HomeMy WebLinkAbout5-3-2016 MinutesIREDELL COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
PRE -AGENDA MINUTES
Mav 3, 2016
The Iredell County Board of Commissioners met in pre -agenda session on Tuesday, May
3, 2016 at 5:30 PM, in the Iredell County Government Center (South Wing Conference Room),
200 South Center Street, Statesville, NC.
Board Members Present
Chairman James B. Mallory III
Vice Chairman Marvin Norman
Tommy Bowles
Steve Johnson
Ken Robertson
Staff present: County Manager Ron Smith, County Attorney Bill Pope, Deputy County
Manager Beth Jones, Finance Director Susan Robertson, Attorney Lisa Valdez, Assistant to the
Manager Ben Stikeleather, Public Safety Director David Saleeby, and Clerk to the Board Retha
Gaither.
CALL TO ORDER: Chairman James Mallory called the meeting to order.
ADJUSTMENTS TO THE AGENDA: County Manager Ron Smith said there were no
official adjustments to the agenda.
PUBLIC HEARINGS
Public Hearing to Consider a Request from MP Leasing LLLP to rezone 1.5 acres
from RA to NB: Planning Director Matthew Todd said it was a 7-0 recommendation from the
Planning Board. There was no opposition at the Planning Board meeting and didn't except any
opposition at the public hearing.
ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS
Request from Administration for Renewal of the County funded Assistant District
Attorney Contract: Deputy County Manager Beth Jones said an addendum to extend the current
contract through June 30 was approved at a previous meeting. The request is to renew the contract
for the County funded ADA position for the next fiscal year. The savings for the past year from
March 1, 2015 through March 1, 2016 equals $398,160 which has more than paid for the cost of
the contract for the position.
This item was placed on the consent agenda.
Request from the Public Library to Apply for the Library Edge Technology Grant:
Library Director Steve Messick requested approval for the Library to apply for a Library Edge
Technology Grant through the State Library. The Edge Initiative is a set of national benchmarks
to program this development by the International Association of City and County Managers and
the American Library Association to set some standards for libraries in terms of technology. One
of those standards is to have digital technology for citizens with disabilities. The grant of $4,600
will purchase software for computers to be used by individuals with visual and hearing disabilities.
The screen could be enlarged, change the contrast, and even read aloud along with a special large
May 3, 2016
print high contrast keyboard. This would be in all library locations. There is no local snatching
funds required and there is no long term commitment. They will know by mid-May if approved
and funds would be spent by July.
This item was placed on the consent agenda.
Request from the Finance Department for Approval of a three Year Lease Renewal
for NC Farm Service: Purchasing and Contracts Manager Dean Lail said the USDA Farm Service
has rented space in the Cooperative Extension building since before 2001. The space is
approximately 504 square feet. The Farm Service has submitted a renewal request for a three year
extension to carry through August 31, 2019. Rent payment is $5,220 per year.
This item was placed on the consent agenda.
Request from the Finance Department for Approval of a Surplus Declaration to
Transfer One 2/3 K-9/Prisoner Transport Insert: Purchasing and Contracts Manager Dean Lail
said there are several 2/3 K-9/Prisoner transport inserts that have been removed from service for
the Crown Victoria vehicles. This is an insert for the rear seat for a prisoner and a canine. The
Troutman Police Department has a canine and a Crown Vic and could use one of these units. The
units do not have much value. They can't be sold at auction and scrap value is very small. The
transfer would be a zero dollar sale but it will remain in use in Iredell County. If approved
Troutman Police Department will sign a form that indemnifies the County if anything happens
while using the insert.
This item was placed on the consent agenda.
Request from the Planning Division for the Consideration of a High Density Option
to Develop a Sod Sales Business: Planning Director Matthew Todd said they have not had a
request for high density in several years. The property was rezoned on April 19, 2016. The request
is to go up to 50% impervious, which means they are required to install storm water control.
Commissioner Bowles asked who would inspect and maintain the retention pond.
Todd said Planning would inspect. However, if the owner goes forward the plan will have
to be approved by the Board. Whatever mechanism the owner uses to secure the retention pond
will have to be approved by the Board.
County Manager Ron Smith asked if this could be a temporary use.
Todd said there is a market for sod, but feels there may be other commercial uses added.
The sod business may be there for quite a while.
This item was placed on the consent agenda.
Request for Approval of the April 19 minutes: There were no changes or corrections.
This item was placed on the consent agenda.
The Board recessed into Closed Session at 5:45 PM.
The Board returned to open session at 6:35 PM and recessed again until the 7:00 regular
session.
May 3, 2016
IREDELL COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
REGULAR MINUTES
Mav 3, 2016
The Iredell County Board of Commissioners met in regular session on Tuesday, May 3,
2016, at 7:00 PM, in the Iredell County Government Center (Commissioners' Meeting Room),
200 South Center Street, Statesville, NC.
Board Members Present
Chairman James B. Mallory III
Vice Chairman Marvin Norman
Tommy Bowles
Steve Johnson
Ken Robertson
Staff present: County Manager Ron Smith, County Attorney Bill Pope, Deputy County
Manager Beth Jones, Finance Director Susan Robertson, Attorney Lisa Valdez, Assistant to the
Manager Ben Stikeleather, Public Safety Director David Saleeby, and Clerk to the Board Retha
Gaither.
CALL TO ORDER by Chairman Mallory.
INVOCATION: Chairman James Mallory asked everyone to bow their heads for a
moment of silence.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE led by Chairman Mallory.
ADJUSTMENTS TO THE AGENDA: County Manager Ron Smith said there were no
adjustments to the agenda.
PRESENTATION OF SPECIAL RECOGNITIONS & AWARDS
(None)
APPOINTMENTS BEFORE THE BOARD
Request from Emergency Medical Services to Adopt a Proclamation to Declare May
15-21, 2016 as EMS Week: EMS Director Blair Richey asked several members of EMS to join
her to address the Board. Richey thanked the Board for the opportunity to recognize EMS Week
in Iredell County. This year marks the 42nd annual EMS Week. In 2015, EMS responded to 31,573
calls.
MOT10N by Commissioner Steve Johnson to adopt the proclamation.
VOTING: Ayes — 5; Nays — 0
Chairman Mallory read the following proclamation:
EMS WEEK PROCLAMATION
May 3, 2016 3
To designate the Week of May 15 - 21, 2016 as Emergency Medical Services Week
WHEREAS, emergency medical services is a vital public service; and
WHEREAS, the members of emergency medical services teams are ready to provide lifesaving care to those
in need 24 hours a day, seven days a week; and
WHEREAS, access to quality emergency care dramatically improves the survival and recovery rate of those
who experience sudden illness or injury; and
WHEREAS, the emergency medical services system consists of first responders, emergency medical
technicians, paramedics, firefighters, educators, administrators, emergency nurses, emergency physicians, and others;
and
WHEREAS, the members of emergency medical services teams, whether career or volunteer, engage in
thousands of hours of specialized training and continuing education to enhance their lifesaving skills; and
WHEREAS, Iredell County desires to continue to improve upon its emergency medical services system in
order to assure all citizens the highest standards of emergency medical care;
WHEREAS, it is appropriate to recognize the value and the accomplishments of emergency medical services
providers by designating Emergency Medical Services Week; now
THEREFORE, the Iredell County Board of Commissioners in recognition of this event do hereby proclaim
the week of May 15-21, 2016, as
EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES WEEK
With the theme, EMS Strong, we encourage the community to observe this week with appropriate programs,
ceremonies and activities.
This 3`d day of May, 2016.
Commissioner Robertson said this department is a very significant department. With over
31,000 calls in one year means that almost all citizens were touched in some way by this
department and he thanked them for their service.
PUBLIC HEARINGS
Public Hearing to Consider a Request from MP Leasing LLLP to Rezone 1.5 Acres
from RA to NB: Planning Director Matthew Todd said this property is on Brawley School Road.
The Planning Board recommended, unanimously, to approve and staff recommended the rezoning
because it matches the land use plan. Also, the lot is adjacent to commercially zoned property.
Chairman Mallory opened the public hearing.
No one from the audience wished to speak.
Chairman Mallory closed the public hearing.
MOTION by Commissioner Ken Robertson to recommend in favor of the zoning map
amendment and to make a finding that the approval is consistent with the adopted 2030 Horizon
Plan and that said approval is reasonable and in the public interest and furthers the goals of the
May 3, 2016
2030 Horizon Plan because it is in harmony with the area and it is adjacent to commercially zoned
property.
VOTING: Ayes — 5; Nays — 0
ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS
County Manager Ron Smith summarized the following items for the consent agenda:
• Request from Administration for renewal of the County funded Assistant District
Attorney contract in relation to the inmate reduction efforts.
• Request from the Public Library to apply for a Library Edge Technology Grant.
• Request from the Finance Department for approval of a three-year lease renewal with the
North Carolina Farm Service Agency.
• Request from the Finance Department for approval of a surplus declaration to transfer
one 2/3 K-9/Prisoner transport insert.
• Request from the Planning Division for the consideration of a high density option to
develop a sod sales business.
• Request for approval of the April 19 minutes.
OTION by Vice Chairman Marvin Norman to approve the consent agenda as presented.
VOTING: Ayes — 5; Nays — 0
ANNOUNCEMENT OF VACANCIES OCCURING ON BOARDS & COMMISSIONS
Troutman Board of Adjustment (2 Announcements)
Local Social Services Board (1 Announcement)
Board of Health (1 Announcement)
APPOINTMENTS TO BOARD AND COMMISSIONS
(None)
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
(None)
PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD
(None)
NEW BUSINESS
(None)
COUNTY MANAGER'S REPORT
County Manager Ron Smith said the budget process begins for staff at the end of December
and ramps up through February when they meet with the Board of Commissioners at the Winter
Planning Retreat to decide priorities. The size of the budget will show that things are a little more
complicated. He gave the following message to present the FY 2016-17 County Budget:
May 3, 2016
FY2016 Efforts and Accomplishments
✓ Began design of a 300 bed and core facilities expansion and approved design and construction of the new
Consolidated Public Safety Complex
o Funding for both of these projects has been partially identified within the coming year's budget
✓ Authorized sale of the old North Iredell Park site and made plans for future park improvement on a new site
adjacent to Babe Ruth Park
✓
Implemented a 2% salary scale adjustment for employees address compression and turnover
Growth and Economic Stability
✓ fredell County continues to grow at a high rate
✓ 2016 projections show population over 171,000 residents
✓ 15° largest County in the State
✓ 4% of 4.8% growth between 2010 and 2014 was due to in -migration
✓ Lowest tax rate among top 15 largest counties
✓ Higher tax base than six of those same counties
Development Activity
✓ Activity continues to rise, primarily in the southern end
✓ Beginning to move north
✓ 2015 saw an increase of over 30% in residential, 13% in commercial
✓ Added an inspector mid -year
✓ EDCs have added 1,479 jobs in 2016
✓ Investment was over 69,000,000
✓ Unemployment rate continues to drop (5.4% yearly avg. in 2015, and through February of 2016)
Revenues
✓ Tax base will be close to $22 billion, ad valorem revenues up 2.8%
✓ Sales taxes are estimated to be lower than budgeted this year and we anticipate growth of under 1% in 2017
✓ Development revenue continues to be strong, estimated to be up 29% this year, and we expect 28% growth
next year
Expenditures
Focus on the following themes:
o Construction of the Jail expansion and Consolidated Public Safety Complex
o Increase funding for economic development
o Fund the Capital Improvements Plan
o Continue employee retention and recruitment efforts
o Proposed 2.95% increase in the FY2017 Budget
✓ $4,000,000 in reductions have already been made
✓ The top categories for funding are:
o Education — 47%
Public Safety — 19%
Human Services — 18%
o General Governmental — 10% (salary study, 2% scale adjustment)
Education
✓ Education comprises 47% of the General Fund budget
✓ 3.5% increase equals 61% of the growth in the budget
✓ Total increase of $3,255,590
May 3, 2016
✓ Recommended per pupil allocation at $1,547, up from 51,495 in 2016 (must be uniform between I -SS and
MGSD)
✓ Iredell Statesville
0 3.33% increase in current expense, 25.32% in capital outlay, decrease of $450,000 in debt service
(allows more to be dedicated to capital)
✓ Mooresville Graded School District
0 4.36% increase in current expense, <1% in capital outlay, and debt increases by $3.3m
✓ Mitchell Community College
o 3.85% increase in current expense, flat capital outlay, and $80,000 for property
Public Safety
✓ ECOM and EMS calls for service are increasing at a faster rate than population growth
o Construction of Consolidated Public Safety Complex
o Shift from 24 to 12 hour shifts, eight additional employees in EMS
o Cool Spring V FD EMS base
Capital Projects
✓ Included $9,745,920 to fund the Capital Improvements Plan (CIP)
✓ $8,000,420 associated with the two major construction projects, and which has already been funded
✓ Other requests:
o Additional radios in Sheriff's office (VIPER)
o New Computer Aided Dispatch in ECOM
o Phase I development of Jennings Road Park (leveraging County finds to obtain PARTF funding)
o Renovations at Government Center South for DSS space
Human Capital
✓ Propose maintaining 2% salary scale adjustment for all employees and performance-based merit up to 3%
✓ Implement shift differential pay in public safety departments
✓ Fund a pay study for all employees
✓ Increased activity and growth has required more manpower:
o Social Services — 21% increase in Children's Services since 2010, 75% increase in Adult Services
since 2012, and 8% increase in Economic Services since 2011, NCFAST
o EMS— 24 to 12 hour shift transition
o Sheriff— increases in domestic violence and economic crimes
o Finance (Purchasing) — increase and complexity of contracts and procurement
o Environmental Health —permits have increased by, over 100% since 2012
Keeping an Eye on the Horizon
✓ Recommend allocating $500,000 for economic development, specifically for product development
✓ Will monitor development activity closely. We are offsetting immediate need with software changes and
the addition of an inspector at the Winter Retreat.
✓ Mt. Mourne VFD is requesting a half cent tax increase for additional staffing. Serious consideration should
be given to this request in light of recent requests and actions.
✓ Continuation of funding for major construction projects. The Jail will require additional funding in 2017
and 2018 to complete.
✓ Investment in departments. More flexibility within departments in regard to spending. Hopefully a tool to
decrease spending.
Recommendation
May 3, 2016
✓ As required by G.S. 195-11, I present the following recommended FY2017 budget of.
o $190,380,760
o Tax rate is recommended to stay at $0.5275 per $100 valuation
o Based on a tax base of $21,982,514,053 with a collection rate of 98.58%
o Fund balance as of June 30, 2016 is estimated to be $38,442,700, just over 20% of the
recommended budget
Smith thanked the Board for the opportunity to work for Iredell County. He thanked staff
for the numerous hours of work on the budget with a specific personal thanks to Finance Director
Susan Robertson.
Chairman Mallory thanked Smith, department directors, and staff for producing a quality
product and for watching the bottom line but yet responding appropriately to provide services to
the people of Iredell County.
Commissioner Robertson asked about potential risks or predictions of unexpected expenses
or projects that could get bumped to another year.
Smith said no. The philosophy has been to estimate low on the revenues with the hopes of
receiving benefits at the end of the year. However, if something does come up, the budget has
enough built-in to deal with unexpected items. Sales tax was a surprise this year and the estimated
mark was missed. Even though the estimate was low, in the end it was higher compared to the last
several years.
Commissioner Robertson said the message is to spend money in Iredell County. When
people drive and spend money in other counties, they are helping other counties, not their own.
Commissioner Johnson said Iredell County is having the same problem that other
businesses are having. The number concerning business people today is not the bottom line
revenue, it is the top line revenue. They are just not making the sales they anticipate making, which
consequently makes the bottom line even smaller. This is a very good budget and adheres to what
was suggested several years ago. On average, there a slip into a recession about every seven to
nine years. It is now seven years from the last one, but hope it is not as bad as the last one. The
text book definition of a recession is two consecutive quarters of negative economic growth. That
doesn't seem that bad but there is generally a little slow down before actually getting into a
negative territory. Compounding it is that generally one must see about 3% economic growth
nationally before the average person begins to recognize the difference. It is estimated, by most
people, that there must be the creation of about 300,000 jobs a month to break even. Jobs go out
of existence because of improved technologies. This month there were only 225,000 new jobs.
That is the reason there is no increase in wage growth and the reason there is no increase in sales
tax growth. In the late 1990s and 2000s there were several years of sales tax percentage increases
of over 15-20%. One way to be a good prognosticator of what the County's budget will look like
in three years would be to look at the commercial property tax revenue. That is capital investment.
That is what the business community is putting into their business for new equipment. When that
number is rising, they have confidence about the future and will begin to hire. That number has
been flat and will continue to be relatively flat due to the economic policy in the aggregate. The
business cycle is always like a movie watched 25 times ... the beginning is the same, the ending is
May 3, 2016 8
the same and there is crying in the middle. The budget presented is a good budget with a 20% fund
balance and believes this time next year there will still be a 20% fund balance while well on the
way of having constructed a new jail and a new ECOM center. (All of which plays in the wisdom
of Steve Johnson, humbly said.)
CLOSED SESSIONS
Chairman Mallory said the closed sessions were completed earlier and there were no
actions taken.
ADJOURNMENT
OTION by Commissioner Steve Johnson to recess at 7:50 PM. (The next meeting will
be Monday, May 9, 2016, 12:00 PM, in the South Wing Conference Room, Government Center,
200 South Center Street, Statesville, NC)
VOTING: Ayes — 5; Nays — 0
Date Approved
Retha C. Gaither, Clerk
May 3, 2016