HomeMy WebLinkAboutOctober 15 2002 Briefing MinutesIREDELL COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
BRIEFING MINUTES
OCTOBER 15, 2002
The Iredell County Board of Commissioners met in Briefing Session on Tuesday,
October 15, 2002, at 5:00 p.m., in 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, Social Services Director Don Wall, Income Maintenance Administrator
Lynn Deal, Social Work Supervisor Linda Bledsoe, Transportation Director Ben
Garrison, County Assessor Brent Weisner, and Clerk to the Board Jean Moore.
CALL TO ORDER by Chairman Tice.
REQUEST FROM THE SHEPHERD'S VOLUNTEER FIRE
DEPARTMENT (VFD) TO EITHER DRAWDOWN FUND BALANCE OR TO BE
GIVEN PERMISSION TO BORROW ADDITIONAL FUNDS FOR THE
COMPLETION OF A NEW BUILDING: Representing the Shepherds VFD were Don
McClain, Jamie Barrier, Kelly Robinson, and Tim Conley. Mr. McClain said the new
building's electrical installation expenses were mistakenly omitted from the previous cost
estimates. He presented a letter that included the following updated line item costs.
P.S. West General Contractor
$1,181,450.00
Change Orders for P.S. West
48,705.00
Overcash Electric
72,845.00
Estimated Change Orders with P.S. West
25,000.00
Cabinets, radio system, phone system,
computer system, fire alarm system,
sign, flagpole, fencing & landscaping
148,000.00
Furniture and appliances
107,000.00
Total Cost 1.58
(Note: On May 24, 2001, the new building was estimated to cost $1.2 million. The VFD, at that
bine, also discussed the purchase of a new truck costing $300,000.)
McClain said the VFD needed $500,000 to complete the building. He said the
VFD's lender (Public Capital Corporation in New Hampshire) was willing to maintain
the same interest rate of 5.23 and add $500,000 to the department's note, which would
raise the payments to $60,110.24 without adjusting the term. McClain said the loan
could also be extended to 15 years, and this would lower the payments to $44,316.56 per
quarter. (The VFD currently is paying $41,760.83 per quarter.)
Commissioner Williams asked the representatives how they would make a
$60,000 payment.
McClain said a tax increase would be necessary. He said there was also enough
in a certificate of deposit to cover the difference.
Robinson said the VFD had encountered numerous unexpected expenses, and that
many of them, such as a fire extinguisher system, were required by law.
Commissioner Ray asked if the VFD's contractor didn't know about the fire
system requirements.
McClain said the department didn't use an architect. He said an engineer had
assisted them in getting the building's plans approved in Raleigh.
Chairman Tice asked if the building was finished.
McClain said about 95% of the work was done. He said parts of the interior and
exterior still needed completion, e.g., cabinets, floor coverings, installation of the bay
doors, and the pouring of concrete.
Robinson said the area residents were anxious to use the building for community
events.
Commissioner Ray asked if any electrical work was included in the general
contractor's (P.S. West) estimate.
McClain said no. He said the costs for Overcash Electrical were in a separate
contract.
Commissioner Bowies said he understood the new building was exceeding the
budget by $200,000. He asked if the new truck cost $300,000.
Robinson said yes.
Commissioner Williams said he understood the note's interest rate was 5.23 for
ten and fifteen years.
McClain said this was correct, and there were no pre -payment penalties.
Commissioner Bowles asked what could be eliminated and still open up the
building for the public's use.
McClain said he didn't know. He said the kitchen needed to be finished so the
fundraisers could be held.
Commissioner Ray asked about the fencing.
Robinson said there was only about 15 feet of fencing.
McClain said the VFD desired to leave its fund balance intact. He said the
department had been paying on the note for a year, so there would only be 14 years of
payments left.
Robinson asked about waiting until July and setting the tax rate at five cents.
Bowles and Johnson expressed concerns. They both said some people had
expressed concerns about the building being too "extravagant."
Robinson said the commissioners should tell the people that the fire department
met on the second Monday of the month, and the public was invited to share their
concerns.
Commissioner Ray asked about the type of furniture the VFD needed.
McClain said furniture was needed for the entire building -- training room, dining
room, kitchen, beds, office furniture and equipment (copy/fax machines). He apologized
for the representatives' appearance before the commissioners regarding the building's
needs, but he said, "We need to finish the project."
Commissioner Ray asked if the VFD had drawn down all of its money.
McClain said he was holding a $79,000 invoice.
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Robinson said the department had a truck for sale, and it should bring about
$60,000.
Several commissioners voiced concerns about making a decision regarding the
building.
County Manager Mashburn said that in the past, the lenders had requested a letter
from the county stating there were no objections to the banking transactions. He said that
unless the lender had to have something, he didn't of anything the board of
commissioners needed to do.
Commissioner Ray said the presentation from the VFD representatives would be
considered a status report.
No action was taken by the board.
JUVENILE CRIME PREVENTION COUNCIL (JCPC): Clerk to the Board
Moore said the JCPC had been unsuccessful in locating an individual from a United Way
or non-profit agency to serve on its board. Moore said Pat Reichart, a current JCPC
member, was employed at a United Way agency (YMCA), and she was willing to
represent the non-profit sector. Mrs. Moore asked if there were any objections for
Reichart to represent non -profits, and none were voiced.
REQUEST FOR THE CONSIDERATION OF A RESOLUTION TO LEVY
THE THIRD ONE-HALF CENT SALES TAX TO BECOME EFFECTIVE
DECEMBER 1, 2002: A brief discussion was held about the possibility of levying the
third half cent sales tax, but the matter was not placed on the consent agenda.
Finance Director Blumenstein said the $2.9 million referred to in the resolution
did not include the withheld $330,000 in beer & wine money. She said Governor Easley
had withheld these funds in 2001-02.
A question was raised about any other revenues the State might withhold.
Blumenstein said the beer and wine reimbursements were primarily all that was
left. She said the budget approved by the General Assembly excluded about a $1 million
for the Public School Building Capital fund, and the school systems would soon update
the commissioners about their budgets. She said the county's Medicaid costs had
increased by 50% since 2001.
ADJOURNMENT: Chairman Tice adjourned the briefing session at 6:40 p.m.
Approved:
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Clerk to the Board