HomeMy WebLinkAbout03-21-2023
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March 21, 2023
IREDELL COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
PRE-AGENDA SESSION
March 21, 2023
The Iredell County Board of Commissioners met in pre-agenda session on Tuesday, March
21, 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: County Manager Beth Mull went over the
following adjustments:
ADD: National Vietnam War Veterans Day under Presentations of Special Recognitions
& Awards
CLARIFICATION: Approval of a Resolution in Support of Life from Conception Through
all the Stages of Development will be presented before consent agenda.
ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS
Request from Iredell-Statesville Schools for approval of a sewer easement across the
Cloverleaf Elementary School property: County Manager Beth Mull said Redwood Statesville
James Farm Road NC P1 LLC is requesting a sewer easement across Cloverleaf Elementary
School as they intend to develop land near Cloverleaf Elementary School. Redwood Statesville
has agreed to pay Iredell-Statesville Schools $22,500 for the easement. The school system has
requested approval of the easement and deposit the purchase price into their Capital Fund.
This item was placed on consent.
Request from Emergency Communications for approval of a Resol ution Supporting
the Reclassification of Telecommunicators: ECOM Director Candy Miller and
Telecommunicator Paula Price requested approval of a resolution supporting the reclassification
of telecommunicators.
This item was placed on consent.
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March 21, 2023
RESOLUTION SUPPORTING THE RECLASSIFICATION
OF IREDELL COUNTY 9-1-1 TELECOMMUNICATORS
WHEREAS, In September of 2021, US Representatives Norma J. Torres and Brian Fitzpatrick
announced that their 9-1-1 SAVES Act passed the House as part of the Fiscal Year 2022 National defense
Authorization Act. The 9-1-1 SAVES Act is bipartisan legislation to reclassify 911 telecommunicators from
"Office and Administrative Support" to "Protective Service Occupations" in the Office of Management and
Budget's Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) catalog; and
WHEREAS, The 9-1-1 Telecommunicator performs a critical role in public safety, homeland
security, and emergency response alongside law enforcement officers, firefighters, rescue technicians,
and emergency medical services personnel; and
WHEREAS, The 9-1-1 Telecommunicator requires specialized training and skills to gather vital
information and make split-second decisions to form the foundation of an effective emergency response,
prevent worsening of a situation, provide situational awareness to responders and citizens, and provide
life-saving instructions; and
WHEREAS, The 9-1-1 Telecommunicator is the initial first responder in saving lives, reducing
property damage, and ensuring the safety of our citizens and emergency personnel without prejudice;
and
WHEREAS, The 9-1-1 Telecommunicator works in a uniquely stressful environment,
communicating with citizens in great distress, harm, fear, illness or injury; and
WHEREAS, The 9-1-1 Telecommunicator delivers selfless compassionate care to all who seek their
assistance during good times and bad; and
WHEREAS, The Iredell County Board of Commissioners recognize 911 Telecommunicators as
Public Safety providing life-saving pre-arrival instructions during an emergency,
WHEREAS, The Iredell County Board of Commissioners is in support of such a legislative change.
Now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, The Iredell County Board of Commissioners is in support of bipartisan legislation to
reclassify 9-1-1 Telecommunicators from “Office and Administrative Support" to "Protective Service
Occupations “ in the Office of Management and Budget’s Standard Occupational Classification (SOC)
catalog.
Request from Solid Waste for approval to accept a grant from NC Department of
Environmental Quality for Abandoned Manufactured Home Clean-ups: Solid Waste Director
Teddy Boller said the department applied for a grant in December 2022 to for financial assistance
in cleaning up abandoned manufactured home sites. NC DEQ has awarded the County $16,000 in
grant funds for the disposal of old abandoned manufactured homes (AMH). This grant will
reimburse the County 100% of cost of removal of these abandoned properties up to $16,000. Boller
requested approval to accept the grant.
This item was placed on consent.
Request from the Finance Department for approval to award auditing services to
Martin Starnes & Associates, CPAs, PA based on a competitive bidding proce ss and
approval of the contract: Finance Director Deb Cheek requested approval to award auditing
services to Martin Starnes & Associates, CPAs, PA on a competitive bidding process and approval
of the contract. Cheek said the County participated in a competitive bid process to solicit quotes
from accounting firms for the annual audit process as prescribed by State statute G.S. 153A-82.
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March 21, 2023
There were three firms that submitted quotes with the most responsible bid being submitted by
Martin Starnes & Associates, CPAs, PA in the amount of $82,395. This is an increase of 5% over
last years audit fee. This is also a request to approve the contract for June 30, 2023.
This item was placed on consent.
Request from Tax Administration for approval of the Feb ruary 2023 Refunds and
Releases:
This item was placed on consent.
Request from Administration for approval of amendments to the Rules of Procedure:
Amendments to the Rules of Procedure include moving the pre-agenda meeting to 4pm and the
regular meeting to 6pm, agenda change for Commissioner Comments and Updates. Also, the
Rules say public hearings will be at the first meeting. Since this has not been the practice and they
are typically put on the first available, this change is also included. The Board hopes the meeting
time change will allow for more citizen input.
This item was placed on consent.
Approval of a Resolution in Support of Life from Conception Through all the Stages
of Development: This item will be presented at 7pm.
Request from Clerk to the Board for approval of the minutes from the March 7, 2023
meeting: This item placed on consent.
IREDELL COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
REGULAR MINUTES
March 21, 2023
The Iredell County Board of Commissioners met in regular session on Tuesday, March 21,
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
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.
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March 21, 2023
INVOCATION: Vice Chair Connolly led the invocation.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE led by Chair Neader.
ADJUSTMENTS TO THE AGENDA: County Manager Beth Mull went over the following
adjustments:
ADD: National Vietnam War Veterans Day under Presentations of Special Recognitions
& Awards
CLARIFICATION: Approval of a Resolution in Support of Life from Conception Through
all the Stages of Development will be presented before consent agenda.
SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS & RECOGNITIONS
National Vietnam War Veterans Day: The following proclamation was presented to Post
65.
MOTION by Commissioner Stroud to adopt proclamation as presented.
VOTING: Ayes – 5; Nays – 0
National Vietnam War Veterans Day
WHEREAS, the Vietnam War was fought in Southeast Asia between 1955 and 1975; and
WHEREAS, approximately 2.7 million American men and women served in the Vietnam
War, and of those over 216,000 were from North Carolina; and
WHEREAS, more than 58,000 Americans were killed in action, and many thousands more
were wounded and injured, or determined to be missing; and
WHEREAS, on March 29, 1973, the United States Military Assistance Command, Vietnam
was disestablished, and it was the day the last U.S. Combat Troops departed Vietnam;
WHEREAS, many of our veterans returned home to be shunned or neglected, faced
treatment unbefitting their courage, and received a welcome unworthy of their
example; and
WHEREAS, the Vietnam War Veterans Recognition Act was signed into law in 2017
designating March 29 of each year as National Vietnam War Veterans Day to pay special
tribute and provide the recognition deserved for Vietnam veterans; and
WHEREAS, the Department of Veteran’s Affairs estimates that today there are more than
7 million U.S. Vietnam veterans living in America and abroad, along with 10 million families
of those who served during this timeframe; and
WHEREAS, Iredell County has over 1,500 living Vietnam veterans.
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March 21, 2023
NOW, THEREFORE, I, MELISSA NEADER, Chair of the Iredell County Board of Commissioners
do hereby proclaim March 29, 2023 as National Vietnam War Veterans Day in I redell
County, and ask that our citizens give special honor and recognition to the men and
women that served.
APPOINTMENT BEFORE THE BOARD
(None)
PUBLIC HEARINGS
Public Hearing to consider an economic development for Project Buzz: Jenn Bosser
presented NGK Ceramics USA Inc. also known as NGK and Project Buzz for consideration for an
economic development incentive grant for their expansion in the Town of Mooresville and Iredell
County. NGK is one of the world’s leading ceramic technology companies. The company is
headquartered in Japan and has been in Mooresville for over 30 years. NGK is one of the largest
employers in Iredell County. NGK has two locations in Mooresville; a manufacturing facility
located on Mazeppa Road and a warehouse located at the Mooresville Business Park East. The
company manufactures honeycombs for automotive and truck catalytic converters. The proposed
expansion would include an investment of $9.4 million in machinery and equipment at their current
facility.
In accordance with the Iredell County Economic Development Policy, Bosser requested
an incentive grant to NGK Ceramics USA Inc. for $103,452 over a five-year period based on the
company’s investment in Iredell County.
Chair Neader opened the public hearing.
No one wished to speak.
Chair Neader closed the public hearing.
MOTION by Commissioner Houpe to approve an economic incentive up to $103,452
over a five-year period based on the company's investment of up to $9.4 million and contingent
upon a contract being executed within 180 days.
VOTING: Ayes – 5; Nays – 0
Approval of a Resolution in Support of Life from Conception Through all the Stages
of Development: Commissioner Houpe said the resolution is a result of many moving parts
working together.
MOTION by Commissioner Houpe to approve resolution as presented.
VOTING: Ayes – 5; Nays – 0
RESOLUTION OF THE IREDELL COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS IN SUPPORT OF LIFE
FROM CONCEPTION THROUGH ALL STAGES OF DEVELOPMENT
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March 21, 2023
WHEREAS, life is the first declared right in the Declaration of Independence which our Founders affirmed,
“we hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their
Creator, with certain Unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of
Happiness.”; and
WHEREAS, the Declaration of Independence affirms that all men are created equal and have been
endowed by the Creator with certain unalienable rights— chief among them the right to life — and that
the protection of these rights is an affirmative duty of federal, state, and local governments; and
WHEREAS, the Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments to the United States Constitution provide for the
protection of human life and liberty; and
WHEREAS, the United States Constitution states in the 14th Amendment, “No State shall make or enforce
any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State
deprive any person of life, liberty or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within
its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws and
WHEREAS, state police power derives from the Tenth Amendment to the United States Constitution,
which gives the power to establish and enforce laws protecting the welfare, safety, and health of the
public, which is a core function "not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by
it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people;” and
WHEREAS, Section I of the Constitution of North Carolina states that "all persons are created equal; that
they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty, the
enjoyment of the fruits of their own labor, and the pursuit of happiness"; and
WHEREAS, James Madison, who is considered to be the father of the Constitution, wrote that "the
accumulation of all powers, legislative, executive, and judiciary, in the same hands...may justly be
pronounced the very definition of tyranny;" and
WHEREAS, the Supreme Court of the United States in Poelker v. Doe (432 US 519, 1977) concluded that
“the Constitution does not forbid a State or city, pursuant to democratic processes, from expressing a
preference for normal childbirth” instead of abortion in providing services; and
WHEREAS, the Commissioners believe human life begins at the moment of conception; and
WHEREAS, the Commissioners believe the life of the unborn must be protected and preserved,
understanding that there may be unfortunate and difficult decisions in circumstances of rape, incest and
risk to the health and life of the mother; and
WHEREAS, the Commissioners desire to express their deep concern that the life of the unborn, our
children, the sick and the elderly of our County and elsewhere, is unique and precious at every stage of
development.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Iredell County Board of Commissioners:
1. Declare the full humanity of the preborn child so that innocent human life, including
fetal life at every stage of gestation, from conception or fertilization through all stages of development,
and must always be valued and protected and that society must protect those who cannot protect
themselves; and
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March 21, 2023
2. Declare Iredell County to be a strong advocate for the preborn where the dignity of life
of the unborn, our children, our sick and our elderly should be defended and promoted; and
3. Encourage appropriate services and resources to assist pregnant women find proper
health care, mothers and fathers who make the decision to parent their child, help mothers and fathers
who make an adoption plan, and couples who seek to adopt; and
4. Will use all means within its power to support the sanctity of human life from conception
through all stages of development in accordance with the God-given responsibilities as the people's
elected governing body; and
5. Has a desire via this Resolution for life, to be recognized as a refuge that truly welcomes
and protects the gift of life from conception or fertilization through all stages of development to
adulthood; and
6. Promote the partnership of citizens, churches, and other social organizations to assist
and support the fulfillment of God given right to life.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this Resolution be sent to all Clerks to the Board and County
Chairs of the other 99 counties requesting that they adopt a similar resolution; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that this Resolution be forwarded to all members of the General
Assembly including the Honorable Tim Moore, as Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Honorable
Phil Berger, as President Pro Tempore of the Senate, Senator Vickie Sawyer, Representative Grey Mills,
Representative Jeff McNeeley and the Council of State, including Lt. Governor Mark Robinson, and
Governor Roy Cooper.
ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS
County Manager Beth Mull summarized the following Administrative Matters during the
Pre-Agenda meeting held at 5pm:
Request from Iredell-Statesville Schools for approval of a sewer easement across the
Cloverleaf Elementary School property.
Request from Emergency Communications for approval of a Resolution Supporting The
Reclassification of Telecommunicators.
Request from Solid Waste for approval to accept a grant from NC Department of
Environmental Quality for Abandoned Manufactured Home Clean-ups.
Request from the Finance Department for approval to award auditing services to Martin
Starnes & Associates, CPAs, PA based on a competitive bidding process and approval of
the contract.
Request from Tax Administration for approval of the February 2023 Refunds and Releases.
Request from Administration for approval of amendments to the Rules of Procedure.
Approval of a Resolution in Support of Life from Conception Through all the Stages of
Development.
Request from Clerk to the Board for approval of the minutes from the March 7, 2023
meeting.
MOTION by Commissioner Brown to approve the consent agenda.
VOTING: Ayes – 5; Nays – 0
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March 21, 2023
ANNCOUNCEMENT OF VACANCIES OCCURING ON BOARDS & COMMISSIONS
(None)
APPOINTMENTS TO BOARDS & COMMISSIONS
(None)
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
(None)
PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD
The following spoke in favor of the Resolution for Life:
Cheryl Pletcher
Aaron McGinity
Leann Jeffries
Victoria Miglin
Kim Sumner
Lonni Burner
David Giles
Dr. Mark Harris
Fran Hoffman
Trisha Odenwald, 119 Misty Cove Loop, thanked the Board for the short-term rental
workshop and the willingness to create framework to better control the ongoing issues caused by
short-term rentals.
Mary Rotondo, 148 South Point Drive, shared concerns over short-term rentals. Real estate
investment companies are maximizing profits with short-term rentals.
Richard Pelcher said neighbors have met with Sheriff Darren Campbell about short term
rentals. He expressed appreciation to the Sheriff’s Office for their help.
Caleb Hannan, co-owner of Stay Lake Norman, took an opportunity to introduce himself
in an effort to create the best possible place to live and vacation. Last year, over 11,000 vacationers
visited Lake Norman. Thus, creating a positive impact on the economy. Hannan’s goal is work
with the Board and other stakeholders to come up with solutions to mitigate the issues around
short-term rentals.
Michael Joy, 315 Whipporwill Road, shared concerns over short-term rentals. Half of the
homes in his neighborhood are used as rentals. He asked the Board to assist in regulating short
term rentals so homeowners can enjoy their quiet neighborhood again.
NEW BUSINESS
(None)
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March 21, 2023
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, April 3, 2023
at 6pm to consider an amended economic development incentive in the amount of $8,416,112 over
a sevene-year period for Project Artist based on the company’s $347,064,900 investment in Iredell
County.
VOTING Ayes – 5; Nays – 0
ADJOURNMENT
MOTION by Commissioner Brown to adjourn at 8:43PM. The Board will meet for a
regular meeting Tuesday, February 4, 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