MINUTES
STATE
OF
The Henderson County
Board of Commissioners met for a regularly scheduled meeting at
Those present were: Chairman Bill Moyer, Vice-Chairman Charlie
Messer, Commissioner Larry Young, Commissioner Shannon Baldwin, Commissioner
Chuck McGrady, County Manager Steve Wyatt, Assistant County Manager
Also present were: Assistant
County Manager Selena Coffey, Fire Marshal Rocky Hyder, Finance Director J.
Carey McLelland, County Engineer Gary Tweed,
Assessor Stan Duncan, and Deputy Clerk to the Board Amy Brantley.
CALL TO ORDER/WELCOME
Chairman Moyer called
the meeting to order and welcomed all in attendance.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Commissioner McGrady led
the Pledge of Allegiance to the American Flag.
INVOCATION
Commissioner Shannon
Baldwin gave the invocation.
INFORMAL PUBLIC COMMENTS
He
addressed the issue of illegal immigrants, stating estimates place the number
of illegal immigrants in this country at 11,000,000. He stated that we are
importing poverty.
Mr.
Baird distributed a formal request for the Board to consider chartering a Blue
Ribbon Committee on Illegal Aliens. He stated it is a cop-out to say this is a
Federal Problem when it is costing this county so much.
She
encouraged the Board to move forward with some kind of “leash law”. She mentioned invisible fences and stated that
would be a good program to suggest to people who love their dogs but need to
contain them.
She
spoke to the issue of the
DISCUSSION/ADJUSTMENT OF AGENDA
Chairman Moyer requested
that the issue of the
Chairman Moyer requested
the addition of “A resolution regarding
the fair distribution of lottery proceeds” under Update on Pending Issues.
Chairman Moyer also
requested discussion of a request from the hospital under important dates re:
scheduling meetings with the Commissioners and the hospital consultants.
There were no other
additions or adjustments.
Commissioner Baldwin made the motion to approve the agenda
as revised. All voted in favor and the motion carried.
CONSENT AGENDA
Commissioner McGrady moved the adoption of the consent
agenda. All voted in favor and the motion carried.
Minutes
Draft minutes were
presented for the Board’s review and approval of the following meeting(s):
Tax Collector’s Report
Terry F. Lyda,
Financial Report – March 2006
Cash Balance Report – March 2006
These reports were
presented for information and consent approval.
The YTD deficit in the
Emergency 911 Communications Fund is due to FY2006 approved appropriations for
the purchase of new generators for the mountaintop communication sites, a GIS
software application update that links GIS data with the Computer Aided
Dispatch (CAD) system and complete replacement of the UPS-battery backup system
in the 911 Center.
The YTD deficit in the
Mills River Watershed Protection Project, the Mud Creek Watershed Restoration
Fund and the Mills River Sewer Capital Projects are all temporary due to timing
differences in the expenditure of funds and the subsequent requisition of
Federal and State grant funds or Cane Creek Water & Sewer District funds
for the Mills River Sewer Project to reimburse these expenditures.
The YTD deficit in the
Historic Courthouse,
Henderson County Public Schools Financial Report – March 2006
The Schools’ Report was
presented for information and consent approval.
State ADM Fund Application
The current year budget
includes a revenue source from the Public School Building Capital Fund (“ADM
Fund”) which the County has programmed to pay debt service on the financing for
the Clear Creek and Etowah Elementary School Projects that were completed in
2003. Staff requested the Board consider
approving the ADM Fund application for $615,000 to pay this debt service
(application was included in the agenda packet). The Board of Public Education
has previously approved this application to use these funds.
The
Water and Sewer Line Extension –
The City of
The
Water Line Extension – Fox Glen
The City of
A City of
The
Tip Top Acres – Water Line Extension
The City of
The
As approved at the April
19 meeting, the sale of the real estate located at 9 Cross Roads, Horse Shoe,
Staff recommended that
since hospital operations were the source of the funds which acquired the
property sold pursuant to the foregoing resolution, the proceeds of this sale
be directed as unrestricted funds for Henderson County Hospital Corporation.
If the Board so desires,
the following motion was proposed:
I move that the Board
direct that the proceeds of the sale of property just approved be directed to
Henderson County Hospital Corporation as unrestricted funds.
NOMINATIONS
Notification of Vacancies
The Board was notified
of the following vacancies which will appear on the next agenda for
nominations:
1.
2.
Juvenile
Crime Prevention Council – 1 vac.
Nominations
Chairman Moyer reminded
the Board of the following vacancies and opened the floor to nominations:
1.
Child Fatality
Prevention Team – 1 vac.
There were no
nominations at this time so this item was rolled to the next meeting.
2.
Community Child
Protection Team – 1 vac.
Commissioner McGrady
nominated Nancy Glowacki. There were no other nominations. Chairman Moyer made the motion to accept Ms. Glowacki by
acclamation. All voted in favor and the
motion carried.
3.
Governmental Financing
Corporation – 1 vac.
Chairman Moyer made the motion to appoint Steve Wyatt in his
capacity as
4.
Commissioner Messer
nominated John Thorpe. There were no other nominations. Chairman Moyer made the motion to accept Mr. Thorpe by
acclamation. All voted in favor and the
motion carried.
5.
There were no nominations
at this time so this item was rolled to the next meeting.
6.
Industrial Facilities
and Pollution Control Financing Authority – 1 vac.
Commissioner McGrady
nominated John Goins. There were no other nominations. Chairman Moyer made the motion to accept Mr. Goins to position #7 by
acclamation. All voted in favor and the
motion carried.
7.
Juvenile Crime
Prevention Council – 4 vac.
There were no
nominations at this time so this item was rolled to the next meeting.
8.
Nursing/Adult Care Home
Community Advisory Committee – 6 vac.
There were no
nominations at this time so this item was rolled to the next meeting.
9.
Solid Waste Advisory
Committee – 1 vac.
There were no
nominations at this time so this item was rolled to the next meeting.
Chairman Moyer updated
the Board regarding this issue. He has been having discussion with Dr. John
Bell about the possibility of purchasing his property.
Dr. Bell has agreed that
he will lease the property to
Access to
Chairman Moyer didn’t
see any way to close the gap and do the purchase at this time. He felt the
lease arrangement for the next 20 years with the right to purchase the property
was a reasonable compromise. The sand
operation is not an issue, it would be ours to do with as we wish. Dr. Bell
felt that the county would have to do some cleansing operation or the water
would back up in heavy rains and we might get some flooding.
Following much
discussion, Chairman Moyer made the
motion for the Board to authorize the
SOLID WASTE TRANSFER STATION 2nd BAY
BIDS
Gary Tweed informed the
Board that the County has received bids for the project to upgrade the County’s
Solid Waste Transfer Station. This
project includes the construction of a second bay for the County’s Solid Waste
Transfer Station and repairs to the existing Transfer Station. The low bid for this project totaled
$1,670,555.25 and was submitted by Construction Logic. The engineer’s estimate for this project
totaled $1,562,809, $107,746.25 above the low bid. Staff continues to review
the low bid in cooperation with Construction Logic and the County’s engineering
firm to determine if costs can be reduced or eliminated. The
To better understand
this project, it is important that some background information be
presented. In 1997, the County made the
decision not to build a new landfill.
This forced the County to construct and operate a transfer station. The original plan for the transfer site
called for the construction of the two bays.
The first bay was built in 1997. The second bay was to be built at a
point in the future when the waste flow increased to the level where a second
bay was required. A new bay is needed at this time for the following reasons:
·
The
waste flow has increased from 37,000 tons per day in 1998 to 69,000 tons per
day in 2005. The current bay/transfer facility is operating at or near capacity
for a nine hour work day – 15 to 20 tractor trailer loads of waste per day at
30 minutes per trailer to load.
·
The
Construction and Demolition (C&D) Landfill will close in the next one to
two years. At this point, the flow from the C&D Landfill, about 20,000 tons
per day, will have to be transferred off site.
The existing transfer facility does not have capacity to handle this
increased flow.
·
The
existing bay is in need of several repairs and upgrades. The normal life for the concrete surfaces of
the existing bay is five years. The
current surfaces have been in use for eight years. In order to repair these surfaces, the bay
will have to be shut down for approximately three months.
As a side note,
completion of the long-range facility study/plan is near. CDM is also working on this project and is in
the cost estimate phase of the project.
Once completed, this study/plan will be presented to the SWAC and the
Board of Commissioners. At this point,
it appears that two options will be proposed that should prove to be very
workable.
The
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There was some brief
discussion of the Solid Waste Master Plan and long-term planning. Following
discussion, Commissioner McGrady made the
motion that the Second Transfer Bay Project be awarded to Construction Logic,that
staff be authorized to negotiate a contract consistent with the presentation
here, and that the Chairman be
authorized to execute the contract on behalf of the County, again consistent
with the presentation. All voted in
favor and the motion carried.
EXPANSION OF FIRE INSURANCE DISTRICTS TO SIX
MILES
The North Carolina
Department of Insurance has made provisions for fire departments to expand
their insurance districts from five to six miles. The first step in this procedure is
preliminary approval by the
The
Rocky Hyder reviewed the
following Power Point presentation with the Board:
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Following discussion, Commissioner Baldwin made the motion to give
preliminary approval to extend the fire insurance district to six miles, where
possible. All voted in favor and the motion carried.
UPDATE ON PENDING ISSUES
Animal Control Update
Steve Wyatt informed the
Board that staff will be prepared to present an updated draft of the Animal
Control Ordinance at the next meeting (May 17), based upon the issues raised at
the last session where this was discussed.
Resolution – Fair Distribution of Lottery Proceeds
Chairman Moyer reminded
the Board that
Following discussion, Chairman Moyer made the motion to ask staff
to draft an appropriate resolution similar to that passed by
Russ Burrell reminded
the Board that in the Important Dates on this agenda, the Board will be asked
to set a Quasi-Judicial Hearing on a proposal to modify the special use permit
for
Request from a
Commissioner McGrady
asked for an item to be placed on a future agenda, stating that he is having
considerable problem getting attention of the U.S. Postal Service related to
the closure of the Tuxedo Post Office at Green’s Six Oaks Mall. He thought that the Board could send a letter
to the U.S. Postal Dept.
Congressman Charles
Taylor has been involved but he can’t seem to get their attention either.
Steve Wyatt mentioned
the Open House that was held this past Saturday at the new Animal Shelter,
stating that it was a success. We had about 350 turn out for that event. The fund-raising events lead by “Freckles the
Wonderdog” raised about $5,400 and we had our first official adoptions, one cat
and one dog.
Steve Wyatt mentioned
the issue of constructing a picnic shelter at the
Following discussion, Commissioner Messer made the motion to
direct staff to find the additional funds needed and to construct the planned shelter at the
IMPORTANT DATES
Change of date for regular Commissioners’ meeting
Chairman Moyer informed
the Board that the State Commissioners Association set the legislative day for
the Commissioners to meet with the legislators for a Wednesday, the same day as
the next regularly scheduled Commissioners’ meeting, May 17. Commissioners have a number of issues they
would like to discuss with the legislators.
It was suggested to move the mid-month Commissioners’ meeting to
Thursday, May 18 so that some of our Commissioners could go meet with our
legislators and get back for the Board meeting here. Following discussion, Chairman Moyer made the motion to change the
meeting date from Wednesday 17th to Friday 19th at
Meeting with Hospital Consultants
Chairman Moyer informed
the Board that the hospital is working on their strategic plan. They would like to have either a meeting with
all the Commissioners or do so individually.
Chairman Moyer felt it would be better to do this in groups of one or
two Commissioners at a time, rather than to set a special called meeting for
all to meet.
The consultants will be
available on Thursday, May 11 and can come to this building for the meetings.
It was requested that staff schedule those small individual meetings.
Set quasi-judicial hearing for
This was a request to
set a quasi-judicial hearing on the issue of the modifications of the Special
Use Permit for
Commissioner Young made the motion to set this public
hearing (quasi-judicial) for Monday, May 22 at
PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER CERTIFICATION OF
PARTICIPATION SERIES 2006A FUNDING FOR CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS
Chairman Moyer stated
that the purpose of this meeting was “to hold a public hearing to take public
comment on the proposed installment financing of the design, acquisition,
construction, renovation and/or equipping of the Sugarloaf Road Elementary
School and Mills River Elementary School (collectively, the “School Facilities”),
a technology and education development building and related facilities (the
“Technology Building”) for Blue Ridge Community College and the Historic County
Courthouse and related administrative facilities”.
Russell Burrell
acknowledged that the notice was published in the Times News, citing an
affidavit showing that timely notice of this hearing was given pursuant to the
notice the Board gave at the last meeting.
Russell Burrell also
stated that the Board had available to them a large packet of financing
documents in the Clerk’s office. He stated that with exceptions to the changes
in the names of the project, the dollar amounts involved and the dates involved
and with the change of the
Russell Burrell stated
that there was one change in two documents that came in today from council in
Motion to public hearing
Commissioner McGrady made the motion for the Board to go
into public hearing. All voted in favor and the motion carried.
Public Input
He
stated that adequate justification for construction of an entire new elementary
school (Sugarloaf) was never presented by the School Board nor demanded by this
Board. He offered options which would negate the need for a new $15,000,000
elementary school:
1.
Contracting for the education of these kids, either privately or with a
neighboring
county.
2.
Creative scheduling to utilize the existing and vacant classrooms during
summer
break.
He
asked the Board to hold up funding of this project until all viable and more
economical alternatives have been considered. He stated that full utilization
of existing space through scheduling would certainly handle the problem for the
period necessary to make a valid decision.
He
also asked that the Board suspend the decision on the Sugarloaf Elementary
project at this time subject to a complete analysis of alternatives.
1.
Historic Courthouse – there has been little, if any, discussion of why the
Commissioners moved out some twenty years ago. Why and what has changed to
justify breaking with the plan to consolidate county functions on the
Spartanburg campus and now bringing them back to Main Street.
2.
3.
Last, but not least, the $15,000,000 allocated for the
He
requested that the Board direct the School Board to change the siting of the
school back to the rear of the property where the original sketchs showed it.
The site they showed and planned to use represents one of the most arrogant and
selfish actions by one elected Board toward another that he has ever seen. He stated two reasons for directing this
change. The areas left for the Commissioners to use are ludicrous and make is
unnecessarily difficult to utilize it in any kind of efficient fashion and
second it would be the School Board’s own best interest to have as large a
contiguous space as possible because there will be a need for a new Middle
School sometime in the not too distant future. This is as good a geographical
location for such a project as anywhere and is already county owned. It has the
utilities and could be ready to go at any time.
Close public hearing
Commissioner McGrady made the motion for the Board to go out
of public hearing. All voted in favor
and the motion carried.
Chairman Moyer stated
that the purpose of the meeting was “to approve and authorize the execution and
delivery of the proposed installment financing contract and certain related
documents and instruments under which the County would obtain financing pursuant
to NCGS 160A-20, as amended, for the design, acquisition, construction,
renovation and/or equipping of the Facilities, as further described in the
Notice, and under which the County would secure repayment by it of moneys
advanced to such installment financing contract by granting a security interest
in the School Facilities and the County Courthouse and real property thereof.”
Commissioner McGrady made the motion that the Board adopt
the Resolution Approving an Installment Financing of Elementary School,
Community College and County Administrative Facilities and the Sale of Not More
Than $51,820,000 Certificates of Participation, Series 2006A and Authorizing
the Execution and Delivery of Documents in Connection Therewith.
A vote was taken and the motion carried three to two with
Commissioners Young and Baldwin voting nay.
CANE CREEK WATER & SEWER DISTRICT – no
business
CLOSED SESSION – none
Chairman Moyer made the motion for the Board to go into
closed session as allowed pursuant to NCGS 143-318.11 for the following
reasons:
1.
(a)(1) To prevent
disclosure of information that is privileged or confidential pursuant to the
law of this State or of the United States, or not considered a public record
within the meaning of Chapter 132 of the General Statutes, in accordance with
and pursuant to NCGS 143-318.10(e) and Article II of Chapter 11 of the
Henderson County Code (approve closed session accounts; open certain closed
session minutes).
2.
(a)(3) To consult with
an attorney employed or retained by the public body in order to preserve the
attorney-client privilege between the attorney and the public body.
3.
(a)(3) To consult with
an attorney employed or retained by the public body in order to preserve the
attorney-client privilege between the attorney and the public body, which
privilege is hereby acknowledged. To consult with an attorney employed or
retained by the public body in order to consider and give instructions to the
attorney with respect to the following claim:
In re the Appeal of Van Wingerden International,
Inc.
(NC Property Tax Commission file
03-PTC-554)
4.
(a)(5) To extablish or
to instruct he public body’s staff or negotiating agents concerning the
position to be taken by or on behalf o the public body in negotiating the price
and other material terms of a contract or proposed contract for the acquisition
of real property by purchase, option, exchange or lease.
All voted
in favor and the motion carried.
Chairman Moyer stated that the Board
would not return to Open Session after Closed Session.
Attest:
Elizabeth W. Corn, Clerk to the Board William L. Moyer,
Chairman