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HomeMy WebLinkAbout7-9-2019 1 July 9, 2019 IREDELL COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS SPECIAL MEETING MINUTES July 9, 2019 The Iredell County Board of Commissioners met on Thursday, July 9, 2019 at 5:30 PM in the Commissioners’ Meeting Room, Iredell County Government Center, 200 S. Center Street, Statesville, NC. Board of Commissioner Members Present – Chairman James B. Mallory III, Vice Chairman Tommy Bowles, Commissioners Gene Houpe and Marvin Norman County Staff present: County Manager Beth Jones, Assistant County Manager Susan Robertson, Finance Director Deb Alford, County Attorney Lisa Valdez, and Clerk to the Board Retha Gaither. CALL TO ORDER: Chairman James Mallory called the Special Meeting to order and explained that the meeting is to fill a newly vacated Commissioners’ seat for the Iredell County Board of Commissioners. INVOCATION: Chairman Mallory asked everyone to bow their heads for a moment of silence and remember the Turner and Williams’ families. ADJUSTMENTS TO THE AGENDA: Chairman Mallory said today’s meeting is a Special Called Meeting to fill a vacancy on the Board created by the resignation of Commissioner Jeff McNeely to accept the appointment to fill the 84th House District seat vacancy created by the Resignation of Former Representative Rena Turner, in accordance with NCGS 153-817. There were no adjustments to the agenda. MOTION by Commissioner Norman to approve the agenda as presented. VOTING: Ayes – 4; Nays – 0 Chairman Mallory said the sole purpose of the meeting is to appointment a replacement for the seat vacated by Commissioner McNeely. NCGS 153A-827 mandates that the four remaining members of the Board of Commissioners have 60 days of the date of the vacancy to fill the seat. Chairman Mallory explained that the meeting is not open for public comment; all of the Commissioners have received input from various individuals who have indicated a willingness to serve as well as opinions and advice from many other individuals. Each Commissioner has various factors deemed important to them individually and corporately. Many are the same but with different weights ascribed to them. In accordance with NCGA 153A-27 (c), the Board of Commissioners are to consult with the Republican Party Executive Committee, as it is the party of Commissioner McNeely, who has resigned. On July 2, 2019, Chairman James Mallory, on behalf of the Board, sent the following letter to Ron Wyatt, Chairman of the Iredell County Republican Party: 2 July 9, 2019 July 2, 2019 The Honorable Ron “Duck” Wyatt Via Email Chairman, Iredell County Republican Party ltronwyatt@yahoo.com Dear Ron: Yesterday, following the action of the Iredell County Republican Party Executive Committee on June 28, 2019 to nominate County Commissioner Jeff McNeely to fill the balance of Rep resentative Rena Turner’s term of office representing NC House District 84, Commissioner McNeely tendered his resignation from the Iredell County Board of Commissioners. On behalf of the Board of Commissioners, we commend your decision to appoint Mr. McNee ly who has a deep background in the issues of importance to all of the citizens of Iredell County and who will effectively represent the 84 th District from day one. As you know, pursuant to NC General Statute 153A -27(a), when a vacancy is created on the c ounty Board of Commissioners, we have 60 days to appoint a qualified person of the same political party of the person replaced. Pursuant to 153(A)-27 (c), the Board of Commissioners shall consult with the executive committee of the appropriate political p arty, in this case, the Republican Party. Please consider this letter as formal notice of our desire to perform said consultation, and we look forward to your correspondence as to how the Iredell County Republican Executive Committee desires to proceed. Once we have received your correspondence, we will likely set a special session to fill the vacancy as soon as practicable as we want to give the replacement as much time as possible to get up to speed. We appreciate the time and effort that the Iredell County Republican Party Executive Committee has taken to fulfill its duties in these matters and the support of the party organization and volunteers in recruiting and electing the best possible conservative candidates to represent our citizens in all of o ur elected offices. With best regards, I am Sincerely yours, James B. Mallory III Chairman, Iredell County Board of Commissioners Later the same day, July 2, 2019, Chairman Mallory received the following email from Wyatt: Currently we have 5 members of our Executive Board with active Committees to run for County Commissioner in 2020. Only one of those is a current serving county commissioner. There is at least one other candidate with a committee that is active also. That obviously causes some pause as to who to choose. Historically the Commission has chosen to go with a previous Commissioner to fill the term out. Our Executive Committee feels by majority due to previous decisions in past years of previous boards of the County Commissioners and the Executive Committee of the GOP identifying different individuals to serve, we feel the decision of our board has no substantive bearing or direct influence. While we would be most happy to assist in any manner, we feel the most helpful we can be is to stand b y ready if needed for any legwork. We do not feel it prudent or our responsibility to identify a particular named individual. We support the choice of the Iredell County Commissioners to fill the vacant seat with a qualified candidate of your choosing. We have full confidence in your abilities to make a wise and thoughtful choice. Please do not hesitate to let us know if and how we can be of specific assistance if needed. Ronald N. Wyatt Chairman Iredell County Republican Party 3 July 9, 2019 Chairman Mallory said the Board has met all the requirements in NCGS 153A-27 and opened the floor for motions to consider candidates for the position. MOTION by Vice Chairman Bowles to appoint Scottie Brown to the vacant seat of the Iredell County Board of Commissioners. VOTING: Ayes – 2; Nays – 2 (Houpe, Mallory) A majority was not attained and the motion failed. Chairman Mallory said the Boards’ Rules of Procedure allow motions to be made by the Chairman of the County Board of Commissioners. Mallory asked if any member has an issue with him proceeding to make a motion please so indicate. MOTION by Chairman Mallory to appoint Ken Robertson to fill the vacancy immediately. Chairman Mallory said, “We have no hard and fast rule adopted by any present or past Boards. In three out of four past replacements, prior County Commissioners were tapped to fill the remainder of the term. In one instance, the fourth place primary candidate was chosen at a time when a vacancy occurred shortly after the primary and before the general election for a seat which that individual competed for. While there is no precedence, there is a clear track record and a distinguishable timing of this vacancy. The recommendation of the County Executive Committee, although not binding, is a factor to be considered. As noted earlier, the County Executive Committee declined to make a recommendation. Service to the Republican Party and conservative political ideals is another factor. In Ken’s case, he has served many years on the Executive Committee of the Republican Party and been Chairman of the Republican Party. I believe that service to the County and to the community is an important factor. Ken has served for 12 years as a County Commissioner, being elected to three four-year terms in 2004, 2008, and 2012. Service to our Country and a subscription to a Code of Ethics and Values is important to me personally. Ken Robertson retired as a Lieutenant Colonel after 20 years of service in the United States Army as a Field Artillery Officer and having been a Battalion Commander. Understanding business and agricultural is important to me. Ken has managed a career in business and now has a farm in eastern Iredell County where he deals with all the issues with breeding and raising livestock for market. Being ready on day one is important. Ken has been off the Board only two and a half years and was involved in decisions such as the Jail, Public Safety Building, Education , and Parks projects that are only now coming online. He has experience governing during good economic times and bad economic times, which provides invaluable insights as to how we adjust accordingly to changes in the economy. A considerable importance to me is what he can bring to the table as we look to develop a comprehensive transportation plan that compliments and connects our municipal plans that have only recently been adopted, and get them resourced through the Charlotte Transportation Regional Planning Organization (CRTPO). We are at a critical juncture to influence the development of a north-south parkway that can provide relief of the congestion on I-77, that will serve both our citizens and the corridors to support freight traffic. Jeff McNeely served as our primary representative on CRTPO and under today’s system if you want a road built by 2040 or 2045 you better have a plan that can be scored today and over the next 10-15 years be resourced. I know Ken can be effective in this long term effort as he has served as the primary representative of this county on the Board which takes about six months to become comfortable with. In that six month window to develop our own comprehensive plan is upon us now and Ken can be up to speed in a couple of weeks. For these reasons among others I commend to my fellow commissioners for 4 July 9, 2019 their consideration Ken Robertson to fill the balance of Jeff McNeely’s term of office on this board.” Vice Chairman Bowles said, “This particular vacancy on this board was created obviously because Jeff exiting. That leaves a void to be filled. It is our responsibility as the pr esent sitting Commissioners to fill that void. This is not a popularity contest. This is not a chance to get one of your buddies on. This is not a chance to align your ideology with the particular person. It’s not even if you like the guy or not, or girl or not. This board, the entire Board, has considered many names that have been brought forward. I think the two nominations this evening show the two that have been considered the most. The fact that there is precedence that has been set both ways or whether you take the person who run fourth on the ballot or whether you pick someone who has retired or for whatever reason is not sitting on the Board now who has been elected before by the people. I think it is very important that we respect what the people have put forward. With these two nominations I feel like it satisfies the methods of the basis of these two that are candidates for this position.” Commissioner Norman said, “This is not a particular vote against Ken Robertson. I’ve known him and worked with him before but on May 2, 2014, Mr. Robertson made a motion to put Mr. Houpe on this board because he was the fourth highest vote getter behind number three. I feel the same thing about Mr. Scottie Brown. We are going to do what is fair. I am going to try to do what is fair. I am going to leave my vote with Mr. Brown. Nothing against Mr. Robertson. VOTING: Ayes – 3; Nays – 1 (Norman) Chairman Mallory said Ken Robertson has been selected to fill the vacancy of former Commissioner Jeff McNeely effective immediately. At 5:50PM, the Board took a five-minute recess. Upon returning from recess, newly appointed Superior Court Judge Joe Crosswhite administered Commissioner Ken Robertson’s oath of office. After being sworn-in Commissioner Robertson said, “This is the second time I have come to sit in that seat for the first time. The first time I became a County Commissioner I spent 10 years either as Chairman or Vice Chairman of the Republican Party and then later decided to run. When I ran, I remember saying ‘I am going to cut government waste and do all these other lawfully things.’ It is amazing to me, but shouldn’t have been, all those good Republicans that I helped elect for the prior 10 years actually done a really good job at running and managing the Count y. What I found was there wasn’t big bags of money to be saved by eliminating bureaucratic waste. The County was well-lead by a conservative board with a conservative Chairman running the Board. At that time, Joel Mashburn was the County Manager, I would say the County employees were quite well lead at the same time. I come back now, at least not having that naïve vision that somehow there is a bunch of money to be found, to possibly redirect it, simply because I am here. I have only been gone two and half years. The best I can tell, this board continues to be well-lead and has performed well. When we left the Board (sic), we committed to this county that we have done as much as we could to save and pay as you go for two very, very large Capital Projects. We were very open and did not hide the fact that in essence we knew that we tied the hands of future board for two years, maybe three, for having to pay for those projects. I guess what goes around comes around. We will be back in that mix. Being a County Commissioner is about saving a little 5 July 9, 2019 bit here, little bit there, and looking at the future, and trying to plan to do the right thing for the long-term good of the County. There are a lot of needs and there is a lot of wants. Part of the thing that we do is differentiate between the needs and the wants, and make sure we get all the needs taken care of and as many wants as we can. The challenges are going to be great. I am comfortable that I am coming onto a board that is functioning and making good decisions. I want to keep doing the right thing and hope I can help in some way. I would like to thank all the people that help elect me the previous times that I ran and all the republicans that helped when I was party Chairman and Vice Chairman. I thank my two sons. When they were children, they had to be the children of a politician or someone that was politically involved. Part of their work, part of their effort, part of their sacrifice led me to this moment again. They are out serving their Country. My oldest son is with the 101st Airborne at Fort Campbell and my youngest son is serving in the US Army in Iraq. I also want to thank my wife Susan, believe me, in the world of political barbs, spouses bleed way more than the politicians. Thank you to my family and I appreciate everyone that helped me get to this point.” Commissioner Robertson took his seat at the dais and Chairman Mallory opened the floor for a motion to adjourn. MOTION by Commissioner Robertson to adjourn at 6:10PM. VOTING: Ayes – 5; Nays – 0 __________________________________ ___________________________________ Date Approved Amy B. Anderson, Clerk