MINUTES
STATE
OF NORTH CAROLINA BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
COUNTY
OF HENDERSON MAY 19, 2004
The Henderson County
Board of Commissioners met for a regularly scheduled meeting at 9:00 a.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:
Assistant County Manager Justin B. Hembree, Planning Director Karen C. Smith, Budget and Management Director
Selena Coffey, Paralegal Connie Rayfield, Public Information Officer Chris S.
Coulson, Fire Marshal Rocky Hyder, County Engineer Gary Tweed, and Finance
Director J. Carey McLelland. Deputy Clerk to the Board Amy Brantley was present
through nominations.
CALL TO ORDER/WELCOME
Chairman Hawkins called
the meeting to order and welcomed all in attendance.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Commissioner Messer led
the Pledge of Allegiance to the American Flag.
INVOCATION
David Nicholson gave the
invocation.
DISCUSSION/ADJUSTMENT OF AGENDA
Chairman Hawkins asked
for an addition to the agenda – a reason to go into closed session for the
location or expansion of business or industry (NCGS 143-318.11(a)(4)).
Commissioner Messer
asked for one addition under Staff Reports – “D-3” Discussion of some
recreational matters.
Chairman Hawkins made the motion to approve the amended
agenda. All voted in favor and the
motion carried.
CONSENT AGENDA
Chairman Hawkins
reminded the Board that they had received a revised version of the March 30 set
of minutes as well as a revised Proclamation for Small Business Week.
He made the motion to approve the consent agenda as amended
by the two revisions. All voted in
favor and the motion carried.
Minutes
Draft minutes were
presented for the Board’s review/approval of the following meeting(s):
March 30, 2004, special called meeting
April 21, 2004, regular meeting
Tax Releases
A list of 57 tax release
requests was submitted for approval by the Board of Commissioners.
Tax Refunds
A list of 24 tax refund
requests was submitted for approval by the Board of Commissioners.
Tax Collector’s Report
Terry F. Lyda, Tax
Collector, provided the Tax Collector’s Report dated May 17 for the Board’s
information.
Register of Deeds – Request to use Restricted Funds for Document
Preservation Project
A budget amendment was
submitted requesting to use the Register of Deeds Restricted General Fund
Balance for the production of archival style index books for the Consolidated
Real Property Index for the period 1995 through 2003. The total proposed cost to have these real property documents
indexed for the nine year period was estimated to be a maximum of $25,016.
The Board was reminded
that the General Assembly enacted legislation that required counties to place
10% of certain revenues generated by the Register of Deeds Office into a fund
to pay for automation enhancements and document preservation beginning in
January 2002. This fund, which is a
portion of the County’s Restricted General Fund Balance, has in excess of
$120,000 currently. Only the Board of
Commissioners may authorize the use and release of these restricted funds.
The County Manager
stated that due to the extensive use of the real property indexes by the
public, the Register of Deeds Office has a need to consolidate and archive
these records in books that can handle the demand. It would be appropriate for the Board to consider adopting the
budget amendment to appropriate $25,016 from the Register of Deeds Restricted
General Fund Balance for this much needed request.
Extension of Time for Liquidlogic, LLC
In October of 2002, the
County entered into an incentives agreement with Liquidlogic, LOLC/Landlogic,
LLC (“Agreement”), to increase the taxable capital investment in Henderson
County. The Agreement requires that
Liquidlogic LLC/Landlogic LLC make a capital investment through the
consolidation and relocation of their kayak manufacturing facility and their
research and development office to Henderson County in the amount of $2.950
million in two phases. In exchange, the
County agreed to pay $35,000 in incentives up front for their Phase I
investment in the amount of $1.75 million to build a Research and Development
facility. The Agreement requires that
Liquidlogic LLC/Landlogic LLOC complete its Phase I capital investment and
certify that the capital investment is complete and paid for no later than July
1, 2004.
The water and sewer
portion of the development is complete and ready to be utilized; however,
unforeseen circumstances have forced them to alter the timeframe in order to
develop their financial strength. They
have therefore requested that the dates of their Economic Incentive Contract be
extended. They would like the deadline
for completion and certification to be extended to December 31, 2006, and eighteen
month extension.
The dates for Phase II
completion and certification would be extended eighteen months as well, putting
the completion date for Phase II at September 1, 2008.
An addendum to the
incentives agreement prepared by the County Attorney was presented for the
Board’s consideration. It is very
straightforward and simply extends the deadlines as requested.
Home and Community Care Block Grant
The Planning for Older
Adults Block Grant Committee recommended the following for our use of the FY
2004-05 Home and Community Care Block Grant:
|
Agency |
Program |
Amount |
|
Council on Aging |
Congregate Meals |
$ 28,127.00 |
|
Council on Aging |
Home Delivered Meals |
192,042.00 |
|
Council on Aging |
Information &
Assistance |
13,698.00 |
|
Council on Aging |
Senior Center
Operations |
23,463.00 |
|
Housing Assistance
Corporation |
Housing/Home
Improvements |
8,050.00 |
|
Land of Sky Reg.
Council |
Senior Companion |
3,154.00 |
|
Pardee Home Care |
In-Home Aide II |
74,193.00 |
|
Pardee Pavilion |
Adult Day Care |
16,296.00 |
|
Pardee Pavilion |
Adult Day Health Care |
4,099.00 |
|
Pisgah Legal Services |
Elder Law |
5,640.00 |
|
Visiting Health
Professionals |
In-Home Aide II |
87,802.00 |
|
WCCA |
General Transportation |
118,980.00 |
|
WCCA |
Medical Transportation |
22,285.00 |
|
WCCA |
Liquid Supplement
Program |
8,748.00 |
|
|
|
$
606,577.00 |
|
Mandated Legal Funds |
|
7,500.00 |
|
|
|
$
614,077.00 |
Request Public Hearing for Road Names
Rocky Hyder requested
the Board to set a public hearing date for the following road names:
Proposed Name
Enigma Lane
Lazy Lake Lane
Adams View Drive
Old Possum Holler Road
Staff’s recommended date for the public
hearing was June 16 at 11:00 a.m.
Request
for Improvement Guarantee for Coven Cliffs Subdivision
Mr. Robert L. Bruner, owner and
developer, had submitted an application for an improvement guarantee for a
proposed minor subdivision he is developing known as Cloven Cliffs. The subdivision is being constructed off
Little Creek Road. The Subdivision
Administrator granted conditional approval of the Development Plan for the
project on February 14, 2004. The
improvement guarantee is proposed to cover road improvements, shoulder
stabilization, and installation of erosion control measures.
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 posting of an irrevocable
letter of credit. Mr. Bruner intends to
post with the County a letter of credit in the amount of $33,125.00, which
includes the cost of the improvements ($26,500,00) as well as the required 25%
contingency ($6,625.00). The proposed
completion date for the improvements is August 31, 2004.
A draft Performance Guarantee Agreement
was presented for the Board’s consideration.
If the application is approved, the developer must post with Henderson
County an irrevocable letter of credit in accordance with the terms of the
Agreement. Once the County receives the
letter of credit, the (Assistant) 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 Cloven Cliffs
subdivision subject to the developer posting with Henderson County an
irrevocable letter of credit in accordance with the terms of the draft
Performance Guarantee Agreement.
Water Line
Extensions
The City of Hendersonville had requested
County comments on two proposed water line extensions for:
1.
Kanuga
Conferences, Inc. (off Kanuga Lake
Road)
This is a project to extend existing
water lines to provide water service to an existing retreat and conference
center. The center is located along
Lake Rd. off of Kanuga Road. This area
is within Henderson County jurisdiction and not within Hendersonville City
Limits.
The project requires approx. 7,300 linear
feet of water lines. Fire protection
will be provided by the installation of 11 fire hydrants. The entire cost of the proposed water line
extension is to be paid for by the owner/developer, Kanuga Conferences Inc.
If the subject property is divided, such
division would be subject to the Henderson County Subdivision Ordinance and
would be treated as a major subdivision.
The Kanuga Conferences, Inc., property is
zoned R-40 (Estate Residential) and OU (Open Use). Future development may require review for zoning compliance.
The project does not fully conform with
the County Land Use Plan because the Urban Services Area map in the County’s
1993 Land Use Plan shows the boundary for the Urban Services Conference Center
during the Plan’s 10-year span, however, the Water Distribution System map in
the 1993 Plan showed that the City of Hendersonville expected a line to be run
out Kanuga Road at some point. The Land
Use Plan map in the 1993 Plan designates the Kanuga Conference Center property
as “Residential” and “Rural Conservation”.
2.
Hospice
House Administrative Building (off South Allen Road)
This is a project to extend existing
water lines to provide water service to a proposed Hospice Housing
administration building located along Allen Road near East Henderson High
School. This area is under Henderson
County jurisdiction and not within Hendersonville City limits.
The project requires approx. 135 linear
feet of water lines. The proposed use
of this area is commercial/institutional.
Fire protection will be provided by the installation of 1 fire
hydrant. The entire cost of the
proposed water line extension is to be paid for by the owner/developer, Hospice
of Henderson County.
The subject property, which is owned by
the Blue Ridge Technical College Foundation, Inc., is within a County O&I
(Office & Institutional) district.
If the proposed office building is constructed on its own lot, the use
is allowed by right and a zoning permit would need to be obtained from the
Henderson County Zoning Administrator.
Dana Fire
and Rescue Lease Purchase Agreement
At the May 10, 2004 Fire and Rescue Advisory
Committee meeting, Jimmy Womack, Chief of Dana Fire and Rescue presented a
proposal to order a new American La France, Metropolitan series engine. This truck will replace a 1973 American La
France on a For cab-over chassis. Dana
Fire and Rescue expects delivery mid June 2004. The total price of the new engine is $304,066.82. Dana will make a down payment of $150,000,
financing the remaining $154,066.82 through United Financial at a rate of 3.85%
with a yearly payment of $32,000 for 5 years.
A motion to approve the purchase of the
American La France engine was made by Rick Livingston and seconded by Joe Swain
with unanimous approval.
Dana Fire and Rescue respectfully
requested the Chairman sign the drafted letter to United Financial.
Resolution
– Small Business Week
Chairman Hawkins had requested that staff
place on this agenda a Resolution Proclaiming the week of May 17, 2004 through
May 21, 2004 as Small Business Week in Henderson County.
Staff recommended the Board approve the
proposed resolution.
NOMINATIONS
Notification
of Vacancies
The Board was notified of the following
vacancies which will appear on the next agenda for nominations:
1.
Child
Fatality Prevention Team – 1 vac.
2.
Henderson
County Board of Health – 4 vac.
3.
Juvenile
Crime Prevention Council – 6 vac.
4.
Mountain
Area Workforce Development Board – 4 vac.
5.
Mountain
Valleys Resource Conservation and Development – 1 vac.
Nominations
Chairman Hawkins reminded the Board of
the following vacancies and opened the floor to nominations:
1.
Alliance for Human
Services – 1 vac.
Chairman Hawkins nominated Selena Coffey for
reappointment. Chairman Hawkins made the motion to accept Ms. Coffey by
acclamation. All voted in favor and the
motion carried.
2.
Downtown Herdersonville
Inc. – 1 vac.
Chairman Hawkins nominated Holly
Gardner. There were no other
nominations. Chairman Hawkins made the motion to accept Ms. Gardner by
acclamation. All voted in favor and the
motion carried.
3.
Equalization and Review
– 1 vac.
Chairman Hawkins nominated Dr. Stanley for
position 8 as an alternate. There were
no other nominations. Chairman Hawkins made the motion to accept
Dr. Stanley by acclamation. All voted
in favor and the motion carried.
4.
Henderson County
Planning Board – 3 vac.
There were no nominations at this time so
this item was rolled to the next meeting.
5.
Industrial Facilities
and Pollution Control Financing Authority – 1 vac.
There were no nominations at this time so
this item was rolled to the next meeting.
6.
Juvenile Crime
Prevention Council – 1 vac.
Commissioner Young nominated Rev. Anthony
Craver. There were no other
nominations. Chairman Hawkins made the motion to accept Rev. Craver by
acclamation. All voted in favor and the
motion carried.
7.
Land-of-Sky Regional
Advisory Council on Aging – 2 vac.
There were no nominations at this time so
this item was rolled to the next meeting.
8.
Nursing/Adult Care Home
Community Advisory Committee – 5 vac.
Chairman Hawkins nominated Viola Walker
to position #2 and Perry Robinson to position #5. There were no other nominations.
Chairman Hawkins made the motion
to accept both these nominees by acclamation.
All voted in favor and the motion carried.
9.
Planning for Older
Adults Block Grant Advisory Committee – 2 vac.
There were no nominations at this time so
this item was rolled to the next meeting.
10.
Senior Volunteer
Services Advisory Council – 1 vac.
There were no nominations at this time so
this item was rolled to the next meeting.
11.
Social Services Board –
1 vac.
Chairman Hawkins nominated David
Adams. There were no other
nominations. Chairman Hawkins made the motion to accept Mr. Adams by
acclamation. All voted in favor and the
motion carried.
12.
Solid Waste Advisory
Committee – 1 vac.
There were no nominations at this time so
this item was rolled to the next meeting.
REQUESTS
FROM HISTORIC COURTHOUSE CORPORATION BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Justin Hembree informed the Board of two
specific requests from the Historic Courthouse Corporation Board of Directors.
First, the Corporation requested $10,000.00 in “seed” money to assist with
operational costs associated with the activities of the Corporation. Second, it requested that the Board of
Commissioners grant permission for the Corporation to enter into an agreement
with Mr. Moshen Ghoreishi of the Kohan Group to provide programming, phasing,
and consulting services for the Historic Courthouse project. Mr. Hembree stated that the Corporation
plans to reimburse those funds and then some.
They certainly hope to raise well over $10,000.00 and reimburse that so
those funds actually go into the brick and mortar part of the project.
Mr. Nicholson stated that the Historic
Courthouse Corporation is in the process of planning and organizing its
operations and activities. As was
anticipated, the Corporation is in need of start-up operational funds in order
to open a checking account, pay for event advertisements, cover initial
consulting fees, and provide for other administrative and operational
requirements. The Corporation also
feels that it is essential to formally begin phasing and programming work as
soon as possible. The Corporation Board
of Directors met with Mr. Mohsen Ghoreishi last week. Mr. Ghoreishi is very familiar with the Historic Courthouse and
has done design work for the structure in the past.
Mr. Nicholson recommended that the Board
of Commissioners provide the Historic Courthouse Corporation Board of Directors
$10,000 for operational costs from the $250,000 previously appropriated for
this specific project. Furthermore, he
recommended that the Board of Commissioners grant permission to the Historic
Courthouse Corporation to enter into an agreement with Mr. Mohsen Ghoreishi of
the Kohan Group to provide programming, phasing, and consulting services for
the Historic Courthouse project.
Following discussion, Chairman Hawkins made the motion to approve
the budget amendment in the amount of $10,000 contingent upon the completion of
an accountability letter between the Historic Courthouse Corporation and the
County about the Board receiving a trail of how the monies are spent and
documentation that they plan to repay the $10,000 out of monies raised .All
voted in favor and the motion carried.
JOINT
COOPERATION AGREEMENT WITH THE ASHEVILLE REGIONAL HOUSING CONSORTIUM
Selena Coffey reminded the Board that
Henderson County has been a participating member of the Asheville Regional
Housing Consortium since its inception in 1992. This allows the County to receive annual planning level
allocations for rehabilitation and construction of affordable housing within
our County. In order to continue our
designation and involvement as a participated jurisdiction and receive annual
funding allocations, the Asheville Regional Housing Consortium must execute a
new Joint Cooperation Agreement and submit the documentation to HUD by June 30,
2004. The proposed resolution authorizes the Chairman of the Henderson
County Board of Commissioners to enter into this Joint Cooperation Agreement
with the Asheville Regional Housing Consortium. This is a three-year agreement.
Ms. Coffey informed the Board that
recently HUD actually sent a representative to visit with us and to see how the
Consortium operates so as to use our Consortium as a model for others across
the nation.
The County Manager requested that the
Board approve the resolution and authorize the Chairman to enter into the Joint
Cooperation Agreement with the Asheville Regional Housing Consortium.
Following discussion, Commissioner Moyer made the motion to adopt
the Resolution and authorize the Chairman’s signature. All voted in favor and the motion carried.
ORDINANCE
AMENDING ABANDONED OR JUNK VEHICLE ORDINANCE
Angela Beeker informed the Board that the
proposed ordinance makes it clear that the Abandoned or Junk Vehicles Ordinance,
Chapter 183 of the Henderson County Code, applies to any and all property owned
or controlled by the County of Henderson, whether located within or outside of
a municipality in Henderson County.
The proposed ordinance amends section
183-6 of the Code (“Jurisdiction and applicability”) to add language clarifying
the applicability of this Chapter to Henderson County property located inside
municipalities.
The County Manager recommended adoption
of this ordinance. The attempt to deal
with a number of abandoned vehicles recently at the Public Library, the Land
Development building, and the County Offices had raised questions of the
applicability of Chapter 183, as codified, within the City of
Hendersonville. This amendment would
resolve such questions.
Any adoption of this ordinance on May 19
would require unanimity. Any
non-unanimous majority vote would require the ordinance to be sent to a second
reading at a subsequent meeting.
Following discussion, Chairman Hawkins made the motion to adopt
the amendment as presented. All voted
in favor and the motion carried.
UPDATE
ON PENDING ISSUES
Architect
– Animal Shelter
David Nicholson updated the Board about
the selection of an architect for the Animal Shelter project. At a previous meeting a recommendation was
made for the committee to enter into negotiations with Daggett and Grigg to
develop a proposal for architectural services for the facility.
Mr. Daggett was provided with a copy of
our current contract with Calloway & Johnson as an example of a contract we
would enter into. We don’t sign the standard
AIA contract. He didn’t have a problem
with the contract. Discussions were
held about doing the project in two steps.
Some discussions were held regarding having a leash law and what kind of
space would be required for that as well as staffing. They will help us do a Master Plan of the facility so that we
could actually expand it in the future should we need to. They have requested a
topographical survey. They will also do a site plan for the project.
The pre-design cost is $7,500 and the total
cost if the project $850,000 is $95,000 for the architects. That’s just over 10% of the cost which is
not unusual for this size project.
Mr. Nicholson recommended Daggett and
Grigg to the Board of Commissioners.
Commissioner Baldwin brought up the issue
of traffic back-up at the landfill/animal shelter site. He felt the key to
alleviating some of the traffic back-up was to acquire a second set of scales.
Gary Tweed stated that there are three
things he has looked at this year in the landfill/solid waste budget:
1.
a
second transfer station
2.
put
in an exit scale
3.
move
the recycling center
These three items would help with the
traffic flow out there.
Ms. Beeker recommended that the Board not
approve the flat fee part of this yet.
The way the agreement is designed, it says that once the scope is
determined, the first fixed fee part is done, the Board would then negotiate on
the fixed fee, based on the scope of the project as determined through that
process.
Chairman
Hawkins made the motion for the Board to enter into the contract and agree to
the amount of Phase I and authorize the negotiations later for a fixed
fee. All voted in favor and the motion
carried.
Update on
County Services Building
Mr. Nicholson updated the Board. Demolition is coming along on the
project. They have recently had a major
equipment break-down and were not able to work a few days but are back on the
project today.
The architects are meeting with the
department heads and staffs regarding spaces.
They are leaning toward option “D” which is an L-shaped building turned
sideways and located farther off of the Spartanburg Highway. That option also gives us more parking.
Mr. Nicholson informed the Board that the
new architects have used the former work as a basis for their work on the
project.
Mr. Nicholson answered a few questions
from the Board.
Recreation
Issues Update – this
was an add-on
Commissioner Messer stated that Parks and
Recreation has a lot going on. He
reminded the Board that the Edneyville Grange made a presentation to the Board
of Commissioners a few months ago. They
voted on their officers and are on the outlook for property in that Hwy. # 64
area around Edneyville.
There was a meeting yesterday at the East
Flat Rock park. There was some
discussion about the topographical map out there. They have trails planned.
The Gerton folks came to the Advisory
Board last month. They have two small
parcels: one has two tennis courts and
a recreation facility and restrooms. The other parcel is just over an acre. They will likely ask about whether the county
can take the second parcel over.
The Mayor of Fletcher and a councilman
made a presentation to the Advisory Board, about possibly doing a joint venture
with them on a 93-acre tract of property they own off Highway # 25 that is
currently known as the Meritor property.
The Advisory Board was in favor of looking at some kind of joint venture
because there is a definite need for recreation property. Once Highway # 25 gets completed, it would
definitely be an asset for Henderson County.
We had a tournament last month in
Henderson County, approx. 33-35 teams that came to the county. It had a lot of impact on Henderson County
because of motel rooms, gas purchases, and restaurant sales.
The Recreation Advisory Board is going to
make a presentation on the budget next week.
He reminded the Board that there has been a five-year Master Plan for 10
years or more. The last three years recreation
has been at a standstill. The
recreation department generates a lot of revenue for Henderson County.
The July 4th event will be
coming up soon.
PRESENTATION
OF PROPOSED FY 2004-05 BUDGET
Mr. Nicholson presented his Budget
Message:
To the Honorable Henderson County Board
of Commissioners: “I respectfully
submit to you my recommended Fiscal Year 2004-05 Budget for Henderson County,
North Carolina. The Budget has been
prepared in accordance with the North Carolina Budget and Fiscal Control Act
and General Statute 153A-82. The budget
identifies the estimated revenues and expenditures for Fiscal Year 2004-05.”
Executive
Summary
“The Board will recognize through your
review of this document that it represents the County’s efforts to provide
quality services while recognizing this year’s very limited resources. It also represents staff’s commitment to
address issues within your Strategic Plan.
The Strategic Plan was approved by the Board of Commissioners in
December 2003 after a two-day retreat.
The Plan identified three issues that the Board wanted to address during
the upcoming fiscal year and beyond.
These issues were growth
management, the county economy, and fiscal priorities.You will notice that
each department has been asked to identify ways in which their departmental
operations are linked to the Strategic Plan.
This Fiscal Year 2004-05 General Fund
Budget totals approximately $82.7 million.
This amount is a very modest 1.7% increase over the current year’s
budget. When viewed in light of the
County’s typical growth of between 3% and 3.5%, this budget will demonstrate
how I propose that, as always, Henderson County’s departments can do “a lot
with a little.”
Revenue
Highlights
Ad Valorem
property Tax
The County Assessor’s Office has
projected the valuation for Fiscal Year 2004-05 to be approximately $8.7 billion
dollars. As the Board heard during the
March 31st pre-budget workshop, the County Assessor has estimated a
“flat” property tax base projection.
Henderson County has always been blessed with steady growth in property
valuations. Fortunately, we continue to
have ongoing residential and commercial development, and even some industrial
development. However, as you heard from
the County Assessor, this year’s growth will only offset our losses in business personal property. The figures the Assessor has provided
indicate that we should expect no growth
in our property tax collections over the current fiscal year. Obviously, this creates a substantial hole
in the budget, when we have typically budgeted for growth in the property tax
revenues each year. Our normal growth
would have provided the County with an additional $1.2 million for its Fiscal
Year 2004-05 operations.
Local
Options Sales Tax
The Fiscal Year 2004-05 Budget includes
an approximate 5% increase projected in our overall sales tax collections. This projected sales tax is based on
projections from the North Carolina Association of County Commissioners as well
as analysis on each Article by County staff.
Inter-Local
Agreements
The Board will note that $426,400 has
been programmed into this budget in response to the County’s recent inter-local
agreements with the Town of Mills River and the Village of Flat Rock for
reimbursements for the County’s loss in local option sales taxes received by
these municipalities. As you will see
in the following sections of this Budget Message, these funds will help fund
the County’s Capital Improvement Program for the upcoming and future fiscal
year.
Expenditure
Highlights
Strategic
Plan Initiatives
I have included funds to address a number
of initiatives outlined within the Board’s Strategic Plan. These initiatives are detailed as follows:
Position
Classification Study – I have included funds within this budget for the completion
of a compensation and position classification study per the Strategic
Plan. This study addresses Strategy
2.2.2 of the Plan and provides the foundation for performing a capability and
resource assessment on new and existing programs as directed within the Plan.
The funds for the development of this study and its implementation are budgeted
within the Human Resources Department budget.
However, in order to fund this effort, monies previously budgeted for
employee performance bonuses are being utilized to fund and implement this
study.
Code Book
Update – Strategy
1.1.4 addresses the Board’s desire to evaluate and update the County’s code
book as necessary. Funding for this
effort is included within the Legal Department for the upcoming fiscal year.
Growth
Plan Development – Within
this budget, I have also included funds
to develop a growth plan, per strategy 1.1.1. These funds will be used to provide staff with professional
assistance to evaluate the major components of the County’s growth and develop
a growth plan to address the Board’s desires raised during the November 2003
retreat.
Community-Based
Planning – As
we continue to address the Strategic Plan and complete the Comprehensive County
Planning process (Goal 1.2), I am recommending funding for activities
associated with the small area planning process identified within the Comprehensive
County Plan (CCP). By the end of this
budget process, the CCP should be completed and this second phase will then
begin.
Program
Evaluation Study – In
an effort to address Goal 2.2 of the Plan, staff has initiated an effort to
gather and assimilate information regarding the County’s various programs with
the final goal of determining new and existing program viability. This effort was actually initiated during
April of the current fiscal year when staff distributed program surveys to all
departments. The departments were asked
to complete a survey for each program within their department. The next step in this process will involve a
rather intensive review of departmental programs and interviews and visits to
departments, with a resulting report on the kinds of programs the County
offers, the legal or mandated basis for these programs, and their cost
effectiveness.
Economic
Development – Within
this budget I have also included funds for more in-depth study of the County’s
local economy per Goal 3.1. These funds
will be used to assist in the effort to evaluate the major components of the
County’s economy and develop an approach for balancing the various components
of the local economy.
Departmental
Initiatives
Due to the lack of revenue growth within
this budget, there are minimal enhancements to the County services or funding
levels.
Information
Technology – The
proposed budget includes the final funding for the North Carolina Property Tax
System (NCPTS) and the Permitting & Inspections system. As you will recall, these are software
applications owned by our association, the North Carolina Association of County
Commissioners. Therefore, they are
tailored to our state’s specific needs with respect to taxation and building
code enforcement. The funds within the
budget should provide essential enhancements to the systems and meet the
respective departmental needs for the future.
Funds are also provided to fund our technology replacement policy, as
described within our Strategic Information Technology Plan.
Personnel – Although
I believe that I could have justified several new positions within the Fiscal
Year 2004-05 Budget, I have included no
new positions in this budget.
Although several departments had the associated Federal and/or State
grants to fully or partially fund their positions, I could not, in fair
conscience, recommend positions in one department over another when the needs
in the county – funded department may be as great or even greater than those
with outside revenue sources. In
addition, the County’s workers compensation and health insurance expenses
continue to increase. This requires
that the County increase its contributions to these accounts, which are
reflected throughout all the County’s departmental budgets and have impacted
their personnel line items.
New
Vehicles – I
am proposing the purchase of seven new vehicles per the guidelines established
within the County’s Vehicle Replacement Policy. I am proposing that we utilize installment purchase contract
financing at today’s favorable rates to purchase these vehicles. Since we will be issuing debt, funds for the
purchase of these vehicles will not be seen in the individual departments but
within our debt service line items.
Capital
Improvement Projects – The budget includes funds for capital projects as I first
presented to the Board during your discussions about the sales tax distribution
method. Although these are explained in
more detail within a separate CIP binder, the County’s capital projects include
Animal Shelter; EMS Main Station; EMS Southeast Substation; Historic
Courthouse; County Services Building and Jackson Park Improvements. There are also projects from the Henderson
County Public School System and Blue Ridge Community College included within
the CIP binder.
Non-Expendable
Supplies – In
accordance to recent accounting guidelines associated with the implementation
of GASB 34, the County has changed the manner in which we account for the
purchase of equipment. Those items that
were previously categorized as capital outlay must now be categorized as
“non-expendable supplies” if less than $4,999 per unit. Only outlay costing over $5,000 is now
considered capital. I am recommending
only $55,000 in County-funded non-expendable supplies in the Fiscal Year
2004-05 General Fund Budget.
Education
The Board has made significant strides at
increasing their financial support for the Henderson County Public School
System over the last several years.
This support has been provided in the current expense category for
operational expenses, in the capital expense category for the improvement and
maintenance of school facilities across the County, and in greatly increased
annual payments for debt service for school construction projects. Unfortunately, I am not able to recommend a
major increase in funding for education.
As I mentioned earlier in this message, the overall growth in this
budget is 1.7%. I am recommending a
3.4% increase in Current Expense funding, which is double that of the total
General Fund budgeted growth. Funding
would remain the same in recurring capital expense as per the School System’s
request. I have also recommended the 3%
growth in funding for Blue Ridge Community College as in Current Expense for
the Public School System.
Conclusion
I believe that the Board will recognize
that this budget reflects staff’s efforts in maximizing our resources. The
County’s departments have been very forthright in the past several years in
saving taxpayer dollars without jeopardizing the high quality services that
they provide. Their efforts should be
recognized by the Board and the community.
Again, with the Fiscal Year 2004-05 Budget, our departments are being
asked to do “a lot with a little.”
I wish to thank all the County’s
departments for their cooperation and stewardship during this difficult budget
process and throughout the fiscal year.
Finally, I also wish to thank the Board of Commissioners for your
involvement in the budget process throughout the past year and for making some
tough, but important decisions on behalf of the County’s citizens. I would also like to thank Budget &
Management Director, Selena Coffey and Finance Director, Carey McLelland, for
their hard work in developing this budget.
Respectfully Submitted, David E.
Nicholson, County Manager/Budget Officer”
Mr. Nicholson recommended no increase in
the current tax rate of 47.5 cents.
Staff distributed the budget notebook and
the CIP (Capital Improvements Program) notebook.
Mr. Nicholson discussed briefly how he
felt it best to fund some of the projects in the CIP. The Board will need to discuss options for some of those. The School System has a substantial amount
of projects. Mr. Nicholson recommended
that those projects be phased in over three fiscal years. He did, however, recommend a bond referendum
on the school projects as well as the BRCC gymnasium. Otherwise the Board would be in a position to have to raise
property taxes to fund these projects.
Mr. Nicholson then discussed the schedule
of who and when different departments would address the Board regarding their
budget requests.
Mr. Nicholson requested a public hearing
be set on the budget today. He
recommended June 7 at 7:00 p.m. for that hearing.
Chairman
Hawkins made the motion to set the public hearing on the FY 2004-05 Budget for
Monday, June 7, 2004 at 7:00 p.m. All
voted in favor and the motion carried.
IMPORTANT
DATES
Chairman Hawkins reminded the Board that
LGCCA had decided not to meet May 18 nor June 15 due to busy schedules related
to budget deliberations.
INFORMAL
PUBLIC COMMENTS
He requested that the
Board look into this matter and give him a definitive answer regarding county
policy concerning this matter.
2. Bill Ramsey – Mr. Ramsey addressed the
issue of recycling. He assured the
Commissioners that some of what we’re seeing in letters to the editor and some
of the comments heard on the street indicate that the public does not
understand the rules that apply at the transfer station and indicate that the
general public does not understand that the recycling program is in fact viable
and working as advertised. We have a
very substantial job on our hands of educating the public. He urged people to visit the county web site
for more information as to what those rules are and/or stop by Gary Tweed’s
office to pick up a copy of the educational material his department has
prepared.
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)(4) To discuss matters relating to the location or
expansion of industry or other businesses in the area served by the body.
All voted
in favor and the motion carried.
ADJOURN
Chairman
Hawkins made the motion to adjourn the meeting. All voted in favor and the motion carried.
Attest:
Elizabeth W. Corn, Clerk to the Board Grady Hawkins,
Chairman