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Home My WebLink About01-18-2022 1 January 18, 2022 IREDELL COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS PRE-AGENDA SESSION January 18, 2022 The Iredell County Board of Commissioners met in pre-agenda session on Tuesday, January 18, 2022 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. ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS Due to inclement weather County offices opened on a three-hour delay the day of the meeting and County Manager Beth Mull presented the following Administrative Matters on behalf of staff. Request from the Department of Social Services for approval of Budget Amendment #30 to advance county funds for Pandemic Low-Income Home Energy Assistance (LIEAP) payments: Mull requested approval of Budget Amendment #30 to advance county funds in the amount of $635,331 for LIEAP payments. The department is using ARPA funds and the budget amendment so they can start disbursing the funds. This item was placed on consent. Request from the Library for approval of Budget Amendment #31 and to accept a LSTA Laundromat Family Literacy Centers Grant in the amount of $5,000: Mull requested approval of Budget Amendment #31 to accept a LSTA Laundromat Family Literacy Centers Grant in the amount of $5,000. The grant will allow the Library to place book stands and books in local laundromats. Chairman Mallory asked how many laundromats will receive books. Mull will gather the information and send it to the Board. This item was placed on consent. 2 January 18, 2022 Request from the Library to apply for a LSTA Adapting Technology Grant from the State Library of North Carolina: Mull requested approval to apply for a LSTA Adapting Technology Grant in the amount of $10,250 to purchase furniture for a computer lap. The library plans to convert the upper level conference room into a dedicated computer lab. The computer lab will provide workstations for visual enhanced. The grant does not require a match. This item was placed on consent. Request from the Finance Department for approval to purchase a Caterpillar 725 Articulating Water Truck for Solid Waste: Mull said there was an articulating dump truck in the 2022 budget for Solid Waste to purchase. The department would like to amend the budgeted item and instead purchase an articulating water truck. Mull noted as a part of the County’s Air Quality Permit the County is required and obligated to control dust. The water truck will also allow the department to address leaf pile fires at the site. The cost of the truck will not exceed $494,693 and those funds are already budgeted. As a part of the request, NC General Statute allows the County to waive the bid requirements as long as the truck is purchased through the group purchasing program. Commissioner Houpe asked if the department also needs the dump truck. Mull said the water truck is a higher priority. The dump truck may be a request next year. This item was placed on consent. Request from the Finance Department to acknowledge the Stewardship, Compliance, and Accountability note included in the past year audit: Finance Director Deb Cheek presenter a Stewardship, Compliance, and Accountability note for approval and signature. After a brief discussion, the Board placed this item on consent. This item was placed on consent. Request from Tax Administration for approval of December 2021 Refunds and Releases: This item was placed on consent. Request from Clerk to the Board for approval of minutes from December 21, 20 21 and January 4, 2022 meetings: This item was placed on consent. ANNOUNCEMENTS OF VACANCIES OCCURING ON BOARDS & COMMISSIONS Parks & Recreation – 1 announcement APPOINTMENTS TO BOARDS & COMMISSIONS 3 January 18, 2022 Board of Health – 1 appointment Richard Coleman has volunteered to serve for the first time. (None) OLD BUSINESS (None) NEW BUSINESS (None) The Board recessed at 5:47pm. IREDELL COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS REGULAR MINUTES January 18, 2022 The Iredell County Board of Commissioners met in regular session on Tuesday, January 18, 2022 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 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 and to specifically remember families who have lost loved ones particularly county employees. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE led by Chairman Mallory. ADJUSTMENTS TO THE AGENDA There were no adjustments to the agenda. MOTION by Vice Chair Neader to approve the agenda as presented. VOTING: Ayes – 5; Nays – 0 PRESENTATION OF SPECIAL RECOGNITIONS & AWARDS 4 January 18, 2022 (None) 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 Department of Social Services for approval of Budget Amendment #30 to advance county funds for Pandemic Low-Income Home Energy Assistance (LIEAP) payments.  Request from the Library for approval of Budget Amendment #31 and to accept a LSTA Laundromat Family Literacy Centers Grant in the amount of $5,000.  Request from the Library to apply for a LSTA Adapting Technology Grant from the State Library of North Carolina.  Request from the Finance Department for approval to purchase a Caterpillar 725 Articulating Water Truck for Solid Waste.  Request from the Finance Department to acknowledge the Stewardship, Compliance, and Accountability note included in the past year audit.  Request from Administration for approval of Departmental Strategic Goals.  Request from Tax Administration for approval of December 2021 Refunds and Releases.  Request from Clerk to the Board for approval of minutes from December 21, 2021 and January 4, 2022 meetings. VIII.9. Task Force Updates MOTION by Commissioner Norman to approve the consent agenda. VOTING: Ayes – 5; Nays – 0 ANNOUNCEMENTS OF VACANCIES ON BOARDS & COMMISSIONS Parks & Recreation – 1 announcement APPOINTMENTS TO BOARDS & COMMISSIONS Board of Health – 1 appointment Richard Coleman has volunteered to serve for the first time. MOTION by Commissioner Brown to approve the consent agenda. VOTING: Ayes – 5; Nays – 0 5 January 18, 2022 UNFINISHED BUSINESS (None) PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD Sherri Jo Culbreth said a mandate is the authority to carry out a policy or course of action that is regarded as given by the electorate to a candidate or party that is victorious in an election. Culbreth said an overreaching leader pushing beyond is an example of a mandate. Culbreth also said a law is a system of rules which a particular country or community that would recognize as regulating the actions of its members in which it may enforce the imposition of penalties. The different between these two are mandates are commands and laws are implied. Culbreth added the US Supreme Court ruled that the vaccine mandate is unconstitutional. Culbreth also spoke against children wearing masks in schools. Prolonged mask waring promotes facial alkalization and inadvertently encourages dehydration. Angela Matthews said the mask mandate is a blatant violation of a person’s right to choose or self-govern in what is supposed to be a nation found on individualism not collectivism. Matthews asked what government document or law gives the government the authority to order citizens to cover their faces. Matthews said the Public Health Toolkit does not reference any legislation passed. The school board chose to. The toolkit has strategies that should be implemented by schools and strategies leaders could consider adopting – it does not say by law the county must follow the strategies. Matthews explained she sent Commissioner Houpe a Resolution in Support of Ending Contact Tracing and Quarantine Requirements in NC Public School Students. Matthews asked the Board to support what the voters have been asking for by passing the resolution. Paula Mimnaugh said forcing children to wear masks in school is abuse. She said the federal government is bribing public school system to abuse the children. Mimnaugh asked the abuse to stop. Ike Branham said he is disheartened over what he sees in the community because it is on a slippery slope. Branham asked the Board to allow families the freedom to choose to wear masks. Branham said his daughter suffers from asthma making it impossible to wear a mask and is now in an online school program. Branham asked the Board to show leadership. Michael Saxton said children are now being raised in fear of each other, the world, and of getting sick. Prolonged fear leads to terror which trauma. Saxton said he is taking a stand because it is not right and not in God’s desire. Saxton quoted Matthew 18:6. Lynnette Saxton asked the Board to use critical thinking and leadership skills to make decisions. Saxton said there is no mention of natural immunity. People are being injured for something they could likely recover from if they had taken preventive cautionary measures. Kelli Harris, representing Free the Smiles, said it is her mission and heart for kids to not wear masks at school. Harris said her 9-year old son attends private school without wearing a mask. Harris asked the Board to research the discrepancies. Harris said DHHS said the toolkit has no legal authority. Harris urged the community to come together and share the information available and start working on a solution. 6 January 18, 2022 Robert Zillioux requested the information source on the County’s third proclamation. He also asked the Board to rescind the proclamation as Governor Cooper and Chief Justice Newby has. Ernie Johnson thanked the Board for showing respect by listening to the concerns. Johnson asked everyone to find some common ground. NEW BUSINESS (None) COUNTY MANANGERS REPORT County Manager Beth Mull provided an update on the following  January is National Preparedness Month. The County has a notification system called Hyper-reach. Please call -- or text the word “alert” and enter your address and phone number. It will text or email you alerts regarding watch or warnings. CLOSED SESSION Chairman Mallory said a Closed Session was held immediately following pre- agenda for Attorney Client and there are no action items to report. ADJOURNMENT MOTION by Commissioner Brown to adjourn at pm. The Board will meet for a regular meeting Tuesday, February 1, 2022 at pm in the Commissioners’ Meeting Room, Government Center, South Center Street, Statesville, NC. VOTING Ayes – 5 ; Nays – 0 __________________________________ ___________________________________ Date Approved Amy B. Anderson, Clerk