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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1-19-2021 1 January 19, 2021 IREDELL COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS PRE-AGENDA SESSION January 19, 2021 The Iredell County Board of Commissioners met in pre-agenda session on Tuesday, January 19, 2021 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 Chair Melissa Neader Scottie Brown Gene Houpe Board Members Participating Remotely Marvin Norman Staff present: County Manager Beth Jones, County Attorney Lisa Valdez, Deputy County Manager Susan Robertson, Assistant County Manager Joe Pierce, Finance Director Deb Cheek, and Clerk to the Board Amy Anderson. CALL TO ORDER: Chairman James Mallory called the meeting to order. ADJUSTMENTS TO THE AGENDA: There were no adjustments to the agenda. ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS Request from Solid Waste for approval of a budget transfer to purchase two new road tractors: Solid Waste Director David Lambert requested approval of a budget transfer in order to purchase two road tractors. The road tractors are used to transport waste from the Mooresville Transfer Station to the Twin Oaks Facility. It is essential to have four trucks each day, allowing three to be in transit and one being loaded. Currently, continuous mechanical problems has limited the use of four trucks to approximately 75% of the time. This results in excessive overtime of drivers and landfill staff and difficulty in keeping waste flow moving. This item was placed on consent. Request from Iredell-Statesville Schools for approval for Iredell County to make application to the Local Government Commission to issue debt not to exceed $8,865,000: James said, “I will brag on Iredell-Statesville Schools. There are 11 school systems in the State that have been able to maintain students in their buildings since October 5, 2020 and we are the largest that has been able to do that consistently. We have done that by a lot of hard work and extra labor from our maintenance department bringing fresh air in. That prevents the concentration of viral spread within our buildings. Of course, as it gets colder it is going to be difficult to maintain that ratio. The bipolar ionization is a technology will kill viruses. We anticipate it even helping during flu season. We have been a part of ABC Science Collaborative for about four months. We were one of the original school systems that joined. They keep us to speed weekly. Sometimes twice a week. A lot of the data that has come out of Iredell -Statesville Schools has been used by the CDC and Department of Health & Human Services to continue to allow schools to operate in 2 January 19, 2021 the State. We are proud of the data. The spread within our schools is less than 1%. Our fear is quarantine and taking out so many teachers that we have to shut a school. We are on the razor edge of two schools. If we can make it through this week, I think it will be okay. I am going to say we will make it through this week and pray that we will. Taking those teachers out during quarantine is what hurts us, because we don’t have anyone to teach the kids. We can always go virtual, but we know putting children at home is going to increase the spread because that is where it is occurring: in neighborhoods, birthdays, etc. When people congregate together and remove their mask. That is where COVID is occurring. I think we have been very prudent. Immunologist are saying that unfortunately, COVID19 is the beginning. We always heard about a global economy. We are there. If something happens in China today, it can be here within 24 hours. We are a world economy whether we wanted to be or not, we are. Our fears are as new viruses come out we need to be ahead of the curve, not behind it. All the science behind bio….we are being told it is a way to push us to the front of the pack and keep kids in school. We are doing air quality tests at Brawley IB School and that is where the company will put the first set of equipment in. We will do air quality checks after the equipment is in to check viral counts and contaminants to make sure it is going to work before we proceed.” James said, “We have 37 schools and some are in better condition to bring outside air in and to maintain building conditions. We have picked the 20 older schools that really cannot bring the mixture of outside air in. Again, we can pay for this upfront. We want the taxpayers and you to understand that, but we will deplete all of our savings and just about the time we do we will have a major repair and we would have to come back to you to ask for money. We choose not to do that. Again, you have asked for a commitment and I have talked with my board and submitted a letter of commitment. We will do our best to pay this…It does not behoove any of us to spend money on interest, but again if we move the project forward we are going to lose $350,000 in rebates that are not guaranteed moving forward. The sooner we can complete the project the sooner we will start seeing the energy savings. We assure you that the energy savings we find will be put back into paying off the loan. Our goal is your goal – to pay the loan off as soon as possible and move forward with other projects. We think this saves taxpayer dollars and it is a wise investment. It is just like our church…we have to hire someone from outside to put up ballast. We pay someone $45-50 each time to work on a light. In fact, we just put in LED lights in our church. They have a 10-year minimum life. We will not touch another light bulb for 10 years. We were smart, for four bulbs, we are only burning two. When those burn out we turn the other two on and wait another 10 years. So, 20 years of having bulbs in. The fixtures really do not break down. All of the technology is in the bulb. Right now LED prices are down. When everyone starts going to LED the price is going to increase. Again, by doing it upfront we can realize the savings much quicker than trying to do this over a period of five years. Here is one thing most people do not understand and I want to make sure I say this correctly. We are not reducing the electrician. He is a very valuable person but because of the ballast involved and the electrical wiring, we have to use an electrician to change bulbs and ballasts. That is, with benefits, a $60,000 job. There are other work orders he could be working on for classroom teachers that are a lot more effective to provide support for the learning atmosphere. We are not going to reduce that position; we are actually going to use him as an electrician, once this project is complete, if you approve it.” Commissioner Brown asked the timeline of the proposed project. Dr. Kenny Miller said, “Eight months from when we start. There will be multiple contractors. One general contractor with subs that will come in at night.” 3 January 19, 2021 James said, “They are a bonded contractor. That is one of the things that my board asked. We always try to make sure anyone we use is bonded, at least a percentage of what the contract is. This is a reputable company. I think Kenny had 16 or 18 bids initially.” Chairman Mallory asked about the timeline for the control system and filter system. Miller said, “We would like to get started as soon as possible because we want to do the controls and boiler changes this summer when we are not in school. There will be some physical tearing down of boilers. We would like to get that portion of it going at the same time. The other reason we did design build because they can have multiple projects going on at the same time. The filtration system is installed in the existing equipment but there are some modifications on the equipment. It goes in the duct work.” Chairman Mallory asked if the filtration system could start earlier. Miller said, “We are hoping to do all three at the same time but they will be parallel. Different companies will be doing different things.” James said, “The Company is committed to us because this is a big project for them, once they hit a win here there will be other districts that sign on. LED is a no brainer for any of us. Duke Power is trying to push us into LED to reduce the power footprint as we move into smart energy.” Commissioner Brown asked if the contractor could start the project once the Board gives approval. James said, “Once you tell us we will have the money we will tell the contractors to start. We do have money in our capital account.” Commissioner Brown said fresh air is the main concern right now. James said, “The slowest part will be the LGC and paperwork. It will probably be 30-45 days at best. Once Beth calls and tells me it is a done deal, we will tell them to get started. With what we already have in capital funding and lottery money we can go ahead and start. We are repurposing our lottery money again, about $1.4 million contrary to what the website says. If you can find the $10 million it says we get please let me know.” Commissioner Houpe said the previous board was asked to look at the project along with other options. Duke Power came in as a mutual arbitrator. The schools feel they can pay it off in less than five years. Also, they agreed if they got it down to no more than 5 and rolled the savings back in. That was the best option. The School Board has given a commitment to pay it off as fast as possible. James said, “We feel $800,000 - $900,000 based on what we are seeing. Of course, with the controls. Again, it would behoove us to pay it off because we do not want to use tax payer money to pay interest. I think this saves money at the end of the day.” Chairman Mallory expressed appreciation to Dr. James for addressing the Board’s concerns. Three to five years is an acceptable range and the school system is focused on a three- year pay back. Capital dollars cannot be spent for operational expenses which includes 4 January 19, 2021 maintenance. Operational dollars can be turned into capital dollars. The Board had some initial concerns on how that would play out, but these are all on the operational side of the budget. This item will be presented again at 7pm. Request from Tax Administration for approval of December 2020 Refunds and Releases: This item was placed on consent. Request from the Clerk to the Board for approval of minutes from t he meeting on January 5, 2021: There were no additions or corrections. This item was placed on consent. Iredell County Economic Development Corporation President & CEO Jenn Bosser introduced Chad Thomas as the Director of Business Recruitment. APPOINTMENTS TO BOARDS & COMMISSIONS OLD BUSINESS (None) NEW BUSINESS (None) COUNTY MANAGER’S REPORT County Manager Beth Jones provided an update on the following: • COVID19 testing is continuously being offered at various locations throughout the County every day of the week except Sunday. A calendar is available on the County website. • COVID19 Vaccinations: The Health Department has transitioned from close contact tracing to vaccinations. The State is now doing the close contact tracing. There have been a couple of clinics thus far and 476 people were vaccinated. Two clinics are scheduled this week, tomorrow at Stumpy Creek Park (10am – 3pm) and Thursday at Hebron Baptist Church (10am – 3pm). The County is following State and Federal tier system for who can receive the vaccinations. Currently, healthcare workers, and residents and workers in long-term healthcare facilities. The State recently added individuals 75 and over to that category. Jones explained information is constantly changing and staff is working diligently to keep the County website updated with the latest information. • Call Center: The Health Department has seen a huge fluctuation in calls. Staff is in the process of creating a call center. Health Department staff needs to be able to focus on administering the vaccines. The number will be published soon and will be open 8am – 5pm, Monday – Friday. 5 January 19, 2021 CLOSED SESSION (None) The Board recessed at 5:55pm. IREDELL COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS REGULAR MINUTES January 19, 2021 The Iredell County Board of Commissioners met in regular session on Tuesday, January 19, 2021 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 Chair Melissa Neader Scottie Brown Gene Houpe Board Members Participating Remotely Marvin Norman 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 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 There were no adjustments to the agenda. MOTION by Commissioner Brown to approve the agenda as presented. VOTING: Ayes – 5; Nays – 0 PRESENTATION OF SPECIAL RECOGNITIONS & AWARDS Recognition and presentation of plaque to former Register of Deeds Ron Wyatt: Chairman Mallory recognized former Register of Deeds Ron “Duck” Wyatt for his service to the County from August 2016 – January 2021. Wyatt is a lifelong public servant and recently accepted the position of Town Manager in Troutman. 6 January 19, 2021 Commissioner Brown expressed appreciation to Wyatt for his service to the County and community. APPOINTMENTS BEFORE THE BOARD Presentation of Conceptual Plan for Improvements to the Entrance of the Twin Oaks Solid Waste Facility: Solid Waste Director David Lambert introduced Ben Clawson and Brian Kraynak from Municipal Engineering Services. Clawson presented the preliminary Conceptual Plan for Improvements to the Entrance of the Twin Oaks Solid Waste Facility. The plan aims to increase the ease of use and efficiency to residential and commercial users while decreasing safety hazards created by traffic backups. The plan includes an additional scale, lanes, bypass lane for County transfer trucks, and a backup generator for the scale house. MOTION by Commissioner Houpe to authorize Municipal Engineering Services to move forward with final plans. VOTING: Ayes – 5; Nays – 0 *A copy of the Preliminary Conceptual Plan for Improvements to the Entrance of the Twin Oaks Solid Waste Facility is available in the Clerk to the Board’s office. Chairman Mallory said the County has doubled in population since the original entrance was created and the new entrance will be beneficial. Commissioner Brown said the new entrance will alleviate the safety concerns raised by citizens. ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS Request from Iredell-Statesville Schools for approval for Iredell County to make application to the Local Government Commission to issu e debt not to exceed $8,865,000: Chairman Mallory explained that at the pre-agenda meeting, Dr. Jeff James requested to provide funding through borrowing $8.8 million to install LED lighting throughout the school system as well as some control systems (for two schools) to regulate HVAC, and filtration system to assist in filter out viruses. Iredell-Statesville Schools Superintendent Dr. James said, “I appreciate the money you all allotted in last year’s budget. We were able to hire an additional six nurses. I think Mrs. Hinson will tell you that was a Godsend. Nationwide the ration of student to nurses is about 750 to 1 nurse. We were 1,400 to a nurse. Not effective or efficient just trying to plug along. At some point, we hope the State will get funding so it does not have to come off county taxpayers. We are working with the Health Department. The contact tracing became so cumbersome. We had people working seven days a week. James said, “I am honored to be here tonight. While we call it borrowing, it is much like your home budget. You have a savings set aside. We have the money to do the projects we are asking you for but we will deplete our capital budget and that is not wise. We know have a task force that has worked many years. Tier I are immediate needs. If we consume all of our savings to for this project I will assure about the time we get it done we will back because of an emergency. It is not really adding additional debt. You guys asked us to go back and sharpen the pencil. We think we have come back with a doable project. There is about $350,000 in rebates and not 7 January 19, 2021 guaranteed moving forward. If we don’t do it all upfront we will not get all of the rebates. The interest on a five year loan is about 1.6. The sooner we can put LEDs in the sooner we will start realizing the savings. We did a pilot school at East Iredell Middle and it reduced the power bill around 40%. In conservative estimates, we know as soon as we complete the project we will realize in power bill savings alone $500,000. We actually think it will be $800,000. We do not want to pay interest. You all asked the school board and myself to commit to the fact that we will pay it off as soon as possible. We have made that commitment in writing. We can start on the bipolar ionization…out of 11 counties in the State that has been going to school since October 5 (K-5) we are the largest district and have been the most successful. Our data is being used throughout the nation to set standards. We are constantly asked about the data. We work with Jane hand in hand on quarantining. If we close a school, it will be because of quarantining not the spread of covid. It is less than from student to student or student to staff. It is because we are able to bring in outside air, but it is starting to get cold. Twenty of the building are the older and it is going to be hard to maintain that. If we reduce the concentration of the virus in the air then there is a less likelihood of being transmitted. It is going to be hard to keep that up and keep the buildings warm. We have 37 schools, but some are newer and have different technology. We will put those on the menu down the road to complete. There are 20 schools that we feel it would be nice to move forward with the bipolar ionization. If you decide to move forward, the contractor will go ahead and put the wheels in motion. We are well ahead of the curve in bipolar ionization. Unfortunately, this is the new world and can expect moving forward. We are a one-world economy. We need to think outside the box and prepare our schools. Our kids are suffering. Middle and high school students want to come back. We have had four suicides this year and I can assure you that several of those are attributed to the fact they don’t have human contact to build relationships. We see when there is something wrong. Our counselors can tell when something is wrong and intervene. If they are not in the building that cannot happen. Twenty-five percent of child abuse cases are reported by school officials. Kids depend on us to get out of those situations. We have to do everything possible to get back in school.” James said, “We have given you a letter of commitment. I feel confident we can pay this off in three years. We do have additional CARES money. We got roughly $4 million in the last round. We are being told that will be substantially increased, but until it is in the budget I can’t tell you what it is. I can tell you there will be earmarked money for bipolar ionization, masks, and etc. All we are doing is helping you all help with a loan to frontload the money and the rebates alone will take care of the interest if it goes five years. If it goes less we will save money because the rebates will outweigh the money we pay on it. We are asking your consideration tonight to move forward with the project. Again, this is not additional debt. We have the money it is just not prudent for us to raid the piggy bank and take all of the money and then we will be back asking for additional money. “ Vice Chair Neader asked James to explain the implementation process for the LEDs. James said the work will be done outside of normal school hours. The learning environment will not be disturbed. The entire project is expected to be completed within 8-9 months of starting. Chairman Mallory said the Board was briefed on the project last month and asked the school system to address issues, and those have been addressed. MOTION by Commissioner Houpe to assign permission for the Finance Director to begin the process of debt issuance for Iredell-Statesville Schools for the design-build contract for the 8 January 19, 2021 LEF lighting upgrades, indoor air quality improvements, and control upgrades as presented not to exceed $8,865,000. VOTING: Ayes – 5; Nays – 0 County Manager Beth Jones summarized the following Administrative Matters during the Pre-Agenda meeting held at 5pm: • Request from Solid Waste for approval of a budget transfer to purchase two new road tractors. • Request from Tax Administration for approval of December 2020 Refunds and Releases. • Request from Clerk to the Board for approval of the minutes from the meeting on January 5, 2021. • Commissioner Assignment: South Iredell Community Development Corporation – Vice Chair Neader will serve on this board. MOTION by Vice Chair Neader to approve the consent agenda. VOTING: Ayes – 5; Nays – 0 ANNOUNCEMENTS OF VACANCIES ON BOARDS & COMMISSIONS (None) APPOINTMENTS TO BOARDS & COMMISSIONS UNFINISHED BUSINESS (None) PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD Todd Scott, Statesville NAACP Branch President, said Martin Luther King Jr. was celebrated yesterday. The Martin Luther King, Jr. committee held a great program to help renew hope and desire to continue civil and social justice. Today is the National Day of Healing. Racial healing is at the core of racial equity. Everyone can acknowledge the racial inequalities and disparities that exist as well as accountable for actions. Scott asked the Board to remove the Confederate Statue. If not, the Statesville NAACP Chapter will move forward with plans to the National NAACP to increase the efforts and support to have the statue removed. Scott added that recent events over last several months have shown division and tribalism that exist. Scott asked if the Board is for peace and brotherhood or racism and war. Heather Poe, 157 Lamb Road, spoke against the confederate monument because it represents hate and white supremacy. Elowehi Onole, 408 W. Bell Street, spoke against the confederate monument. NEW BUSINESS 9 January 19, 2021 COUNTY MANANGERS REPORT County Manager Beth Jones provided an update on the following: • COVID19 testing is continuously being offered at various locations throughout the County every day of the week except Sunday. A calendar is available on the County website. • COVID19 Vaccinations: The Health Department has transitioned from close contact tracing to vaccinations. The State is now doing the close contact tracing. There have been a couple of clinics thus far and 476 people were vaccinated. Two clinics are scheduled this week, tomorrow at Stumpy Creek Park (10am – 3pm) and Thursday at Hebron Baptist Church (10am – 3pm). The County is following State and Federal tier system for who can receive the vaccinations. Currently, healthcare workers, and residents and workers in long-term healthcare facilities. The State recently added individuals 75 and over to that category. Jones explained information is constantly changing and staff is working diligently to keep the County website updated with the latest information. • Call Center: The Health Department has seen a huge fluctuation in calls. Staff is in the process of creating a call center. Health Department staff needs to be able to focus on administering the vaccines. The number will be published soon and will be open 8am – 5pm, Monday – Friday. CLOSED SESSION (None) ADJOURNMENT MOTION by Commissioner Brown to adjourn at 8:52pm. The Board will meet for a regular meeting Tuesday, February 2, 2021 at 5pm in the Commissioners’ Meeting Room, Government Center, 200 South Center Street, Statesville, NC. VOTING: Ayes – 5; Nays – 0 __________________________________ ___________________________________ Date Approved Amy B. Anderson, Clerk