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September 21, 2021
IREDELL COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
PRE-AGENDA SESSION
September 21, 2021
The Iredell County Board of Commissioners met in pre-agenda session on Tuesday,
September 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
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: County Manager Beth Mull said the agenda has
been amended to include an Appointment Before the Board.
ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS
Request from Emergency Communications for approval of Budget Amendment #9 to
appropriate $8,014 of NC911 Funds for Statesville Police Public Safety Answering Point:
ECOM Director Candy Strezinski requested approval of budget amendment #9 and appropriate
$8,014 of NC911 Funds for the Statesville Police Department Safety Answering Point.
This item was placed on consent.
Request from the Library for approval to accept North Carolina Humanities –
American Rescue Plan (ARP) Humanities Project Support Grant in the amount of $20,000
to digitize 487 reels of microfilm: Library Director Juli Moore requested approval to accept a
grant in the amount of $20,000. She explained that the library was awarded a NC Humanities -
ARP Humanities Project Support Grant from the North Carolina Humanities Council in the amount
of $20,000 to digitize 487 reels of microfilm with approximately 584,500 images. These reels
contain county records for Iredell County, including birth records, death records, marriage records,
wills, clerk of court documents, etc., as well as the same type documents for several surrounding
counties.
This item was placed on consent.
Request from ICATS for approval of a multi-jurisdictional and agency Memorandum
of Understanding for a 5307 formula update: ICATS Director Bradley Johnson requested
approval of the MOU for 5307 formula update. The new agreement will increase ICATS 5307
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September 21, 2021
Amount annually. The purpose of this formula is to equitably distribute the annual FTA
apportionment of 5307/5340 Urbanized Area Apportionment funding. The newly adopted CRTPO
formula is described below as well as the procedure to calculate the annual shares for the split
letter that is sent to FTA. The formula is built into an excel spreadsheet that calculates the shares
for each eligible transit agency in the CRTPO Urbanized Area. The purpose of this guide is to
document how the spreadsheet (formula) works and to describe the annual updates that are
required to calculate the shares to each Agency. Jurisdictions and agencies include between Iredell
County, City of Charlotte, Mecklenburg County, Union County, Rock Hill Fort Mill Area
Transportation Study, and the CRTPO.
Johnson explained the formula. The formula first calculates shares to eligible agencies for
Fixed Guideway funding, Bus Incentive funding and Low-Income funding based upon the
federal formula.
The remaining funds are then shared based upon the weighted formula:
• 1/3 based on the proportional share of Bus Vehicle Revenue Miles
• 1/3 based on the proportional share of Population
• 1/3 based on the proportional share of Ridership
This item was placed on consent.
Request from ICATS for approval to call for a public hearing on October 5, 2021 at
7pm in regard to Transportation Grant for FY 2023: ICATS Director Bradley Johnson said
the Community Transportation Program provides assistance to coordinate existing transportation
programs operating in Iredell County and provides transportation options and services for the
communities within this service area. These services are currently provided using a mix of State,
Federal, and local revenue from service contracts. This request informs the public that a public
hearing will be held on the proposed ICATS Program Application to be submitted to the Nort h
Carolina Department of Transportation no later than October 8, 2021. The public hearing will be
held on October 5, 2021, at 7:00 pm before the Iredell County Board of Commissioners.
This item was placed on consent.
Request from Solid Waste for approval to use budgeted overtime funds to hire an
additional full-time Equipment Operator/Driver: Solid Waste Director Teddy Boller said
due to the population growth and the amount of waste received at the Mooresville Transfer Station
(MTS), overtime wages at the site have increased exponentially from $32,751 in FY2018 to
$108,506 for the year ended June 30, 2021. From May 1, 2021 through August 19, 2021 MTS
incurred almost $23,600 in overtime wages, FICA, and retirement costs. Existing staff are
overworked and at times are on duty seven days a week. Following a vacancy at MTS, an employee
was promoted to Station Supervisor in mid-June, and as a working supervisor achieved a 25%
reduction in overtime time hours from July to August. However, the reduction in overtime leaves
very little if any flexibility for employees to take a day of vacation or use holiday hours flexed
from a holiday MTS was open. Boller requested approval to add another Solid Waste Equipment
Operator/Driver position and transfer funds budgeted for overtime wages to cover the full-time
salary and benefits.
This item was placed on consent.
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September 21, 2021
Request from Solid Waste for approval of a lease for the 901 Convenience Center
Site: Solid Waste Director Teddy Boller said Solid Waste has for many years leased the property
on West Memorial Highway (Highway 901) on which the Solid Waste Convenience Center is
located. Mr. Dalton Campbell recently sold the property to Ronald D. and Jayne G. Taylor who
have agreed to continue the lease at the current rate of $3,600 a year. This is a 3-year
lease continuing until June 30, 2024.
This item was placed on consent.
Request from the Health Department to waive the competitive bidding process for the
purchase of a mobile health unit and approval of Budget Amendment #6 of $747,500 using
Medicaid Maximization Funding for the purchase of the Mobile Health Unit to be utilized
for Covid-19 response and the provision of other public health services in the community:
Health Director Jane Hinson said the Board previously approved the use of Medicaid
Maximization funding for the purchase of a Mobile Health Unit. Iredell County is a member of
the HGACBuy COOP and Matthews Specialty Vehicles is contracted with the HGACBuy COOP.
Therefore, we are able to purchase from Matthews Specialty Vehicles without going through the
formal competitive bid process, if approved by the Board of Commissioners. Staff have obtained
a formal detailed proposal for the mobile unit of $712,879 which would be the contracted amount.
The requested budget amendment includes a 5% contingency. On-going there will be expenses
related to gas, maintenance and insurance for the Mobile Health Unit. Current staff would obtain
their CDL license to be able to drive and work on the Unit. The services offered in the community
would not replace or relocate current services but would instead expand their offering. There will
be a reduction in the amount of paid contract, health department and other County staff needed to
mobilize and de-mobilize mass vaccination clinics.
Commissioner Houpe asked that this matter be tabled until further date after the Public
Health and Well Being Task Force is able to gather more information.
This item was not placed on consent.
Request from the Health Department for approval of Budget Amendment #7 and to
expend $115,000 from the Division of Public Health Agreement Addendum 361 Reopening
Schools – School Health Liaison: Health Director Jane Hinson said Public health and education
are necessary partners for safe and healthy schools. In support of safe, in-person instruction in K-
12 schools, successful screening, testing, and vaccine administration efforts are needed. Funding
from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) under the ELC Reopening Schools
award will support staff positions that encourage continuity of existing COVID-related activities,
maintain the health department’s integral role in COIVD-19 response, build upon the work already
begun, and ensure a holistic assessment and monitoring of disease within schools. The Iredell
County Health Department plans to hire a Public Health Nurse that will act as the school health
liaison and focus on deliverables required in the Agreement Addendum, including but not limit ed
to, communicating with superintendents, principals, and school nurses about COVID-19
mitigation strategies, testing, and vaccination efforts, act as a resource in ensuring compliance with
HIPAA and FERPA, as applicable, and ensure local school nurses attend educational and other
opportunities related to school health program needs. Hinson requested approval of budget
amendment #7.
This item was placed on consent.
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September 21, 2021
Request from the Health Department for approval of Budget Amendment #8 to
accept and expend $39,900 Budget Revision for the Division of Public Health Agreement
Addendum 466 – Advancing Equity Grant: Health Director Jane Hinson said there is a need to
address COVID-19 health disparities among populations at high-risk and underserved, including
racial and ethnic minority populations and rural communities. COVID-19 is disproportionately
affecting the historically marginalized population with a higher rate of exposure, infection,
hospitalization and death. This grant will support the efforts to control COVID-19 infection among
populations at higher risk and those that are underserved. The work will include an internal
multidisciplinary permanent workgroup to assess and improve the internal equity practices of the
LHD. The funding will also help establish an equity advisory community council for historically
marginalized populations to seek input regarding internal and external operations in support of
equity. Other goals are to provide equity training, create an organizational equity plan, and ai d in
implementing COVID-19 related health risk reduction messaging to this targeted
population. Hinson requested approval of budget amendment #8.
This item was placed on consent.
Request from Tax Administration for approval of August 2021 Refunds and
Releases: There were no Commissioners’ names listed.
This item was placed on consent.
Approval of a Resolution of the Memorandum of Agreement between the State of
NC and local governments on proceeds relating to the settlement of opioid litigation:
County Attorney Lisa Valdez requested approval of a Memorandum of Agreement between the
State of NC and local government on proceeds relating to the settlement of opioid litigation.
A RESOLUTION BY THE COUNTY OF IREDELL APPROVING THE MEMORANDUM
OF AGREEMENT (MOA) BETWEEN THE STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA AND LOCAL
GOVERNMENTS ON PROCEEDS RELATING TO THE SETTLEMENT OF OPIOID
LITIGATION
WHEREAS, as of 2019, the opioid epidemic had taken the lives of more than 16,500 North
Carolinians, torn families apart, and ravaged communities from the mountains to the coast; and
WHEREAS, the COVID-19 pandemic has compounded the opioid crisis, increasing levels of drug
misuse, addiction, and overdose death; and
WHEREAS, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates the total "economic burden" of
prescription opioid misuse alone in the United States is $78.5 billion a year, including the costs of
healthcare, lost productivity, addiction treatment, and criminal justice involvement; and
WHEREAS, certain counties and municipalities in North Carolina, including Iredell County, joined
with thousands of local governments across the country to file lawsuit against opioid manufacturers
and pharmaceutical distribution companies and hold those companies accountable for their
misconduct; and
WHEREAS, representatives of local North Carolina governments, the North Carolina Association of
County Commissioners, and the North Carolina Department of Justice have negotiated and prepared a
Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) to provide for the equitable distribution of any proceeds from a
settlement of national opioid litigation to the State of North Carolina and to individual local
governments; and
WHEREAS, Local Governments and the State of North Carolina anticipate a settlement in the national
opioid litigation to be forthcoming; and
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September 21, 2021
WHEREAS, it is anticipated that a settlement in the national opioid litigation with Johnson & Johnson,
AmerisourceBergen, Cardinal Health, and McKesson will make available, to the counsel with whom
Iredell County has a direct contractual relationship, the opportunity to participate in a subdivision and
common benefit attorneys’ fee fund of approximately $1.6 billion or more at the national level in
exchange for waiver of the counsel’s contingency fee agreements with local governments including
Iredell County with respect to recoveries from those companies; and Iredell County’s approval of the
MOA shall be conditional and revoked if such counsel files a written representation to the MDL Court
that counsel does not intend to participate in the subdivision and common benefit attorney’s fee fund;
and
WHEREAS, by signing onto the MOA, the state and local governments maximize North Carolina’s
share of opioid settlement funds to ensure the needed resources reach communities, once a negotiation
is finalized, as quickly, effectively, and directly as possible; and
WHEREAS, it is advantageous to all North Carolinians for local governments, including Iredell
County and its citizens, to sign onto the MOA and demonstrate solidarity in response to the opioid
epidemic, and to maximize the share of opioid settlement funds received both in the state and this
county to help abate the harm; and
WHEREAS, the MOA directs substantial resources over multiple years to local governments on the
front lines of the opioid epidemic while ensuring that these resources are used in an effective way to
address the crisis.
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, Iredell County hereby approves the Memorandum of
Agreement Between the State of North Carolina and Local Governments on Proceeds Relating to the
Settlement of Opioid Litigation, and any subsequent settlement funds that may come into North
Carolina as a result of the opioid crisis, provided no attorney fees are required to be paid from the
County’s share of any settlement proceeds. Furthermore, Iredell County authorizes the County
Manager (or County Attorney) to take such measures as necessary to comply with the terms of the
MOA and receive any settlement funds, including executing any documents related to the allocation
of opioid settlement funds and settlement of lawsuits related to this matter. Be it further resolved copies
of this resolution and the signed MOA be sent to opioiddocs@ncdoj.gov as well as forwarded to the
North Carolina Association of County Commissioners at communications@ncacc.org.
This item was placed on consent.
ANNOUNCEMENTS OF VACANCIES OCCURING ON BOARDS & COMMISSIONS
(None)
APPOINTMENTS TO BOARDS & COMMISSIONS
(None)
OLD BUSINESS
(None)
NEW BUSINESS
(None)
COUNTY MANAGER’S REPORT
County Manager Beth Mull provided an update on the following:
The County will be hosting a Public Sector Job Fair on Saturday, September 25,
from 9am – 5pm at the Signal Hill Mall parking lot to highlight the public sector
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September 21, 2021
jobs that are available in the County. Mitchell Community College and the school
systems have been invited to participate.
Masks are required in county-operated facilities.
The Board will hold an ARP Funding Workshop on Thursday, September 30 at
9am.
CLOSED SESSION
The Board entered into Closed Session at 5:55pm.
IREDELL COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
REGULAR MINUTES
September 21, 2021
The Iredell County Board of Commissioners met in regular session on Tuesday, September
21, 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
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
(None)
APPOINTMENTS BEFORE THE BOARD
(None)
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September 21, 2021
PUBLIC HEARINGS
(None)
ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS
County Manager Beth Mull summarized the following Administrative Matters during the
Pre-Agenda meeting held at 5pm:
Request from Emergency Communications for approval of Budget Amendment #9 to
appropriate $8,014 of NC911 Funds for Statesville Police Public Safety Answering Point.
Request from the Library for approval to accept a North Carolina (NC) Humanities -
American Rescue Plan (ARP) Humanities Project Support Grant in the amount of $20,000
to digitize 487 reels of microfilm.
Request from ICATS for approval of a multi-jurisdictional and agency Memorandum of
Understanding for a 5307 formula update.
Request from ICATS for approval to call for a Public Hearing on October 5, 2021 at 7pm
in regard to Transportation Grants for Fiscal Year 2023.
Request from Solid Waste for approval to use budgeted overtime funds to hire an
additional full-time Equipment Operator/Driver.
Request from Solid Waste for approval of a lease for the 901 Convenience Center Site.
Request from the Health Department for approval of Budget Amendment #7 and to
expend $115,000 from the Division of Public Health, Agreement Addendum 361
Reopening Schools - School Health Liaison.
Request from the Health Department for approval of Budget Amendment #8 to accept and
expend a $39,900 Budget Revision for the Division of Public Health Agreement
Addendum 466 - Advancing Equity Grant.
Request from Tax Administration for approval of August 2021 Refunds and Releases.
Approval of a Resolution of the Memorandum of Agreement between the State of NC and
local governments on proceeds relating to the settlement of opioid litigation.
MOTION by Commissioner Norman to approve the consent agenda.
VOTING: Ayes – 5; Nays – 0
The following item was tabled for further review by the Public Health & Well Being Task
Force:
Request from Health Department to waive the competitive bidding process for the purchase
of a Mobile Health Unit and approval of Budget Amendment #6 of $747,500 using
Medicaid Maximization funding for the purchase of the Mobile Health Unit to be utilized
for COVID-19 response and the provision of other public health services in the community.
ANNOUNCEMENTS OF VACANCIES ON BOARDS & COMMISSIONS
(None)
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September 21, 2021
APPOINTMENTS TO BOARDS & COMMISSIONS
(None)
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
(None)
PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD
Paula Mimnaugh spoke against students wearing masks in schools. She said parents
continue to share their concerns about masking children but the School Board has decided
masking is not up to the parents. Mimnuagh said doctors have explained that masks greatly
hamper the success of children in schools as they increase the carbon dioxide and decrease
oxygen to the blood. The masks also promote disease because children are forced to continually
breathe in their own waste. Mimnaugh added that school personnel is not licensed to make a
decision regarding mask and it is against the law for someone other than a doctor to prescribe a
mask for a child.
Joseph Carter, said the Board is charged with making policy for the administration of the
County government within the framework of the law. The Board is to provide health and social
services, mental healthcare, community colleges, and public schools. Carter said there h ave been
no children to die from Covid in Iredell County and yet the Health Department is fixated on
masks and “jab” but seven children have committed suicide. Nothing has been done. Carter said
the County’s administration is overstepping its’ power. Carter asked the Board to hold people
accountable for their unlawful actions by allowing the administration to tread on the people’s
God-given rights.
Lisa Bullis said the truth will come out. The United State’s Constitution is the supreme
law of the land and it is impossible for a law which violates the constitution to be valid. All laws
which are repugnant to the constitution are null and void. Bullis called for peace as recently,
people were barred from entering a school board meeting and a glass door was shattered. In
1918, the Spanish Flu killed 675 Americans, mostly by bacterial pneumonia from wearing
masks. It is one thing to suggest wearing of masks but to force people to wear masks under
penalty is simply government overreach.
Kelly Supec, representing Moms for Liberty of Iredell County, said the government is
overstepping its boundaries and infringing upon American rights. The Moms for Liberty are Pro
Freedom of Choice. Vaccines should never be mandated by the government. Supec said the
Health Department is requiring quarantines without due process.
NEW BUSINESS
(None)
COUNTY MANANGERS REPORT
County Manager Beth Mull provided an update on the following:
The County will be hosting a Public Sector Job Fair on Saturday, September 25,
from 9am – 5pm at the Signal Hill Mall parking lot to highlight the public sector
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September 21, 2021
jobs that are available in the County. Mitchell Community College and the school
systems have been invited to participate.
Masks are required in county-operated facilities.
The Board will hold an ARP Funding Workshop on Thursday, September 30 at
9am.
CLOSED SESSION
Chairman Mallory said a Closed Session was held immediately after pre-agenda to
discuss Economic Development and Attorney Client. There are no items to report.
ADJOURNMENT
MOTION by Commissioner Brown to adjourn at 7:54PM. The Board will meet for a
regular meeting Tuesday, October 5, 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