HomeMy WebLinkAboutC.054.93011_1068IREDELL COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
Winter Planning Session Minutes
Iredell County Public Library
201 North Tradd Street
Statesville, NC
Saturday, February 25, 2006
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.
Emergency Services: Emergency Services Director Tracy Jackson said most
emergency service offices were experiencing an increase in the demand for services;
however, there was a slight decline in Animal Control.
David Martin, the Communications Director, said two new telecommunicator
positions would be requested in next year's budget, and there were plans to add two more
console workstations. (This will make six stations.) Martin said in revenues, there had
been a decrease in land -line phones, but an increase in wireless. He said the simulcast
project was slated for completion soon, and a new tower would be needed in Statesville.
He said there was a 99 -year lease for the WFMX tower; however, with new station
ownership, future plans were unknown. Martin said he felt the county should own its
own tower somewhere in the Statesville area. He said a 300 -foot tower would probably
cost $125,000 assuming the county already owned the land.
Commissioner Norman asked if Crescent Electric's tower would meet the
county's needs.
Martin said he would review the suggestion.
EMS Director Lee Darnell said that in the next five years, the county might
partner with the volunteer fire departments in the usage of ambulances. He said a quick
response vehicle was at the Lake Norman VFD, and another one would soon be based at
the Trinity VFD. Pertaining to NuCare, Darnell said he continued to monitor the private
ambulance service. He said NuCare's service was improving, and the new manager was
trying, but there continued to be some areas needing improvement. Darnell said the EMS
revenues had increased, and this was due to outsourcing.
Fire Marshal Lloyd Ramsey said his office provided all of the services rendered
by the inspectors in the inspections department with the exception of residential. He
noted that most counties charged fees for construction and operational permits; however,
Iredell County had eliminated the charges about two years ago. He said the fire marshals
devoted much of their time to new construction. It was mentioned that the fire marshal's
office would move into the former social services building when renovations were
finished, along with the code enforcement, planning and zoning departments.