HomeMy WebLinkAboutAugust 20 2002 Briefing MinutesIREDELL COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
BRIEFING MINUTES
AUGUST 20, 2002
The Iredell County Board of Commissioners met in Briefing Session at 5:00 p.m.,
on Tuesday, August 20, 2002, in the South Wing Conference Room of the Iredell County
Government Center, 200 South Center Street, Statesville, NC.
Present: Chairman Sara Haire Tice
Vice Chairman Karen B. Ray
Tommy E. Bowles
Steve D. Johnson
R. Godfrey Williams
Staff Present: County Manager Joel Mashburn, Finance Director Susan
Blumenstein, Planning Supervisor Ron Smith, County Assessor Brent Weisner,
Emergency Management and Communications Director Larry Dickerson, County
Assessor Brent Weisner, Health Director Ray Rabe, Environmental Health Supervisor
Kelly Sheeks, and Clerk to the Board Jean Moore.
CALL TO ORDER by Chairman Tice.
REQUEST FOR A DISCUSSION REGARDING THE POSTPONEMENT OF
THE MECKLYNN ROAD REZONING PUBLIC HEARING (RESIDENTIAL
AGRICULTURAL TO MULTI -FAMILY RESIDENTIAL DISTRICT): Planning
Supervisor Ron Smith said the planning board on August 7 heard a request from
Davidson Development to rezone approximately 1 I acres from Residential Agricultural
to Multi -Family Residential District. He said that at the meeting, there were several
individuals against the new zoning, and they had requested more time to prepare their
case before the matter was heard by the commissioners. Smith said the applicant was
also requesting more time. He said that normally a zoning request would be heard by the
planning board one month, and during the next month, the case would be presented to the
board of commissioners. Smith said that if the commissioners agreed with the
postponement, the rezoning request would be presented in October instead of September.
REQUEST FOR APPROVAL OF A REVISED
CABARRUSAREDELL/ROWAN CONSORTIUM JOINT COOPERATION
AGREEMENT FOR THE HOME INVESTMENT PARTNERSHIP ACT &
APPROVAL OF A RESOLUTION REGARDING THE SAME: Erskine Smith, the
Mooresville Assistant Town Manager, explained that since the May 2, 2002 meeting,
when the consortium agreement was presented and approved, a few changes had been
recommended by the U.S. Housing and Urban Development attorneys. Smith said one
change was to correct the qualification period (Federal Fiscal Years 2003-2005).
Another change was to stipulate in item 15 that the City of Kannapolis had been added as
a new member.
REQUEST FOR A DISCUSSION CONCERNING THE COMMUNITY
DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT CONCENTRATED NEEDS APPLICATIONS
(CDBG-CN): Shelley Williamson, a planner with Centralina Council of Governments,
said the CDBG-CN program was designed to assist local governments in improving and
developing residential neighborhoods. She said the process was on a state-wide
competitive basis and the application deadline was September 23, 2002. Williamson said
there were six different types of community block development grants, and one of them
was for economic development.
(Due to the lack of time to prepare an application, this item was deleted from the
agenda.)
Discussion on the Scattered -Site Housing Program Funds: Mr. Mashburn said the
county would be receiving $400,000 from the Department of Commerce for the
scattered -site housing program. Due to the extensive administrative oversight needed for
the grant, Mashburn recommended that the county contract with Centralina for the work.
Williamson said there were many "strings" attached to the $400,000. She said the
money would be sent to the county, but it could be used by the municipalities.
Williamson said the funds would be given as loans to homeowners for home repairs. She
said the funds were distributed this way to prevent individuals from selling or trying to
make a profit out of the renovated properties.
A question was asked about extending water sewer with the money, and
Williamson said this could be done. Another question pertained to using the money for
road improvements, and she said the funds could be used for this purpose.
REQUEST FOR APPROVAL OF A BUDGET AMENDMENT IN THE
AMOUNT OF $209,060 FOR THE LAKE NORMAN VOLUNTEER FIRE
DEPARTMENT'S DEBT RETIREMENT: (This item was deleted from the agenda.)
REQUEST FOR APPROVAL OF BUDGET AMENDMENT #4
REGARDING THE FUND BALANCE RELEASE OF $100,000 FOR MOUNT
MOURNE VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPT: Mount Mourne Fire Chief Steve Knox, and
Wayne Turner, a member of the VFD's Board of Directors, attended the meeting and
requested the release of $100,000 in fund balance to aid in the financing of a new fire
station. Knox said the project was ready for site preparation.
Chief Knox said the department had worked hard to keep the district's tax rate
low. He added that just recently the Department of Insurance had reduced the district's
insurance rating from a nine to a seven.
(The department's fund balance, after the budget amendment will be $14,506.)
REQUEST FOR APPROVAL OF THE JULY 2002 REFUNDS &
RELEASES: County Assessor Brent Weisner explained the refunds/releases and
requested their approval.
Update on Tax Bills for the 2002-2003 Tax Year: Weisner said 88,330 tax bills
had been mailed with a total amount due of $45,126,122 for the county (over
$68,000,000 for all jurisdictions). He said this year, for the first time, taxes could be
paid using the Internet with a credit card.
REQUEST FOR APPROVAL OF THE HAZARD MITIGATION PLAN:
Emergency Communications (ECOM) and Emergency Management Director Larry
Dickerson requested approval of the Hazard Mitigation Plan required by Senate Bill 300
and the Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000. Dickerson said the plan was comprehensive,
and it tried to prioritize the hazards or problem areas in the municipalities and county.
Radio Transmission Near the Chuckwood Road area: Chairman Tice said some
First Responders were concerned about the radio transmissions beyond the Chuckwood
Road area.
Dickerson said mobile radios should be workable in the area. He said, however,
there might be problems with portable radios, because the communications system was
designed for base (ECOM office) to mobile radios. Mr. Dickerson said that no one had
spoken to him about the problem.
Chairman Tice also shared a concern about the maps not being up-to-date.
Mr. Dickerson said current maps were shared with all of the fire departments. He
said that if the First Responder(s) had contacted him, he would have taken care of the
situation.
REQUEST FROM THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT FOR APPROVAL OF
A WEST NILE VIRUS RESPONSE BUDGET: Health Director Ray Rabe said his
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FY 2002-03 budget did not include a course of action to combat the West Nile virus. He
said the understanding, at budget time, was that he would return to the board of
commissioners if a diseased bird were found in an adjacent county. Rabe said that
unfortunately, infected birds had been found in two adjacent counties (Mecklenburg and
Lincoln). (An infected bird was also found in nearby Surry County.) He also mentioned
the high mortality rate in Louisiana. Rabe said his department had sent out thousands of
public notices or mailings that listed ways to control the mosquito population. Mr. Rabe
said his department could not do anything else without a budget. He submitted the
following budget for the board's consideration; however, he said it would not be
immediately implemented. Rabe said the plan would be to activate the budget if an
Iredell County bird or horse were found infected, or if a human case was reported in an
adjacent county.
Proposed FY 2002-2003
West Nile Virus Response Budget
REVENUES
Town of Mooresville
City of Statesville
TOTAL ESTIMATED REVENUES
WEST NILE VIRUS RESPONSE
1,000.00
5100.02 Sal & Wages Regular (1 FTE Sanitarian Tech)
20,326.00 (begins 8/1/02)
5125.01 FICA Tax Expense
1,555.00
5125.02 Group Ins. Expense
3,960.00
5125.03 Retirement Expense
2,035.00
5100.04 Provision for O.T.
750.00
TOTAL SALARY & FRINGE 27,876.00
5315.00 -INSURANCE & BONDS
Professional Liability -
Unemployment -
Blanket Bond -
General Liability -
Building & Contents -
Automobile Insurance 438.00
Medical Malpractice -
Workers Compensation 11,006.00 (Includes EH
Supv. 11 &
Sanitarian Tech)
TOTAL INSURANCE & BONDS 11,444.00
5325.01 MAINTENANCE AND REPAIR—EQUIPMENT 500.00
Mosquito Sprayer Maintenance
5340 POSTAGE 2,000.00
5350.00 DEPARTMENTAL SUPPLIES
Includes:2 hand-held Larvacide Sprayers @ S300 each
1,000.00
Anvil Adulticide
1,000.00
VectoBac Larvacide
2,000.00
Bactimos Briquetes
1,500.00
2 Office Chairs Ca, ea
700.00
New Workstation Supplies
750.00
5350.04 AUTOMOTIVE SUPPLIES
I New Vehicle 800.00
5355.00 TELEPHONE EXPENSE (STATESVILLE)
BellSouth 2 lines @ $23.00/line/mo. 552.00
BellSouth Long Distance
AT&T Long Distance 96.00
2 NEXTEL cellular phones 1,800.00
5360.00 TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT
West Nile Virus Response Staff Training 2,000.00
5366.00 UNIFORMS
Sanitarian Technician 75.00
5375.00 CONTRACTED SERVICES -OTHER
WNV Response Field Helper- SIO/hour April -Oct 16,092.00
WNV Response Office Temp - $9.25/hour April -Oct 14,900.00
Health Education Assistance 1,200.00
5480.00 COMMUNITY AWARENESS
WNV Response Public Education 4,000.00
5800.08 CAPITAL OUTAY- EQUIPMENT
Storage Building, Placarding 3,500.00
5800.12 CAPITAL OUTLAY- VEHICLES
Full Size Pickup - West Nile Virus Response Program 17 500.00
Total Estimated Expense $111,285.00
Rabe said the workers comp could probably be deleted from the budget,
because the employee would be hired mid -year in the cycle. He also mentioned
that if there was a suitable vehicle already in the county's fleet, it could be used.
Sheeks said that if an infected bird or horse were found in the county,
resources would be needed. He said the main line of defense against the virus was
to destroy the mosquito larvae before they reached adulthood. He said a sprayer
had been made available by the State.
In reference to the funds needed, County Manager Mashburn
recommended that Medicaid Maximization money be used. He said that if the
health department needed money from this fund for some other expenditure in the
future, e.g., Health Insurance Portability & Accountability Act, the county's fund
balance could be used.
Rabe voiced concerns about using the Medicaid Max funds. He said the
federal funds were not a "sure thing," and he had problems using them for
operational costs. He added there would probably be State cuts this year, and funds
would be needed for the shortage.
Sheeks emphasized that what he and Rabe had presented was not a
mosquito control budget. He said that if the budget had to be implemented, the
staff and State officials would identify the county "hot spots" and work in the high
risk areas.
Rabe said the county attorney was working on an ordinance that would
give the health department some legal basis to carryout the West Nile Virus
program. He asked if Statesville and Mooresville should be approached for funding
assistance.
Commissioner Bowles requested that Mr. Rabe ask the municipalities if
they would allow their personnel to assist in the effort if they were needed.
REQUEST FOR THE DENIAL OR APPROVAL OF AN EXCISE
TAX REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE FOODMAN, SURANE, HUNTER
AND KARRES LAW FIRM: The county manager said the Foodman Surane law
firm on July 13, 2001 paid $638 to have a warranty deed recorded at the Iredell
County Register of Deeds' Office. He said that recently, the firm realized the deed
should have been recorded in Lincoln County. On July 19, 2002, the law firm
faxed a request for reimbursement to the Register of Deeds' Office. Mashburn said
the Register of Deeds and the county attorney had been asked to give a
recommendation on the reimbursement, and both felt the request should be denied.
He said the reasoning for this was:
1. G.S. 105-228.37 stipulated a request should be made within six
months of the date in which the tax was paid.
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2. The State of North Carolina has already been sent its portion (one-
half) of the tax.
REQUEST FOR APPROVAL TO PARTICIPATE IN A
GRADUATE STUDIES PROJECT WITH UNC -CHARLOTTE FOR THE
PREPARATION OF A CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN: The county
manager requested permission to allow graduate students at UNC -Charlotte to
develop a capital improvement plan. He said county staff time would be the only
resource needed for the project. Mashburn said the pian would simply list the best
way to meet the county's needs, in priority order, with available resources.
Mashburn said the project could be accomplished during this year's fall semester,
and it would be available for review at the January planning session. He said the
plan's contents would simply be information unless the board chose to approve
anything.
REQUEST FOR APPROVAL TO USE CENTRALINA COUNCIL OF
GOVERNMENTS' MEMBERSHIP HOURS FOR GREATER
STATESVILLE DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION (GSDC) PROFILE
UPDATES FOR FISCAL YEAR 02-03: Mashburn said that each year the
GSDC updated its county demographics. He said Centralina could assist in
updating the GSDC charts and tables at a cost of $1,175; however, if a county block
(7.5 hrs.) of membership hours could be used, the cost would be $585. Mashburn
said the county usually had membership hours remaining at the end of the year, and
he felt this would be a suitable way to use them.
Approved:
ADJOURNMENT: Chairman Tice adjourned the briefing at 6:45 p.m.
k,
Clerk to the Board