HomeMy WebLinkAboutC.054.93011_1741 (2)IREDELL COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
BRIEFING MINUTES
NOVEMBER 20, 2007
The Iredell County Board of Commissioners met in Briefing Session on Tuesday,
November 20, 2007, at 5:00 P.M., in the Iredell County Government Center (South Wing
Conference Room), 200 South Center Street, Statesville, NC.
Board Members Present
Chairman Marvin Norman
Vice Chairman Sara Haire Tice
Steve Johnson
Ken Robertson
Godfrey Williams
Staff Present: County Manager Joel Mashburn, Assistant County Manager Tracy
Jackson, Deputy County Manager Susan Blumenstein, Emergency Management &
Communications Director David Martin, Tax Administrator Bill Doolittle, Fire Marshal Lloyd
Ramsey, GIS Administrator Chris Bridges, Solid Waste Director David Lambert,
Planning/Development Director Ron Smith, and Clerk to the Board Jean Moore.
CALL TO ORDER by Chairman Norman.
REQUEST TO PROVIDE AN UPDATE REGARDING 2008 HOMESTEAD
EXCLUSION LAW CHANGES: Tax Administrator Bill Doolittle briefed the board on three
significant changes to the homestead exclusion law as follows:
a. The income limits changed from $20,500 to $25,0101 but now includes income not
included in the past.
b. A copy of the Federal Income Tax return is reouired with any new applications (This is
with the income -based exclusion.) Mr. Doolittle said providing the tax forms wasn't an option
rather it was mandated. He said all applications would be protected in a locked file with only
three staff persons having access. He said once the income tax forms were verified, the
paperwork would be shredded with the exception of denied cases. Mr. Doolittle said all
approved applicants had to be audited every four years.
C. The increase for exemption from $20,000 or fifty percent (50%) of the qualifying
residence to $25,000 or fifty percent (50%) of the qualifying residence.
REQUEST FOR APPROVAL OF 6 -MILE INSURANCE DISTRICT MAPS FOR
VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENTS: Fire Marshal Lloyd Ramsey and GIS Administrator
Chris Bridges presented this request. Ramsey said homeowners would have lower fire insurance
premiums if the individual VFDs had six -mile boundaries instead of the current five -mile service
areas. He said anyone living five miles away from the fire department had a 10 rating, or the
highest rate in North Carolina, but by adding another mile, a 9 rating could be achieved. Ramsey
said the homeowner would benefit by a lower insurance costs. Additionally, he said in 2008, the
board would have to approve the six -mile boundaries for the Troutman voted -in -tax district. He
said the delay on this VFD was due to the residents having to petition for the mile increase.
Bridges supplied county -wide maps showing the five -mile boundaries as well as the
newer six -mile areas. He also provided six -mile maps for the individual VFDs. Bridges said
the state fire marshal's office had worked with the county for the past two years in developing
the boundaries.
(All other agenda requests were then discussed and additional information may be found
in the regular minutes.)
ADJOURNMENT: Chairman Norman adjourned the briefing at 6:25 P.M.
Approval: o�. ��ic� du
Clerk to the Board