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HomeMy WebLinkAboutDecember 4 2001 Briefing MinutesIREDELL COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS BRIEFING MINUTES DECEMBER 4, 2001 The Iredell County Board of Commissioners met in Briefing Session on Tuesday, December 4, 2001, at 5:00 p.m., in the Iredell County Government Center, 200 South Center Street, Statesville, NC. Present: Chairman Sara Haire Tice Vice Chairman Steve D. Johnson Tommy E. Bowles Karen B. Ray R. Godfrey Williams Staff Present: Finance Director Susan Blumenstein, Library Director Steve Messick, Health Director Ray Rabe, Environmental Health Supervisor Kelly Sheeks, Social Services Director Don Wall, Planning Supervisor Ron Smith, Inspections/Planning Director Lynn Niblock and Clerk to the Board Jean Moore. (Note: The county manager was unable to attend the meeting due to a death in his family.) CALL TO ORDER by Chairman Tice. REQUEST FOR A DISCUSSION OR APPROVAL OF A PROPOSED MODEL FOR THE JOINT OPERATION OF PUBLIC LIBRARY FACILITIES BETWEEN IREDELL COUNTY AND MUNICIPALITIES: Joining Library Director Steve Messick in the discussion about this item were: Harmony Town Mayor John Ray Campbell and Harmony Town Council Members Robert Moore and Martha Johnson. Messick reviewed a proposal/model for the joint operation of a public library between the county and a municipality. The proposal included information on the purpose of the joint relationship, the responsibilities of the governing parties, the operational guidelines, and the initiating and terminating agreements. Commissioner Williams asked about the utilities. He said the model stipulated the municipality would pay for all utility services with the exception of the telecommunications services. Williams questioned whether or not it might be best for the county to pay the utility charges. He noted the county would be providing the paid staff that would be based in the building. It was also mentioned that due to Harmony being near the county line, citizens from neighboring counties might want to use the facility. Messick was asked about the guidelines pertaining to out -of -county patrons. He said that at the present, a fee was not charged, but this policy could be reviewed. A discussion also occurred about the maintenance of the building. The proposal stipulated the municipality would pay for the maintenance costs up to $500. Then, the county would assume the costs. A question was raised about reverting the costs, i.e., the county paying the maintenance up to $500, and after this amount, the municipality assuming the costs. It was later mentioned, however, this arrangement might create a hardship on the county's maintenance staff due to the distance involved in making small repairs. Commissioner Johnson asked about the start-up costs. Messick said a survey revealed there were about 3,000 library patrons in the Harmony area. He said the Town would need to provide a 2,500 to 3,000 s.f. facility, and the county's start up costs would be approximately $170,000. Messick said the cost for the books would be spread out over a five-year period. Commissioner Williams noted the initiating agreement paragraph in the proposal. He said there was a stipulation indicating a municipality had to "notify the county at least one year prior to the beginning of the fiscal year during which operations of the branch library would begin." He said he assumed this criteria had already been met by the Town of Harmony. Messick said yes. Commissioner Johnson raised concerns over the state budget. He said the state's problems might again impact the county's budget, and if this happened, the Harmony branch library might be affected. Commissioner Williams said the Harmony officials needed some assurance the county planned to work with them. Councilman Moore said the Town already had a contract for the construction. Mayor Campbell said the building might be finished by July or August. He added that the Town's tax revenue was small when compared with the county's revenues. Commissioner Ray asked the Town's tax rate. Campbell said ten cents. Further discussion continued and the board agreed to approve the branch library model with the following amendments or clarifications. 1. The custodial services would be provided by the county. 2. The county would pay the utility costs. 3. The county would pay for the initial furnishings for the facility; however, when replacements were needed, the municipality would assume the costs. 4. Should a branch library agreement/arrangement be tenninated, the municipality would possess the physical facility, but the furnishings, including the shelving and display items, would revert to the county. 5. The municipality would be responsible for the building's maintenance, up to $500. After this amount, the county would assume the costs. Messick said he would review the library model revisions with the county manager. REQUEST FROM THE NORTH IREDELL RESCUE SQUAD FOR AN ADDITIONAL MATURITY DATE EXTENSION FOR A PROMISSORY NOTE OF $89,986: Finance Director Blumenstein said that prior to the meeting, a $15,986 payment on the note was received. She said that of this amount, $10,000 was paid on the principal and the remainder was for interest. The commissioners decided to extend the note, now in the amount of $74,000, with a new interest rate of three percent. UPDATE ON RURAL TRANSPORTATION PLANNING ORGANIZATIONS (RPOs): Planning Supervisor Ron Smith and Inspections/Planning Director Lynn Nibloek updated the board on the proposed Lake Norman RPO. Smith said recent discussions had occurred about revising the voting criteria listed in the RPO Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). He said it was now being proposed that each county would have one vote, and the collective municipalities, in each county, would have one vote. In addition, he said the Department of Transportation (DOT) Board member would have one vote. Smith said that if Iredell chose to join the RPO, as it was presently configured, there would be nine votes. These would be: Iredell County + its Municipalities = 2 votes Gaston County (portion) + its Municipalities = 2 votes Lincoln County + its Municipalities = 2 votes Cleveland County + its Municipalities = 2 votes DOT Board Member = 1 vote Total 9 votes 2 Smith said that if Rowan County chose to enter into the RPO, it would also have two votes (one for the county and one for its municipalities). Mr. Smith said a member of Centralina's executive board would be on the RPO technical advisory committee; however, this individual would not be a voting member. He said a meeting was scheduled on December 12, 2001, for the municipal and county officials, to continue in the drafting of an acceptable MOU. Chairman Tice said she recently talked to Rowan County Manager Tim Russell. She said the Rowan officials were interested in joining the RPO. Tice said Mr. Russell had indicated that if Rowan joined, it preferred to join initially, or during the establishment of the RPO. Tice also mentioned that Margaret Kluttz, a DOT Board member, resided in Rowan County. She asked if Mrs. Kluttz would have a vote if Rowan Countyjoined. Mr. Smith said he would discuss Chairman Tice's information and questions with DOT Board member Frank Johnson. REQUEST FROM THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT FOR APPROVAL OF A RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF AN APPLICATION FOR STATE MOSQUITO CONTROL FUNDS: Health Director Ray Rabe and Environmental Health Supervisor Kelly Sheeks said mosquito control planning efforts were tentative, but they both preferred to apply for state grant monies. Sheeks said the board of health would begin discussions about mosquito control within the next few months. He said a proposal could not be presented on how state funds might be spent if they were received, but he knew that public education materials, salaries, and the purchase of chemicals would all be valid expenditures. He said the state application needed an agent for the county, and he recommended for the health director to be designated. Also, Sheeks suggested that he be designated as the licensed applicator for any public health pesticide applications. Request from the Department of Social Services for the Establishment of an Income Maintenance Case Worker III Position for Davis Regional Medical Center: Joining Social Services Director Don Wall about this discussion were: Davis Regional Medical Center representatives Keith Womble (Director of Business Development) and David Orcutt (Chief Operating Officer). Wall said the Social Services Board on November 12, 2001, approved the establishment of a new income maintenance caseworker to be stationed at Davis Regional Medical Center for the processing of Medicaid applications. He said the cost for the worker would be $17,865 for the next six months. Mr. Wall said the federal share would be 50% and the remaining 50% would be paid by the hospital. In addition, Wall said the hospital would provide an office and the necessary equipment. Wall said there would be no costs to the county. He said the new position would: 1. Generate more Medicaid revenue for the hospital. 2. Increase the percentages of patients eligible for Medicaid. 3. Ensure that the clients received the health care they were qualified to receive. 4. Eliminate barriers that might prevent individuals from receiving preventive and primary health care. Approved: 3 Clerk to the Board