Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout10-19-2021 1 October 19, 2021 IREDELL COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS PRE-AGENDA SESSION October 19, 2021 The Iredell County Board of Commissioners met in pre-agenda session on Tuesday, October 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 Chairman Melissa Neader Scottie Brown Gene Houpe Board Members Participating Remotely Marvin Norman Staff present: County Manager Beth Mull, 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 the Sheriff's Office for approval of Budget Amendment #16 to use Federal Equity Sharing Funds (FES) & Commissary Funds to purchase various items: Sheriff Darren Campbell requested approval of budget amendment #16 to use Federal Equity Sharing (FES) in the amount of $21,000 to purchase Flirs (handheld thermal imaging units), $20,000 of FES funds to upgrade the Project Lifesaver System (search and rescue program), $15,000 of Commissary Funds for supply items for the mobile classroom supplies. This item was placed on consent. Request from the Sheriff's Office for approval of Budget Amendment # 17 and to accept the 2021 Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG): Sheriff Darren Campbell requested approval of the 2021 JAG Grant in the amount of $15,261. The funds will be used to purchase a deployable camera system. This system allows law enforcement to place cameras where crime continues to happen is likely to occur. This item was placed on consent. Request from Troutman Fire Department for approval of Budget Amendment #14 to withdraw remaining monies from the B&F Fire District Fund Balance to pay for renovations at Station 3, pay off remaining portion of new Tanker, and add full-time staffing at Station 3: Emergency Management Director Kent Greene requested approval of budget amendment #14 said the Troutman FD worked with county staff to replace a tanker in the FY22 budget, agreeing that the County would fund a portion of the vehicle since it was not due in the apparatus 2 October 19, 2021 replacement schedule and the department would fund the remainder. Station 3, on Pineville Rd, does not have suitable accommodations for full-time personnel and, therefore, needs to be renovated to accommodate them. Chairman Mallory asked if the funds will cover the costs of the renovations. A representative from Troutman Fire Department said the estimated cost is $200,000 and the department has some funds left in the building fund to add to the cost. This item was placed on consent. Request from Cool Springs Volunteer Fire Department for approval of Budget Amendment #15 to allocate $15,956.25 as received from the NC Department of Transportation for paving of the apron in front of fire station: Emergency Management Director Kent Green requested approval of Budget Amendment #15. The NC Department of Transportation routinely pays up to $25,000 for volunteer fire departments to pave the area between the station and a state maintained road. Cool Springs VFD applied for this funding after completion of their new station. NCDOT sent the funds to Iredell County rather than the Fire Department. This item was placed on consent. Request from the Library for approval of Budget Amendment #18 to participate in a Digital Literacy Initiative with the State Library of North Carolina: Library Director Juli Moore said the Library was identified and selected by the State Library of North Carolina and the Education Subcommittee of the Andrea Harris Task Force to participate in a digital literacy initiative to provide a Digital Navigator in the North Iredell/Harmony area to work with families utilizing the Digital Literacy Tool Kit that was created for the Homework Gap Project. The Library will receive approximately $52,000 in funding to hire a part time temporary Digital Navigator, purchase needed supplies, and implement the program. The funding for this initiative runs through June 30, 2022. Moore requested approval of budget amendment #18. This item was placed on consent. Request from Tax Administration for approval of a resolution permitting electronic listing of business personal property: Tax Assessor Fran Elliott requested approval of a resolution authorizing electronic listing of business personal property. Elliott said the electronic listing application will be available on the county website for the 2022 listing period. Listings must be received during the listing period January 1 through January 31, unless an extension request has been approved that extends the listing period to April 15. This item was placed on consent. Request from Tax Administration for approval of September 2021 Refunds and Releases: Tax Accessor Fran Elliott requested approval to permit electronic listing of business personal property and authorizing electronic signature when listings are submitted electronically. If approved, the electronic listing application will be available on the county website for the 2022 listing period. Listings must be received during the listing period January 1 through January 31, unless an extension request has been approved that extends the listing period to April 15. 3 October 19, 2021 This item was placed on consent. Request from the Finance Department for approval of a resolution providing for the sale and issuance of not to exceed $35,000,000 General Obligation School Bonds, Series 2021: Finance Director Deb Cheek requested approval of a resolution providing for the sale and issuance of, not to exceed, $35 million General Obligation School Bonds, Series 2021. This is in preparation for the Mooresville Graded School District to sell bonds for the construction of a new middle school. This is a result of the March 3, 2020 bond referendum. Commissioner Brown said some think this is a new bond and that is not the case. Commissioner Houpe asked Mull to clarify the item during the 7pm meeting. Mull said the bond was approved by the voters in 2020. The County cannot sell the bonds until the bids are ready and in-hand, and Mooresville Graded School is now ready. Chairman Mallory added that Mitchell Community College and Iredell-Statesville Schools will follow suit. This item was placed on consent. Request from the Finance Department for approval of Budget Amendment #11 to appropriate funds for repayments of Juvenile Crime Prevention Council funding back to the State in the amount of $47,299: Finance Director Deb Cheek said each year repayments of JCPC funds are made to the State of NC Department of Public Safety for various different reasons. These repayments are budgeted each year. However, with COVID-19 complications, there is a payback that is substantially higher than normal for Children's Hope Alliance TASK program. The funds were received from the State last budget year so this Budget Amendment is appropriating fund balance to return this money to the State. Cheek requested approval of budget amendment #11 in the amount of $47,299 to appropriate funds for repayments of JCPC funding back to the State. This item was placed on consent. Request from Administration for approval of an amendment to the ARPA Special Revenue Fund Grant Ordinance and approval of the Premium Pay Policy: Finance Director Deb Cheek explained during the ARPA workshop the Board asked staff to look into a one-time premium payment to employees. Staff presented a policy specifically for the premium payment which will take place November 19, 2021. The payment will be during an off-payroll cycle. This allows employees to gain the biggest benefit from the payment and keep it separate from other items in the payroll system. Cheek said the amount will not exceed $2.5 million. Cheek went over the policy outlined below. Cheek explained the 150% rule (defined below). The County has 74 employees that falls under the 150% rule and their one-time payment will be paid out of the CARES Act Funding. Chairman Mallory asked how much will be left in CARES Act Funding. 4 October 19, 2021 Cheek said approximately $300,000. Chairman Mallory also asked who determines the employees qualified. Cheek said Human Resources is drafting the list. There are very few employees that will not qualify, who teleworked. Those employees do not qualify. However, employees who tele- worked because of childcare issues or similar received Family First Funds that other employees did not qualify for. Mull said the policy is modeled after the federal guidelines. New hires after July 1, 2021 who receive the $2500 sign-on bonus cannot receive the premium one-time payment. Mull expressed appreciation to Cheek and the Finance staff for their assistance in creating and implementing the policy. The Board also thanked Cheek and her staff for taking the time and becoming experts on how the funds can be spent. Premium Pay Program for Iredell County Under the American Recovery Plan Act Policy I. Purpose Iredell County will make a one-time, lump sum payment to qualifying employees on November 19, 2021. This payment will be premium pay as outlined by the U.S. Treasury as an allowable expense under the American Recovery Plan Act (“ARPA”). ARPA funds may be used to respond to workers performing essential work during the COVID-19 public health emergency by providing premium pay to eligible employees. The County has determined that the COVID-19 public health emergency commenced in Iredell County on or around April 1, 2020 when community transmission became apparent. Since the commencement of the COVID-19 Pandemic, Iredell County has not closed its doors or interrupted services to the public with the exception of those prohibited services set forth by the Governor’s Executive Orders. Employees employed in the prohibited services areas were reassigned to allowable services. All employees reported to their primary work site and continued to provide governmental services to the public during normal operating hours with the exception of those deemed eligible to Telework, as defined later in this policy. In addition to their normal duties, many employees helped with testing sites and vaccination clinics, and the COVID-19 information call center. Employees continued to work side by side with coworkers; employees continued to have public interaction as needed. Additionally, the Iredell County Board of Commissioners continued to meet in person throughout the Pandemic, while following guidance as to wearing face coverings and social distancing and pursuant to the requirements set forth in the Governor’s Executive Orders; this required many employees to be interactive with the public and other employees on a regular basis. II. Definitions Eligibility Period is April 1, 2020 through June 30, 2021. Implementation Date is November 19, 2021. Telework is an arrangement that allows an employee to perform work at an approved alternative location to County-owned or operated facilities and/or properties. All teleworking ceased on January 1, 2021. 150% Limitation applies to any employee whose total wages are increased, as a result of premium pay, above 150 percent of the State’s average annual wage for all occupations or for the county’s average annual wage, whichever is higher. Sign on Bonus are bonuses that were awarded to new hires beginning July 1, 2021. 5 October 19, 2021 Per Person Maximums require that no employee will receive a premium payment greater than $13 per hour; AND no employee shall receive excess of $25,000 (the overall cap for the life of the American Rescue Plan which ends December 31, 2024). III. Policy To be eligible for the American Rescue Plan funded Premium Pay, the following must apply: 1. The employee must perform essential work during the pandemic. Essential work is defined by the Interim Final Rule as work that: a. Is not performed while teleworking from a residence AND b. Involves i. Regular in-person interactions with patients or coworkers of the individual that is performing the work, or ii. Regular physical handling of items that were handled by, or are to be handled by patients, the public, or coworkers of the individual that is performing the work. 2. The employee’s primary work site must have been County-owned or operated facilities and/or property during a majority of the Eligibility Period. For the purposes of this provision, the term “majority” means fifty-one percent (51%) or more days of the Eligibility Period. 3. Must be an active employee on the Implementation Date. 4. Must not have been eligible for the County’s sign on bonus. At the onset of the COVID-19 Pandemic, the County Manager deemed all employees essential. Employees in all departments will be eligible for Premium Pay under this policy. Employees exceeding the 150% Limitation will not qualify for American Rescue Plan funded Premium Pay. IV. Procedure Eligible employees will receive a one-time, lump sum payment based on work performed during the Eligibility Period, defined above. The following is the base calculation that will be used to determine each employee’s payment, not to exceed the per person maximums: Hired on or before 12/31/2020 Full-Time $2,500 Permanent Part-Time $1,250 Hired on or after 12/31/2020 but before 7/1/2021 Full-Time $1,500 Permanent Part-Time $750 V. Internal Controls The Finance Director of Iredell County is responsible for all reporting requirements, internal control oversight, and implementation of this ARPA Premium Pay. Records will be retained for a minimum of 5 years past the expiration of the ARPA spending limitations. This item was placed on consent. Request from Clerk to the Board for approval of the 2022 meeting calendar: Clerk to the Board Amy Anderson presented the proposed 2022 meeting calendar. The calendar includes only one meeting, the second meeting, for July and November. Chairman Mallory asked to move the tentative Fall Retreat to after the 2022 election. 6 October 19, 2021 This item was placed on consent. Request from Clerk to the Board for approval of the minutes from the meeting on October 5, 2021: There were no additions or corrections. This item was placed on consent. ANNOUNCEMENTS OF VACANCIES OCCURING ON BOARDS & COMMISSIONS (None) APPOINTMENTS TO BOARDS & COMMISSIONS Child Fatality Prevention Team - 1 appointment Lisa Familo has volunteered to serve for the first time. Farmland Preservation Advisory Board - 1 appointment Harrison Jenkins has volunteered to serve for the first time. OLD BUSINESS NEW BUSINESS (None) COUNTY MANAGER’S REPORT County Manager Beth Mull provided an update on the following:  The Board will meet only once next month, November 16. CLOSED SESSION The Board entered into Closed Session at 5:55pm. IREDELL COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS REGULAR MINUTES October 19, 2021 The Iredell County Board of Commissioners met in regular session on Tuesday, October 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 Chairman Melissa Neader Scottie Brown Gene Houpe Board Members Participating Remotely Marvin Norman 7 October 19, 2021 Staff present: County Manager Beth Mull, 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 APPOINTMENTS BEFORE THE BOARD (None) PUBLIC HEARINGS (None) ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS County Manager Beth Mull summarized the following Administrative Matters during the Pre-Agenda meeting held at 5pm:  Request from the Sheriff's Office for approval of Budget Amendment #16 to use Federal Equity Sharing Funds (FES) & Commissary Funds to purchase various items.  Request from the Sheriff's Office for approval of Budget Amendment # 17 and to accept the 2021 Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG).  Request from Troutman Fire Department for approval of Budget Amendment #14 to withdraw remaining monies from the B&F Fire District Fund Balance to pay for renovations at Station 3, pay off remaining portion of new Tanker, and add full -time staffing at Station 3.  Request from Cool Springs Volunteer Fire Department for approval of Budget Amendment #15 to allocate $15,956.25 as received from the NC Department of Transportation for paving of the apron in front of fire station.  Request from the Library for approval of Budget Amendment #18 to participate in a Digital Literacy Initiative with the State Library of North Carolina.  Request from Tax Administration for approval of a resolution permitting electronic listing of business personal property.  Request from Tax Administration for approval of September 2021 Refunds and Releases. 8 October 19, 2021  Request from the Finance Department for approval of a resolution providing for the sale and issuance of not to exceed $35,000,000 General Obligation School Bonds, Series 2021.  Request from the Finance Department for approval of Budget Amendment #11 to appropriate funds for repayments of Juvenile Crime Prevention Council funding back to the State in the amount of $47,299.  Request from Administration for approval of an amendment to the ARPA Special Revenue Fund Grant Ordinance and approval of the Premium Pay Policy.  Request from Clerk to the Board for approval of the 2022 meeting calendar.  Request from Clerk to the Board for approval of the minutes from the meeting on October 5, 2021. MOTION by Commissioner Norman to approve the consent agenda. VOTING: Ayes – 5; Nays – 0 ANNOUNCEMENTS OF VACANCIES ON BOARDS & COMMISSIONS (None) APPOINTMENTS TO BOARDS & COMMISSIONS Child Fatality Prevention Team - 1 appointment Lisa Familo has volunteered to serve for the first time. Farmland Preservation Advisory Board - 1 appointment Harrison Jenkins has volunteered to serve for the first time. MOTION by Vice Chair Neader to appoint Lisa Familo to the Child Fatality Prevention Team and Harrison Jenkins to the Farmland Preservation Advisory Board. VOTING: Ayes – 5; Nays – 0 UNFINISHED BUSINESS (None) PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD Paula Mimnaugh, 260 Rivercliff Drive, said public rights do not come from the government. The mask-mandate and social distancing in schools is against for the Fourth Amendment. Mimnaugh also spoke against the Covid vaccine because it includes fetal cells and should not be used on any humans. The CDC receives money from manufacturers of the vaccine. Linda Mozer spoke about the inconsistent hours at the Public Library. Mozer also said teachers appreciate policy that protects them. Mozer, a former teacher, operates a warm-line for teachers. The teaching profession is in a critical state. Teachers are tired of the back and forth pull with policy. Mozer said if parents feel strongly about knowing the curriculum they could consider homeschooling. 9 October 19, 2021 NEW BUSINESS (None) COUNTY MANANGERS REPORT County Manager Beth Mull provided an update on the following:  The Board will meet only once next month, November 16. CLOSED SESSION Chairman Mallory said a Closed Session was held immediately following pre- agenda to discuss Economic Development. MOTION by Vice Chair Neader to call for a public hearing October 19, 2021 at 7pm regarding a maximum economic development incentive of $324,071 over a five-year period for Project LF based on the company’s $17.2 million investment in Iredell County. VOTING: Ayes – 4; Nays – 1 Houpe MOTION by Commissioner Houpe to amend the call for public hearing for Project Madi from October 19, 2021 to November 16, 2021. VOTING: Ayes – 5; Nays – 0 ADJOURNMENT MOTION by Commissioner Brown to adjourn at 7:28PM. The Board will meet for a regular meeting Tuesday, November 16, 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