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: Finance Director J. Carey McLelland, Utilities
Director Doyle Freeman, Development and Enforcement Services Director Toby
Linville, Emergency Management Coordinator Rocky Hyder, County Engineer Gary
Tweed, Zoning Administrator Natalie Berry, 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.
DISCUSSION/ADJUSTMENT OF AGENDA
Chairman Moyer suggested
making Discussion Item “A-Election of Sheriff” the next order of business.
Chairman Moyer suggested
moving item “J- Balfour School Automotive Science Training Facility Project –
State ADM Fund Application” up to “B-1”). Some of the people involved with that
item have a timing issue.
Chairman Moyer suggested
adding under “Important Dates” a joint meeting to be set of the Board of
Commissioners and the Board of Public Education.
There were no other
suggested changes.
Commissioner McGrady made the motion to approve the amended
agenda. All voted in favor and the
motion carried.
ELECTION OF SHERIFF
There has been a vacancy
in the office of Sheriff of Henderson County since
Under NCGS 162-5.1, the
Chief Deputy of
Election by this Board must
be of the person nominated by the Executive Committee of the Henderson County
Republican Party, so long as this Committee makes its nomination to the Board
within thirty days of the position becoming vacant. The Executive Committee made its recommendation
to the Board of Commissioners by letter dated
If the Board is so
inclined, a motion was suggested to take that action.
Commissioner McGrady moved that the Board elect Eddie
Watkins as Sheriff of
Sheriff Watkins came
forward and was congratulated by the Board. Sheriff Watkins thanked the Board
for the opportunity and for the confidence the Board had in him. He stated his goal was to work hard for all
the citizens of this county and to make a smooth transition when the new
Sheriff comes in.
INFORMAL PUBLIC COMMENTS
1.
Dick Baird – Mr. Baird chided the Board about the proposed
FY 2006-2007 budget. He expressed unhappiness with the Public Hearing on the
Budget, calling it a farce.
He
formally requested annual expenditure numbers.
He also submitted an adequate public facilities analysis which he stated
would save the county up to $80,000.
2.
Patty Auwarter – Ms. Auwarter spoke as a concerned parent with
children at
3.
Eva Ritchey – Ms. Ritchey spoke to the issue of the Land
for Tomorrow initiative, lending her support. She stated “The environment,
gentlemen, is just another word for God’s creation and we haven’t done a very
good job here in
She
stated that it is past time to move ahead on the
Ms.
Ritchey invited each of the Commissioners to the public rally today entitled
“Save our City”. She stated that it is
time to move forward with a Land Use Plan for our County, what is happening in
the city is just part of it.
4.
Kieran Roe - Mr. Roe was present to address an up-coming
agenda item “Land for Tomorrow” so he will speak at that time.
5.
Melissa Pruitt – Ms. Pruitt addressed the
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 meetings:
At the Board’s request
the EMS Accounts Receivable Report was included as information for consent
approval.
Tax Collector’s Report
Terry F. Lyda, Tax
Collector, had provided the Tax Collector’s Report dated
NACo 2006 Credentials
NACo is preparing for
its 71st Annual Conference to be held
The
CDBG Required Plans
Included in the agenda
packet was the documentation that must be approved by the Board of
Commissioners for the 2005 CDBG Scattered Site Housing Rehabilitation
Program. These plans have been approved
in recent years and must be updated and adopted for each new CDBG grant.
Staff recommended the Board adopt the policies as presented.
Flood Prevention Ordinance Amendments
National Flood Insurance
Program approval of our Flood Prevention Ordinance included suggested text
revisions. These changes were listed and
a revised draft was included in the agenda packet that incorporates these
revisions.
The
Water Line Extension – Meadow Creek
The City of
A City of
The
Water and Sewer Line Extension – Elkamet, Inc.
The City of
A City of
The
Water Line Extension – Deer Meadow
The City of
A City of
The
Sewer Line Extension – Eagle Pointe
The City of
A City of
The
Renewal of HCSO Mounted Patrol Lease
The County has
previously leased land for use of the Henderson County Sheriff’s Office Mounted
Patrol. The lease, for $700 per year,
expires
If the Board is so
inclined, the following motion was suggested:
I move that the
Board exercise its option to renew the lease of land used for the
HCSO
Mounted Patrol.
HonorAir 2006 Days
Staff recommended that
the Board adopt the following proclamation. Local municipalities have also
endorsed the proclamation.
PROCLAMATION
HonorAir 2006 Days
May 29 –
Whereas, The World War II Memorial in
Washington, DC was dedicated in 2004 as the Nation’s way to express the
appreciation due the World War II generation for their selfless sacrifices that
preserved the freedoms we all enjoy; and
Whereas, Many of the World War II
generation, the men and women who fought and sacrificed for our country, whose
youngest member is in their late seventies, have not had an opportunity, or
ability, to visit the Memorial; and
Whereas, The Henderson County HonorAir
2006 was formed by Jeff Miller, David Reeves, David Adams, Senator Tom Apodaca,
Mike Murdock, Frank Schell, George Erwin, Henry Johnson, Meredith Elliot and
Post 77 American Lesion; and
Whereas, HonorAir 2006 has planned two
separate, one-day trips to Washington, DC on Saturday, September 23 and Sunday,
September 24, 2006 for two hundred World War II Veterans, plus their guardians,
to fly from the Asheville Regional Airport directly to Washington, DC to allow
them to view their World War II Memorial for the first time; and
Whereas, HonorAir 2006 is conducting a
fundraising event from Memorial Day through
Now, Therefore, The Henderson County
Board of Commissioners proclaims May 29 through
“HonorAir 2006 Days”
In Henderson County and urges all members
of this community to support and contribute to this worthwhile event for the
recognition of the achievements of the men and women who have worn the uniform
of the United States, whom we owe a great debt of gratitude.
In Witness Whereof, I have hereunto set
my hand and caused the Seal of the Henderson County, North Carolina, to be
affixed this 27th day of June 2006.
William L. Moyer, Chairman
Board of Commissioners
Attest:
Elizabeth W. Corn
Clerk to the Board of Commissioners
NOMINATIONS
Notification of Vacancies
The Board was notified
of the following vacancies which will appear on the next agenda for
nominations:
1. WCCA
Board of Directors – 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.
Environmental Advisory
Committee – 2 vac.
At the last meeting,
nominations were made: to position #7
Tony Campano, who is currently serving as Vice-Chairman of that Board and
position #9 Collette Summitt. Ms.
Brantly stated that Ms. Summitt is not interested in serving at this time as
she has already been appointed to Apple Country Greenway Commission.
Commissioner McGrady
nominated Tom Davis to position #9 and Beth Bochoven to position #7. We do not
have applications at this time on either of these but Commissioner McGrady had
spoken with both. He suggested that we roll these and try to get applications
from both persons.
We also need to appoint
a Chairman to this Committee. There were
no nominations at this time so this was rolled until the members are all seated
on this Board.
3.
Chairman Moyer suggested
rolling these appointments until after we cover this item on the agenda today
(Charter changes).
4.
There were no nominations
at this time so this item was rolled to the next meeting.
5.
Historic Preservation
Commission – 4 vac.
There were no
nominations at this time so this item was rolled to the next meeting.
6.
Juvenile Crime
Prevention Council – 6 vac.
Ms. Brantley informed
the Board that position #18, Matt Russell, who is our Parks and Recreation
representative, is willing to be reappointed. Also for the Director of Mental
Health, Developmental Disabilities and Substance Abuse, Rose Stouder (who works
for Western Highlands LME) has submitted an application to serve in that
specific position, #6.
Commissioner McGrady
nominated Rose Stouder to position #6. Chairman
Moyer made the motion to accept Ms. Stouder by acclamation. All voted in favor and the motion carried.
Commissioner Messer
nominated Matt Russell to position #18. Chairman
Moyer made the motion to accept Mr. Russell to that position by
acclamation. All voted in favor and the
motion carried.
7.
Nursing/Adult Care Home
Community Advisory Committee – 4 vac.
The Chair of the Board
has recommended the appointment of Douglas Owens to position #19. Commissioner
Messer nominated Douglas Owens. Chairman Moyer made the motion to accept Mr.
Owens by acclamation. All voted in favor and the motion carried.
8.
SmartStart – 1 vac.
There were two
nominations at the June 5 meeting: David White and Marcie Burlett.
The Clerk polled the
Board with the following outcome:
Commissioner Baldwin Marcie Burlett
Commissioner McGrady David White
Chairman Moyer Marcie Burlett
Commissioner Messer Marcie Burlett
Commissioner Young Marcie Burlett
Marcie Burlett was the
nominee.
9.
Solid Waste Advisory
Committee – 1 vac.
There were no
nominations at this time so this item was rolled to the next meeting.
FY 2007 BUDGET ORDINANCE
Steve Wyatt presented
two drafts of the FY 2006-2007 Budget Ordinance, as well as a cover memo
explaining the difference between the two drafts. He explained that it is
unusual to have two drafts of the budget but stated that what staff heard loud
and clear was concern from the Commissioners regarding the conditions of public
school facilities. These two drafts are a response to that concern.
Mr. Wyatt explained that
the only difference between Draft A and Draft B was the method in which the
Public Schools’ funding was addressed. In Draft A, Schools capital funding is
broken into three categories. Category I – Construction & Building
Renovation; Category II – Furnishings & Equipment, and Category III – Buses
& Motor Vehicles. In Draft B,
capital funding is broken down by project in Addendum A. Again, this
differentiation in the method for addressing capital is the only difference in
the two drafts. The projects were taken from the Master List of Projects that
the schools submitted with their budget request. Our staff placed a priority on
roof repairs, leaking roofs, ceiling damage repairs, and facility type issues.
The $400,000 that the Board of Commissioners indicated that it wanted to
increase the schools’ budget by, is allocated into the capital expense. Facilities’ renovations and construction of
facilities is the Board of Commissioners’ mandate. The current expense funding on this Board’s
part is optional. It is the state’s responsibility. Also there is the
additional $100,000 for Blue Ridge Community College Capital expense, again
facilities are capital related. There is $250,000 for
Steve Wyatt explained
that there are some items in the Budget Ordinance that are a little bit
different, changes to the overall document, outside of obvious formatting
changes:
Finally, staff drafted
new provisions specific to the Public School System under Section 19 (page 9):
Chairman Moyer discussed
a lengthy discussion he had had with Chairman of the Board of Public Education
Ervin Bazzle. Mr. Bazzle would prefer
that the Board not ear-mark the $400,000. He feels that is intruding in their
management of their projects. They would
be happy to talk about that at the up-coming joint meeting as to what kind of
reports or follow-up the Board of Commissioners would want. They do not feel
that the Board of Commissioners should go to that level of supervision of their
projects at this time. He also indicated that with respect to the $400,000 that
they would prefer it be split between current expense and maintenance with the
understanding that at the joint meeting the maintenance issues would be
addressed and how they would be taken care of and that they would not be
slighted.
Chairman Moyer stated,
regarding the Community College issue, in light of everything that has occurred
the Board should discuss whether they wanted to add the $100,000 to the
Community College at this time.
Chairman Moyer briefly
discussed the Capital Reserve account of $500,000 and would prefer to make it
$600,000 and felt that it should be ear-marked at this time for
Much discussion followed
with conflicting concerns of repairs and maintenance of school facilities vs.
intruding on the School Board’s management of their projects with the
Commissioners wanting to be sure that maintenance and repair projects will be
taken care of at our school facilities.
Chairman Moyer made the motion to adopt draft “A” with the
change of pulling the $100,000 from
Following continued
discussion, Chairman Moyer amended his
motion to adopt draft “B” with the change of pulling the $100,000 from
The FY 2006-2007 budget
was adopted with a tax rate of 56.5 cents.
Due to the number of
Mills River residents in attendance, Chairman Moyer stressed that the Board has
set aside and clearly identified a reserve of $600,000 to move on the Mills
River Project as soon as we have an agreed upon scope of the project with the
Board of Public Education and the Board of Commissioners has indicated publicly
that payment for maintenance projects be made by Henderson County directly unless
a procedure is worked out at the joint meeting with the Board of Public
Education whereby the Board of Commissioners is satisfied that these
maintenance projects will be done and the authority can be relinquished back to
the School Board.
Recess
Chairman Moyer called a
brief break.
Carey McLelland reminded
the Board that the FY2007 School Capital Fund budget includes an appropriation
from the Public School Building Capital Fund (“ADM Fund”) to fund and pay for
construction costs associated with the Balfour School Automotive Science
Training Facility project. Bids were
received and opened by the Board of Public Education for this project on
Thursday, June 15. The lowest responsive bidder bid a total base bid of
$546,988. With architect fees of $34,500 and a project contingency of $27,305,
the total project budget is $608,838.
Staff requested that the
Board consider approving the prepared ADM Fund application for $456,628.50,
which is 75% of the total project cost.
There is an estimated $485,000 available in the ADM Fund currently that
can be drawn down for this project. The
25% required match of $152,209.50 from the County will come from fund balance
of approximately $154,000 available in the School Capital Projects Fund that is
not a part of current major school capital projects. Upon approval by the Board of Commissioners,
this application will be forwarded to the Board of Public Education for their
approval as required.
The
Commissioner McGrady made the motion to approve the ADM Fund
Application for the
PROPOSAL FOR PROGRAM TO CELEBRATE THE REOPENING
OF THE HISTORIC COURTHOUSE
Over a year ago, Tom Orr
came before the Board and asked for Board support for a series of activities
celebrating the centennial of the Historic Courthouse. The Board gave that support and Mr. Orr was
able to move forward, with some authority, in getting the job done. One of the events was “Evidence of
Yesterday,” a multi-media production that combined the cooperative efforts of
many. The year 2005 was filled with
activities that focused on the historic building and those individuals who have
peopled it.
He requested Board
support again. This time it is for the development of an appropriate production
for the Courthouse opening, December 2007. He would like to bring together
creative artists to develop a heritage production appropriate to the
occasion. If properly developed, it can
be re-produced in the years that follow that opening. Mr. Orr has shared his thoughts with Dr.
George A. Jones, Corporation President, and he has encouraged Mr. Orr to make
them known to the Board of Commissioners.
Mr. Orr requested that
the Board charge him with this responsibility. He realizes the difficulty of
the task that he would assume, but he also realizes that we are losing valuable
time. He feels that he has been paralyzed by inactivity and needs the Board to
once again “jump start” this creative activity, begun in 2005. David Nicholson
has informed Mr. Orr that bids have come in and the rehabilitation project can
now move forward. Mr. Orr would like the
efforts to “tell the history of
On Tuesday, June 13, he
began working on a video “In the Mirror of Her Mind,” featuring an extended
interview with local historian, Louise Bailey.
This will be a cooperative effort with BRCC’s David Hutto. Mr. Orr is
excited about what can be created and developed in that new technology facility
with its properly equipped studio space.
Mr. Orr stated that he
appreciated the Board’s leadership and the support they gave in the past. As we
look forward, it is his hope that Act Two of our endeavor can be even more
exciting and challenging.
He offered his phone
number 693-6430 and e-mail address for the Board’s convenience: [email protected].
Staff sees no problems
with this request and recommended acceptance of the proposal.
George Jones and Tom Orr
were both present, addressed the issue, and answered questions from the Board.
Chairman Moyer made the motion to endorse the project and
direct Tom Orr and Jeanie Gouch to move forward with a production. All voted in
favor and the motion carried.
AMENDMENT OF ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION AND
BY-LAWS,
Russell Burrell
explained that in the agenda packet were amendments to the charter (“Articles
of Amendment”) and by-laws requested by the Henderson County Historic
Courthouse Corporation. The changes
primarily deal with how replacement directors are selected. In this proposal,
the remaining directors would nominate persons to serve as directors at the end
of expired terms. They would have to
nominate at least one more person than there are slots open. When a director
left office other than as a result of the expiration of a term, the directors
themselves would have the power under this proposal to appoint a person to fill
the unexpired term. Mr. Burrell reviewed
the changes to both documents with the Board.
If the Board is so
inclined, the following motion was suggested:
I move the Board
approve the suggested changes to the charter and bylaws of
[If amendments are
desired, add to the foregoing:
. . . with the following amendments: (list amendments)]
Dr. George Jones came
forward and answered questions from the Board.
Following discussion, Commissioner Baldwin made the motion to
adopt the recommendation with the exception to the provision that allows the
Historic Courthouse Corporation Board to then amend the Articles of
Incorporation and By-laws without review by the Board of Commissioners. A vote
was taken and the motion passed three to two with Commissioners McGrady and
Young voting nay.
Dr. George Jones offered
three names for the two vacancies: Vanessa Mintz, Tom Orr, and Judy Abrell. Commissioner McGrady made the motion to
reappoint Tom Orr and Judy Abrell. All voted in favor and the motion carried.
HISTORIC COURTHOUSE CORPORATION REQUEST
Dr. Jones had spoken to
Chairman Moyer stating that they need to begin coordinating their activities
and move aggressively into fund raising. Monies had previously been authorized
for the Corporation Board to begin their activities. It appears that $17,000 is still in that
account. Dr. Jones requested the release
of the funds ($17,000) to move forward and will report to the Board of
Commissioners as to how the funds are spent.
Commissioner Young made the motion to release the funds to
the Historic Courthouse Corporation as requested. All voted in favor and the
motion carried.
PUBLIC HEARING – New Road Names
Commissioner McGrady made the motion that the Board go into
public hearing. All voted in favor and
the motion carried.
Toby Linville presented
five new road names for approval. Petitions have been received, either through
subdivisions or property extensions where there have become more than two homes
per private road. These names have been
approved through the system and upon the Board’s approval will be forwarded to
NC Department of Transportation for inclusion in their State Road System. The
names in question are:
Wolf Mountain Trail,
Back Mountain Trail, Mine Creek Trail,
Public Input
There was none.
Commissioner Messer made the motion to approve the road
names as presented. All voted in favor and the motion carried.
Commissioner Messer made the motion for the Board to go out
of public hearing. All voted in favor
and the motion carried.
LAND FOR TOMORROW RESOLUTION
Commissioner McGrady had
requested that this item be placed on the agenda for discussion. The resolution
has been adopted by several local governments in
Commissioner McGrady
explained that the North Carolina Association of County Commissioners convened
in about May and three of its steering committees met jointly and heard
presentations from several different groups that were pushing for ballot
initiatives related to funding, one was transportation, one was education, and
one was a rural redevelopment initiative (called Clean Water initiative) and
Land for Tomorrow. The joint steering committee (which Commissioner McGrady
serves on) ultimately passed a resolution supportive of the Clean Water and the
Land for Tomorrow resolutions. He supports this resolution and brought it
forward because he thinks this initiative would positively affect
Kieran Roe, Executive
Director of the Carolina Mountain Land Conservancy, a local non-profit
organization started in
Commissioner McGrady made the motion to adopt the resolution
as presented. All voted in favor and the motion carried. The resolution follows:
RESOLUTION
LAND FOR TOMORROW
Whereas, Henderson County
Government is committed to protecting lands critical to the future of North
Carolina’s drinking water, economy, and quality of life; and
Whereas,
Whereas,
Whereas, the important tourism industry
can only survive with natural beauty, clean water and scenic vistas, and
Whereas, there is inadequate funding
for protecting stream banks and floodplains, legacy forests, prime farmlands,
local parks and recreation, state parks, greenway and inactive rail corridors,
game lands, natural, scenic and historic places, and
Whereas, there is no second chance to
protect North Carolina’s great resources and costs will only increase in the
future, and
Whereas, additional state funding will
leverage twice as much funding from federal, private and local sources
Now, therefore, be it resolved that the
Henderson County Board of Commissioners urges the 2006 General Assembly to
enact legislation authorizing a November 2006 general obligation bond
referendum to increase conservation spending in
Adopted this the 27th day of
June 2006.
William L. Moyer, Chairman
Attest:
Elizabeth W. Corn, Clerk to the Board
TAX RELEASES /TAX REFUNDS
Chairman Moyer explained
that tax releases and refunds are normally on the consent agenda but this time
there was an item of significance and interest to the Board so they were placed
on the agenda for some explanation and discussion.
Stan Duncan referred the
Board to page two of the refund document, where there was listed a refund
request that involves a company named Raflatac, located in the northern part of
the county. He explained that in 2001 the taxpayer made a substantial
investment in real property, building a structure for their manufacturing
facility. That was reported in the
January listing of 2002 as a leasehold improvement to the tune of 17 million
eight hundred and some odd hundred thousand dollars. They also had a building
permit for that that came through and the structure was picked up as real
property for 2002, that assessment was about 10 million seven hundred and some
odd thousand dollars, based on the 1999 Schedule of Values. The real property
component did not measure up to what was actually being invested at the current
time because they were measuring it in 1999 dollars for real property. Stan
Duncan explained “The bottom line is the taxpayer listed this property in their
business personal listing form as a leasehold improvement. It is not a
leasehold improvement, it is on land that they own but that’s the way the
taxpayer carried it on their books and they continued to carry it on their
books through the year 2005, so each year when that rendition came in from the
taxpayer it was taken through the schedules, it was trended and depreciated and
assessed as business personal property and it continued to be assessed as real
property for all those intervening years as well. It clearly meets the test of real property.
It does not meet the test of personal property.
This refund request came about as a result of an internal change as to
who was submitting the renditions on the part of the taxpayer. Working with
staff, it was determined that it had been incorrectly listed and should never
have been listed originally or listed by the taxpayer or accepted by staff as a
leasehold improvement.” Mr. Duncan stated that the bottom line on this is that
if you go back – the courts have ruled that an inaccuracy should not go
uncorrected. If this were the reverse situation, where they had not listed it
at all, we would discover them for current and five years with penalties. This
is a rule that works both ways, in the case that the tax having been already
paid, they can petition for a five year refund based on the latest date on
which the tax became due.
Stan Duncan referenced a
memorandum that he had sent to Chairman Moyer, dated May 18, summarizing the
total county portion of this is $313, 380.73 in refund to Raflatac for having
paid essentially twice on the same piece of property.
Following some
discussion, Commissioner McGrady made the
motion to approve the release and refund reports as submitted by the
A list of eight (8) tax
release requests and twelve (12) tax refund requests was presented for approval
by the Henderson County Board of Commissioners.
MEDIACOM RECONCILIATION PROCESS
Selena Coffey informed
the Board that representatives from the various local franchising authorities
(LFAs) met on
Once the LFA
representatives reviewed and discussed the approach presented by Mr. Crook,
there was general consensus among the attendees that a letter be written to
Mediacom showing that a compromise had been reached by the LFAs for
reconciliation. The draft letter was included in the agenda packet for the
Board’s review.
Staff recommended that
the Board vote to authorize the Chairman to execute this letter on behalf of
Chairman Moyer explained
that what gave rise to this was the classification of customers and who was
receiving the payment from Mediacom with respect thereto. A lot of time has
been put toward this effort. He recommended that the Board go ahead with this,
bite the bullet and proceed. Procedures have been put in place.
Commissioner McGrady made the motion to approve and
authorize the signing and payment of this money. All voted in favor and the
motion carried.
Selena Coffey publicly
thanked the Property Addressing staff, stating that they did a really good job
of reconciling the records.
ALTERNATIVE REVENUE TASK FORCE CHARTER
Steve Wyatt presented a
proposed charter for an Alternative Revenue Task Force. The purpose of this
task force will be to provide the Board of Commissioners with recommendations
concerning alternative revenue sources for necessary capital projects. The charter calls for a final report to be
presented to the Board of Commissioners by
The
Commissioner McGrady made the motion to adopt the charter
and begin to solicit membership. All
voted in favor and the motion carried.
STRATEGIC PLAN MONTHLY REPORT
Included in the agenda
packet was the Strategic Plan Monthly Report. Selena Coffey explained that the
purpose of this monthly report is to examine the extent to which the issues
within the Strategic Plan have been addressed and the goals have been achieved.
She touched on Strategy
4.6: Address recycling and waste management within County facilities.
She stated that Justin
Hembree is heading up the process for getting a recycling program started
within county government, it is well underway. It is expected to be effective
July 1. Departments are receptive to this program.
Ms. Coffey touched
briefly on the
Commissioner Young
mentioned that the building has only one elevator and it is a passenger
elevator. He stated that is a big
building to have only one elevator and to accommodate so many people. He sees the need for an additional
elevator. There is not even a cargo
elevator in the building. He stated that the passenger elevator will not
accommodate cargo. He feels that the
County Manager/Board needs to take a strong look at this. If the one elevator is out of service, how
will we handle employees, visitors, and especially the handicapped. The
Commissioner Young
mentioned a sewer problem at Jackson Park and asked if staff had looked at the
possibility of putting Jackson Park on city sewer to alleviate the sewage
problem. Staff will look into that and report back to the Board.
No action was required
on this item.
STAFF REPORTS
Russ Burrell spoke to
House Bill #2047, the video competition act in
Steve Wyatt introduced
Anthony Starr, our new Planning Director.
Anthony was present at the meeting and stood. He began work with
Steve Wyatt informed the
Board that they had an urgent memorandum from the NC County Commissioners’
Association (copies on the dias) dealing with Medicaid Relief. That memo says
“Today is the Day when Medicaid Relief will be decided”. It doesn’t look too good for
Steve Wyatt stated that
we have had a major weather event over the last 24 – 48 hours. He commended Rocky Hyder and other staff. He
asked Mr. Hyder to give the Board a 3-minute update as to where we are now on
the situation.
Rocky Hyder stated that
a State of
IMPORTANT DATES
Hazard Mitigation Plan Update
Pursuant to the Robert
T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Recovery Act, the Henderson County
Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan has been updated to reflect
experiences from the effects of Hurricanes Frances and Ivan. This plan contains input from each
governmental unit within
Rocky Hyder stated that
as part of the Hazard Mitigation Plan, on the 5 year action matrix, stormwater
management and all those issues just discussed above (as part of the flood
response) is included in the Hazard Mitigation Plan to compliment the Strategic
Plan as well.
Staff recommended the
Board schedule a public hearing for
Chairman Moyer made the motion to set the public hearing on
the Hazard Mitigation Plan Update for Wednesday, July 19 at
Mayor’s Cup Raft Race
In celebration of River
Month, over the past years, Land-of-Sky Regional Council has sponsored the
Mayor’s Cup Raft Race. This event has
proven to be an exciting and friendly competition among our Region’s elected officials
which have made up 10, sometimes more, teams. Last year the City of
The date for the Mayor’s
Cup Raft Race has been set for
All preparations are
well underway for this celebration but local support is needed. The teams will make the Mayor’s Cup Raft Race
another successful event on our beautiful
Chairman Moyer stated
there was a contest between Commissioner Messer and Selena Coffey as to who
would be Captain this year. Anyone
interested in participating should make their wishes known. Commissioner
Baldwin asked to be on the team this year.
Joint meeting with Board of Public Education
There had been much
discussion of this earlier on the agenda. Chairman Moyer stated that he would
like to respond back to the School Board with at least three dates. The suggested dates were July 6, 7, or 10 at
It was decided to make
the motion for all three dates and cancel whatever two, as needed.
Chairman Moyer made the motion to set this joint meeting
with the Board of Public Education for July 6, 7, or 10 at
CANE CREEK WATER & SEWER DISTRICT – no
business
CLOSED SESSION
Commissioner McGrady 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)(5) To establish or to instruct the public body’s
staff or negotiating agents concerning the position to be taken by or on behalf
of the public body in negotiating (I) the price and other material terms of a
contract or proposed contract for the acquisition of real property by purchase,
option, exchange or lease; or (II) the amount of compensation and other
material terms of an employment contract or proposed employment contract.
2.(a)(6) To consider the qualifications, competence,
performance, character, fitness, conditions of appointment, or conditions of
initial employment of an individual public officer or employee or prospective
public officer or employee; or to hear or investigate a complaint, charge, or
grievance by or against an individual public officer or employee.
All voted in favor and the motion carried.
Attest:
Elizabeth W Corn, Clerk
to the Board
William L. Moyer, Chairman