HomeMy WebLinkAboutC.054.93011_1060IREDELL COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
Winter Planning Session Minutes
Friday, February 24, 2006
Iredell County Public Library
201 North Tradd Street
Statesville, NC
Present were:
Chairman Sara Haire Tice
Vice Chairman Godfrey Williams
Steve D. Johnson
Marvin Norman
Ken Robertson
Staff present: County Manager Joel Mashburn, Deputy County Manager Susan
Blumenstein, Assistant County Manager Tracy Jackson, Support Services Director Jim
Vernon, Cooperative Extension Services Director Ken Vaughn, and Clerk to the Board
Jean Moore.
Media present: Kathryn Thier with the Iredell Neighbors/Charlotte Observer,
Lee Ann Sherrill, with the Iredell Citizen, Daniel Goldberg with the Statesville Record &
Landmark, and Louann Laubsher with the Lake Norman Times.
Call to Order: Chairman Tice called the meeting to order at 8:00 A.M.
Financial Update: Deputy County Manager Susan Blumenstein discussed the
factors contributing to the economic situation. She said the one cent sales tax, percentage
wise, wasn't increasing as it had in past years. (Last year there was a 14% increase
compared to this year's 8%.) Blumenstein said there wasn't much growth in the other
sales taxes either.
Blumenstein estimated the fund balance, at June 30, 2006, would be at 14.25%.
She predicted that $4.3 million would be available for services after Medicaid and school
appropriations were removed. Blumenstein said on Medicaid; however, all bills were
paid at the state level, and the county never actually knew what the exact costs would be.
Economic Review: Terry Orell, Interim Director for the Greater Statesville
Development Corporation, and Mooresville -South Iredell Economic Developer Melanie
O'Connell Underwood joined the commissioners for this segment of the meeting.
Some of Orell's remarks are as follows:
• Sweden's furniture industry is looking at the southern United States for
prospective sites. One Swedish company recently visited VA and NC.
• Economically, 2006 will be similar to 2005.
• Having available buildings is important in recruiting industry.
*More jobs are occurring in retail -- less in manufacturing.
• There is a probability that "back office" services might start in the county.
(These are telecommunications, information systems, accounting offices, etc.)
Some of Underwood's comments were:
• The Angelou Economics Study recommends more regional partnerships.
• Statesville's Airport is an asset; however, a road between Mooresville and
Statesville needs to be built. (All governmental entities between the two
should provide money for the road project.)
• Mooresville needs a college that offers degrees higher than an Associates
Degree.
• MooresviIle has limited industrial space.
• Iredell County's Economic Development Incentive Policy needs to be revised
(average wage and company investment requirements need to be reviewed).