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January 7, 2020
IREDELL COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
PRE-AGENDA MINUTES
January 7, 2020
The Iredell County Board of Commissioners met in pre-agenda session on Tuesday,
January 7, 2020 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 Mallory
Vice Chairman Tommy Bowles
Gene Houpe
Marvin Norman
Ken Robertson
Staff present: County Manager Beth Jones, County Attorney Lisa Valdez, Deputy County
Manager Susan Robertson, Assistant County Manager Joe Pierce, Finance Director Debra Cheek,
and Clerk to the Board Amy Anderson.
CALL TO ORDER: Chairman James Mallory called the meeting to order.
ADJUSTMENTS TO THE AGENDA:
Commissioner Houpe added, under New Business, a discussion regarding a proposed
resolution.
ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS
Request from South Iredell Volunteer Fire Department to use $5,986 from South
Iredell Rescue Reserve Account to cover the cost of equipment purchased to upgrade the
level of service to Medium Rescue standard: Kent Greene said fire departments serving rescue
providers have a reserve account to buy equipment. South Iredell Volunteer Fire Department is
requesting to deplete their reserve account to upgrade their level of service to Medium Rescue
standard.
Chairman Mallory said this funding is not provided by fire tax, but by the General Fund.
Vice Chairman Bowles noted this is not creating a new rescue district.
This item was placed on consent.
Request from Parks & Recreation for approval to apply for a Parks & Recreation
Trust Fund Grant in the amount of $425,000: Michelle Hepler requested approval to apply for
a Parks & Recreation Trust Fund Grant. It is considered a reimbursement grant for the land
acquisition of the Recreation Center. The property was purchased and waiver of retroactivity was
received in December 2018 to qualify the purchase as the match.
Vice Chairman Bowles asked if the grant funding can be spent anywhere in Parks and
Recreation.
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January 7, 2020
Hepler said yes.
This item was placed on consent.
Chairman Mallory asked for an update on the grand opening of the East Iredell Lions Club.
Hepler said there will be a Grand Opening and Ribbon Cutting on Saturday, January 25,
2020 at the East Iredell Lions Club. In honor of the Lions Club’s ham breakfast events, a ham
breakfast will be held at 9:30am. Remarks and ribbon cutting will take place at 10:15am.
Commissioner Robertson asked if there is a ball field behind the Lions Club.
Hepler said the field needs some work and estimated it would cost $50,000 to get the field
in shape.
Commissioner Robertson asked who worked on the exterior and the signage.
Hepler said the County’s Facility Service Department.
Commissioner Robertson complimented the department on their wonderful work. It was a
great enhancement to the River Hill Road area. Robertson suggested that the field could be
revamped and used as a practice field for children in the area.
Request from the Finance Department for approval of a 5-year lease for space in the
rear parking lot at Register of Deeds to place a NC State Employees Credit Union ATM and
adoption of a resolution to rent space with authorization for the County Manager to sign a
mutually agreeable lease agreement: Dean Lail said the County previously provided space for
the State Employees Credit Union to place an ATM on the Register of Deeds parking lot near
Constitution Lane. The area became too congested because of construction of the jail. Staff
considered a new space last year, but the Board had concerns over the location and the
accessibility. At that time, the Board asked staff to consider other locations. Lail said a space on
the northwest corner of the Register of Deeds parking lot is now being considered. There is a
dumpster currently on site. As directed by the Board, staff had a meeting with key partners in the
area and everyone agreed it would be a good site. Lail said Register of Deeds Ron Wyatt will not
be using that space and it should not interfere in his operations. State Employees Credit Union will
be absorbing the cost of putting the m achine in place and in turn would like an 8-year lease, with
the initial term being 5-years. The credit union will pay $150 per month for the lease. If the Credit
Union exercises the three-year option the lease will automatically go up to $200 per month for the
three years. At the end of the eight years, the Board will be able to look at the space again. Lail
also requested authorization for the County Manager to sign the lease once the contract has been
reviewed by the County Attorney.
Vice Chairman Bowles asked if the ATM is walk-up.
Lail said yes. There will be two handicap spaces and one regular parking space.
Commissioner Norman asked when the ATM will be placed at the location.
Lail said approximately July 2020.
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January 7, 2020
Vice Chairman Bowles said it is important not to tie up any property that may be needed
in the future.
Chairman Mallory said the point was to find a location that would stand the test of time
while being centrally located to provide services and not be located on the periphery of an area
that very well might be impact by future construction.
Chairman Mallory thanked the staff and Wyatt for working together.
Request from Clerk to the Board for approval of the minutes from the meeting on
December 3, 2019: There were two corrections.
This item was placed on consent.
ANNOUNCEMENTS OF VACANCIES ON BOARDS & COMMISSIONS
(None)
APPOINTMENTS TO BOARDS & COMMISSIONS
(None)
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
(None)
NEW BUSINESS
Commissioner Houpe distributed a sample resolution and asked for consensus to direct
staff and the County Attorney to look into a potential resolution. Due to recent events in
Virginia, several counties in the State have passed resolutions showing support of the
constitution, particularly the Second Amendment Constitutional Rights Protection County.
Houpe asked the Board to consider a resolution that would make Iredell County a Second
Amendment Constitutional Rights Protection County. Houpe said passing a resolution would
show the Board’s support of the Constitution and that the Iredell County government would not
allow gun confiscation or other restrictions that infringe on the right to keep and bear arms by
law abiding citizens as expressed in the Second Amendment in United States Constitution. It
would further assert that the Iredell County government would use every legal means necessary
to protect the Second Amendment Rights.
Chairman Mallory feels it is appropriate to look at a resolution, particularly as it relates to
the County’s restrictions. Mallory said the Board needs to insure that the resolution is consistent
to the extent that it is not consistent with the County’s current policy, to modify accordingly if
the Board is going to generally support the right of the County’s citizens to bear arms. There is
always an exception to a rule.
Commissioner Norman said Sheriff Darren Campbell plans to present a resolution at the
Board’s next meeting. Norman asked Houpe to work with Sheriff Campbell.
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January 7, 2020
Commissioner Houpe will ask Sheriff Campbell to work with Jones and Valdez on a
resolution. The resolution can then be disbursed to the Board for review.
Commissioner Robertson, a member of the National Rifle Association, does not like the
idea a law making a citizen who enjoys the privileges of the Second Amendment into a criminal.
Robertson feels it would be more appropriate to consider the resolution if a situation is brewing
in the State. If the resolution it passed now, it may not have as much as an impact. Robertson
said it would appropriate if the State government tried to dissert the Second Amendment of the
Constitution.
Commissioner Houpe said it may be good to have the resolution ready for future use.
Chairman Mallory asked staff to get back with the Board as it relates to being consistent
with current policy.
COUNTY MANANGERS REPORT
County Manager Beth Jones gave an update on the following items:
The Public Library – Statesville Branch is closed this week in order to relocate to the first
level. The other branches are open.
Property tax listings began on January 2 and extends through January 31.
The Annual Employee/Retiree luncheon is Tuesday, January 14, 2020 at the Statesville
Civic Center from 11am – 1:30pm.
Parks and Recreation’s Biennial Report is now available.
East Iredell Lion’s Club Ribbon Cutting and Grand Opening will be Saturday, January 25
at 9:30am. In honor of the East Iredell Lion’s Club ham breakfast, Parks and Recreation
will host a ham breakfast before the remarks.
The Board adjourned pre-agenda at 5:45PM.
IREDELL COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
REGULAR MINUTES
January 7, 2020
The Iredell County Board of Commissioners met in regular session on Tuesday, January
7, 2020 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 Mallory
Vice Chairman Tommy Bowles
Gene Houpe
Marvin Norman
Ken Robertson
Staff present: County Manager Beth Jones, County Attorney Lisa Valdez, Deputy County
Manager Susan Robertson, Assistant County Manager Joe Pierce, Finance Director Debra Cheek,
and Clerk to the Board Amy Anderson.
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January 7, 2020
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
Commissioner Houpe added, under New Business, a discussion regarding a proposed
resolution.
MOTION by Commissioner Norman to approve the agenda as presented.
VOTING: Ayes – 5; Nays – 0
Chairman Mallory noted that Commissioner Houpe is attending the meeting remotely.
PRESENTATION OF SPECIAL RECOGNITIONS & AWARDS
(None)
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 South Iredell Volunteer Fire Department to use $5,986 from the
South Iredell Rescue Reserve Account to cover the cost of equipment purchased to
upgrade the level of service to the Medium Rescue standard. #280/2019
Request from Parks & Recreation for approval to apply for a Parks & Recreation
Trust Fund Grant in the amount of $425,000. #282/2019
Request from the Finance Department for approval of a 5-year lease for space in
the rear parking lot at Register of Deeds to place a NC State Employees Credit
Union ATM and adoption of a resolution to rent space with authorization for the
County Manager to sign a mutually agreeable lease agreement. #283/2019
Request from Clerk to the Board for approval of the minutes from the meeting on
December 3, 2019. #1/2020
MOTION by Commissioner Norman to approve the consent agenda.
VOTING: Ayes – 5; Nays – 0
ANNOUNCEMENT OF VACANCIES OCCURING ON BOARDS & COMMISSIONS
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January 7, 2020
(None)
APPOINTMENTS TO BOARD AND COMMISSIONS
Personnel Advisory Committee – 3 appointments
Darlene Tucker, Michael Bennett, and Amber Hagedorn have volunteered to serve for the
first time.
Commissioner Robertson said there was an unusual high number of extremely competent
and well qualified applicants. The Board looks for applicants to have experience in human
resources and management. Robertson said it was difficult to narrow the applicants down to three.
Chairman Mallory said it is great to have these types of difficult decisions and encouraged
the other applicants to apply in the future as there are many opportunities to serve on boards and
committees.
MOTION by Commissioner Robertson to appoint the abovementioned to the Personnel
Advisory Committee.
VOTING: Ayes – 5; Nays – 0
Transportation Advisory Board – 2 appointments
Erika Martin and Pamela Siegfred volunteered to serve for the first time.
MOTION by Vice Chairman Bowles to appoint the abovementioned to the Transportation
Advisory Board.
VOTING: Ayes – 5; Nays – 0
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
(None)
PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD
(None)
NEW BUSINESS
(None)
COUNTY MANAGER’S REPORT
County Manager Beth Jones gave an update on the following items:
The Public Library – Statesville Branch is closed this week in order to relocate to the first
level. The other branches are open.
Property tax listings began on January 2 and extends through January 31.
The Annual Employee/Retiree luncheon is Tuesday, January 14, 2020 at the Statesville
Civic Center from 11am – 1:30pm.
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January 7, 2020
Parks and Recreation’s Biennial Report is now available.
East Iredell Lion’s Club Ribbon Cutting and Grand Opening will be Saturday, January 25
at 9:30am. In honor of the East Iredell Lion’s Club ham breakfast, Parks and Recreation
will host a ham breakfast before the remarks.
CLOSED SESSION
(None)
ADJOURNMENT
MOTION by Commissioner Houpe to adjourn at 7:12PM. The next regular meeting will
be January 21, 2020, 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