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HomeMy WebLinkAbout5-21-2019 1 May 21, 2019 IREDELL COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS PRE-AGENDA MINUTES May 21, 2019 The Iredell County Board of Commissioners met in pre-agenda session on Tuesday, May 21, 2019 at 5:00 PM, in the Commissioners’ Meeting Room located in the Iredell County Government Center 200 South Center Street, Statesville, NC. Board Members Present Chairman James B. Mallory III Vice Chairman Tommy Bowles Gene Houpe Jeff McNeely Marvin Norman Staff present: County Manager Beth Jones, County Attorney Lisa Valdez, Deputy County Manager Susan Robertson, Assistant County Manager Joe Pierce and Clerk to the Board Amy Anderson. CALL TO ORDER: Chairman James Mallory called the meeting to order. ADJUSTMENTS TO THE AGENDA: Remove: Economic Development from Closed Session. ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS Request from the Health Department for approval to authorize the Health Director to sign the multi-year Safe Kids Agreement: Norma Rife said the request is to allow Jane Hinson sign the Safe Kids Coalition agreement. This would allow the Health Department become affiliated with the Safe Kids Worldwide Coalition. The agreement will open up grant opportunities, access to health risk reduction materials and tools, and access evidence base practices to deploy locally. With the affiliation, the Health Department would have access to occasional car seats, smoke and carbon monoxide alarms, helmets, and personal floatation devices. Access is dependent on the Safe Kids Coalition North Carolina. The overall goal of the coalition is to help families and communities keep kids safe from injuries. This goal is in alignment with a current position at the Health Department. The person is that position is already responsible for what is in the department’s strategic plan and what the Board of Health approved for the Infant/Child/Youth Reduction Programming. The department has put a task force in place. The Safe Kids Coalition aligns well with this task force. The agreement requires that the department devote at least 20 hours per week for coalition duties. These hours are already built into the position. Safe Kids North Carolina has over 60 agreements. The agreement has been pre-audited. Chairman Mallory asked if the current position is using 20 hours per week in the same focus. Rife said the position has the mission and vision. Chairman Mallory asked if surrounding counties are a part of the agreement. 2 May 21, 2019 Rife said yes. She will provide a list of the surrounding counties to the Board. There are 67 counties in NC that are considered Safe Kids counties. Vice Chairman Bowles does not anticipate the County having to get out of the contract, however, it can be done with a 30-day notice. This item was placed on consent. Request from Solid Waste for approval to temporarily waive fees for mulch and compost, and make such products available to citizens and commercial customers: Solid Waste Director David Lambert requested to waive loading fees on mulch and compost. There is a huge amount of both at the landfill due in part to storms earlier in the year and the start of construction of phase six at the landfill. Space is shrinking as it is filling up. Space is needed for staging equipment. This is going to be the deepest excavation, 100 million cubic yards of soil is set to be removed and stockpiled somewhere. The department would like to open the mulch and compost to citizens and commercial customers. The department plans to advertise to be able to get the products moved as quickly as possible. Chairman Mallory said the landfill is an impressive operation. Vice Chairman Bowles agreed. This item was placed on consent. Request from Department of Social Services for approval of the Department of Health and Human Services/Iredell County Memorandum of Understanding (FY19 -20) pursuant to NCGS 108A-74: Donna Rufty requested approval of the 2019/20 Memorandum of Understanding for performing measures to be entered again between the County and the Department of Health and Human Services. This is mandated by session law. There really are not any changes from the recent amendment. The department is still operating on growth in the areas of Child Welfare, Adult Protective Services, but Child Support, Food and Nutrition Benefits, Energy Program, and two categories in the Workfirst Program are measureable. The State feels the data is accurate, so they are moving forward with those 13 factors of holding the county’s “feet to the fire” and implementing the contract in those areas. Commissioner Houpe said the MOU is another unfunded mandate and asked if there is a way to track what the MOU requires from staff. Rufty said staff can try to track, but there is not a reliable data when it comes to the programs, since the transition of the NC Fast system. The biggest concern is meeting the standard so staff will not have to experience any of the issues and valued staff can be kept. Commissioner Houpe expressed sincere appreciation to the DSS staff. Vice Chairman Bowles said until 108A is changed there is not a lot anyone can do. Jones said the County was already doing most things outlined in the MOU, but it sets the quantity at such an unattainable level. The work is being done well. The goals and percentages that the department has to reach, while being dependent on other agencies to do their job and to come 3 May 21, 2019 back for staff to do theirs. Staff cannot control the time in which other agenci es take to do their party of the work, but yet DSS is being held accountable for all of it. Commissioner Houpe is against regionalization of DSS because counties like Iredell that are working hard and carrying their load will be given someone else’s headache. Commissioner McNeely asked what this has done to the morale in DSS. When legislation is passed like this the good has to suffer with the bad. Rufty said a few staff members feel that people are trying to terminate them no matter how hard work. It does not do a lot for the morale. A lot of staff feel that the State is trying to take over the program no matter what they do. Rufty tries to reassure staff that they are doing a good job. The children and citizens who benefit from DSS programs are kept at the forefront because that is why staff is here. Chairman Mallory said staff should remain focused on providing services to the citizens of this county. They are all metric-driven hard number goals that come down from the Federal Government. For programs, staff is dependent on clients providing documentation and that documentation is not always provided. NC Fast is not intuitive and has constant bugs. DSS deals with humans and humans are not easily quantifiable and do not fit a metric. Commissioner McNeely said this process reminds him of the State’s education system. Students are taught how to take a test so they can past a certain test and they are moved to the next grade and taught how to take and pass that grade’s test. The County has good representation in Raleigh and that must continue beating the drum saying this is not what needs to be done. This item was placed on consent. Request from Department of Social Services for approval of a 36-month renewal subscription to WESTLAW Legal Research: Attorney Christopher Main said the request is for a 36-month renewal with WESTLAW. WESTLAW is a resource that the two DSS attorneys use for legal research. The rate for the agreement is very similar to the prior contract. Main surveyed other attorney’s and the County is currently paying less than other counties. The program is used on a monthly basis and is a cost savings of time, efforts, and efficiencies. Chairman Mallory asked if the program is limited to DSS. Main said the contract is specific to users. Main and Adam Hilton are current users at DSS. It does cost more to add additional users. Vice Chairman Bowles asked if the monthly rate will change during the contract. Main said the cost should not increase significantly. The attorney’s also receive State and Federal Rules of Procedure each year with the subscription each year. Commissioner Norman asked if the contract is cost effective since the program is not used daily. Main feels that it is. By using the program, the attorneys save a lot of time and effort. The closest law library is at Wake Forest University. It takes significantly longer to manually research versus 4 May 21, 2019 doing a word search in the program. WESTLAW also ensures that case law is accurate and up-to- date. It is a very useful tool. This item was placed on consent. Request from Parks and Recreation for approval of budget amendment #38 for Contingency Appropriation in the amount of $19,377, to replace summer camp and ropes course items: Parks and Recreation Director Michelle Hepler requested approval of budget amendment #38 in the amount of $19,377 to replace summer camp and ropes course items. The items include life jackets, climbing harnesses, climbing ropes, and helmets and all have nylon. The integrity of these pieces have been jeopardized when destroyed in storage. The transfer would go into Parks and Recreation supply line for the ropes course items and to the Camp Iredell line for the majority of the life jackets. Chairman Mallory asked where the items were being stored. Jones said the items were stored in the basement of the Government Center South and were water damaged. There is work being done to dry in the water intrusion. Hepler said there were a number of items that were not lifesaving that staff was able to clean, sanitize, and remove from the building. Commissioner McNeely asked if the Boy Scouts could possibly use the equipment. Jones said the items are not salvageable. This item was placed on consent. BA#38 5/21/2019 To appropriate contingency to replace items in the Parks and Recreation Department. Account # Current Budget Change Amended Budget 105480 530200 Contingency 147,206 (19,377) 127,829 105655 535020 Recreation Supplies 24,050 15,227 39,277 105655 544202 Camp Iredell 44,730 4,150 48,880 Request from Parks and Recreation for approval of an Interlocal Agreement with the Town of Troutman to provide better recreation opportunities for town and county residents through park facilities: Parks and Recreation Director Michelle Hepler requested approval of an Inter-local agreement with the Town of Troutman to provide improved recreational facilities for the County and Town residents through park facilities. There has been an existing agreement for a number of years. The proposed agreement does have some minor revisions. The agreement does not require any additional funds from the County. The County saves funds by using shared resources. The revised agreement will provide the framework for the partnership and strengthen the collaborative effort between the County and Town for events, programs, and facility usage relative to Parks and Recreation for the community. 5 May 21, 2019 This item was placed on consent. Request from Finance for approval of a budget amendment #37 to appropriate additional Juvenile Crime Prevention Council (JCPC) funds to Piedmont Mediation: Finance Director Debra Cheek said Piedmont Mediation made application to the State for discretionary funds that are available and were awarded $2,510. The funds will be used to purchase a desk and computer. This will help Piedmont Medication open an office space in Mooresville. They currently do not have an office there. They currently meet with juveniles at various public places. Their match will go towards providing a space so that they can meet in a more secure location. Chairman Mallory asked for the new location. Cheek did not know but will find out and let the Board know. This item was placed on consent. BA#37 5/21/2019 To appropriate additional discretionary funding for JCPC to Piedmont Mediation for computers and office equipment. Account # Current Budget Change Amended Budget 304486 434110 JCPC Discretionary Funds - (2,510) (2,510) 395486 563630 Piedmont Mediation - JCPC 50,000 2,510 52,510 Request from Tax Administration for approval of April Refunds and Releases: This item was placed on consent. ANNOUNCEMENTS OF VACANCIES ON BOARDS & COMMISSIONS Chairman Mallory said there is a number of vacancies occurring on boards and committees. Some appointments are specialized. Clerk to the Board Amy Anderson explained that some boards/committees have a number of vacancies, some being the entire board. Jones explained the vacancies will also be listed on the County’s website and Facebook page. The vacancies will be announced during the 7PM regular meeting. APPOINTMENTS TO BOARDS & COMMISSIONS (None) NEW BUSINESS (None) COUNTY MANANGERS REPORT 6 May 21, 2019 County Manager Beth Jones gave updates on the following items: Chairman Mallory moved into Closed Session at 5:55PM. IREDELL COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS REGULAR MINUTES May 21, 2019 The Iredell County Board of Commissioners met in regular session on Tuesday, May 21, 2019 at 7:00 PM, in the Commissioners’ Meeting Room of the Iredell County Government Center, 200 South Center Street, Statesville, NC. Board Members Present Chairman James B. Mallory III Vice Chairman Tommy Bowles Gene Houpe Jeff McNeely Marvin Norman Staff present: County Manager Beth Jones, County Attorney Lisa Valdez, Deputy County Manager Susan Robertson, Assistant County Manager Joe Pierce, and Clerk to the Board Amy Anderson. CALL TO ORDER by Chairman Mallory. INVOCATION: Chairman Mallory asked everyone to bow their heads for a moment of silence or reflection. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE led by Chairman Mallory. ADJUSTMENTS TO THE AGENDA Remove: Economic Development from Closed Session MOTION by Commissioner Norman to approve the agenda as adjusted. VOTING: Ayes – 5; Nays – 0 PRESENTATION OF SPECIAL RECOGNITIONS & AWARDS Recognition of May 19 – 25, 2019 as Emergency Medical Services Week: EMS Director Blair Miller said this is the 45th anniversary of EMS week. As established by President Gerald Ford in 1974, EMS seeks to acknowledge the service provided by EMS as well as their partners, first responders, law enforcement, emergency room nurses, and telecommunicators. Chairman Mallory expressed appreciation for what EMS does every single day, responding 24/7. It is a team of teams. Iredell County is very fortunate to have the caliber and character of such great organizations. The high standards of care is reflected in the building in which EMS occupies. That is testament to the appreciation of the people of Iredell County and the Board for the services provided on a daily basis. EMS WEEK PROCLAMATION To designate the Week of May 19 - 25, 2019 as Emergency Medical Services Week 7 May 21, 2019 WHEREAS, emergency medical services is a vital public service; and WHEREAS, the members of emergency medical services teams are ready to provide lifesaving care to those in need 24 hours a day, seven days a week; and WHEREAS, access to quality emergency care dramatically improves the survival and recovery rate of those who experience sudden illness or injury; and WHEREAS, the emergency medical services system consists of first responders, emergency medical technicians, paramedics, firefighters, educators, administrators, emergency nurses, emergency physicians, and others; and WHEREAS, the members of emergency medical services teams, whether career or volunteer, engage in thousands of hours of specialized training and continuing education to enhance their lifesaving skills; and WHEREAS, Iredell County desires to continue to improve upon its emergency medical services system in order to assure all citizens the highest standards of emergency medical care; WHEREAS, it is appropriate to recognize the value and the accomplishments of emergency medical services providers by designating Emergency Medical Services Week; now THEREFORE, the Iredell County Board of Commissioners in recognition of this event do hereby pro claim the week of May 19- 25, 2019, as EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES WEEK With the theme, Stronger Together, we encourage the community to observe this week with appropriate programs, ceremonies and activities. APPOINTMENTS BEFORE THE BOARD (None) PUBLIC HEARINGS (None) ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS County Manager Beth Jones summarized the items that were placed on the consent agenda as follows:  Request from the Health Department for approval to authorize the Health Director to sign the multi-year Safe Kids Agreement.  Request from Solid Waste for approval to temporarily waive fees for mulch and compost, and make such products available to citizens and commercial customers.  Request from Department of Social Services for approval of the Department of Health and Human Services/Iredell County Memorandum of Understanding (FY 19-20) pursuant to NCGS 108A-74.  Request from Department of Social Services for approval of a 36-month renewal subscription to WESTLAW Legal Research.  Request from Parks and Recreation for approval of a renewal forty-year lease agreement with Duke Energy for Stumpy Creek Park.  Request from Parks and Recreation for approval of budget amendment #38 for Contingency Appropriation in the amount of $19,377, to replace summer camp and ropes course items.  Request from Parks and Recreation for approval of an Interlocal Agreement with the Town of Troutman to provide better recreational opportunities for town and county residents through park facilities. 8 May 21, 2019  Request from Finance for approval of budget amendment #37 to appropriate additional Juvenile Crime Prevention Council (JCPC) funds to Piedmont Mediation.  Request from Tax Administration for approval of April Refunds and Releases. MOTION by Commissioner Norman to approve the consent agenda. VOTING: Ayes – 5; Nays – 0 ANNOUNCEMENT OF VACANCIES OCCURING ON BOARDS & COMMISSIONS Adult Care Home Community Advisory Committee - 11 announcements Animal Grievance - 3 announcements Centralina Workforce Development Board - 1 announcement Farmland Preservation Advisory Board - 1 announcement Home & Health Community Care Block Grant - 2 announcements I-CARE Board of Directors - 2 announcements Industrial Facilities & Pollution Control Financing Authority - 3 announcements Jury Commission - 1 announcement Juvenile Crime Prevention Council - 1 announcement Mitchell Community College Board of Trustees - 1 announcement Nursing Home Advisory Board - 8 announcements Partners Behavioral Board of Directors - 2 announcements Planning Board - 3 announcements Region F Aging Advisory Committee- 3 announcements Statesville Board of Adjustment - 1 announcement Troutman Board of Adjustment - 1 announcement Troutman Planning Board - 2 announcements Jones said the announcements will be listed on the County’s website and Facebook page. It is important for people to volunteer and participate. Commissioner Houpe asked if the board or committees let staff know if there are people serving now wish to continue serving. Jones said as staff goes through the process the proper entity is contacted. A list of individuals who are eligible and are willing to be reappointed will be provided. APPOINTMENTS TO BOARD AND COMMISSIONS (None) UNFINISHED BUSINESS (None) PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD No one wished to speak. NEW BUSINESS (None) 9 May 21, 2019 COUNTY MANAGER’S REPORT County Manager Beth Jones gave updates on the following items:  Ethics Training for Elected Officials webinar will be held tomorrow May 22 at 10am in the South Wing Conference Room.  Public hearing for the FY19-20 budget is June 4, 2019 at 7PM in the Commissioners’ Meeting Room. A copy of the budget is available on the website.  County offices will be closed Monday, May 30 Chairman Mallory added the Memorial Day is a day to honor thos e who gave the last full measure of their devotion to their county. Memorial Day originated after the Civil War. It is a day of somber reflection and remembrance of those who made that ultimate sacrifice and the families that supported them. CLOSED SESSIONS Chairman Mallory said a Closed Session relating to Personnel G.S. 143-318.11 (a) (6) was held immediately following the pre-agenda meeting. ADJOURNMENT MOTION by Commissioner Norman to adjourn at 7:18PM. The next regular meeting will be Tuesday, June 4, 2019, 5:00 PM, in the Commissioners’ Meeting Room, Government Center, 200 South Center Street, Statesville, NC. VOTING: Ayes – 5; Nays – 0 __________________________________ ___________________________________ Date Approved Amy B. Anderson, Clerk