MINUTES
STATE
OF NORTH CAROLINA BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
COUNTY
OF HENDERSON JUNE 2, 2003
The Henderson County
Board of Commissioners met for a regularly scheduled meeting at 5:30 p.m. in
the Commissioners' Conference Room of the Henderson County Office Building.
Those present were: Chairman Grady Hawkins, Vice-Chairman Larry
Young, Commissioner Bill Moyer, Commissioner Charlie Messer, Commissioner
Shannon Baldwin, County Manager David
E. Nicholson, County Attorney Angela S. Beeker, and Clerk to the Board Elizabeth
W. Corn.
Also present were:
Planning Director Karen C. Smith, Budget and Management Director Selena Coffey,
Fire Marshal/Emergency Management Coordinator Rocky Hyder, Public Information
Officer Chris S. Coulson, Paralegal Connie Rayfield, Assistant County Attorney
Russell Burrell, Finance Director J. Carey McLelland, and Deputy Clerk to the
Board Amy Brantley.
CALL TO ORDER/WELCOME
Chairman Hawkins called
the meeting to order and welcomed all in attendance.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Chairman Hawkins led the
Pledge of Allegiance to the American Flag.
INVOCATION
David Nicholson gave the
invocation.
DISCUSSION/ADJUSTMENT OF
AGENDA
Chairman Hawkins added
one item to the consent agenda - Improvement Guarantee for Sunrise Ridge
Subdivision.
He noted that the County
Attorney had passed around a new sheet for closed session with one additional
reason for going into closed session this evening, three reasons total.
Commissioner Baldwin
requested one item be placed under Discussion Items - Board Communication
Policy.
Chairman Hawkins made
the motion to approve the adjusted agenda.
All voted in favor and the motion carried.
CONSENT AGENDA
Chairman Hawkins made
the motion to approve the consent agenda, including the addition of the
Improvement Guarantee. All voted in
favor and the motion carried. The consent agenda
consisted of the following:
Minutes
Draft minutes were
presented to the Board for review and approval of the following meetings:
May
20, 2003, special called meeting
May
21, 2003, regular meeting
May
23, 2003, special called meeting
May
27, 2003, special called meeting
May
28, 2003, special called meeting
Financial Report - April
2003
Cash Balance Report -
April 2003
These two reports were
presented for the Board=s information and for
consent approval.
Non-departmental expense
includes annual property/liability insurance premiums paid to the NCACC Risk
Management Pools, which will be allocated out prior to fiscal year end.
The Revaluation Reserve
Fund is reporting a year-to-date deficit primarily due to $45,000 in printing
and postage expense incurred to mail out property reappraisal notices and
brochures to the public.
The Travel and Tourism
Fund year-to-date deficit is primarily due to a slowdown in the travel/tourism
business and the annual magazine printing bill ($56K) paid in April.
The deficit reported in
the CDBG-Scattered Site Housing is temporary due to a timing difference in the
expenditure of funds and the subsequent requisition of funds to reimburse these
expenditures.
The Human Services
Building Project deficit is due to architectural fees and demolition/abatement
work performed at the former Carolina Apparel Building. It is anticipated that these costs will be
recouped from financing proceeds for the project.
Henderson County Public
Schools Financial Report - April 2003
The Schools monthly
financial report was presented for consent approval.
Set Public Hearing on
Rezoning Application #R-03-01 (R-40 to R-20)
Bernie Mann,
Applicant/Executor for the Estate of Philip A. Mann
Bernie Mann had
submitted an application requesting that the County rezone one (1) parcel
totaling 3.82 acres from an R-40 Estate Residential zoning district to an R-20
Low-Density Residential zoning district.
The parcel proposed for rezoning (the Subject Parcel) is located on
Kanuga Road (SR #1127) just Southwest of the intersection of Kanuga Road and
Crooked Creek Road (SR #1267).
The Henderson County
Planning Board reviewed the application at its meeting on Tuesday, May 20,
2003, and voted to send the Board of Commissioners an unfavorable
recommendation on rezoning the subject parcel from R-40 to R-20. Before taking action on the application, the
Board of Commissioners must hold a Public Hearing. Staff proposed that the Hearing be scheduled for Monday, July 7,
2003, at 7:00 p.m.
Update on County
Comprehensive Plan and Other Major Planning Initiatives
Staff had provided an
issue update which summarized the tasks related to the CCP and the other major
planning initiatives that were completed over the last month. The update also included anticipated actions
for the coming months.
Tax Collector=s Report
Terry F. Lyda, Henderson
County Tax Collector, had provided the Tax Collector=s Report dated May 29,
2003, for the Board=s information.
Public Records Disposal
Request
The Clerk=s office requested
approval from the Board of Commissioners to duplicate the records listed
on the Public Records Disposal Request
and Destruction Log in accordance with the County=s Records Retention Policy and the
provisions of NCGS 132.7. Once
duplicated onto archival paper and stored in the Ordinance Docket, staff
requested permission to destroy the original records.
Petition for addition to
State Road system: 1. Bill Owens Road
Staff had received one
road petition for addition to the State Road system, for Bill Owens Road. Property Addressing Staff had reviewed the
petition and accompanying documents and recommended approval.
It has been the practice
of this Board to accept road petitions and forward them to NC DOT for their
review. It has also been the practice
of the Board not to ask NC DOT to change the priority for roads on the paving
priority list.
Request for Improvement
Guarantee for Sunrise Ridge Subdivision
Roy P. Dalton had
submitted an application for a subdivision improvement guarantee for a proposed
subdivision he is developing known as Sunrise Ridge. Sunrise Ridge is located off Pace Road and will contain 24
lots. The Planning Board granted
conditional approval of the combined Master Plan and Development Plan for the
development on November 19, 2002. The
improvement guarantee is proposed to cover remaining road, public water system
and soil stabilization improvements within Sunrise Ridge.
Pursuant to Section
170-38 of the Henderson County Code, a developer may, in lieu of completing all
of the required improvements prior to Final Plat approval, post a performance
guarantee to secure the County=s interest in seeing that satisfactory construction of
incomplete improvements occurs. One
type of permitted guarantee is the deposit of cash or certified funds. The developer intends to deposit with the
County such funds in the amount of $41,925.00 which includes the cost of the
remaining improvements ($33,540.00) as well as the required twenty-five percent
(25%) contingency ($8,385.00). The
proposed completion date for the improvements is September 30, 2003.
A draft Performance
Guarantee Agreement was presented for the Board=s consideration. If the application is approved, the
developer must deposit cash or certified funds in accordance with the terms of
the Agreement. Once such funds are received
by the County, the County Attorney must certify the Agreement as to form prior
to its execution by the Chairman and the developer.
The County Manager
recommended that the Board approve the application for an improvement guarantee
for Sunrise Ridge Subdivision, subject to the developer depositing cash or
certified funds with the County in accordance with the terms of the draft
Performance Guarantee and subject to the County Attorney=s reviewing and
approving the Performance Guarantee Agreement as to form.
NOMINATIONS
Environmental Advisory
Committee
The Environmental
Advisory Committee was created by the Board of Commissioners for a two year
period on March 17, 1999, and was extended for an additional two year period on
May 7, 2001. At the March 21, 2003
meeting, the Board voted to extend the charter for the Environmental Advisory
Committee indefinitely, and requested that staff research staggering the
expiration dates of the Committee members so that not all the member=s terms would expire at
the same time.
Staff recommended that
the Board consider one-time appointments of three year terms for Positions #2,
4, 6 and 8. Such appointment would cause those positions to have an expiration
date of June 30, 2006. Positions # 1,
3, 5, 7 and 9 would continue with two-year appointments, and have an expiration
date of June 30, 2005. Each year thereafter,
approximately 2 of the Committee
members would experience an expiring term.
It was the consensus of
the Board to stagger the terms as recommended above.
Notification of
Vacancies
The Board was notified
of the following vacancies which will appear for nominations on the next
agenda:
1.
Senior Volunteer Services Advisory Council - 1
vac.
2.
Zoning Board of Adjustment, Laurel Park - 1 vac.
Nominations
Chairman
Hawkins reminded the Board of the following vacancies and opened the floor to
nominations:
He
took the Environmental Advisory Board out of sequence to discuss at this time
(#4). There are currently nine
vacancies on this Committee. Chairman
Hawkins suggested that the people that are on the Environmental Advisory
Committee who are interested in serving again be considered for the two-year
terms in the rotation schedule.
Commissioner
Baldwin nominated Katie Breckheimer, Marilyn Westphal , Bill Hiatt, Dennis
Honnold, Jay Rogers, Larison Lambert, and Arthur Hudson.
Commissioner
Young nominated Hall Waddell.
Commissioner
Moyer nominated William Harper.
Chairman
Hawkins nominated James Barnette.
Commissioner
Moyer nominated Tony Campano.
There
were a total of eleven nominees. The
Clerk will poll the Board at the next meeting for appointments.
1.
Alliance for Human Services - 1 vac.
Chairman
Hawkins nominated Selena Coffey for reappointment. He moved to accept Ms. Coffey by acclamation. All voted in favor and the motion carried.
2.
Blue Ridge Community College Board of Trustees -
2 vac.
Commissioner
Moyer nominated Dr. Robert Dowdeswell.
Commissioner
Messer nominated Russell Burrell.
Commissioner
Young nominated Dr. Richard Todd.
Commissioner
Moyer nominated Tom Orr.
Chairman
Hawkins nominated Ted Carland.
There
were five nominees. The Clerk will poll
the Board at the next meeting.
3.
Cane Creek Water and Sewer District Advisory
Committee - 4 vac.
Chairman
Hawkins nominated Richard Meadows.
Commissioner
Messer nominated John Davis, if he=ll serve again. He has not yet responded to the letter.
Chairman
Hawkins made the motion to accept both by acclamation pending Mr. Davis=
consent. All voted in favor and the
motion carried.
4.
Environmental Advisory Committee - 9 vac.
See
nominations above.
5.
Henderson County Board of Health - 3 vac.
Chairman
Hawkins nominated William Martin to position #4. There were no other
nominations at this time.
Chairman
Hawkins made the motion to accept Mr. Martin by acclamation. All voted in favor and the motion carried.
Some
of these positions are by profession. # 4 is the Veterinarian position, # 6 is
the Pharmacist position, and # 10 is the at-large position.
6.
Jury Commission - 1 vac.
Commissioner
Messer nominated Dutch Burdette. Chairman
Hawkins made the motion to accept Mr. Burdette by acclamation. All voted in favor and the motion carried.
7.
Juvenile Crime Prevention Council - 19 vac.
Commissioner
Moyer nominated those who had indicated yes: #4 Athena Brooks, #7 Karen Couch,
#20 Kevin Lauritsen, #21 Maria White , #23 Jim Gaillard, and # 24 Margo Nagel.
Chairman
Hawkins nominated Rodney Wesson to position #5.
Commissioner
Moyer nominated Commissioner Baldwin for reappointment to position #11.
Commissioner
Young nominated David Nicholson for reappointment to position #8.
Chairman
Hawkins made the motion to appoint this slate of nominees by acclamation.
Commissioner
Moyer nominated Ben McKay and Robbie Goolsby.
Chairman
Hawkins made the motion to appoint this entire slate of nominees by
acclamation. All voted in favor and the
motion carried.
There
were eleven appointments made with eight remaining vacancies.
8.
Land-of-Sky Regional Council Advisory Council on
Aging - 2 vac.
Commissioner
Messer nominated Lloyd Steen.
Chairman
Hawkins nominated Patricia Stanley.
Chairman
Hawkins made the motion to accept these two by acclamation. All voted in favor and the motion carried.
9.
Library Board of Trustees - 2 vac.
Commissioner
Moyer nominated Stan Shelley.
Chairman
Hawkins nominated Candler Willis.
Commissioner
Moyer nominated Madeline Daubert.
There
were three nominees for two vacancies.
The Clerk will poll the Board at the next meeting.
10.
Mountain Area Workforce Development Board - 2
vac.
Chairman
Hawkins nominated David Sink for one of the positions. There were no other nominations at this
time. Chairman Hawkins made the
motion to accept Dr. Sink by acclamation.
All voted in favor and the motion carried.
11.
Nursing/Adult Care Home Community Advisory
Committee - 9 vac.
Chairman
Hawkins nominated Cheryl Patterson to position # 11. There were no other
nominations at this time.
Chairman
Hawkins made the motion to accept Ms. Patterson by acclamation. All voted in favor and the motion carried.
12.
SmartStart - 1 vac.
Commissioner
Moyer nominated Miriam Plexico. Chairman Hawkins made the motion to
accept Ms. Plexico by acclamation. All voted in favor and the motion carried.
13.
Solid Waste Committee - Appointment of a
Chairman
The
members of the Solid Waste Committee were made aware that Mr. Fsrrell would not
be able to serve as Chairman. Mr. Bill
Ramsey had indicated that he would fill that position.
Chairman
Hawkins made the motion to appoint Bill Ramsey as Chairman. All voted in favor
and the motion carried.
ANIMAL
SERVICES ORDINANCE
Chairman
Hawkins reminded those present that the Board had held a public hearing on this
issue. The Board gave direction to
staff.
Staff
had prepared a clean copy per the Board=s request (without strikethroughs and
add-ins showing) of the revised basic Animal Control Ordinance with technical
corrections as made by the Legal Department (white pages). Also presented for the Board=s information
was the basic Animal Control Ordinance with strikethroughs and add-ins
indicated (green pages). Lastly, per
the Board=s direction was the draft Ordinance including amendments # 2, 3, 7
and 9 as proposed by the Board of Health (blue pages). Three versions were presented for Board
review.
Mrs.
Beeker reviewed the three versions with the Board. She explained that Mr. Tom Bridges, Health Director, and his
staff are in the process of gathering the additional information that the Board
had requested specific to how much
staff would be needed for each of the different amendments as well as
information on a spay/neuter program.
Associated
with the basic ordinance, staff anticipates that if it is enforced in the
county only or in all the municipalities it would require the addition of at
least one staff member.
Mrs.
Beeker explained that the definition of dangerous dogs has been expanded over
the current statutory definition. Our
current animal control ordinance does not address dangerous dogs, it is
governed by statute. We do enforce dangerous dog provisions in the county,
outside of the municipalities. The way
it is drafted in the new ordinance will bring more dogs under that definition
of what a dangerous dog is. There is an
aggressive civil penalty strategy to encourage compliance. The Board had asked for some data on civil
penalties other counties were charging and staff is gathering that
information. It does not change the
current enforcement of animal cruelty.
There are some provisions that refer to animal mistreatment but
basically that is not providing adequate food, water, and shelter for an
animal. Animal abuse is currently
enforced by the Henderson County Sheriff=s Department pursuant to criminal law
and this ordinance does not change that. Mrs. Beeker stated that the basic
ordinance does not directly address stray animals. Amendment # 3 would address being able to pick up a dog seen
running at large (a stray). If the Board enacts either the licensing
requirement or the leash law, this would be a non-issue. It would be covered.
Mrs.
Beeker addressed several amendments:
Amendment
# 2
Expands
the definition of public nuisance.
Amendment
# 3
Restraint
or leash law.
Amendment
# 7
Animal
license tax, registration, and noncommercial kennels/breeder=s licensing.
There
was much discussion regarding addition of amendments to the basic ordinance and
the need for more space in the animal shelter as amendments are added.
Mr.
Bridges addressed the Board stating that he had rethought the organization of
his staff and the fact that he is losing his Environmental Health Director and
will have to replace him. He feels it
necessary to hire an Animal Control Supervisor just to enact the basic
ordinance.
If
the Commissioners adopt the basic ordinance, they want to know what it will
take in staffing and funding to provide a reasonable quality level of service,
better than what we are doing now. They
also want to know the additional staffing and funding required if they add any
of the amendments. The Board requested
this information from staff for the next meeting along with facility
requirements for basic and for addition of any of the amendments.
INFORMAL
PUBLIC COMMENTS
1.
Eva Ritchey - Ms. Ritchey stated that we don=t need a basic
ordinance. We=ve gone far too long with
half measures. We=re not taking care of
our animal community and protecting our citizens. She stated that we need amendment # 7. AIf we=re not gonna do it right, I don=t see why we bother at
all.@
Ms.
Ritchey stated that the School Board was present to talk to the Board about
education. She worked in education for
ten years and has had kids in the system for twenty. She stated she was very disappointed in the education budget,
stating it was a bread and peanut butter budget, no jelly, or the least they
think they can come up here and get from the Board. She stated that we do not have the kind of public education in
the county that we could have. AIf you
want to have first rate education in Henderson County, you=ve got to pay for
it.@
Ms.
Ritchey also discussed the Health and Human Services building . She had read in the newspaper that the Board
was considering taking the building down and building a new building. She asked that the Commissioners please not
build a cheap building but rather one that would reflect our community=s pride.
REVIEW
OF FIRE DISTRICT BUDGETS
Rocky
Hyder, County Fire Marshal, came forward and bragged a little on our Fire and
Rescue Advisory Committee. They have
done an exceptional job reviewing the fire department budgets in detail. The recommendations have been well considered.
Mr.
Hyder recognized Chief Darryl Russell from Saluda Volunteer Fire Department and
Mike Huggins and Roger Freeman from Etowah Fire Department.
Chairman
Hawkins echoed the fine job that had been done by the Fire and Rescue Advisory
Committee. He stated that Valley Hill
and Mills River have actually reduced the budget below revenue neutral and
certainly should be commended for that effort. Some of the recommendations from the Fire and Rescue Advisory
Committee were not what the fire departments asked for; therefore, the Board
asked if anyone from the fire departments wished to address the Board to make
their case.
Chief
Mike Huggins, Etowah/Horse Shoe, stated that they had gone before the Advisory
Board requesting to stay at 8 cents.
They=ve rethought things and have cut a few things and are now willing
to cut to 7.5 cents, which will allow them to do two projects they=re working
on. They can still get the new rescue
truck they=re checking on as a replacement.
The annual payment on the truck would be $60,000. It would also allow them to make a
$16,667.00 payment on the new substation they=re working on. If they had to drop back to 7 cents they
would not be able to pursue the station 2 project. They currently have an ISO rating of class IV, one of only two
departments in the State with a class IV rating. The growth in that area of their district dictates having a
building there. It=s in the
neighborhood of Cummings Cove subdivision.
Chief
Darryl Russell, Saluda Fire Department, stated that they cover part of
Henderson County, part of Polk County and the City of Saluda. Their contract with other Counties and City
states that if they reduce their tax rate in one municipality they have to
reduce their tax rate in all municipalities they serve. In doing so they would lose $24,000. They cannot afford that. They are in the final stages of building a
new fire station at a cost near $600,000.
They have bought a new truck.
They are working towards part-time paid men.
There
were no other departments with representatives present.
Commissioner
Moyer asked Mr. Hyder if he had heard from Dana or Edneyville Fire Departments
with respect to whether they are willing to accept the recommended tax
rate. Mr. Hyder responded that they
were willing to accept the recommended tax rate. Mr. Hyder explained that the fire departments receive their
budgets in January with projected district values for their districts. That number certainly changes in a
revaluation year. In many of the cases
it changed to their advantage so they were able to lower their rate more
because their district would generate more revenue for them and they were
willing to do so.
Recess
Chairman
Hawkins called a brief technical break to change videotapes.
PUBLIC
HEARING - Fiscal Year 2003 Budget
At
7:24 p.m. Chairman Hawkins made the motion for the Board to go into public
hearing on the FY 2003 - 2004 budget.
All voted in favor and the motion carried.
Mr.
Nicholson stated that the public hearing had been advertised in accordance with
North Carolina General Statutes. Copies
of the budget have been made available for the public at the Clerk to the Board=s
office, the County Manager=s office, the main branch of the public library and
on our website.
Public
Input
1.Dick
Baird - Mr. Baird commended Mr. Nicholson, Ms. Coffey, and Mr. McLelland for the fine
budget they have prepared in such a professional manner. He had reviewed the revenue neutral
calculation and came very close to the recommended tax rate at 45.46
cents. Adding the 0.64 for Mills River
he calculated a revenue neutral figure of 46.1 cents. He was satisfied with the recommended tax rate. He noted that the new Town of Mills River
will cost Henderson County tax payers $1.1 million dollars per year for the
next couple of years.
He
calculated the Tax Collector=s estimate of what he will collect this year in
all categories versus the assessment.
He collects 100.14% of the taxes assessed, with interest and
everything.
He
then turned to the expenditure side of the budget stating that worker=s
compensation and medical insurance Aate our lunch@ this year. He stated that Governing Body should cut
$10,000 from their budget and set an example.
He stated that individuals should be making contributions to non-profits
and charities, not government. He favored the cancellation of the Cable
Department in this year=s budget. He
questioned the funding for Habitat for Humanity since it is a charity. He stated that he did not see any capital
proposal for doing anything toward the 5 year plan for recreation. He applauded the recommendation that the
classroom size reductions not be funded. He felt there should be a 1 cent tax
rate increase to go toward the Historic Courthouse project.
2.
Jim Howard - Mr. Howard spoke on behalf of Alliance for
Human Services, being a member of the Board. He was requesting county funding
for ten human service agencies. The
Alliance is the creation of the Blue Ribbon Commission which was formed in 1997
through a partnership of the County, the Community Foundation, and the United
Way. These are the three principal
sources of funding for human service agencies within our county. Their mission is to strengthen the delivery
of human services in Henderson County by fostering efficiency and effectiveness
within the agency and promoting collaboration among the agencies to improve
their interaction. The responsibility
given to them by the County Commissioners is to make annual recommendations of
funding for community human service agencies that apply to the county for
financial support. This is the fourth
year they have made these recommendations.
They are very aware of the financial pressures the county is under.
C
The Dispute Settlement Center saves taxpayers an
estimated $980 for every case that they resolve without resort to the
courts.
C
The MediFind Program at IAM provided more than
$1.3 million worth of much needed prescription medications for our citizens
last year. That=s a 26 to 1 return on
investment for the money that has been contributed to them by the various
funders.
C
SSEACO provides both vocational and
developmental training for disabled clients, putting people in jobs and
allowing them to become productive citizens of our community.
C
Meals on Wheels Program at the Council on Aging
spends about $1,200 a year to provide food which allows elderly homebound
clients to live independently avoiding the prohibitive cost of nursing home
care.
As in the case with the Dispute Settlement
Center and HomeAid, which is another of the agencies that have requested
funding, they use county funding as matches for dollars in getting grants from
other sources so the money is multiplied by the agencies.
C
The Blue Ridge Literacy Council had 258 clients
this past year that met predefined financial goals; clients either enrolled in
basic adult literacy which is English speaking people who need to become
literate and English as a second language programs. These predefined goals included things such as getting a job,
getting a better job, getting a promotion at the job, or buying a home.
The
Agency estimates that these accomplishments have added as much as $511,000 to
the local economy.
3.
Ervin Bazzle - Mr. Bazzle stated that we do have a first
rate education system in Henderson County.
We have a model Joint Facilities Board.
Our S.A.T. scores are third in WNC and eighth in the State. We had ten
Schools of Distinction last year and five Schools of Excellence. The School Board has 21 facilities.
He
stated that the School Board and the Board of County Commissioners have worked
very well together for the past year.
The School Board has worked with the Board of Commissioners in every
phase of their operations. In five
years we have built three new schools and have almost finished another one, we=ve
added onto two middle schools and will finish refurbishing another middle
school this fall.
He
mentioned the cleanliness and safety of our schools stating that it is very
different from the deplorable conditions we had just five years ago. They are
different now because of funding.
He
stated that the School Board is mindful of what is happening in Raleigh and of
where the economy is.
He
requested a joint meeting with the Board of Commissioners to discuss their
budget request. He stated that if their budget request is cut it will have a
serious impact. He stated AIf we=re
funded at the recommended level, we=re not just standing still, (I=m talking
about the County Manager=s recommendation) we=re going backward and it=s gonna
take more to get back to where we are now, it will take more.@
4.
Ken Butcher - Mr. Butcher addressed the proposed budget,
stating that he found it disturbing for various reasons at several different
levels. He briefly discussed some of
the numbers on the hand-out from Dr. Bazzle.
He discussed accountability and reminded the Board that Henderson County
has the 5th lowest tax rate in North Carolina. He asked the Board
not to adopt the County Manager=s recommended budget.
5.
Melissa Mauer - Ms. Mauer reviewed the ACapital Budget@ side
of Mr. Bazzles=s hand-out. She stated that this is the season for capital
budget repairs in the schools, they don=t do a lot of that while the children
are in the buildings. She stated AThis
capital budget as proposed by the County Manager has the effect of undermining
the progress of the past five years and has the potential to adversely impact
the safety and health of the children of Henderson County.@ She stated that
safety and health factors were a consideration by the Board of Education.
Ms.
Mauer explained that the sewerage field at Dana is no longer operating, the
rainy weather has done it in. They have
been pumping and hauling for the last 6-8 weeks to the tune of $10,000 per
month. Work with the Health Department
up to this point has shown that either a package treatment plant or a sewer line
extension is needed. Preliminary
estimates show that there will be only a $60,000 difference in a treatment
plant and extension of the sewer line.
The estimated cost will run between $400,000 to $500,000. They also closed out the school year pumping
and hauling at Mills River.
She
mentioned the need for ceiling/roof repair at Hendersonville High School
stating that the auditorium is used by the entire community, not just the
school. AWe respectfully request that
you move beyond the County Manager=s recommendations and fund the requests that
were submitted to you after a very deliberate and responsible process by the
Board of Education.@
6.
Sallie Carr - Ms. Carr has taught first or second grade for
the past 16 years. She was formerly at
Bruce Drysdale and is now at Hillandale Elementary. She addressed elementary classroom size stating that at the
beginning of the school year she had 26 students and was down to 16 students by
the end of the year. She discussed what
a change that made in the attention she was able to offer individual
students.
7.
Dr. Tom Burnham - Dr. Burnham addressed the interest
income and the $800,000 which was in their Capital fund at the end of
April. He stated that does not include
school bus purchases which were paid for in May nor does it include the final
phase of the Etowah construction projection which will be paid out in May and
June. It does not include other summer
projects which are encumbered. Those
funds will be expended, there will not be $800,000 remaining in the Capital
Budget at the end of June.
Chairman
Hawkins made the motion to close the public hearing at 8:16 p.m. All voted in favor and the motion
carried. The Board took no other
action at this time.
Chairman
Hawkins reminded the Board that the State Government withheld $500,000 of this
county=s money by taking the ADM funds which this Board had programmed to make
debt service payment on the schools.
IMPORTANT
DATES
Chairman
Hawkins mentioned the need for an additional budget workshop which had not been
set as yet. Following discussion, Chairman Hawkins made the motion to set a
budget workshop for Tuesday, June 10 at 7:00 p.m. which will also be a joint
meeting with the Board of Education.
All voted in favor and the motion carried.
BOARD
COMMUNICATIONS POLICY - Add-on
Commissioner
Baldwin felt there should be an agreement between the Commissioners of a
certain protocol relating to Board Communications. He felt that once the Board makes a decision on an issue that
Commissioners should then project a united front about that issue instead of
offering their individual views, when they differ.
Some
Commissioners disagreed. No action was taken.
CLOSED
SESSION
Chairman
Hawkins 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)(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 a claim.
2.(a)(4) To discuss matters relating to the location or
expansion of industries or other businesses in the area served by the public
body.
3.(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.
ADJOURN
Chairman
Hawkins made the motion to adjourn the meeting at 9:45 p.m. All voted in favor and the motion carried.
ATTEST:
Elizabeth
W. Corn, Clerk to the Board Grady Hawkins, Chairman