MINUTES
STATE
OF
The Henderson County
Board of Commissioners met for a special called meeting at 1:00 p.m. in the
Commissioners' Meeting Room of the Historic Courthouse on
Those present were: Chairman Bill Moyer, Vice-Chairman
Also present were: Deputy
Clerk to the Board Teresa L. Wilson, Auxiliary Business Manager Bill Blalock,
Sheriff Rick Davis, Captain Greg Cochran, Public Information Officer Pam Brice,
Finance Director J. Carey McLelland, Research/Budget Analyst Amy Brantley, and Engineering
Director Marcus Jones.
CALL TO ORDER/WELCOME
Chairman Moyer called
the meeting to order and welcomed all in attendance. The purpose of the meeting is a Capital
Planning Workshop in order to cover all aspects of our capital planning; the
revenues sources that we will have available, state issues with respect to
available funds, discussion of building and properties owned and leased, and
the list of capital projects for the County, public schools and the community
college. In regards to the stimulus
package, we need to be available and ready to move quickly with “shovel ready”
projects as soon as we get the word.
County Manager Steve
Wyatt stated that this meeting was called in order to have in depth
discussion. There is also an action
agenda item (refinancing) which is an opportunity that was discussed
previously. Mr. Wyatt identified a long list
of issues, specific capital items that were either discussed or mentioned as
items of interest in the January retreat.
Cane Creek Water and Sewer has been added as an addition as it is the
Board’s responsibility.
CAPITAL PLANNING WORKSHOP
Debt Service Schedules
§ Debt Service Ratio to
Policy
§ Outstanding Debt
Principal – Education
§ Outstanding Debt
Principal – County
§ Retiring Debt Service –
Education
§ Retiring Debt Service –
County
Debt Service – Ratio to Policy
§ Actual outstanding debt
($117,939,042) is 0.91% of total FY 2009 assessed tax value – Board Policy
maximum is 3.0%
§ Actual debt service
payments are 13.38% of FY 2009 General Fund budgeted expenditures – Board
Policy maximum is 15%.
§
Outstanding Debt Principal – Education
|
HC Public Schools |
6.30.2009 |
6.30.2010 |
6.30.2011 |
6.30.2012 |
6.30.2013 |
6.30.2014 |
|
1998 Bonds |
$879,800 |
$ 0 |
$ 0 |
$ 0 |
$ 0 |
$ 0 |
|
2001 |
$9,770,000 |
$8,955,000 |
$8,140,000 |
$7,325,000 |
$6,510,000 |
$5,695,000 |
|
Fletcher Elem |
$3,712,500 |
$3,375,000 |
$3,037,500 |
$2,700,000 |
$2,362,500 |
$2,025,000 |
|
2002 Middle School |
$4,853,334 |
$4,246,668 |
$3,640,001 |
$3,033,334 |
$2,426,668 |
$1,820,001 |
|
2002 QZAB’s |
$1,849,457 |
$1,685,094 |
$1,520,730 |
$1,356,367 |
$1,192,004 |
$1,027,641 |
|
2005 Dana |
$10,987,200 |
$10,298,400 |
$9,609,600 |
$8,923,200 |
$8,236,800 |
$7,550,400 |
|
2006 Sugarloaf |
$13,564,200 |
$12,920,400 |
$12,111,950 |
$11,303,500 |
$10,495,050 |
$9,686,600 |
|
2008 |
$30,171,429 |
$28,342,857 |
$26,514,286 |
$24,685,714 |
$22,857,143 |
$21,028,571 |
|
TOTAL HCPS |
$75,787,920 |
$69,823,419 |
$64,574,067 |
$59,327,115 |
$54,080,165 |
$48,833,213 |
|
BRCC |
6.30.2009 |
6.30.2010 |
6.30.2011 |
6.30.2012 |
6.30.2013 |
6.30.2014 |
|
1998 Bonds |
$180,200 |
$ 0 |
$ 0 |
$ 0 |
$ 0 |
$ 0 |
|
2006 Tech Bldg |
$13,930,800 |
$13,269,600 |
$12,439,300 |
$11,609,000 |
$10,778,700 |
$9,948,400 |
|
Total BRCC |
$14,111,000 |
$13,269,600 |
$12,439,300 |
$11,609,000 |
$10,778,700 |
$9,948,400 |
Outstanding Debt Principal – Education
|
HC Public Schools |
6.30.2015 |
6.30.2016 |
6.30.2017 |
6.30.2018 |
6.30.2019 |
|
1998 Bonds |
$ 0 |
$ 0 |
$ 0 |
$ 0 |
$ 0 |
|
2001 |
$4,880,000 |
$4,065,000 |
$3,250,000 |
$2,435,000 |
$1,620,000 |
|
Fletcher Elementary |
$1,687,500 |
$1,350,000 |
$1,012,500 |
$ 675,000 |
$ 337,500 |
|
2002 Middle School |
$1,213,334 |
$ 606,668 |
$ 0 |
$ 0 |
$ 0 |
|
2002 QZAB’s |
$ 0 |
$ 0 |
$ 0 |
$ 0 |
$ 0 |
|
2005 Dana |
$6,864,000 |
$6,177,600 |
$5,491,200 |
$4,804,800 |
$4,118,400 |
|
2006 Sugarloaf |
$8,878,150 |
$8,069,700 |
$7,261,250 |
$6,452,800 |
$5,646,200 |
|
2008 |
$19,200,000 |
$17,371,429 |
$15,542,857 |
$13,714,286 |
$11,885,714 |
|
TOTAL HCPS |
$42,722,984 |
$37,640,397 |
$32,557,807 |
$28,081,886 |
$23,607,814 |
|
BRCC |
6.30.2015 |
6.30.2016 |
6.30.2017 |
6.30.2018 |
6.30.2019 |
|
1998 Bonds |
$ 0 |
$ 0 |
$ 0 |
$ 0 |
$ 0 |
|
2006 |
$9,118,100 |
$8,287,800 |
$7,457,500 |
$6,627,200 |
$5,798,800 |
|
Total BRCC |
$9,118,100 |
$8,287,800 |
$7,457,500 |
$6,627,200 |
$5,798,800 |
Outstanding Debt Principal – County
|
|
6.30.2009 |
6.30.2010 |
6.30.2011 |
6.30.2012 |
6.30.2013 |
6.30.2014 |
|
|
$4,515,000 |
$4,060,000 |
$3,506,000 |
$3,150,000 |
$2,700,000 |
$2,250,000 |
|
Human Services |
$11,902,800 |
$11,156,600 |
$10,410,400 |
$9,666,800 |
$8,923,200 |
$8,179,600 |
|
Historic Courthouse |
$9,165,000 |
$8,730,000 |
$8,183,750 |
$7,637,500 |
$7,091,250 |
$6,545,000 |
|
Travel & Tourism |
$138,878 |
$ 0 |
$ 0 |
$ 0 |
$ 0 |
$ 0 |
|
Voting Equipment |
$ 0 |
$ 0 |
$ 0 |
$ 0 |
$ 0 |
$ 0 |
|
Clubhouse |
$191,443 |
$166,201 |
$139,722 |
$111,961 |
$82,822 |
$52,254 |
|
Etowah Library |
$1,453,570 |
$1,296,237 |
$1,132,492 |
$962,075 |
$784,715 |
$600,128 |
|
E911 Center Project |
$553,000 |
$451,129 |
$345,103 |
$234,750 |
$119,895 |
$ 0 |
|
Vehicles |
$120,431 |
$ 0 |
$ 0 |
$ 0 |
$ 0 |
$ 0 |
|
|
$28,040,122 |
$25,860,167 |
$23,717,467 |
$21,763,086 |
$19,701,882 |
$17,626,982 |
|
GRAND TOTAL |
$117,939,042 |
$108,953,186 |
$100,730,834 |
$92,699,201 |
$84,560,747 |
$76,408,595 |
|
FY DEBT PRINCIPAL REDUCTION |
$8,985,856 |
$8,222,352 |
$8,031,633 |
$8,138,454 |
$8,152,152 |
|
|
6.30.2015 |
6.30.2016 |
6.30.2017 |
6.30.2018 |
6.30.2019 |
|
|
$1,800,000 |
$1,350,000 |
$900,000 |
$450,000 |
$ 0 |
|
Human Services |
$7,436,000 |
$6,006,000 |
$5,948,800 |
$5,205,200 |
$4,461,600 |
|
Historic Courthouse |
$5,998,750 |
$5,452,500 |
$4,906,250 |
$4,360,000 |
$3,815,000 |
|
Travel & Tourism |
$0 |
$ 0 |
$ 0 |
$ 0 |
$ 0 |
|
Voting Equipment |
$ 0 |
$ 0 |
$ 0 |
$ 0 |
$ 0 |
|
Clubhouse |
$20,187 |
$ 0 |
$ 0 |
$ 0 |
$ 0 |
|
Etowah Library |
$408,019 |
$208,083 |
$ 0 |
$ 0 |
$ 0 |
|
E911 Center Project |
$ 0 |
$ 0 |
$ 0 |
$ 0 |
$ 0 |
|
Vehicles |
$ 0 |
$ 0 |
$ 0 |
$ 0 |
$ 0 |
|
|
$15,662,956 |
$13,016,583 |
$11,755,050 |
$10,015,200 |
$8,276,600 |
|
GRAND TOTAL |
$67,504,040 |
$58,944,780 |
$51,770,357 |
$44,724,286 |
$37,683,214 |
|
FY DEBT PRINCIPAL
REDUCTION |
$8,904,555 |
$8,559,260 |
$7,174,423 |
$7,046,071 |
$7,041,072 |
Retiring
Debt Service - Education
|
HC
Public Schools |
6.30.2009 |
6.30.2010 |
6.30.2011 |
6.30.2012 |
6.30.2013 |
6.30.2014 |
|
1998 Bonds |
$1,616,518 |
$917,192 |
$ 0 |
$ 0 |
$ 0 |
$ 0 |
|
2001 |
$1,360,550 |
$1,291,275 |
$1,256,638 |
$1,217,925 |
$1,179,213 |
$1,140,500 |
|
Fletcher Elementary |
$503,660 |
$489,521 |
$475,377 |
$461,236 |
$447,095 |
$432,953 |
|
2002 Middle School |
$823,778 |
$798,965 |
$774,152 |
$749,340 |
$724,527 |
$699,714 |
|
2002 QZAB’s |
$164,363 |
$164,363 |
$164,363 |
$164,363 |
$164,363 |
$164,363 |
|
2005 Dana |
$1,010,538 |
$1,229,322 |
$1,203,570 |
$1,168,818 |
$1,134,498 |
$1,100,178 |
|
2006 Sugarloaf |
$1,312,220 |
$1,286,616 |
$1,419,076 |
$1,381,553 |
|
$1,312,641 |
|
2008 Elem School |
$2,968,900 |
$2,933,943 |
$2,865,920 |
$2,797,897 |
$2,729,874 |
$2,661,851 |
|
TOTAL HCPS |
$9,760,527 |
$9,111,197 |
$8,159,096 |
$7,941,132 |
$7,728,785 |
$7,512,200 |
|
BRCC |
6.30.2009 |
6.30.2010 |
6.30.2011 |
6.30.2012 |
6.30.2013 |
6.30.2014 |
|
1998 Bonds |
$331,095 |
$187,858 |
$ 0 |
$ 0 |
$ 0 |
$ 0 |
|
2006 |
$1,337,415 |
$1,311,119 |
$1,447,159 |
$1,408,622 |
$1,375,410 |
$1,337,847 |
|
Total BRCC |
$1,668,510 |
$1,498,977 |
$1,447,159 |
$1,408,622 |
$1,375,410 |
$1,337,847 |
|
HC Public Schools |
Next 5 yrs |
To Maturity |
|
1998 Bonds |
$0 |
$ 0 |
|
2001 |
$5,091,250 |
$1,741,500 |
|
Fletcher Elementary |
$1,952,648 |
$348,106 |
|
2002 Middle School |
$1,950,267 |
$ 0 |
|
2002 QZAB’s |
$1.027.642 |
$ 0 |
|
2005 Dana |
$4,996,590 |
$4,836,528 |
|
2006 Sugarloaf |
$5,955,015 |
$6,720,976 |
|
2008 |
$12,288,914 |
$24,113,769 |
|
TOTAL HCPS |
$33,262,326 |
$37,760,879 |
|
BRCC |
Next 5 Yrs |
To Maturity |
|
1998 Bonds |
$ 0 |
$ 0 |
|
2006 |
$6,064,610 |
$6,841,002 |
|
Total BRCC |
$6,064,610 |
$6,841,002 |
Retiring Debt Service - County
|
|
6.30.2009 |
6.30.2010 |
6.30.2011 |
6.30.2012 |
6.30.2013 |
6.30.2014 |
|
|
$716,550 |
$693,800 |
$671,050 |
$648,300 |
$620,550 |
$598,050 |
|
Human Services |
$1,094,165 |
$1,331,765 |
$1,303,867 |
$1,266,220 |
$1,229,040 |
$1,191,860 |
|
Historic Courthouse |
$885,479 |
$868,178 |
$957,678 |
$932,325 |
$910,475 |
$885,762 |
|
Travel & Tourism |
$141,930 |
$141,930 |
$ 0 |
$ 0 |
$ 0 |
$ 0 |
|
Voting Equipment |
$326,406 |
$ 0 |
$ 0 |
$ 0 |
$ 0 |
$ 0 |
|
Clubhouse |
$34,013 |
$34,011 |
$34,011 |
$34,011 |
$34,011 |
$34,011 |
|
Etowah Library |
$213,330 |
$213,329 |
$213,329 |
$213,329 |
$213,329 |
$213,329 |
|
E911 Center Project |
$ 0 |
$124,433 |
$124,433 |
$124,433 |
$124,433 |
$124,433 |
|
Vehicles |
$563,458 |
$122,128 |
$ 0 |
$ 0 |
$ 0 |
$ 0 |
|
|
$3,971,331 |
$3,529,574 |
$3,304,368 |
$3,218,618 |
$3,131,838 |
$3,047,445 |
|
GRAND TOTAL |
$15,400,368 |
$14,139,748 |
$12,910,623 |
$12,568,372 |
$12,236,033 |
$11,897,492 |
|
FY DEBT PRINCIPAL
REDUCTION |
$1,260,620 |
$1,229,125 |
$342,251 |
$332,339 |
$338,541 |
County Manager
Chairman Moyer felt the
direction the Board had given was that they were looking to fund future capital
projects with the amount of debt service that came to be available of bonds
that were used for capital projects. He
therefore felt that $1,260,620 would become available to finance capital
projects starting 2010 and $1,229,125 becoming available 2011, etc. This was probably the only revenue stream
identified so far to fund future capital projects.
Mr. Wyatt stated that
this money would have to be netted in one of three ways. If the Board does not choose the latter it
can be netted out of an additional $1,240,620 cut in the general fund in
operational costs, a net transfer increase to the fund balance, or a property
tax increase of about one cent.
Chairman Moyer noted
that this money is not being used to fund day to day operations at this time it
is being used to fund debt service. If
we let this money move into funding day to day operations, we are in affect
adding $1.2 million to the cost of day to day operations in the County.
County Manager
Chairman Moyer
understood this (maybe) under Government accounting but feels we’re really
taking (if we do this) capital dollars and making them day to day operation and
that sets us back.
Commissioner Williams
felt that this should be avoided also by keeping capital and operational
separate. He felt as debt is retired he
would like to see these funds preserved for either debt servicing on future
borrowing or simply put in a pool with more pay as you go projects.
Commissioner Young
understood also that when capital revenue was retired that expenditure would be
put back into the revenue of capital projects.
Chairman Moyer made the motion that for purposes of
preparing the budget, Board directs staff that any debt service reduction such
as the amount showing for FY2010 of $1.26 million and going forward, that the
money be set aside in reserve for future capital projects or if this Board
chooses to be used for capital projects, but not be used to off set the
expenses in the expense budget. All
voted in favor and the motion carried.
|
|
Next 5 Yrs |
To Maturity |
|
|
$2,628,675 |
$ 0 |
|
Human Services |
$5,412,972 |
$5,239,572 |
|
Historic Courthouse |
$4,017,875 |
$4,534,259 |
|
Travel & Tourism |
$ 0 |
$ 0 |
|
Voting Equipment |
$ 0 |
$ 0 |
|
Clubhouse |
$54,627 |
$ 0 |
|
Etowah Library |
$639,987 |
$ 0 |
|
E911 Center Project |
$ 0 |
$ 0 |
|
Vehicles |
$ 0 |
$ 0 |
|
|
$12,754,136 |
$9,773,831 |
|
GRAND TOTAL |
$52,081,072 |
$54,375,712 |
|
FY DEBT PRINCIPAL
REDUCTION |
--- |
|
Debt
Refunding/Refinancing Opportunities
Mr. McLelland has been
in touch with Branch Banking and Trust Company in regards to the following
projects. BB&T is the original debt
issuers and lenders on these three projects.
He has additional refinancing inquiries out and in process.
§ Refinance 1999 Detention
Center COPs debt issue – interest rate lowered from 5.0% to 3.64%; projected
annual debt service savings of $24,829 in FY2010; projected total term savings
of $278,195
This would be a net
savings after the cost has been considered.
Since this was a publicly issued debt he would have to go through the
formal process with the local government commission and make an application,
and hold a public hearing. His
intentions were to bring this before the Board at the next regularly scheduled
board meeting with an initial resolution.
The following two are
actually private installment contracts that were placed with BB&T.
§ (Resolution A) Refinance
2000 Fletcher Elementary School debt issue – interest rate lowered from 4.19%
to 3.72%; projected annual debt service savings of $5,115 in FY2010; projected
total term savings of $67,139
§ (Resolution B) Refinance
2002 Middle Schools debt issue – interest rate lowered from 4.09% to 3.51%;
projected annual debt service savings of $10,941 in FY 2010; projected total
term savings of $114,415
Mr. McLelland stated
that the good thing about the last two is that the County can handle these
without having to go through the formal process with the local government
committee. He provided two draft
resolutions which approve terms of the refinancing which is only changing the
interest rate involved with these two contracts. Nothing else in the documents changes with
the exception of refinancing on B is changing due dates for the payments to
match up with the refinancing schedule.
The LGC has informed him that these are to be included on the agenda as
a consent item.
Commissioner McGrady made the motion that the Board approves
Resolution A with respect to approving terms of refinancing for the 2000
Commissioner McGrady made the motion that the Board approves
Resolution B with respect to approving terms of refinancing for the 2002 Middle
Schools debt. All voted in favor and the
motion carried.
Commissioner Williams
stated this would show a complete reduction of the associated debt servicing in
respect to debt. The other piece to be
considered is liquidity. He is concerned
that whatever is in the fund balance would disappear and not know where it was
spent.
Chairman Moyer stated
that in respect to fund balance, the
Capital
Funding Sources
§ Capital Reserve Fund
Status
§ Surplus
§ Other Sources of Revenue
Capital Reserve Fund
Balance
§ The current balance of
the Capital Reserve Fund is $2,437,195 (the Board motion earlier in the meeting
changed the Capital Reserve Fund balance to roughly $3.7 million)
Surplus
§ Old Health Dept. Bldg. -
$1.457 million fair market value appraisal in March 2007; 13,000 square feet
§ Chamber of Commerce –
has not been appraised; 4,240 square feet
§
Chairman Moyer stated
that there had been discussion on and off in regards to the old
Commissioner McGrady
stated that the group involved with the Assessor’s/Tax Collector’s Offices had
discussed the old Health Department building in context of the possibility of
those two departments. He had met with almost
all tenants of the Courthouse and the bottom line is that we are “busting at
the seams”. Commissioner McGrady feels
that the old Health Department building does potentially have some options for
the possibility of moving the two tax offices and the Register of Deeds. The Chamber of Commerce building is close to
the Courthouse and could be utilized for the Public Defender. The old
Chairman Moyer felt that
this was not the time to sell the old Health Department building and we should
try to find a use for the space.
It was the consensus of
the Board that the old Health Department building, the old City Water
Department building, and the Chamber of Commerce building should not be sold at
this time and should be removed from the list of surplus properties. There will be substantial renovations
necessary in the old Health Department to use the building and the old City
Water Department building.
The Board requested to
see a list of all properties that the County owns. County Manager Steve Wyatt had a list
provided by the delinquent tax collector and circulated it among the Board. The Board requested that the
Leased Facilities
§ County-Owned Leased Properties
o
Old
Etowah Library (to WCCA) - $24,000 in annual lease payments
o
Chamber
of
o
Land
below Continental Teves - $1,950 in annual lease payments
Finance Director Carey
McLelland stated that the land below Continental Teves is restricted for park
development and the money has been put aside every year into a special agency
fund and is close to $20,000 for a park development. Kohn’s Park Development – was the family who
sold it to
County Attorney Russ
Burrell stated that it is flood plain and landlocked.
County Manger Steve
Wyatt suggested with the WCCA lease of the old Etowah Library, which is
facility related, and the $24,000 was not an anticipated revenue, that revenue
source could be tied to the capital reserve fund. The Board did not make a decision at this
point.
§ Facilities Leased By
County
o
Board
of Elections Facility - $72,000 annual lease cost; 9,400 square feet (This
lease runs through June 2014)
o
Sheriff’s
Criminal Investigations Division (CID) Building - $34,800 annual lease cost;
6,000 square feet
The following is a list
of five (5) priority construction projects that was presented by the school
administrative staff at the Joint School Facilities Committee meeting. These figures include the architectural fees.
Chairman Moyer stated
that the last time the Board looked at this was with reference to the economic
stimulus money and it would have to be moved upon quickly.
County Manager
Dr. Stephen Paige stated
that they also are in a holding pattern waiting on additional information.
Mr. Wyatt stated that
there is $9 billion total nationwide for school rehabilitation and
modernization.
Chairman Moyer responded
to a question from Commissioner McGrady regarding capital projects for the
schools. He and Commissioner Young had
discussed this in the Joint School Facilities Meeting and they do not feel that
for the coming year there would any capital projects that involve additional
debt with respect to the schools.
Chairman Moyer noted that all of the following projects are “shovel ready”
if stimulus money becomes available.
Henderson
County Public Schools
§ Major
Construction/Renovation Projects
1.
Construction of a new,
two-level, fourteen (14) classroom building to relieve capacity issues for both
schools; cafeteria and addition/renovations to locker room area. New building will be constructed between
existing facilities; connecting for security purposes and will keep grade
levels separate from each other.
Projected Square Feet: 50,429 Projected
Budget: $11,660,000
2.
Edneyville
Elementary
Construction of a new,
six (6) classroom building to relieve capacity issues; administration addition;
renovations to cafeteria, school administration – entrance area and computer lab. New building will be constructed between
existing facilities, connecting to provide enhanced security and
supervision.
Projected
Square Feet: 11,382 Projected
Budget: $2,425,000
3.
Upward
Elementary
Construction of a five
(5) classroom addition to relieve capacity issues; administration – school
entrance addition; renovations to cafeteria and administration area.
Projected Square Feet: 9,346 Projected
Budget: $2,460,000
4.
Construction of a new
27,000 sq. ft. Transportation Center on property owned by the School System
requiring approximately 3 acres.
Projected Square Feet: 27,000 Projected
Budget: $4,250,000
5.
Future project for
consideration – renovation or demolition/new building construction on the
existing
Projected Budget: $6,775,000
These projects are part
of the 2008 Master Facility Plan and not in any particular order.
§ Major
Construction/Renovation Projects
1.
Public
Safety and Allied
Building will house all
public safety curriculums and non-curriculum programs as well aw Allied Health
related programs.
Projected Square Feet: 25,900 Projected
Budget: $6,000,000
Projected Completion
Date: FY2012-2013
2.
Indoor
New construction of an
indoor firing range to meet Law Enforcement curriculum and non-curriculum
program requirements. Note: This project was taken out of the 2008
Facility Master Plan due to the
Projected Square Feet: 21, 100 Projected
Budget: $4,000,000
Projected Completion
Date: FY2010-2011
3.
Major renovation to the
building to create a “One-Stop” center for BRCC students. This renovation will consolidate functions
associated with student registration and career/student assessments.
Projected
Square Feet: 31,500 Projected Budget: $500,000
Projected
Completion Date: FY2012-2013
4.
Major
renovation to the building to enlarge and update library, student commons and
cafeteria
Projected
Square Feet: 31,500 Projected Budget: $1,700,000
Projected
Completion Date: FY2013-2014
5.
Campus
Construction
of a perimeter loop road for campus security and safety measures
Projected
Budget: $200,000
Projected
Completion Date: FY2013-2014
6.
Major renovation to classroom auditorium
and lab space, including elevator and adjacent multi-purpose classroom
Projected
Budget: $1,300,000
Projected
Completion Date: FY2017-2018
7.
Renovation
and additions of space associated with the Bo Thomas Auditorium
Projected
Budget: $1,700,000
Projected
Completion Date: FY2017-2018
8.
Workforce
Development & Lifelong
Construction of a new building that will
house all of the College’s Workforce Development and Lifelong Learning programs
Projected
Square Feet: 50,000 Projected Budget: $16,500,000
Projected
Completion Date: FY2022-2023
President Dr. Molly
Parkhill provided a brief overview to the Board on the Public Safety Allied
Health and Physical Education Activity Center.
This building was originally presented to the Board back in 2004 and was
at that time identified as the Physical Education Activity Center. This would be a 60,000 square foot building
with an approximate cost of $16,000,000.
The building would provide not only physical education needs of the
college but would also provide facility space for the Allied Heath, Law
Enforcement, Emergency Medical or
Paramedic program, as well as Fire & Rescue which would need the physical
education activity facility such as the gymnasium, weight room, and the
pool. At that time BRCC was in
discussions with the YMCA as well as the local hospitals, considering a
partnership with that facility. It has
been five (5) years since that proposal was presented to the Board of
Commissioners. Since then BRCC has
completed their strategic plan and had growth in their Allied Health Public
Safety programs that now desire them to reconsider the original physical
education activity center and look at how they may be able to expand the
facility to include a wing for the Public Safety and Allied Health
programs. BRCC continues to work with
the YMCA in terms of possible partnership.
The YMCA is in the process of doing a feasibility study to determine
whether or not a capital campaign is something they can enter into at this
time. BRCC wishes to move forward with
their wing of the building because of the classroom space and laboratory
needs. The YMCA wing is the original
physical activity education center. The
college’s wing will house the weight room, locker rooms for law enforcement
officers, three classrooms, three laboratories, a resource room, and a
multi-purpose room. BRCC is looking at a
potential state bond referendum for the funding of the building. It may not coincide with the YMCA’s plan to
build on BRCC property. BRCC is looking
to construct a facility that would be a “stand alone” building and YMCA could
possibly add on to the facility or build at the same time. The state legislatures in the last
legislation approved some advanced planning funds for all fifty-eight (58)
community colleges and requested that the colleges identify their top capital
project as a result of their strategic planning process. Ninety thousand dollars ($90,000) has been
set aside and is available for each of the fifty-eight (58) community
colleges. BRCC has delayed requesting
those funds as they were waiting on information from the YMCA as to where they
were at in this partnership. They cannot
delay any longer and have submitted the application to the State Board for
request of the $90,000. They have
advertised for an architect to begin the process and out of forty-two (42)
applications have narrowed it down to five architects and will be interviewing
them on Monday. A recommendation of
three architects will be made to the Board of Trustees at their March
meeting. Three architects must be also
submitted to the State Construction office and they will negotiate with the
architects and make the final selection.
Chairman Moyer noted
that the County had made no commitments at this time as far as operating
expenses, but as they move forward he feels that if BRCC gets money in the bond
they will come back to the Board and request that the Board commit to paying
the operating expenses once the building is open.
No information was
available at this time in regards to stimulus money for higher education
purposes.
Capital Projects
§ Major Construction/Renovation
Projects
1.
Construction of a new
facility to centralize Sheriff’s Department Divisions and increase square
footage to accommodate growth in the Department - new center would provide
opportunities to relocate departments/agencies located in the new courthouse
and relieve overcrowding issue.
2.
Construction of a new
120-bed pod to serve future growth in the inmate population including Federal
287(g) ICE Program inmates (Sheriff Davis stated that this expansion would not
be necessary should the main entrance renovation be completed)
3.
Renovation of the main
entrance to the
4.
Secured
Evidence Storage
Construction of metal
building including offices, restrooms, HVAC and backup generator for storing
case evidence; existing facility has code issues with adequate
temperature/humidity control for evidence storage.
5.
Main
Library Upgrade
Main library branch is
20 years old and in need of major remodeling; electrical and lighting upgrades;
current lighting has deteriorated over the years and does not provide the best
illumines; maintenance having difficulty in finding replacement lighting parts.
6.
New
Fletcher Branch Library
Construction of new
branch library in the Fletcher community due to growth in circulation and
additional square footage needs.
Existing branch library facility is experiencing a lot of continued
maintenance issues. This is the next
priority of the Library Board of Trustees. Town of
7.
New
Tuxedo Branch Library/Park
Construction of new
branch library to serve the citizens in the Green River/Tuxedo community -
Current branch library facility is leased (800 sq. ft.) and is too small for
current usage; has inadequate seating for patrons. Citizens in this community would like to
possibly have a library and park located on the same site.
8.
Veteran’s
Clinic
Construction of a new
clinic in conjunction with the Veteran’s Administration to serve the medical
needs of veterans living in
9.
Construction of an
indoor firing range to serve law enforcement agencies in Western North
Carolina, one possibility is to contribute funding to enclose the firing range
proposed by the State at the
10.
Construction of a
centrally located, multi-purpose facility which would include a gymnasium,
swimming pool, tract, weight rooms, program rooms and changing rooms to serve
all County citizens - location to be determined.
11. Soccer Complex
Construction of four (4)
grass soccer fields to include grading, base preparation, irrigation, sod,
entrance road and amenities - synthetic field construction (grading, base,
turf) is a more expensive option per field.
12. Jackson Park
Rehabilitation
Major maintenance to
County’s main recreation park to include upgrading current restrooms, repaving
road through park, shelter upgrades, fixing fences, landscape improvements,
tennis court repairs, reworking soccer fields and new playground equipment.
13.
Renovation of the old
County Health Department Building to make use of surplus facility and house
other department/agencies which could relieve overcrowding in other buildings –
costs to renovate were obtained from a study completed in June 2008.
Projected Square Feet: 13,000 Projected
Budget: $1,360,000 - $1,600,000
14. Solid Waste Landfill
Project
Solid Waste Division
currently undergoing a Facility Study to improve the convenience site at the
15. Cane Creek Sewer
District Project(s)
The Cane Creek Water and
Sewer District is currently undergoing a Basin Study which will likely result
in the highest priority project to be constructed in FY2010. The Advisory Board will meet to prioritize
the identified project and a funding analysis will be completed before a recommendation
is made to the Cane Creek Water and Sewer District Board (BOC). These project(s) will likely be submitted to
the State for Federal stimulus money consideration. Final recommendations expected to be presented
to the Board of Commissioners in April 2009 for inclusion in the FY2010 Budget.
Chairman Moyer stated
that the Board had indicated short of taking advantage of the economic stimulus
package that they are not going to fund capital projects this year that incur
additional debt. They do need to
continue to move to be ready and study various projects.
Chairman Moyer felt that
the first study that will need to be done and reopened by the County Manager is
the study of buildings that have been removed from the surplus list and what
needs to be done with them and how we need to move things around; the old
Health Department building, old Chamber of Commerce building, and what
buildings could be freed up from lease.
A study needs to again be looked into of the possibility of moving
Inspections and Planning into the old Health Department building, which is one
option. Then look at using
Commissioner McGrady was
not in support of moving inspections and Planning to the old Health Department
building. He was in support of the
methodology being discussed.
Commissioner Young
stated he agreed that the Tax Assessor’s Office, Tax Collector’s Office, and
the Register of Deeds needed to be moved out of the Courthouse to make more
space for judicial functions.
Chairman Moyer felt that
the Board had to make a decision with respect to use of the old Health
Department building, the old Chamber of Commerce building, the property or
building of the old City Water Department building, before they could determine
what pieces were freed up and what the revenue sources would be. The key is the old Health Department building
and what to do with it. The Board must
come up with a facilities use plan beginning with the old Health Department
building and the old Chamber of Commerce building and the others will fall into
place. Chairman Moyer did not want to
utilize a consultant to come up with a plan, the Board needs to look at how
they can work with the County Manager to put a plan together and it needs to be
done now.
County Manager
Commissioner Williams
felt that it did not necessarily have to be put back on staff; if the five
Commissioners individually come up with ideas that we feel might be a good fit
and then come back collectively being more specific of the ramifications, cost,
etc.
ADJOURN
Commissioner Williams made the motion that the meeting
adjourn at 3:10 p.m. All voted in favor
and the motion carried.
Attest:
Teresa L. Wilson, Deputy Clerk to the Board William L. Moyer,
Chairman