HomeMy WebLinkAboutC.054.93009_2332 (2)the amount of $3,482,608,361. Parker suggested the commissioners request the county attorney to
contact the Attorney General for a ruling on the calculation.
Commissioner Stewart said Cool Springs was just one example. She mentioned the
Monticello VFD had experienced the same problem.
Commissioner Johnson said he was assuming that since a ruling from the Attorney General
was being requested that no litigation had already occurred.
Maurice Jenkins, an officer with the Cool Springs VFD, said he had talked with several state
officials about the matter.
Attorney Pope said the problem was due to the way the statute was written. He said the City
of Statesville had made the computation in accordance with the statute. However, Mr. Pope said
he felt the legislation "literally" defeated the intent of the drafters. Pope said the legislation was
complex and it might be difficult to share it in a fashion that would make the members of the
legislature understand how unfair the computation was for Iredell County.
Commissioner Bowles asked Mr. Pope if the county would be prohibited from changing
the way fire districts were structured if a ruling from the Attorney General was pursued. Pope said
it would not.
MOTION by Commissioner Johnson to instruct the county attorney to request a ruling from
the Attorney eneral in reference to the matter.
VOTING: Ayes - 5; Nays - 0.
Parker said the fire tax board had worked with the fire departments and he felt the
relationship between the VFDs and the county had improved.
Commissioner Johnson thanked Parker and the other fire tax board members for their
assistance. Johnson asked that the commissioners be given a copy of the debt reduction plan a week
or so prior to it being formally presented at a meeting.
Commissioner Stewart asked if the board members would be interested in seeking legislation
to rectify the situation if an unfavorable ruling was issued by the Attorney General.
Representative Mitchell said the matter could be discussed during the short session of the
General Assembly. He said local legislation stood a better chance of being adopted than something
affecting other parts of the state.
PUBLIC HEARINGS
Chairman Tice declared the meeting to be in public hearing session.
PROPOSED MAP & TEXT AMENDMENT -LOOKOUT SHOALS WATERSHED:
Allison said the county had been contacted by the N.C. Department of Environment and Natural
Resources/Division of Water Quality about the reclassification of Lookout Shoals Lake to a WSIV
Watershed. The contact was made due to the City of Statesville requesting to locate a water intake
line off Old Lion Road. Iredell County holds only five percent (5%) of the total watershed,
however, the state requires for the water supply to be protected. Allison said the county was
mandated to amend the map and text. Allison continued by saying the majority of the watershed was
located in Catawba and Alexander Counties. A community meeting was held on November 22,
1999, at Sharon School.
Mr. Allison said the planning board, on December 1, 1999, unanimously recommended
approval of the revisions.
Centralina Council of Governments Planner Bill Duston said the affected areas were already
in a watershed. He said the revisions were minimal. Duston said the area was in the Lake Norman
Watershed and if the changes were adopted they would just be listed in the Lookout Lake
Watershed. He said the state was mandating the changes and if the county did not approve them,
as of January 20, 2000, S10,000 -a -day fine could be imposed.
Commissioner Bowles asked how farmers would be affected.