HomeMy WebLinkAboutC.054.93010_0624IREDELL. COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
REGULAR MINUTES
DECEMBER 18, 2001
The Iredell County Board of Commissioners met in Regular Session on Tuesday, December 18, 2001, at
7:00 p.m., in the Iredell County Government Center, 200 South Center Street, Statesville, NC.
Present: Chairman Sara Haire Tice
Vice Chairman Karen B. Ray
Tommy E. Bowles
Steve D. Johnson
R. Godfrey Williams
Staff Present: County Manager Joel Mashburn, County Attorney William P. Pope, Planning Supervisor
Ron Smith, Enforcement Captain Mike Phillips with the Sheriffs Department, Finance Director Susan
Blumenstein, and Clerk to the Board Jean Moore.
CALL TO ORDER by Chairman Tice.
INVOCATION by Commissioner Bowles.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG
ADJUSTMENTS OF THE AGENDA: MOTION by Chairman Tice to adjust the agenda by adding the
following:
Request for Approval of a Resolution and Memorandum of Understanding Regarding the North
Carolina Debt Setoff Clearinghouse program.
VOTING: Ayes -- 5; Nays — 0.
APPOINTMENTS BEFORE THE BOARD
Marsha Powers (184 Powers Hill Drive, Mooresville, NC) along with Mike and Ann Holtzsclaw
(445 Patterson Farm Road, Mooresville, NC) Spoke Regarding a Noise Problem: Mrs. Powers said she
and her husband owned 35 acres of land, and the Holtzclaw couple owned I 1 acres. She said that even with this
acreage they were harassed by noise. Powers said the adjoining property owner (William Wilkinson), leased his
property to a model airplane club (RC Wingers). Powers said the models could be as large as eight feet in
length and could reach speeds up to 200 mph. Mrs. Powers said the club consisted of about 35 members and
they flew their planes from 8 a.m. through 8:30 p.m., during the summer months. Powers said the club
previously operated in Rowan County, but due to a lawsuit, the members moved to Iredell County. Along with
the noise problems, Mrs. Powers cited safety concerns. She said that with dry weather conditions, the planes
could easily crash and start a fire in a nearby patch of pine trees or in the roof of one of their homes. Powers
said that even worse, bodily harm or fatal injuries could occur.
Mrs. Powers said the harassment was notjust the noise. She said the members "dive bombed" vehicles,
stalled the planes in midair, creating even more noise, and they had other annoying antics. Powers said the
sheriffs department was Trying to use the county's noise ordinance to remedy the problem; however, the district
attorney said the ordinance was not enforceable. Mrs. Powers said she and Mr. and Mrs. Holtzclaw were asking
the commissioners to find a way to make the ordinance enforceable. She also asked for the county to expand
the zoning requirements for the club. Powers said that when the members were told they needed a special use
permit to operate as a club, they removed their club sign.
Mrs. Holtzclaw said she had owned homes on the east and west coasts, and she had never encountered
anything like the situation. She said that for the past six months, the club had continually harassed them.
I Holtzclaw said many steps had been taken the resolve the issue, both on a personal and legal basis. She said an
attorney sent a letter to the club, but the harassment became worse. Holtzclaw said the attorney stated he could
file a summary brief for $10,000 and take the club members to court; however, Mrs. Holtzclaw questioned why
she and the Powers couple had to pay to find peace and quiet. She said the club members left their homes,
where they probably had peace and quiet, flew their planes near her property, and then left. She said
Mecklenburg County provided a space for model airplane flyers to congregate, and she understood the City of
Statesville also provided a site.