Mrs. Rice.
VOTING: Ayes — 5; Nays — 0.
Presentation by Ann Simmons in Recognition of the Family Consumer Sciences 100th
Anniversary: Mrs. Simmons said 2011 marked 100 years of Family and Consumer Sciences in
North Carolina. She said the roots of the organization began in 1911 with home demonstration
programs under the direction of Jane McKimmons, the first agent hired by the state. Simmons said
communities were made better as the agents and rural women worked together on many projects
such as: bringing libraries to rural areas, obtaining line markers on the public roadways, and
bringing hot lunch programs to the public schools. Simmons said agents were located in all 100
counties as well as in Cherokee reservations. She said research -based educational and
informational programs were now provided in nutrition, food safety, parenting, child care, healthy
aging, and family resource management as well as assistance for businesses and other agencies. In
recognition of the centennial celebration, Simmons gave each commissioner a copy of a book
entitled, Ordinary Women: Extraordinary Service to Family, Community and North Carolina.
Presentation by James Settlemyre Regarding the Valuation of an Automobile and a
Recent Hearing with the Board of Equalization and Review: Settlemyre said the following:
" 1 would like to thank all you people for the fine people you got together during this meeting of
this board up there. I went to the meeting two years ago. I took a bill up to the tax of to
Martha whatever her name is ... showed her my car had been wrecked. At which time she tells me
that even since I've had my car fixed for tax purposes 1 still have a new car. I go into this meeting,
and I've never been in front of such arrogant people in all my life and treated like a second-rate
citizen. I talked to this board, I explained to them about my car being wrecked, I took and passed
a paper around to each and everyone in committee. Your Steve Ervin, and Martha from the tax
department were up there... they looked at this stuff and what got me, and I hate to say this. There
was one guy in the meeting... his vocabulary was very limited. All he could say was `Hearsay,
hearsay.' 1 got so tired of this 1 thought 1 was going to fall out of my seat. So what I'm saying
here tonight might be hearsay too because the minutes of your meeting didn't put any of this stuff
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into the minutes even though you had somebody sitting there writing these minutes the whole time
while I was there. Plus, Lieutenant somebody from the sheriff's department, she was there. I got
the thing here. I went back up there on a Thursday, and Mr. Mashburn over there, I sent him an e-
mail. To the effects of this e-mail, ]put.- 'Joel, 1 received your registered letter Friday. 1 went up
there Thursday to ask for the minutes of the meeting and Steve Ervin ... he tried to tell me these
minutes were not approved, dot a dot a dot, and I couldn't get them.' But, I received this
registered letter through Steve Ervin Friday. 1 had to sign for it. Here is the letter if you want to
look at it with the minutes of the meeting. These minutes were edited so bad regardless of what I
told you went on in the meeting. Just heard that one dude say, `Hearsay, hearsay again.' 1 got so
tired of that I wanted to throw up. And the deal is this: My car, it's a nice car. 1 bought a nice
car. The first year my tax value on this car... 2009... was $22,290. Right here is the statementfrom
TEC Data Systems, Inc., if you would like to look at it. The second year, my car dropped down to
$18,900... roughly $4,000 valuation. This past year, my car dropped to $18,600. A value drop of
$360.00, and I question this stuff. I talked to somebody I really think told me the truth. That y'alls
software is crooked. 1 don't care who likes it ... who don't like it. I sent an e-mail to each one of
you in this commission, and never did I get a reply from anybody stating the fact about what's
going on with this car. Mr. Joel Mashburn sitting over there, I e-mailed him. To this point, I
received a registered letter today, February, May the 2T". The minutes of the meeting were
greatly edited. 1 asked for all of the minutes; not part of them. If this is the way Steve Ervin does
his job, then I want to know who I need to check with. I am a taxpayer, and I think these minutes
should be mine to read. Also, I talked to the newspaper. They want some m/brmation, and they
said they can't use hearsay, but since your, whoever wrote these minutes, put in just what little bit
they wanted to hear to the favor of this commission, the tax people, or whoever. I get this reply
backfrom Joel Mashburn over there. Joel Mashburn... Subject: Board of'E & R minutes. It says,
'To the best of my knowledge, it is not required for minutes to be a verbatim transcription of the
discussions of the offcial meeting. They must record any action taken by a board, commission or
a committee. If a recording of the meeting were taken, which is not required, then the recording
could be considered a public document, and you should be able to request a copy of'the recording
under the Freedom oflnformation Act.' 1 need these minutes because I'm going a little further
about this discussion about these taxes, and the way y'all use this software to figure my car. If you
could tell me the first year my car dropped $12,000 and in my last year it dropped $310. Y'all
people must be broke or you think we the citizens area bunch of idiots. I'm tired of being just told,
`There it is...pay it ... like it. 'I think if all of you have read the e-mail I sent to you, and I got a copy
of it at the house too. It's going into the Charlotte paper before much longer. Plus, I'm trying to
get Channel 9 news to do a follow up to see what kind of government we have in this state or
county that can tell mein one year my car lost $310 value as far as taxes. My taxes dropped $4
from last year to this year. If'you people need money that bad you need to start robbing banks.
That's all I got to say, but I'm going to tell you this. That was the most arrogant, ignorant bunch
of people I've ever talked to, because one guy in the committee, he started laughing and made a
comment about my car ... how much it had dropped in one year. Ile thought it was funny, and if
that's the best kind of people y'all can get to have a hearing, y'all are doing a sorryjob. Because
Fm going to tell you what, I'm not a second-rate citizen, and for that guy ... only thing about it I
can't prove what his name was because I didn't keep it. Your minutes didn't even refer to the
damn jokes and stuff that these people made about my car and taxes. They treated my car, and 1
want to tell you this, it's what gets me more than anything, a statement was made to me per
Martha what's her face, and Steve Ervin, that as long as my car had been repaired 1 still had a
new car for tax valuation. The day I wrecked my car I tried to trade it because I was proud of my
car. Fm still proud of it, and you won't believe the value that dropped on that car just because I
put just a little skint place on the hood. There was no body work. It was just painting and
sanding ... $1,400. 00, and your people tell me I got a new car for tax purposes. If that's the way it
is I hate to say it. You ain't too much people, and you sure can't be looking after the citizens of
this town. 1 ain't got nothing else to say. "
PUBLIC HEARINGS
Chairman Johnson declared the meeting to be in a public hearing.
Consideration of Economic Development Incentives for an Undisclosed Company:
Mooresville -South Iredell Community Development Executive Director Robby Carney thanked
Mr. Mashburn for his many years of service.
Carney spoke on behalf of the Niagara Bottling Company, the largest family owned water
bottling manufacturer. He said the company was founded in 1963, and the owners operated nine
facilities around the US. Carney said the company planned to locate in the Mooresville Business
Park on an 83 -acre site, and for Phase I, an investment of $10 million would occur for the
construction of a 300,000 sq. ft. manufacturing facility, plus $35 million would be spent for new
machinery and equipment. He said 66 full-time jobs would be created with an average annual
salary of $40,000. Carney said there were plans for a possible Phase II expansion that would
include an additional $20 million investment in machinery and equipment along with the creation
of 26 jobs. Carney said the incentives being requested were as follows:
Incentive of $961,200.00, over a six-year period, based on a $45 million investment
Incentive of $427,200.00, over a six-year period, based on a $20 million investment
Chairman Johnson said the company would not walk out with a check for $961,000. He
said the company would make an investment, enter into a contractual agreement with the county,
and pay its corporate taxes before any incentives were paid.
Carney said this was correct.
No one else requested to speak, and Chairman Johnson adjourned the hearing.
MOTION by Commissioner Robertson to approve the $961,200 incentive, over a six-year
period, based on a $45 million investment, as well as the $427,200 incentive, over a six-year
period, based upon a $20 million investment.
VOTING: Ayes — 5; Nays — 0.
ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS
Request for Adoption of the Fiscal Year 2011-12 Iredell County Budget Ordinance:
Commissioner Griffith made the following remarks about the budget `I'd like to
tell the board, and the county, that I've learned many things this year. One thing I've learned is
that it's much easier to be on that side of the rail than on this side. I respect the commissioners
that are on this board. I respect the county employees, and the job that they do. I respect the
hard working taxpayers. I have said publicly, and I campaigned by saying I would not vote for a
tax increase. Tonight, I will be voting no on the budget. I'm not voting no to fu fill a campaign
obligation, or to fu fll what I said publicly. I'm voting no because I fundamentally believe that
increasing taxes of any kind is not the way you generate revenue. I do not believe that people
work to pay their taxes. 1 believe that people work for the portion that is left over after the taxes
are paid. What we make more attractive, people will do more of, and what we make less
attractive, they will do less of. When property taxes go up, home ownership is less attractive for
some. I'm not a proponent of zero government. There is a place and a need for government.
What I believe the citizens would like to see out of the government is that we do the least amount
of damage, collect the necessary revenue, and provide the essential services that we must
provide for our citizens. If we look at the situation across our country, we see that there's one in
45 homes that is being foreclosed If you factor in the real jobless rate, you take out the people
who have stopped looking for jobs, then the jobless rate is about 17%. The mountain of debt is
breathtaking, and this will continue to place an unprecedented burden on the economy. We
expect the federal and state government to reduce spending, and I believe the citizens of this
county expect us to do the same. We ask a lot of questions, and sometimes we think the answers
are always the same. 1 want to share a personal story. My son C.J. is four, but when he was
three we had an interesting conversation in the bedroom. He said to me, `Mamma, why do my
words go into my ears. ' I said, `When you speak, your ears hear what your mouth says. ' I said,
'What part of you hears?' He said, 'My ears. ' I thought... he's brilliant. 1 know what all of these
answers are, but this is a brilliant little boy. I said, `What part of you tastes?' He said, `My
mouth. ' I said, `What part of you smells?' He said, `My bottom. ' Now, I use that because I was
expecting for my little boy to say, `My nose.' A lot of times we ask questions, and we think we
know the answers. I think we are in a time when the answers need to be different from what
we've heard in the past. I want to say that my vote of no tonight is not a Republican, Democrat,
or Independent thing. It's not a conservative, liberal, or Tea Party vote. My vote is a common
sense economics vote ... no on the budget... no on a property tax increase. I do respect the
gentlemen who sit next to me. After the vote is over, regardless of where it stands, they have my
firm commitment to work with them, the county, and the taxpayers to do the best job with the
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revenue we have been given. 1 appreciate the confidence that you, the employees, and the
taxpayers have placed in this board. Thank you, Mr. Chair. "
Chairman Johnson said the following: "In order to understand this budget 1 think a
history of the budget is in order. The original proposed budget for 2008-09, at the conclusion of
this budget, which would be four years old, was $169,612,400. The revised budget wound up
being $165,400,000. As you can recall in September 2008, the real trouble started. The housing
market collapsed, huge layoffs took place... the economy went into rapid decline. This board of
commissioners took immediate action. The staff was directed to make cuts in March of 2009.
The board of commissioners had a Winter Planning Session and made further cuts. One motion
by me, and approved unanimously by the board, cut nearly $1.4 million from the budget on an
annualized basis. That was a diff cult thing to do because it meant that some people were going
to lose their jobs, but we were bleeding cash. Swift action had to be taken. Historically, fund
balance has been appropriated but not spent. This is done by employing a static revenue model
as compared to a dynamic model, but by the spring of 2009, the dynamics of the economy were
gone. Fund balance was used for the first time in my tenure on the board... to any measureable
degree. In 2009, 2010, and 2011, the board continued to make cuts. The situation worsened as
the state began to shift costs and withheld money they owed counties. In 2010 and 2011, the
state withheld $285,911 that was owed to the county in beer and wine taxes. The funding of
intensive probation of was shifted to the counties. They discontinued the reimbursements
for sentenced inmates. Inmates that were sentenced to state penal systems, they did not take. We
had to house those prisoners, and they no longer paid us for doing so. The state raised the
county's contribution to the local employees' pension fund, which we have no control over...
they shifted those costs back to the county to the sum of $427,578. This year, the fund increased
the county budget by $154,900. Changes in workmen's compensation, no action taken by this
board necessitated this, but workers compensation legislation added $438,000 in costs.
Unemployment compensation amounted to $340,000. Jail medical costs, one prisoner in
particular that the state did not take because he was ill, that one prisoner cost us well over
$100,000. Those medical costs over the term of that year were better than $160, 000. Fuel costs
in that year amounted to an increase of $348,145. I know that everyone is paying higher fuel
costs, but we don't have an option when someone dials 911. That ambulance must go.
Continued lower economic activity coupled with cost shifting from Raleigh has brought us to this
point. For many years in this hall, I've warned people that North Carolina was becoming like
states in the northeast where property taxes may someday be set in the state and not in the
county seat. Additional and countless cuts have been made in this budget, but not enough cuts
were of in the process to come close to a rate of 44.5 cents. Therefore, I will support a rate
of 48.5 cents primarily because it shields against future draw downs of the fund balance. ]did
not promise for the first time in running for the election or re-election of a county commissioner
that I would not raise the tax rate. If you have carefully monitored the county budgetfor the past
three years, you would have known this day was inevitable. The amount of' the increase and
when it would happen could be considered to be somewhat of a flux, but if present trends
continued, in my estimation, it was inevitable. I do not say this boastfully, but I really believe
there are probably two people in this room who know this budget better than Steve Johnson.
That is Joel Mashburn and Susan Blumenstein. Sometimes I spend more time with the county
budget than I do with my wife. I said that this budget must do four things. It must be
maintainable for 12 months. We cannot change the tax rate in midyear. It must not deplete
further the countyfund balance. It must also be maintainable for more than one budget cycle. If
we come back, and we go through these deliberations again, people will lose confidence in us.
Also, it must be able to support the county's fund for at least some period of time till we can
gather together and make budget corrections should another economic downturn occur. That
was my main driving philosophy as I approached this budget I despise higher taxes like anyone
else, but 1 also have a fiduciary responsibility to make sure that this county is financially stable.
In the process of doing so, it may cost me some friends, but 1 signed on.for the job. 1 am fearful,
as I stated at the last meeting, that a second economic downturn is very likely. I believe so for
the following reasons: The stimulus is practically over. Its benefit was slight and short lived.
The fed has already said that its quantitative easing will end next month. There are no proposed
fiscal policies on the tax side that would do anything to stimulate the economy. Therefore, I
believe that a second drop in housing prices and another slump in the economy are likely. We
had better have a fund balance --we're going to need it. Let me say this. In over 16 years as a
county commissioner, I have never been criticized like I've been criticized in the last month.
Sometimes, honest to goodness, it hurt. Because the people whooffered the most severe criticism
did not always know what they were talking about. Winston Churchill said, 'If a man is not
13
liberal by the time he is 20 he lacks a heart. If he's not conservative by the time he's 30, he lacks
a brain. ' Make your own judgment. I do not recall a time when I was ever liberal. At the age of
10, I sat down with my grandpa. He demanded that I call him Frank on the couch. When LBJ
signed the legislationfbr The Great Society, he said, 'Son, do you know what you just saw?' 1
said, `No sir.' He said, 'I'm afraid you saw the beginning of the end. When they can take
directly the fruits and labors of one man and give it to someone who did no earn it, it cannot last
long.' I've worked in several conservative campaigns, and for 16 years I've sat here and
pointed out wasteful spending. One discovery I've made is that good people like accountability
and competent enough people despise it. I have done, and having done so, I've been called
everything but a Christian. I've been called a racist, a bigot, a child hater, and I've been lied
about and lied to. My wife and daughter in my absence have been criticized in restaurants. My
daughter, not by the news media, but in the news media, has been personally attacked because I
chose to educate her in Christian schools the way ],felt was necessary. 1 am not bitter.
Bitterness is like taking poison waiting for the other guy to get sick. It is foolish to do so. Many
times, during those times, I sat here getting hammered on in this very hall and looked on the
political horizon hoping that help would show up. They did, but often times, they were too few in
number, and many times too late. I admire the Tea Party Movement; and my heart is with them
to a great degree. I do not seek to anger you by this question, but I must ask it. `Where have you
been?' Alexis de Tocqueville came to this country, and in 1854 he made a comment. He said,
America is great until the people learn that they can vote for themselves largess from the public
treasury. ' I'm fearful that too many of our countrymen have learned that. That they
increasingly vote for the person who will give them the most of what someone else has earned. 1
am fearful that we are too late. I pray that it is not. I will vote for this budget with great
reluctance... not because I like but because I feel I have a sense of duty. I think in the long term,
financially, in consideration of this county, it is the best action to take under economic
circumstances. Thank you very much."
MOTION by Vice Chairman Norman to approve the FY 2011-12 Iredell County Budget
Ordinance.
VOTING: Ayes — 4; Nays — 1 (Griffith).
Chairman Johnson said much had been said about the legislature and the state's budget
cuts. He said, however, the legislature's budget was $700 million more than it was three years
ago. Johnson said the county's 2010-11 budget was $15 million less than it was in 2008. He
said the county had been cutting, but Raleigh and Washington had not.
Request from the Iredell Arts Council for a Decision Regarding an Extension to the
Old Jail Building Lease: County Manager Mashburn said that at the last meeting the board
seemed to be in consensus on a five-year term for the old jail building. He said that if the board
agreed, a five-year lease could be drafted with all the other terms remaining the same.
Commissioner Mitchell said the old jail building was beautiful; however, two trees
detracted from the structure's visibility. He said that if the trees were removed and shrubs were
planted the area would look better.
Iredell Arts Council Executive Director Jodi John -Pippin said the crepe myrtles could be
cut back.
OTIO by Commissioner Griffith to approve a five-year lease for the Old Jail
Building.
VOTING: Ayes — 5; Nays- 0.
Request from the Health Department for Approval of Budget Amendment #56 in the
Amount of $270,500 to Fund an Imaging Project: Nursing Director Susan Johnson requested
approval of a budget amendment to fund an imaging project for medical records. She said the
request was previously on an agenda; however, a directive was issued to obtain more recent bids.
Ms. Johnson asked to use Medicaid Max funds of $270,500 for the project ($203,650 for
scanning/indexing the most current five years of records; $49,700 to purchase Laserfiche software
to access the records and interface with EMR software; $10,400 for additional hard drives, SQL
14
servers and a processor; along with $6,750 for support and maintenance of the Laserfiche
software).
OTION by Commissioner Griffith to approve Budget Amendment #56.
VOTING: Ayes — 5; Nays — 0.
Cty BA# 56 Purpose: To allocate Medicaid Max revenue and expenditures for Record Imaging
ICHD BA# 11-0617 for EMR Project
EXISTING
AMENDED
REVENUELINE(S)
DESCRIPTION
BUDGET
CHANGE
BUDGET
10491110 444001 4111
Med Max -Clinical Services
(253,350)
(253,350)
104590 444001 41100
Generic Services -Admin Med Max
(59,075)
(17,150)
(76,225)
EXISTING
AMENDED
EXPENSE LINE(S)
DESCRIPTION
BUDGET
CHANGE
BUDGET
105591 537514 41101
Contracted Services -Software
-
253,350
253,350
105590 537514 41100
Contracted Services -Software
8,460
6,750
15,210
105590 620150 41100
Non -Depreciable Assets Computer
27,170
10,400
37,570
(hard drive, processor, SQL
software)
Request for Approval of a "Piggyback" Contract with Advanced Imaging Systems for
$203,700 Based on a Recently Awarded Contract in Lincoln County & to Allow Additional
Departments to Participate in the Contract on an as Needed Basis for One Year: Purchasing
Agent Dean Lail said no single vendor could provide the entire imaging project, and it had been
broken down into three different types of procurement methods. He said the largest cost
($203,700) was for the scanning/imaging. Lail said it had been discovered that the Lincoln County
Board of Commissioners had recently awarded a formal bid to Advanced Imaging Systems for a
similar project. He provided the following information to justify the waiver of the bidding
requirements and to "piggyback" onto the Lincoln County contract.
► The formal bid process required by NCG9 143-129 was followed, and an award was made by Lincoln
County effective January 3, 2011.
lo- Advanced Imaging 5ystems (AIS) was both the low overall bidder and evaluated as the best proposal by
a committee assigned to review the proposals. The AIS bid offered 4.30 per scanned image compared to
the second low bid of 4.6¢. Other prices compared between proposals showed similar results. AIS has
offered Iredel County the same terms and conditions as those awarded in the Lincoln County contract.
lo- AIS was also the low and best bid awarded by the O'ty of Lnarlotte and the State of South Carolina
during previous formal bids. AlSioncing was the same in both cases as that now offered to Iredel/ County
A review of those proposals showed that contract prices for other services to be similar to that offered to
Iredel/ County through the Lincoln County contract.
► If accepted, under the terms of the Lincoln County contract, the award would allow other county offices
to utilize the contracted services at the same prices for up to one year.
Lail requested that a one year piggyback contract with Advanced Imaging Systems in the
amount of $203,700 be awarded.
MOTIO by Chairman Johnson to approve the "piggyback" contract with Advanced
Imaging Systems in the amount of $203,700 for the imaging services based on the recently
awarded contract in Lincoln County and to allow additional departments to participate in the
contract on an as needed basis for one year.
VOTING: Ayes — 5; Nays — 0.
15
Request for Approval of a Contract with One Source Document Solutions for a
Laserfiche Software Upgrade at a Cost of $49,700: Purchasing Agent Lail requested approval
of a contract with One Source Document Solutions. He said the Health Department purchased a
Laserfiche program in 2010 to be used in an electronic records management system; however, to
handle the full capacity needed for the new imaging project, along with increasing the number of
user seats, an upgrade had to occur. Lail said One Source Document Solutions was willing to
provide $5,300 in credits which would offset the cost of the upgrade; however, there would be
costs associated in increasing the number of user seats to 50 ($25,000 seat cost; $3,000 for on -sight
installation, configuration and testing; $4,500 for training new users, and $6,750 for one-year
support costs). Lail said One Source was located in Greensboro, NC, and would only charge for
the installation (no travel expenses). He said the upgrade could be placed out for bids; however,
Laserfiche required its resellers to be certified by the company as a "partner." Lail said One
Source was the only registered "partner" for Laserfiche in North Carolina. He recommended that
One Source be awarded the contract.
OTIO by Commissioner Mitchell to approve a contract with One Source Document
Solutions for the Laserfiche Software Upgrade at a cost of $49,700.
VOTING: Ayes — 5; Nays — 0.
APPOINTMENTS TO BOARDS & COMMISSIONS
Juvenile Crime Prevention Council (5 appointments): MOTIO by Chairman Johnson to
reappoint Marvin Norman, Angela Williams, Laura Williard, Judge Tom Church, Bill Parker/ Steve
Mauney by acclamation.
VOTING: Ayes — 5; Nays — 0.
Planning Board (3 appointments): MOTION by Commissioner Robertson to postpone
these appointments until the July 19, 2011 meeting.
VOTING: Ayes — 5; Nays — 0.
Troutman Board of Adjustment (ETJ) (2 appointments): Commissioner Mitchell
nominated Graham Mullis and Michael Todd.
MOTTO by Chairman Johnson to appoint Mullis and Todd by acclamation.
VOTNG: Ayes — 5; Nays — 0.
Adult Care Home Community Advisory Committee (1 appointment): MOTION by
Chairman Johnson to postpone this appointment.
VOTING: Ayes — 5; Nays — 0.
PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD
Rhett Dusenbury said he was a citizen of Mooresville, as well as a town commissioner. He
thanked the board members for their work on the county budget and mentioned there were tough
choices that had to be made. Dusenbury said he looked forward to the town and county working
together during the next few months in an effort to save taxpayer money.
COUNTY MANAGER'S REPORT: Mr. Mashburn said that in accordance with the
budget ordinance, he was authorized to transfer funds from one office to another but a report had
to be submitted at the next board meeting. He said recently $3,700 was transferred from the Office
of the Register of Deeds to the Emergency Communications Department.
Deputy County Manager Tracy Jackson said the funds were transferred in order for
Emergency Communications to enhance the surveillance system around the Hall of Justice Annex
Building which included the Register of Deeds' Office. Jackson said another level of security
was added to the site.
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County Manager Mashburn thanked the board for the opportunity to serve in Iredell
County for the past 23 years. He said it had been a great experience and one that he would
always cherish.
Commissioner Mitchell made the following comments about Mr. Mashburn: "Ever
since the first day when / met you I was impressed with your knowledge and fairness with
everyone. The board members that chose you need to be thanked because they made a good
choice. I'm hoping you'll stay right here in Iredell County. You're a fine gentleman, and
someone has some big shoes to fill. We have a man that's going to do a good job, but we're
counting on you to come and help when needed. "
Commissioner Robertson made the following comments about Mr. Mashburn: '7
wish you were not leaving on this night. This was a tough night, but we're on the downhill side.
I would like to say a few things to you and the people sitting in the audience and the ones
watching on television. There're some things that stood out about Joel Mashburn that made him
different. He stayed in this county a long time. You just don't see that in county managers.
Other counties fly through managers, always conflict, always turmoil, and we didn't have to go
through that. I would say that had more to do with the man sitting to my right for the past 20
plus years than the folks who occupied these seats and to the left. Some of the things that I
thought made him different and better... I was amazed at how good he was at picking talent. I
will tell you, the first time I got into a position where I hired people, I thought, 'Man I'm going to
hire really good people, and I'm going to be a lot better at it than other folks.' 1 realized that
being able to pick talent and hire them is a lot easier said than done. One of the things that I
was surprised at, and I've mentioned this in other discussions, I remember sitting on the other
side of the rail and having a stereotype in my mind about what government would be and what
county government employees would be like. One of the things that was different and better than
what I expected was the leadership team that he has assembled running his departments, plus the
leadership team one level below, that is getting groomed to come up. They are good, and that's
not easy to do. That doesn't just happen. The ability to spot talent is something that very few
people have and when you have someone that can spot talent, you don't let them go. He was
worth every penny for that reason alone. Next, we are a governing board, but he ran the county
on a daily basis. A lot of the times people would call us up and say you need to fire somebody or
you need to go tell somebody to do this. We don't run the county on a daily basis. He does. I
will tell you that he sought our guidance because he would ask, `What is the pleasure of the
board? What is that you want me to do? He implemented our policy, and not once did we
ever... I've only been here for six years but I've been involved in the political process longer then
that... not once have 1 ever heard a commissioner say, `You know, we told him to do this and he
did something different.' Not once did I hear this, and you know that he disagreed with this
board at some point in time. Yet, he did what a good manager does which is he implements the
desires of the board and he did it well. Now on the flip side of the coin, he also has this thing
that most people don't see, but we do, which is on things that we vote on he makes a
recommendation. Is this a good thing to do or not to do? He would give us his opinion during
the budget workshops on what we could do or not do, what was realistic, and what we had to do
but were not aware of. Even though he worked for us, he was very much a counselor and
advisor. Let me tell you because I've heard us all say it before, when Joel recommended
something that carried a lot of weight. It carried a lot of weight because we respect you. Joel
Mashburn is a professional. As mad as we would get at each other sometimes just over the past
six years over controversial items, which mostly these were over zoning items, but Joel
Mashburn always conducted himself'in a professional manner. Everything from his appearance,
and I hope this comes from your Army days, but he always conducted himself as a professional.
Our low tax rate is due in part because you've had commissioners that said, `We want to have a
low tax rate. ' It's also due to the fact that the managing philosophy coming from Joel Mashburn
was that the departments were going to run an efficient operation, and they were going to do
their job and not waste money. They were not going to grow just because they could. Make no
mistake, the low tax rate that we enjoy and the fact that we're getting through this crisis a lot
better than other counties is due to the leadership... not to only this year but to years past. The
last thing that I'll wrap up with is that a lot of times folks want to get out while the going is good.
Mr. Mashburn said he would hang in for this budget. lie knew that he wasn't going to go out on
a good night. He was going out on a difficult night, but he didn't shy away from that. He knew
that it would be easy to leave a year early, and maybe leave Ron Smith, the incoming manager,
to do the heavy lifting. He could have left on a budget where he was the good guy and put the
next county manager into a position to be the bad guy. He could have done that, but he didn't.
17
He stayed and he did what was right... all the time knowing that it was going to be difficult and
that took courage. I admire you for that. Etched in stone on the walls of West Point, a part of
the Cadet Prayer says: `God let me take the harder right than the easier wrong.' Thank you, for
staying this one additional year. "
Vice Chairman Norman made the following comments about Mr. Mashburn: "We
do appreciate all you've done and your professionalism. I've been with you for nine years now,
and the whole time you've done a good job. Not only do we appreciate you, but we want you to
tell your wife that we appreciate her too. We know that she carried that baggage a long time too
in keeping up with you. "
Chairman Johnson made the following comments about Mr. Mashburn: `7n a
leadership role there's several indispensible attributes. You cannot have an effective leader
without them. The first being character. A person of character will tell you the truth when you
don't want to hear it. Joel Mashburn will tell you the truth when it's real ugly, and he won't
hide the truth from you. He has that character. I believe that character, in talking with him in
private moments, is coming from his faith. There's no surer foundation of true character than
true faith, and he is a man of faith. I admire him for that. He also has judgment. He can make
the best of a terrible situation, and Ken is right, he does pick out good talent. Rudyard Kipling
said, 7f you can keep your wits about you when all those around you are losing theirs, 'and Joel
had that judgment. He could do that. There is a third quality that's much more diff cult to
define, and it's a quality that you can't define, but you know it when it's seen and that's
presence. I know some people in this room who have presence, but I can't really define it.
There are people who have presence, and you know they are there and you wish they would go
away. Then there are people who have presence, and you're glad they are there. They are not
going to blame someone else. They will not try to throw their own failings off on someone else.
They are going to assume responsibility. They are not going to sit there and whine and say,
`What if?' They will say, `What now?' Then they will develop a strategy and that presence, or
the recognition of it, is a talent. It's a talent that's developed over time. It is impossible to
develop presence without character. Joel Mashburn has presence. If he came into a room in a
difficult situation you knew that he was going to display good judgment, and you knew that he
was in the room even if the lights were off. He just has presence. Joel knew his role, he knew his
job was to propose and the job of this board was to dispose. He would never become embroiled
in board or party politics or local politics or referee between feuding parties. He would never
do that, but if you asked him for his opinion, he would give it to you... even when it wasn't what
you necessarily wanted to hear. That's character. So those are some of the attributes that I
came to admire in Joel, and 1 came to appreciate. I'm a better man for knowing him. 1 learned
a lot from him. 1 learned how to think through problems better which leads me to another
attribute and that is wisdom. The Lord said, 7f you lack wisdom ask of me and I will give you
freely. ' 1 cannot believe that Joel Mashburn has not uttered that fool's prayer seeking wisdom,
and it was given to him. Joel, we love you, and we are going to miss you terribly. We pray
God's blessing on you, and your family, and many years in your retirement. "
ADJOURNMENT: MOTTO by Commissioner Mitchell to adjourn the meeting at
8:30 P.M. NEXT MEETING: Tuesday, July 19, 2011 at 7 P.M., in the Iredell County
Government Center, 200 South Center Street, Statesville, NC.
VOTING: Ayes — 5; Nays — 0.
Approval:
18
Clerk to the Board