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HomeMy WebLinkAbout03-07-2023 1 March 7, 2023 IREDELL COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS PRE-AGENDA SESSION March 7, 2023 The Iredell County Board of Commissioners met in pre-agenda session on Tuesday, March 7, 2023 at 5:00 PM, in the Commissioners’ Meeting Room located in the Iredell County Government Center 200 South Center Street, Statesville, NC. Board Members Present Chair Melissa Neader Vice Chair Bert Connolly Scottie Brown Gene Houpe Brad Stroud, Sr. Staff present: County Manager Beth Mull, Deputy County Manager Susan Robertson, County Attorney Lisa Valdez, Finance Director Deb Cheek, and Clerk to the Board Amy Anderson. CALL TO ORDER: Chair Neader called the meeting to order. ADJUSTMENTS TO THE AGENDA: There were no adjustments to the agenda. ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS Request from Stony Point Volunteer Fire Department for approval of an application for the Small Loan Program in the amount of $30,000 to purchase equipment for a new apparatus: Fire Services/Emergency Management Director Kent Greene said In late 2022, the Board approved $3 million to be set aside and used as a small loan program for the fire departments and rescue squads. The County also previously developed an apparatus replacement program for the fire departments and rescue squads and provides estimates on replacement costs. Stony Point VFD has an apparatus on order (within the apparatus replacement schedule) and is requesting funds to purchase additional necessary equipment for that apparatus. This item was placed on consent. Request from Cool Springs Volunteer Fire Department for approval of an application for the Small Loan Program in the amount of $127,000 to complete the purchase of a new apparatus: Fire Services/Emergency Management Director Kent Greene said Cool Springs VFD was allocated $750,000 for the replacement of a fire engine with a total cost of $877,000. This loan will cover the difference between the allocation and actual cost. This item was placed on consent. Mull noted staff is maintaining a log of the loan application and approvals. 2 March 7, 2023 Request from Emergency Communications for approval of contract with Motorola for implementing new Viper Simulcast Radio System and a mending the ARP Grant Ordinance: Nick Falgiatore with Mission Critical Partners said the radio system as designed and negotiated includes seven simulcast radio sites meaning there will be seven towers. It will be connected by a microwave backhaul system using six gigahertz frequencies that provides connectivity between the sites. The system is loop protected. The system includes all of the licensing and integration with the statewide system that provides some opportunity for extending coverage outside of the County. Falgiatore thinks neighboring towels will also support the County’s traffic and on certain channels the County’s users will be able to roam statewide. This is a huge benefit for integrating from a coverage perspective. Falgiatore said the company tried to reuse equipment into the greatest extent possible to keep costs low. Reusing equipment will take place at three existing towers. The Olin tower site will need a new shelter but the tower can be reused. The project also includes constructing two new towers. One on the east side of the County and the other in the southeast corner. The project is turnkey and will include that’s needed to make it work. Faligiatore presented maps showing the increased coverage the system will provide. Commissioner Houpe asked if radios were tested inside the school buildings. Falgiatore is confident based on the design that things are going to get better in most areas. Once the project is complete coverage will be reevaluated to if the coverage provided by the system has met all the requirements in the buildings. Commissioner Brown asked the height of the towers. Falgiatore said the total height is in the 320 – 325 feet range. Mull noted the request also includes the approval of amending the ARP Grant ordinance. The initial estimate received on this project was a little bit lower. Once the towers were looked at and how many the County needs and other needs there is a more finite number. The project will be funded through ARP funds. Mull suggested the previous board agreed to set aside some funds for the GREAT grant for broadband in the Northern end of the county and was going to provide a match for any agency that received the GREAT Grant award. However, there are some questions about program revenue. Extending Broadband in the northern end of the County generates Program Revenue the State is trying to work that out with the U.S treasury. Mull suggested covering the additional cost of the VIPER Simulcast Project with the GREAT Grant allocation that had been set aside. Then use some of lost Revenue provision to be the match for the GREAT Grant. Commissioner Houpe asked if there is 5% contingency. Mull said yes. This item was placed on consent. Request from the Finance Department for approval of Budget Amendment #38 to accept a donation for playground equipment at Stumpy Creek from Make An Impact Foundation, Inc.: Finance Director Deb Cheek requested approval of Budget Amendment #38 to accept a donation for playground equipment at Stumpy Creek from Make An Impact Foundation, 3 March 7, 2023 Inc. Make An Impact Foundation, Inc. donated playground equipment at Stumpy Creek in the amount of $100,000. This equipment was put into service on December 31, 2022. This item was placed on consent. Request from the Health Department for approval to waive the competitive bidding process and approval of Budget Amendment #39 to purchase a mobile health unit: Health Director Jane Hinson requested approval to waive the competitive bid process and approval of Budget Amendment #39 to purchase a mobile health unit. Hinson said on July 20, 2021, the Board approved a request from the health department to utilize Medicaid Maximization funding for the purchase of a Mobile Health Unit for COVID-19 response and the provision of other public health services in the community. On September 21, 2021, the Health Department went back to the Board for approval to waive the competitive bidding process for the purchase of the Mobile Health Unit and for a budget amendment of $747,500 using Medicaid Maximization funding for the purchase of the Unit. The Board requested additional details about the usage of the Unit that staff was unable to provide because they did not know where they would be in their COVID-19 response when the unit was completed in 11 to 12 months. The Health Department decided to withdraw the request to purchase the unit. The Health Department has since received approval from the NC Department of Human Services and the Center for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) to purchase the unit with Agreement Addenda 543 COVID-19 grant funds. Health Department staff did a nationwide search for a builder that had expertise in mobile health units. Staff wanted to work with a company that would help them design the unit and also wanted the builder to be within travel distance if possible which would allow visits to the facility during the building process. Matthews Specialty Vehicles from Greensboro was a nationally recognized expert in the building of mobile health units. They have built mobile health units for Kintegra, Cone Health and Wake Med. Matthews came highly recommended by the NC Dept. of Health & Human Services. Iredell County is a member of the HGACBuy COOP and Matthews Specialty Vehicles is contracted with the HGACBuy COOP. Hinson requested approval to waive the competitive bidding process for the purchase of the Unit from Matthews Specialty Vehicles. Matthews Specialty has assisted the staff throughout the design process. Hinson also requested budget amendment #39 to transfer $799,714 from Agreement Addenda COVID-19 grant funds for the purchase of the Unit and to appropriate $130,628 from Medicaid Maximization funding to purchase all equipment and cover the expense for title, tags, insurance, fuel and a storage carport. The total purchase request is $930,342. The Board of Health unanimously approved this request at their February 16, 2023 meeting. This item was placed on consent. Request from Administration for approval of a resolution authorizing execution of Opioid Settlements and approving the Supplemental Agreement for additional funds between the State of North Carolina and local governments: County Attorney Lisa Valdez said the NC Department of Justice recently announced five new opioid settlements with CVS, Walgreens, Walmart, Allergan, and Teva. These settlements will result in an additional $600 million to North Carolina state and local governments. This is in addition to the first round of 4 March 7, 2023 settlements which resulted in $750 million being distributed to North Carolina state and local governments, with 85% going to local governments. The distribution formula will mirror the original MOA allocation model outlined in the first settlement agreement. This item was placed on consent. Request from Clerk to the Board for approval of the minutes from February 17, 2023: This item was placed on consent. Commissioner Appointment: County Manager Beth Mull said the Thyroid Cancer Work Group is a collaboration between public health, Iredell County leaders, Iredell County elected officials, the Town of Mooresville and our state elected officials. It was initially led by Rep. John Fraley and is currently being led by Senator Vickie Sawyer. Former Chairman James Mallory served on this committee and a current commissioner needs to be added to this committee to replace Mallory. Chair Neader volunteered to serve on the Thyroid Cancer Work Group. This item was placed on consent. County Construction Projects Update: The update was provided to the Board in the agenda packet. There were no questions regarding any projects. This item was placed on consent. COUNTY MANAGER’S REPORT County Manager Beth Mull gave an update on the following:  The Parks & Recreation Department was awarded a $500,000 grant for a specialized playground at Jennings Park. IREDELL COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS REGULAR MINUTES March 7, 2023 The Iredell County Board of Commissioners met in regular session on Tuesday, February 7, 2023 at 7:00 PM, in the Commissioners’ Meeting Room of the Iredell County Government Center, 200 South Center Street, Statesville, NC. Board Members Present Chair Melissa Neader Vice Chair Bert Connolly 5 March 7, 2023 Scottie Brown Gene Houpe Brad Stroud, Sr. Staff present: County Manager Beth Mull, Deputy County Manager Susan Robertson, County Attorney Lisa Valdez, Finance Director Deb Cheek, and Clerk to the Board Amy Anderson. CALL TO ORDER by Chair Neader. INVOCATION: Commissioner Stroud led the invocation. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE led by Chair Neader. ADJUSTMENTS TO THE AGENDA: There were no adjustments to the agenda. SPECIAL PRESENTATION & RECOGNITIONS (None) APPOINTMENT BEFORE THE BOARD Erica Brown, Partner presented the Fiscal Year 2022 Audit. The firm issued an unmodified opinion which is a clean opinion. The available Fund Balance 2022 is $111,479,415, a $17,243,675 increase. Of the Fund Balance, $80,345,690 is unassigned. Fiscal Year 2022 revenues $256,085,318 and Expenditures $232,012,971, both of which was increase from 2021. FY22 debt service $29,218,525. Brown expressed appreciation to the Finance Staff and DSS for all of the hardwork during the audit. PUBLIC HEARINGS (None) ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS County Manager Beth Mull summarized the following Administrative Matters during the Pre-Agenda meeting held at 5pm:  Request from Stony Point Volunteer Fire Department for approval of an application for the Small Loan Program in the amount of $30,000 to purchase equipment for a new apparatus.  Request from Cool Springs Volunteer Fire Department for approval of an application for the Small Loan Program in the amount of $127,000 to complete the purchase of a new apparatus.  Request from Emergency Communications for approval of contract with Motorola for implementing new Viper Simulcast Radio System and amending the ARP Grant Ordinance. 6 March 7, 2023  Request from the Finance Department for approval of Budget Amendment #38 to accept a donation for playground equipment at Stumpy Creek from Make An Impact Foundation, Inc.  Request from the Health Department for approval to waive the competitive bidding process and approval of Budget Amendment #39 to purchase a mobile health unit.  Request from Administration for approval of a resolution authorizing execution of Opioid Settlements and approving the Supplemental Agreement for additional funds between the State of North Carolina and local governments.  Request from Clerk to the Board for approval of the minutes from February 17, 2023.  Commissioner Appointment.  County Construction Projects Update. MOTION by Commissioner Brown to approve the consent agenda. VOTING: Ayes – 5; Nays – 0 ANNCOUNCEMENT OF VACANCIES OCCURING ON BOARDS & COMMISSIONS (None) APPOINTMENTS TO BOARDS & COMMISSIONS (None) UNFINISHED BUSINESS (None) PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD (None) NEW BUSINESS (None) County Manager Beth Mull gave an update on the following:  The Parks & Recreation Department was awarded a $500,000 grant for a specialized playground at Jennings Park. CLOSED SESSION The Board held a Closed Session prior to the regular meeting. MOTION by Commissioner Brown to call for a public hearing on Tuesday, March 7, 2023 at 7pm to consider an economic development incentive in the amount of $103,452 over a five-year period for Project South based on the company’s $9.4 million investment in Iredell County. VOTING Ayes – 5; Nays – 0 ADJOURNMENT 7 March 7, 2023 MOTION by Commissioner Brown to adjourn at 7:47PM. The Board will meet for a regular meeting Tuesday, March 21, 2023 at 7pm in the Commissioners’ Meeting Room, Government Center, 200 South Center Street, Statesville, NC. VOTING Ayes – 5; Nays – 0 __________________________________ ___________________________________ Date Approved Amy B. Anderson, Clerk