Draft
March 14, 2000
The Alexander County Board of Commissioners held their monthly meeting on March 14, 2000 in the Commissioners Room in the Alexander County Courthouse, Taylorsville, NC. PEOPLES' AGENDA Chairman John Watts called the People's Agenda to order at 6:45 p.m. Tim Mays gave a report on the Western Piedmont Council of Governments Unifour Consortium. Mr. Mays stated that the Unifour currently has $55,000 in community housing money for 2 projects. He informed the Board that Alexander County needs to have applications for community housing by the Fall 2000. The Unifour Consortium works together with Habitat for Humanity and Blue Ridge Community Action. Gary Coser with Blue Ridge Community Action informed the Board of the project on 129 4th Ave. NW, Taylorsville. The 3 bedroom house will need minor repairs such as a heating system and roof repairs. The house will cost $45,000 and the repairs are estimated at $8,300. There will be a $25,000 down payment and they are expected to close on the deal on March 30. Blue Ridge hopes to have tenants in the home by May 1. Roger Fox with Habitat for Humanity stated that they currently had $15,000 to start a new 2-3 bedroom home. The ground breaking will take place on March 18. The tenants will pay $41,000 for the house and make $200 monthly payments. Keith Hertzler presented the Board with some Economic Development data on Carolinas Partnership. Mr. Hertzler handed out surveys to the Board to get their opinions on these issues. He also stated that surveys would be distributed throughout County to get some feedback on the community about what they would like to see happen in the County. Mr. Hertzler also stated that April would be Community Awareness Month for Alexander County. John Stanley with PSNC Energy in Gastonia presented the Board with some information about the company. He stated that he would like to distribute flyers in the county to advertise to the community. Commissioner Darrell Robertson entered the meeting at this time, 7:00 p.m. Dennis Wahlers greeted the Board as the new County Ranger. Mr. Wahlers took Billy Meadows position. Eddie Baker presented the Board with a petition to request water from Crossroads Grill to Rink Dam Bridge. It is a 2 1/2 mile stretch. The petition included 38 names. REGULAR MEETING Chairman Watts called the regular meeting to order at 7:03 p.m. Jerry Durmire gave the invocation. Daniel Horton from WJHS led the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag. CHAIRMAN'S REPORT Chairman Watts gave the Chairman's Report. Chairman Watts reported that he, Rick French, and Keith Hertzler attended the Rural Prosperity Task Force meeting in Charlotte which included six topic areas including Information Technology, Rural Redevelopment Authority, Education Training and Retraining, Agriculture, Infrastructure Improvements, and Building Community Capacity. PUBLIC HEARING: ICARD RIDGE ROAD PAVING Chairman Watts conducted the public hearing to consider an amendment to move Icard Ridge Road (SR 1144) up to the Alexander County Paving Priority List and be paved out-of-priority. The NCDOT would have to consider this recommendation. No public comments were made. Commissioner Bolick made a motion to accept the amendment to move Icard Ridge Road up on the list. Commissioner Odom seconded the motion. The Board voted unanimously in favor of the motion. PUBLIC HEARING: INSTALLMENT FINANCING PROPOSAL Ken White, Finance Officer, conducted a public hearing required by the NC Local Government Commission on the proposed use of an installment Financing Contract for the financing of land purchased for the state prison site and for renovation projects to County owned buildings including the Dayton property. The total project is approximated at $950,000. Rate, payments, and premiums from BB&T, Taylorsville Saving Bank, and First Citizens Bank were presented. Commissioner Odom made a motion to accept the Financing contract and finance with BB&T (low bid rate) with an interest rate of 5.61 percent. Semiannual payment will be $62,709.26. Total payment will be $1,254,185.00 Commissioner Harbinson seconded the motion. The Board voted unanimously in favor of the motion. PUBLIC HEARING: COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT Nancy Coley informed the Board of a scheduled closeout of Community Development Block Grant #98-E-0496, Huntington House, Inc./Hancock & Moore Economic Development Sewer Project. Mrs. Coley also informed the Board that there are funds available for projects in the upcoming cycle. Commissioner Harbinson made a motion for Mrs. Coley to proceed as needed with projects. Commissioner Odom seconded the motion. The Board voted unanimously in favor of the motion. PUBLIC HEARING: APPROVAL OF ROAD NAMES Lisa Harrington requested the approval of the following road names as listed:
Commissioner Bolick made a motion to accept the road names as presented. Commissioner Odom seconded the motion. The Board voted unanimously in favor of the motion. PUBLIC HEARING: TEXT AMENDMENT 00-2 Sylvia Turnmire, Planning Director, presented the Board with a public hearing for Text Amendment 00-2 Section 154.250. The revision to the Zoning Ordinance would improve customer service since all applicants must receive zoning approval before environmental permits are issued. Commissioner Robertson made a motion to accept the revisions. Commissioner Harbinson seconded the motion. The Board voted unanimously in favor of the motion. WATERSHED MAP AMENDMENT Sylvia Turnmire, Planning Director, presented the Watershed Map Amendment (Lookout Shoals Lake). Mrs. Turnmire stated she, Chairman Watts, and Rick French met with Jeff Coutu and Steve Zoufaly, Team members of the Watersupply Watershed Protection Program on March 6, 2000 in Raleigh at the Division of Water Quality and discussed the Watershed matter. The critical area involved is 2,191 acres; the protected area is 27,720 acres; totaling 29,911 acres. The Low Density10/70 Provision allows jurisdiction to set aside up to10 percent of the protected area to be used for commercial/industrial development, up to 70 percent built-upon or impervious surface including parking, principal structure, accessory structures, graveled areas, etc. The jurisdiction may either designate areas or set it aside as a first come, first serve basis. Once 10 percent of the watershed is developed to 70 percent, the watershed area can be designated for the High Density Development Option, which allows properties to be developed up to 50 percent. Commissioners may designate areas in which the 10/70 may be used. Only those areas would be allowed to build-upon by 70 percent. Areas of interest may be Hwy 16 S, Prison site, Hefner Industrial Park. Mrs. Turnmire stated that if this amendment is not adopted, the State can put a stop on zoning and building permits. They can also fine contractors $10,000 per day for building on watershed area if not approved and also fine the County $10,000 per month. Commissioner Bolick made a motion to accept the Watershed Map Amendment. Commissioner Odom seconded the motion. The Board voted unanimously in favor of the motion. The Board asked Rick French, County Manager, to contact the City of Statesville Council for discussion of future potential water agreements. ANIMAL SHELTER CAMPAIGN UPDATE/PILOT ADOPTION PROGRAM David Linzey gave an update on the Animal Shelter Capital Building Campaign. Mr. Linzey informed the Board of fundraising projects that has raised money for the new animal shelter. The current available funding for the shelter is $97,000.00. Mr. Linzey also presented the Pilot Adoption Program. This would allow the shelter to move animals to an off-site private facility which would serve as a temporary adoption site until the new facility is built. The animals would be given medical care such as vaccinations and deworming and would be given a basic physical examination. They would be given a voucher for surgical sterilization. The animals would be in better physical condition than the animals at the current shelter. Commissioner Robertson made a motion to accept the Pilot Adoption Program. Commissioner Harbinson seconded the motion. The Board voted unanimously in favor of the motion. STONY POINT/MILLERS WATER AGREEMENT, VASHTI EXTENSION Rod Watts, General Manager of Energy United, presented the Stony Point/Millers Water Agreement & Maintenance Agreement between the Board of Commissioners and Energy United Water Corporation. The Water Corp. will treat Stony Point/Millers CDBG water lines as its own and will be financially responsible for providing water to the users, meter reading, billing, collection, customer information, etc. Stony Point/Millers waterline users will have the same water rate as all other Water Corp. users. The Water Corp. shall pay the County $1000.00 per month to be put into a capital water improvement fund. The Water Corp shall install four miles of six inch water main from the Cheatham Ford Line of the Water Corp. line on Sulpher Springs Road, Jim Millsaps Road and ending on Marlowe Road. The Water Corp. shall be responsible for providing water to the users, meter reading, billing, collection, customer information, etc. The Water Corp. shall insure that the engineering, constructing, testing, and maintenance of this line is done in compliance with State, Federal, and local regulations. Alexander County shall be responsible for purchasing 100 percent minus $10,000.00 dollars in which the Water Corp. will pay. The County shall be responsible for half of the engineering costs and materials. This obligation shall be paid by the withholding of the $1,000.00 per month by the Water Corp. for managing the Stony Point/Millers Line. Commissioner Bolick made a motion to accept the agreement. Commissioner Odom seconded the motion. The Board voted unanimously in favor of the motion. TIRE RECYCLING AGREEMENT Rick French, County Manger, presented to the Board an agreement with Taylorsville Precast Molds, Inc. David Mecimore, owner, has been working with County staff on a new and more cost-effective way to recycle tires from our landfill. Taylorsville Precast Molds would pick up tires, wheels, tubes, etc. for a price of $68.00 per ton. The contract will be for one year. Commissioner Odom made a motion to accept the agreement. Commissioner Harbinson seconded the motion. The Board voted unanimously in favor of the motion. REPORT ON MEDICARE/MEDICAID REIMBURSEMENTS Nolan Jarvis, EMS Director, gave a report on Medicare and Medicaid Reimbursements. The NCACC/NCAEMSA Reimbursement Enhancement Project will not be complete for several years due to Congress imposing a moratorium on rate adjustments effective in November 1999. HCFA Negotiated Rulemaking Committee has been preparing a nationwide fee schedule for ambulance services. This includes a more detailed breakdown of service levels with each level assigned a "Relative Value Unit" based on the relative cost of providing the service. HCFA is expected to publish proposed rules in the Federal Register in April or May and should issue a final rule in October. The full impact will not be seen until 2004 since the Committee recommended a phase-in over a four year period. The Department of Health and Human Services submitted an amendment to the State's Medicaid plan which has been approved. Each County will be required to complete a cost report detailing all direct and indirect costs incurred in providing EMS services. The state will compile all reports and calculate a statewide cost-per-call figure. Each county will then receive the federal share- approx. 65 percent- of the difference between the Medicaid reimbursements and the actual cost of the calls run. Cost reporting is expected to begin in August 2000. REPORT ON ALEXANDER COMMUNITY HOSPITAL Charles McGinnis, Hospital Consultant, gave his monthly report on Alexander Community Hospital. Mr. McGinnis presented a proposed organizational and structural chart. He informed the Board of the daily cash on March 8 and stated that there is a daily increase in outpatients. It was reported that the County has currently paid $128,000.00 toward the hospital including salaries. CRIMINAL JUSTICE PARTNERSHIP GRANT APPROVAL Rick French, County Manager, presented the grant application for the Criminal Justice Partnership Program for the Day Reporting Center. The amount of the grant is $66,428. Commissioner Robertson made a motion to approve the application. Commissioner Harbinson seconded the motion. The Board voted unanimously in favor of the motion. PRISON ZERO-INTEREST LOAN APPLICATION AMENDMENT Chairman Watts informed the Board that Energy United has applied for a zero interest loan for funding part of the prison property. This has been previously approved; however, this application has been amended in amount from $396,000 to $450,000 and the money would be a zero based pass-through loan instead of a revolving loan fund grant. A new resolution needs to be approved and forwarded to Energy United. Commissioner Harbinson made a motion to approve a new resolution. Commissioner Robertson seconded the motion. The Board voted unanimously in favor of the motion. BOARD APPOINTMENTS Chairman Watts made the following appointments and reappointments:
Commissioner Robertson made a motion to accept the appointments and to table The Town of Taylorsville Board of Adjustments/Extra Territorial Jurisdiction reappointments until the next meeting. Commissioner Harbinson seconded the motion. The Board voted unanimously in favor of the motion. COUNTY MANAGER'S REPORT Rick French, County Manager, gave his monthly report to the Board of Commissioner's which included:
OTHER BUSINESS Commissioner Bolick address the Board about loss of sales tax revenue through mail orders, phone, television and internet services. In 1999, there was a $122-155 million dollar loss. There is an estimated $15 billion loss in mail order and $11 billion loss in internet sales in 2004. The N.C. Dept. of Revenue has developed the Streamline Simplified Tax Proposal to help in the sales tax revenue loss. Commissioner Bolick urged Rick French to research this proposal and prepare a draft of a resolution in support of the proposal and send a copy to Congress, local and state government, Congressman Cass Ballenger, Senator Helms and Edwards, and to all County Commissioners in the State. Commissioner Robertson made a motion to support a resolution in favor of the proposal. Commissioner Odom seconded the motion. The Board voted unanimously in favor of the motion. CONSENT AGENDA
Commissioner Robertson made a motion to accept the Consent Agenda. Commissioner Odom seconded the motion. The Board voted unanimously in favor of the motion. CLOSED SESSION-- CONTRACTUAL MATTERS ADJOURNMENT Commissioner Harbinson made a motion to adjourn at 9:40 and enter into Closed Session to discuss contractual matters. Commissioner Odom seconded the motion. The Board voted unanimously in favor of the motion. The next regular meeting will be held on April 4, 2000.
John F. Watts, Chairman Jamie C. Millsaps, Clerk to the Board |