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Home My WebLink About05-16-2023 1 May 16, 2023 IREDELL COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS PRE-AGENDA SESSION May 16, 2023 The Iredell County Board of Commissioners met in pre-agenda session on Tuesday, May 16, 2023 at 4:00 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 Brad Stroud, Sr. Board Members Participating Remotely Gene Houpe Staff present: County Manager Beth Mull, 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. ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS Request from Emergency Medical Services to proclaim May 21 - 27, 2023 as Emergency Medical Services Week: Presented at 6pm. Update on Older Americans Month: Adult Services Supervisor Jimmie Ann Johnson spoke about Older Americans Month. The State continues to be recognized as one of the best states to retire in. Johnson gave an update on opportunities to explore diverse aging experiences. Sixteen percent of the County’s population is over the age of 65. Johnson provided an update on the programs that DSS provides to the aging community. This item was placed on consent. Update on Foster Care Appreciation Month: Foster Care and Adoption Supervisor Taylor Burris provided information on Foster Care Appreciation Month. It provides an occasion to raise awareness for foster care and for people in the community to be informed to provide support and consider becoming a foster parent. In NC there are 1,200 children in foster care. Of that, 114 children are in Iredell County’s custody due to no fault of their own. There are currently 50 active foster families licensed by the State to serve those children. The County has completed 20 agency adoptions, exceeding the State baseline. This item was placed on consent. 2 May 16, 2023 Request to call for public hearing on Tuesday, June 6, 2023 at 6pm to consi der the Fiscal Year 2024 budget: County Manager Beth Mull requested approval to call for a public hearing on Tuesday, June 6, 2023 at 6pm to consider the Fiscal Year 2024 Budget. This item was placed on consent. Request from Tax Administration for approval of the April 2023 Refunds and Releases: This item was placed on consent. Discussion with Lake Norman Volunteer Fire Department: Chief Neel Brawley and LNVFD Board Chair Rick Heinrich spoke on behalf of the fire department. Brawley and Heinrich requested additional funding for the fire department. In FY23 the department received $919,000 and the department is set to end the year in the negative by $2,232. Brawley said the department’s most expensive item is staffing. They staff an engine company with four people 24 hours a day that costs $687,000 per year. They have a truck payment of $165,000. Brawley said these two items does not leave room for other expenses. Other big ticket items include utilities, building repairs, and vehicle repairs. Heinrich said comparable departments receive more funding. Brawley and Heinrich requested an additional $750,000 for LNVFD to increase staffing. The Board expressed appreciation to Lake Norman for what they do and for explaining their request. This was for discussion only and no decision was made. IREDELL COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS REGULAR MINUTES May 16, 2023 The Iredell County Board of Commissioners met in regular session on Tuesday, May 16, 2023 at 6:00 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 Brad Stroud, Sr. Board Members Participating Remotely Gene Houpe Staff present: County Manager Beth Mull, County Attorney Lisa Valdez, Finance Director Deb Cheek, and Clerk to the Board Amy Anderson. CALL TO ORDER by Chair Neader. INVOCATION: Commissioner Brown led the invocation. 3 May 16, 2023 PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE led by Chair Neader. ADJUSTMENTS TO THE AGENDA: County Manager Beth Mull went over the following adjustment: SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS & RECOGNITIONS APPOINTMENT BEFORE THE BOARD PUBLIC HEARINGS Public hearing to consider revisions to the Iredell County Personnel Ordinance. ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS County Manager Beth Mull summarized the following Administrative Matters during the Pre-Agenda meeting held at 5pm:  Request from Emergency Medical Services to proclaim May 21 - 27, 2023 as Emergency Medical Services Week.  Update on Older Americans Month.  Update on Foster Care Appreciation Month.  Request to call for public hearing on Tuesday, June 6, 2023 at 6pm to consider the Fiscal Year 2024 budget.  Request from Tax Administration for approval of the April 2023 Refunds and Releases.  Discussion with Lake Norman Volunteer Fire Department. This was presented for information only. No action was taken. 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 4 May 16, 2023 Terry Miller, 1596 Jennings Road, spoke about the 2045 Horizon Plan, specifically the area west of I-77 at exit 59. The plan is slated to change the property from Rural Commercial to Industrial Commercial. Miller said the businesses west of interstate support agricultural and believes the area should stay rural commercial in an effort to support agriculture. Amy Miller, 131 Castle Pines Lane, shared concerns about the 2045 Horizon Plan. She said the plan cannot be micromanaged but encouraged the board to give deliberate direction in regards to the plan. Boyce Sherrill, former county resident, said it is exciting to hear about all of the great things going on in Iredell County. Sherrill asked the Board to consider going revenue neutral with the upcoming budget. Iredell-Statesville Board of Education Vice Chair Mike Kubinec, 125 Huntington Ridge Place, spoke on how the school system is continually improving low performing schools. NEW BUSINESS (None) CLOSED SESSION The Board held a Closed Session prior to the regular meeting. MOTION by Vice Chair Connolly to call for a public hearing on June 6, 2023 at 6pm regarding a maximum Economic Development Incentive of $22,372 over a three-year period for Project Iso based on a $2,015,000 investment in Iredell County. VOTING Ayes – 5; Nays – 0 MOTION by Commissioner Stroud to call for a public hearing on June 6, 2023 at 6pm regarding a maximum Economic Development Incentive of $63,585 over a five -year period for Project Crew based on a $3.2 million investment in Iredell County. VOTING Ayes – 5; Nays – 0 MOTION by Commissioner Brown to approve the purchase of 4.96 acres located on Dietz Road which includes three separate parcels from the Fox Family and Estate of Dorothy Cline for the purchase price of $192,500. VOTING Ayes – 5; Nays – 0 MOTION by Commissioner Stroud to approve the purchase of 23.26 acres located at 320 B Street, Statesville from Peggy Gray for the purchase price of not to exceed $815,000. VOTING Ayes – 5; Nays – 0 5 May 16, 2023 ADJOURNMENT MOTION by Commissioner Brown to adjourn at 7:32. The Board will meet for a regular meeting Tuesday, June 6, 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