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Mr.♦Southers said he was opposed to the civic center. He suggested private enterprise put in a
civic center if they wanted one.
Mr. Carl Tolbert
Statesvil.le, NC
Mr. Tolbert is a grain farmer in the southern end of the county, he said. He said he was
against any increase in property tax. He is in favor of sales taxes.
Chairman Hedrick explained the methods proposed for the referendum for the proposed civic
center. He said the issue before the county board of commissioners is whether or not to place the
civic center project on the ballot. He said a referendum at the time of General Election would only
cost the amount of the paper ballots and fern extra hours for tabulation of votes.
Mr. L. W. Lambert
Harmony, NC
Mr. Lambert suggested that the board wait until the General Election for the civic center to
be put on the ballot. He said people would not come out to vote except at a General Election.
Mrs. Alice Stewart
County Commissioner
Mrs. Stewart said she was not in support of the civic center. She said she cannot see spending
$12 to $15 thousand for a separate election. She prefers a ballot at General Election and asked
that all turn out to vote.
Chairman Hedrick
County Commissioner
Chairman Hedrick said the county manager had given figures of $12 to $15 thousand as cost for
holding a separate election.
Mr. Max James
Harmony, NC
Mr. James said he thought the people of Iredell County should have an opportunity to vote on
the issue. He thought it should be done as economically as possible.
Unidentified Woman
Asked if it would be out of order for the county commissioners to tell what their preferences
are regarding the civic center, to which Chairman Hedrick replied that he did not think that would
be appropriate.
Mr. William A. Mills
County Commissioner
Mr. Mills said he thought the civic center would be a fine addition to Iredell County. He said
he had a lot of problems with supporting it and paying off the principal with ad valorem property
taxes. He said he would not mind a small amount of property tax being used, but he was not in favor
of a large amount being used for paying off the principal or paying operating costs. He thinks the
civic center authority must come up with a more definite plan on how to fund the construction and
how to fund the operation.
Mrs. Jessie Crosswhite
County Commissioners
She thinks the civic center would be an asset for any community, but not at the expense of the
things that should have priority, such as water and sewer and adequate school facilities. She
mentioned an alternative of implementing the hotel/motel tax and put these funds aside and save
until there is enough accumulated to build a civic center.
Mr. J. P. Van Hoy
Union Grove, NC
Mr. Van Hoy said he had talked to a lot of people in the north end of the county, and he
doesn't find a great deal of opposition to a civic center, per se. bit everubody that he talks to is
against ad valorem taxes to pay for it. He said the rural people in North Iredell, in his opinion,
would not support a civic center to be paid for with ad valorem taxes.
Mr. Wayne Deal
County Manager
Mr. Deal said based on the occupancy rate of the motels, 1288 motel rooms, 50% occupancy would
bring $211,000; 65% occupancy would bring in $275,000.
No one else spoke regarding the proposed civic center project.
MOTION from Chairman Hedrick to adjourn the public hearing back to the regular meeting.
VOTING: Ayes - 5; Nays - 0.
REPORT FROM FIRE MARSHAL REGARDING THE COUNTY LINE AND HARMONY VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENTS
BOUNDARIES: Chuck Gallyon, fire marshal, gave a report on his findings regarding the boundaries
between the two captioned fire departments.
He said the boundaries were changed and moved and agreed upon by both fire chiefs. Mr. Koontz,
County Line Volunteer Fire Department, said he was satisfied with the boundaries. Mr. Richard Hix,
Harmony Volunteer Fire Department, said he was also satisfied.