HomeMy WebLinkAboutC.054.93010_0065IREDELL. COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
BRIEFING MINUTES
APRIL 4 2000
The Iredell County Board of Commissioners met in Briefing Session on Tuesday, April 4,
2000, at 5:00 p.m., in the Iredell County Government Center (South Wing Conference Room), 200
South Center Street, Statesville, NC 28677.
Present: Chairman Sara Haire Tice
Vice Chairman Steve D. Johnson
Tommy E. Bowles
Alice T. Fortner
Alice M. Stewart
Staff Present: County Manager Joel Mashburn, Finance Director Susan Blumenstein,
Planning Supervisor William Allison, EMS Director Tracy Jackson, Solid Waste Director Ron
Weatherman, Support Services Director Jim Vernon, Inspections/Planning Director Lynn Niblock,
and Clerk to the Board Jean Moore.
CALL TO ORDER by Chairman Tice.
REQUEST FOR DISCUSSION/DECISION IN REFERENCE TO PARTICIPATING
WITH THE TOWN OF MOORESVILLE IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF A NEW POLICE
DEPARTMENT(county's participation would be for court space): Mooresville Town Manager
Rick McLean said his council planned to build a new building for the police department. The
facility will be located near the Alcoholic Beverage Control building on property already owned.
McLean shared an architectural drawing and asked if the county would be interested in adding extra
space for the courts. (Later, during the conversation, it was mentioned that if the county agreed to
pursue the matter, it would be feasible to also have space for the probation officers.)
Commissioner Johnson said he had reviewed the matter with the Clerk of Court and
discovered there was adequate court space in the present facility; however, the individuals on court
business sometimes inconvenienced the other offices, e.g. the utility customers for the Town of
Mooresville were confronted with congested hallways, etc.
McLean added that he sometimes had concerns for the victims in court cases, and the present
situation did not allow much separation space for them and their accused.
Commissioner Fortner asked the county manager if he thought more court cases could be
handled in Mooresville if there were larger accommodations.
Mashburn said additional courts could be held, but it would not lessen the caseload in
Statesville. (it was stated that Mooresville usually had four days of court per week.)
McLean said that having court in Mooresville was a benefit to the citizens in his area, and
it also helped the law enforcement officers. He said the town hoped to go out for bids soon and any
extra space for the county could be listed as an alternate. McLean said the county and town had
several options available, e.g., Mooresville could build the facility and lease to the county. if the
county outgrew the space, it could relocate which would allow the police department to expand.
Another option would be for the county to buy the space - - condominium style.
Mr. McLean continued by saying the town was going to borrow the construction money (20 -
year loan). He said this method would put part of the debt burden on new residents. The building
will be pre-engineered with a brick -facing all around it. The design has not been sent to the state;
however, it was modeled after one built in Gastonia, N.C. McLean said the town was trying to
build a long-lasting facility since the present building had been in use since 1954.