HomeMy WebLinkAboutC.054.93011_1111Grant Funds will Start a Mobile Crisis Management Service: A
mobile team will be in place as of July 1 to assist individuals
experiencing a crisis in Iredell, Surry and Yadkin counties. Team
members will travel to the person's home, workplace, or nursing
center.
6. Merger Investigation Subcommittee Established: Crossroads' board
of directors will meet with the area authority boards of Catawba and
Foothills (Alexander, McDowell, Burke & Caldwell Counties) to
evaluate any benefits in merging the three entities.
Swann said a cost savings could definitely be shown if an administrative "hub"
existed. He said that when the Charter Hospital chain closed down, many private beds
were lost. Swann said for hospitalizations, Crossroads mostly referred clients to Frye
Regional, Broughton and Davis Community. He noted that Davis, however, did not
accept any patients who were involuntary committed.
PRESENTATION OF OTHER AGENDA ITEMS: County department
heads and staff then reviewed other items on the agenda. A summary of their
statements may be found in the regular minutes.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
REQUEST FROM THE COVENANT HOUSE OF STATESVILLE, A
501C-3 ORGANIZATION, FOR WASTE DISPOSAL EXEMPTIONS: (This
request was initially discussed at the April 4, 2006 meeting.) County Manager Joel
Mashburn read the following statement regarding suggested criteria to be used in the
future when evaluating tipping fee waiver requests at the Solid Waste Department.
"After reviewing past actions of the county staff and actions by the board of
commissioners concerning the waving of tipping fees for non-profit agencies, I feel there are
justifiable reasons why each is permitted, and also reasons why others may also be justified as
well.
"Back in the early 1990s, when the commissioners were considering the options for
charging for disposal at the landfill, it was felt that whatever option selected should not only
provide revenue to operate the landfill, but would encourage disposal at designated sites
instead of encouraging illegal dump sites. It was felt that people would not be as likely to
illegally dump if there was no financial gain. Therefore, it was decided to have an availability
fee that would cover the cost of normal household waste so that residents would not be charged
when they delivered their waste to a convenience center. For the most part, this has been a
successful approach. Illegal dumping has been held down, and by making the transaction
easier, there has been less reason for residents to avoid delivering their waste to the transfer
stations.
"Along the line, however, it was recognized that some of our charitable organizations
were providing a direct and valuable benefit to the citizens of lredell County, but were in reality
being hit with fees that were detrimental to the organization. A prime example of this was
donations made to the Salvation Army. In looking at the waste brought in by the Salvation
Army, it was determined that most of the waste brought in was items that would have been
covered under the availability fee if it had been brought in by an individual citizen.
Furthermore, the Salvation Army actually helped in our recycling efforts since they would go
through the donations and pull out any item that could be reused or resold. I can recall that
Ron Weatherman and 1 discussed this and felt that the tipping fee had literally already been
paid, and it was not fair to charge it again. Rightly or wrongly, that is the principle that has
been applied to other charitable organizations such as the Fifth Street Ministries. This practice
was ratified in 2004 when the board of commissioners granted such a waiver to the Mooresville
Christian Mission on its donations.
"There have been concerns expressed by some that if we are not careful, we will open
the food gates and every non-profit in the county will expect waiver of fees. Since there are
over 100 non profits in the county, the revenue loss would be sizeable. I personally don't feel
that concern to be founded in fact. To begin with, not all non profits, including schools, bring