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HomeMy WebLinkAboutC.054.93011_1068 (2)IREDELL COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS Winter Planning Session Minutes Iredell County Public Library 201 North Tradd Street Statesville, NC Saturday, February 25, 2006 Present were: Chairman Sara Haire Tice Vice Chairman Godfrey Williams Steve D. Johnson Marvin Norman Ken Robertson Staff present: County Manager Joel Mashburn, Deputy County Manager Susan Blumenstein, Assistant County Manager Tracy Jackson, Support Services Director Jim Vernon, Cooperative Extension Services Director Ken Vaughn, and Clerk to the Board Jean Moore. Media present: Kathryn Thier with the Iredell Neighbors/Charlotte Observer, Lee Ann Sherrill, with the Iredell Citizen, Daniel Goldberg with the Statesville Record & Landmark, and Louann Laubsher with the Lake Norman Times. Call to Order: Chairman Tice called the meeting to order at 8:00 a.m. Emergency Services: Emergency Services Director Tracy Jackson said most emergency service offices were experiencing an increase in the demand for services; however, there was a slight decline in Animal Control. David Martin, the Communications Director, said two new telecommunicator positions would be requested in next year's budget, and there were plans to add two more console workstations. (This will make six stations.) Martin said in revenues, there had been a decrease in land -line phones, but an increase in wireless. He said the simulcast project was slated for completion soon, and a new tower would be needed in Statesville. He said there was a 99 -year lease for the WFMX tower; however, with new station ownership, future plans were unknown. Martin said he felt the county should own its own tower somewhere in the Statesville area. He said a 300 -foot tower would probably cost $125,000 assuming the county already owned the land. Commissioner Norman asked if Crescent Electric's tower would meet the county's needs. Martin said he would review the suggestion. EMS Director Lee Darnell said that in the next five years, the county might partner with the volunteer fire departments in the usage of ambulances. He said a quick response vehicle was at the Lake Norman VFD, and another one would soon be based at the Trinity VFD. Pertaining to NuCare, Darnell said he continued to monitor the private ambulance service. He said NuCare's service was improving, and the new manager was trying, but there continued to be some areas needing improvement. Darnell said the EMS revenues had increased, and this was due to outsourcing. Fire Marshal Lloyd Ramsey said his office provided all of the services rendered by the inspectors in the inspections department with the exception of residential. He noted that most counties charged fees for construction and operational permits; however, Iredell County had eliminated the charges about two years ago. He said the fire marshals devoted much of their time to new construction. It was mentioned that the fire marshal's office would move into the former social services building when renovations were finished, along with the code enforcement, planning and zoning departments.