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Home My WebLink About12-21-2021 1 December 21, 2021 IREDELL COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS PRE-AGENDA SESSION December 21, 2021 The Iredell County Board of Commissioners met in pre-agenda session on Tuesday, December 21, 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 Scottie Brown Gene Houpe Board Members Participating Remotely Vice Chairman Melissa Neader 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: County Manager Beth Mull went over the following adjustments: ADD: Presentation from the Chief Deputy Secretary of Veteran Affairs Martin Falls. This will become V.2 and the current V.2 will move to V.3. REMOVE: Closed Session Chairman Mallory asked if the Zoning Board of Adjustment has term limits. Mull said no. ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS Request from Solid Waste for approval of bid and contract with Tetra Tech for an expansion to the landfill gas collection system: Purchasing Agent David Sifford said Solid Waste entered into a purchasing contract with Iredell Transmission (DTE) in 2015 for Iredell County’s landfill gas. Conditions of this contract holds Iredell County responsible for delivering landfill gas to DTE at a certain quality and quantity. Iredell County Solid waste has delivered below the stated measures for the past eight months, placing us in a position of breach of contract. Without theexpansion, it will be impossible to continue to deliver landfill gas to DTE at the contracted standards. This item was placed on consent. Request from the Health Department for approval of Budget Amendment #25 to receive and expend a $4,000 Safe Kids Worldwide Grant: Norma Rife requested approval The Iredell County Health Department (ICHD) is requesting approval to receive and expend an awarded $4,000 competitive grant from Safe Kids World Wide, in their partnership with the United States Coast 2 December 21, 2021 Guard, where only ten in the United States were awarded. The grant supports health risk reduction outreach efforts including educating parents, caregivers and children about open water and boating safety to reduce related injuries and death, where children and adults will also have access to properly fitting life jackets. Rife said Safe Kids Iredell and North Carolina Wildlife Resource Commission (NCWRC) are partnering to create three more Life Jacket Loaner Programs (LJLP). The three current LJLP sites are located at Pinnacle, Stumpy Creek and Hager’s Creek access areas. Part of this funding ($900 grant to NCWRC) will be used to purchase the wood, screws, paint and a printed sigh that will provide materials to construct three additional units. The boards will be constructed at high volume flow through areas: 1) Lake Norman State Park access, 2) McCrary Creek access and 3) Sharon access on Lake Lookout. The boards will contain written content that explains the LJLP, how to properly fit a lifejacket, and will offer information about boating safety tips. The NCWRC currently assures existing loaner life jackets are in good repair and they have the responsibility do the same for the additional three sites. Additionally, $3,100 will be used for community educational materials and awareness events, especially for those who are in close proximity to open water. Topics are not limited to safe swim and proper adult supervision for children. Awareness information created will be used within social media outlets, one-on-one, and group class formats by ICHD and NCWRC. This project pairs well with the NCWRC’s Boater Safety Education Course and these classes can be taught at the LJLP sites, to showcase the additional locations. This item was placed on consent. Request from the Health Department for approval of Budget Amendment #26 in the amount of $281,624 for Covid-19 Vaccination Funds: Health Director Jane Hinson said the Health Department recently received a Division of Public Health Agreement Addendum from the Women’s and Children’s Health Section/Immunization Branch for COVID -19 Vaccination Program funds in the amount of $281,624. The Department will use these funds to further enhance COVID-19 vaccination activities and outreach to the community. The Board of Health approved this Budget Amendment during their meeting on December 9, 2021. This item was placed on consent. Request from the Health Department for approval of Budget Amendment #27 to receive and expend $10,000 for Community Linkages Care (CLC) Grant: Norma Rife said the Health Department was awarded an additional $10,000 for the existing $100,000 CLC grant. We will use this funding as we continue to partner with the Iredell County Emergency Medical Services Department, to support the Community Response Support Team (CRST). This funding supports peer support specialists in their work to follow-up with clients who have experienced a non-fatal opioid overdose in order to prevent future injury, overdose and/or death. This additional funding will be used to provide extra hours for the part-time peer support specialist, office supplies, training and development, informational health risk reduction publications, and items to address the social determinants of health to improve a more successful individual outcome. These items include but are not limited to additional housing support vouchers, information on substance use and support services currently available, gas cards controlled by the peer support specialist (who takes the client to obtain gas for program related appointments), blankets for the homeless and items to prevent COVID-19 transmission among this targeted population. This item was presented and endorsed by the Board of Health during their meeting on December 9, 2021. 3 December 21, 2021 This item was placed on consent. Request from the Finance Department for approval to amend the CARES Act Special Revenue Fund: Finance Director Deb Cheek requested approval to amend the CARES Act Special Revenue Fund to finalize the spending of CARES Act Funds. The County received and expended $6,775,024. Cheek noted these funds had to be expended before December 31, 2021. Chairman Mallory expressed appreciation to Cheek for bird dogging the CARES Act Funding. This item was placed on consent. Request from the Finance Department for approval of an Amended Project Ordinance for Selma Burke Middle School and Budget Amendment 28 to appropr iate additional county funding: Finance Director Deb Cheek requested approval to amended Project Ordinance for Selma Burke Middle School to record the bond proceeds ($31,510,000), the premium ($3,716,996) and closing costs of ($226,996). There is also a request from MGSD for additional funding of $8,500,000 to complete this project. Attached is BA#28 appropriating future capital reserve funding. Mooresville Graded Schools requested additional funding in the amount of $8,500,000 to complete the project, which is Budget Amendment #28. Cheek said there is enough money in the bond reserve fund that has been carrying forward to equate the $8.5 million. This item was placed on consent. Request from Iredell County Economic Development Corporation for approval to extend the Economic Development Agreement for WJD Cold Storage, LLC to December 31, 2023: Deputy County Manager Susan Robertson requested approval to extend the Economic Development Agreement for WJD Cold Storage LLC to December 31, 2023. The company is requesting to invoke Force Majeure pursuant to Section 8 of the Economic Development Agreement. The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in supply chain issues, particularly regarding steel, and construction delays are certain. The initial building contractor was forced to pull out of negotiations due to their state's COVID travel restrictions. The company is currently finalizing plans for the project with a local contractor. This item was placed on consent. Request from Tax Administration for approval of November 2021 Refunds and Releases: There were no commissioner’s names listed. This item was placed on consent. Request from Clerk to the Board for approval of minutes from t he meetings on November 16 & December 7, 2021: There were no corrections or additions. This item was placed on consent. ANNOUNCEMENTS OF VACANCIES OCCURING ON BOARDS & COMMISSIONS (None) 4 December 21, 2021 APPOINTMENTS TO BOARDS & COMMISSIONS Board of Equalization & Review - Carl Lombardo, Hal Jolly, Allen Simmons, Mike Brotherton have all volunteered to serve again. Pressly Mattox and Kathy Hoover have volunteered to serve the fist time. Tax Administrator Bill Furches recommends in favor of these appointments. Board of Health - Dr. Rob Bundy has volunteered to serve again as the Physician representative. Juvenile Crime Prevention Council - Dan Wanta has volunteered to serve for the first time. Recreation Advisory Board - Bobby Deal has volunteered to serve again. Zoning Board of Adjustment - Bill Brater, Tim Johnson, and Jon Madison have volunteered to serve again. Brad Howard has volunteered to serve for the first time. Chairman Mallory said Mr. Howard also indicated willingness to serve on the Planning Board. Occasionally there are more applicants than there are vacancies. In this case, there really are no vacancies with the individuals by long-standing tradition being reappointed. Chairman Mallory asked the General Governmental Task Force to look at whether or not there should be a county-wide policy applying to all boards relative to some limitations of terms. There may be some exceptions in some cases, but there are some boards where there are more applicants than there are positions. That is a repeated situation. Some boards have internal requirements while some boards have very specific requirement for membership. OLD BUSINESS (None) NEW BUSINESS (None) COUNTY MANAGER’S REPORT County Manager Beth Mull provided an update on the following:  County offices will also be closed Friday, December 31, 2021 for the New Year holiday. Tax Administration urges ones who like to pay their taxes the last day of the year to pay them December 30. Staff will continue to get the word out about the closings. The Board recessed at 5:42pm. IREDELL COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS REGULAR MINUTES December 21, 2021 5 December 21, 2021 The Iredell County Board of Commissioners met in regular session on Tuesday, December 7, 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 Scottie Brown Gene Houpe Board Members Participating Remotely Vice Chairman Melissa Neader Marvin Norman 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 County Manager Beth Mull went over the following adjustments: ADD: Presentation from the Chief Deputy Secretary of Veteran Affairs Martin Falls. This will become V.2 and the current V.2 will move to V.3. REMOVE: Closed Session MOTION by Commissioner Brown to approve the agenda as presented. VOTING: Ayes – 5; Nays – 0 PRESENTATION OF SPECIAL RECOGNITIONS & AWARDS Presentation by Congressman Ted Budd: District Director Kyle Bridges, on behalf of Congressman Ted Budd’s office read a letter penned by the Congressman to Brad Stroud and presented Stroud with a flag that was flown over the United States Capital on behalf of his lifelong service and commitment and commemoration of your retirement. Presentation by the Chief Deputy Secretary of Veteran Affairs Martin Falls: Chief Deputy Secretary Martin Falls, on behalf of Governor Roy Cooper, presented Stroud with the Old North State Award for his dedication and service beyond expectation and excellence to the great State of North Carolina. Presentation of plaque and recognition of retiree Brad Stroud: Chairman James Mallory acknowledged Stroud on his services to the veteran’s. Stroud has been able to influence a number of counties to organize their own Veteran’s Services Offices. 6 December 21, 2021 Commissioner Houpe expressed appreciation to Stroud for his service. Stroud presented a model of the USS Iredell County and a commissioning pennant from the 1960’s. Stroud was able to obtain the items with the help of a fellow veteran. 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 Solid Waste for approval of bid and contract with Tetra Tech for an expansion to the landfill gas collection system.  Request from the Health Department for approval of Budget Amendment #25 to receive and expend a $4,000 Safe Kids Worldwide Grant.  Request from the Health Department for approval of Budget Amendment #26 in the amount of $281,624 for COVID-19 Vaccination Funds.  Request from the Health Department for approval of Budget Amendment #27 to receive and expend $10,000 for Community Linkages to Care (CLC) Grant.  Request from the Finance Department for approval to amend the CARES Act Special Revenue Fund.  Request from the Finance Department for approval of an Amended Project Ordinance for Selma Burke Middle School and Budget Amendment 28 to appropriate additional county funding.  Request from Iredell County Economic Development Corporation for approval to extend the Economic Development Agreement for WJD Cold Storage, LLC to December 31, 2023.  Request from Tax Administration for approval of November 2021 Refunds and Releases.  Request from Clerk to the Board for approval of minutes from the meetings on November 16 & December 7, 2021. MOTION by Commissioner Houpe to approve the consent agenda. VOTING: Ayes – 5; Nays – 0 ANNOUNCEMENTS OF VACANCIES ON BOARDS & COMMISSIONS (None) APPOINTMENTS TO BOARDS & COMMISSIONS Board of Equalization & Review - Carl Lombardo, Hal Jolly, Allen Simmons, Mike Brotherton have all volunteered to serve again. Pressly Mattox and Kathy Hoover have 7 December 21, 2021 volunteered to serve the fist time. Tax Administrator Bill Furches recommends in favor of these appointments. Board of Health - Dr. Rob Bundy has volunteered to serve again as the Physician representative. Juvenile Crime Prevention Council - Dan Wanta has volunteered to serve for the first time. Recreation Advisory Board - Bobby Deal has volunteered to serve again. Zoning Board of Adjustment - Bill Brater, Tim Johnson, and Jon Madison have volunteered to serve again. Brad Howard has volunteered to serve for the first time. MOTION by Commissioner Houpe to approve all the appointments with the exception of Mr. Howard. VOTING: Ayes – 5; Nays – 0 Commissioner Houpe noted that Howard’s application will be on file for 180 days and will be looked at for other appointments. UNFINISHED BUSINESS (None) PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD Kelli Harris said the crowd gathered represents a unified voice to request government official to act responsibly, respectfully, legally, and defend the constitution which assures freedom. Harris said there should be no more mandates, no more infringing on rights. The public should choose how they guard themselves and take care of their health. Harris also said there should be no more masks and vaccine mandates. Harris asked for a review and hearing in a local court address the unjust quarantining of children in the public school syst ems. Harris also provided handouts to the Board. Mike Hoffman said the lack of election integrity promotes corruption. Hoffman spoke against computerized voting systems and mail-in ballots. Tommy Hamel spoke against mask mandates. Hamel asked for the County to present the number vaccinated individuals who have gotten covid. Donna Tasnady spoke against mask and vaccine mandates. There are have over 20,000 deaths from the vaccine and over 200,000 debilitating adverse reactions. Tasnady said the Board does not intend to serve those who have elected them. Tasnady quoted Ephesians 5:11 and Revelation 21:7. Paula Mimnaugh said the mask mandate is medical tyranny and must stop. She said the arbitrary rules or guidelines written by DHHS are referred to as laws but they are not. NC DHHS can make recommendations, but not laws. 8 December 21, 2021 Pastor Ike Branham urged the Board to work with the citizens to come up with a solution. Branham asked for a resolution calling on DHHS to end protocols for contact tracing and quarantining. Micah Phelps said the White House is waging a fear of intimidation, persecution, and discrimination against American citizens because they don’t want to take the vaccine. The vaccine does not prevent anyone from getting the virus. Anita Kern said it is time to act upon the public’s request relative to the mask mandate. Kern requested the County to purchase ivermectin, hydroxychloroquine, vitamins C & D. Martha Crespo spoke for freedom to choose against the vaccine as it changes a person’s DNA. NEW BUSINESS COUNTY MANANGERS REPORT County Manager Beth Mull provided an update on the following:  County offices will also be closed Friday, December 31, 2031 for the New Year holiday. Tax Administration urges ones who like to pay their taxes the last day of the year to pay them December 30. Staff will continue to get the word out about the closings. CLOSED SESSION (None) ADJOURNMENT MOTION by Commissioner Brown to adjourn at 8:10pm. The Board will meet for a regular meeting Tuesday, January 4, 2022 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