HomeMy WebLinkAboutC.054.93010_05051992 Iredell-Statesville School Project). Blumenstein said the financing would be in compliance
with G.S. 160A-20, Chapter 159. She said the statute required the county to hold a public
hearing on the financings, and she requested that one be held on August 21, 2001 at 7:00 p.m.,
in the Commissioners' Meeting Room, of the tredeli County Government Center. She said the
financing would be in an aggregate principal amount not exceeding $17,000,000.
Commissioner Ray said she had been contacted by a county citizen recently. She said the
individual did not feel the commissioners were "on board" with the concerns and activities in
regard with the Iredell-Statesville School System. She said the individual felt that only one
commissioner was doing anything about the matter. Mrs. Ray said there was a process that had
to be followed to maintain the credibility of the investigation. She said there was protocol, and a
designation of authority in dealing with personnel, and the school board was in place as the first
tier in dealing with the situation. She said it was impossible to act on facts that you didn't have.
Mrs. Ray said she wanted to assure the public that all of the board members were concerned and
wanted the facts in the situation rectified in a timely matter. Ray said the school board was
aware of the board of commissioner's position. Mrs. Ray said the children and teachers should
in no way suffer or be penalized for the actions that seemed to have occurred in the school
system's administrative level.
OTiO by Commissioner Ray to approve the resolution calling for a public hearing on
Tuesday, August 21, 2001 at 7:00 p.m., concerning the financing of certain public facilities,
excluding the construction of Phase I of a school administrative complex enumerated in the
installment financing agreement and the refinancing of certain outstanding Certificates of
Participation pursuant to an Installment Financing Agreement.
Mrs. Ray said she did not feel it was appropriate, at this time, for the taxpayers of this
county to provide any additional funds to the administration of the Iredell-Statesville School
System.
Commissioner Williams said he was concerned about the continuing delay and debates
occurring in the legislature. He said, "Here we are in August, without a state budget, and we are
facing a possible shortage of 2.7 million this year if the legislature doesn't refund the
reimbursables owed to us" Williams said that when the commissioners made a commitment to
begin the financing projects, the severity of the state's financial situation was unknown.
SECOND TO COMMISSIONER RAY'S MOTION WITH AN AMENDMENT:
Commissioner Williamseconde Commissioner Ray's motion but amended it to postpone
a public hearing on the purchase of the hospital property in Mooresville until the board
was certain that adequate funds were available.
Commissioner Johnson said that when the Lowrance Hospital property was presented to
the board, he was the only commissioner to vote against the purchase. He said the reason he
voted this way was because it appeared the state might financially shortchange the county.
Johnson said he had asked the county manager where the county was "standing in the budget
process." Mr. Johnson said the county manager reported a "1.7 million spread and that he had
not talked to the school systems about their requests." Johnson said this was why he voted
against the purchase. Mr. Johnson said he had concerns about how the county could service the
debt necessary to purchase and renovate the Lowrance building, particularly should the state not
reimburse the county and the withholding occur more than one year. He said that if this
occurred, it was only a matter of time before a tax increase would be necessary to complete the
iLowrance project.
MOTION AS AMENDED VOTING: Ayes — 5 Nays — 0.
For clarification, Johnson said he was understanding the motion approved the financing
for the Third Creek Elementary School and Cell III at the Solid Waste facility.
f
Williams asked about the refinancing of the 1992 Certificates of Participation.
Blumenstein said the county could proceed with the refunding; however, she said that if
the county could wait another two years, there would be no penalty, and the savings would be
greater. She said it was a matter of trying to guess what the markets would do. Blumenstein said
that what she had seen lately affected the "one -to -three-year types and not the ten-year ones."
She said that when the public hearing was held, a recommendation could be given on the best
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