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IREDELL COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
BRIEFING MINUTES
SEPTEMBER 1.1998
The Iredell County Board of Commissioners met in Briefing Session on Tuesday,
September 1, 1998, 5:00 P.M., in the Iredell County Government Center (South Wing Conference
Room), 200 South Center Street, Statesville, NC 28677.
Presents Chairman Sara K. Haire
Vice Chairman Steve Johnson
David A. Boone
Alice T. Fortner
Alice M. Stewart
Staff Present: Joel Mashburn, County Manager; William Allison, Planning Supervisor; Lynn
Niblock, Director of Planning and Enforcement; Susan Blumenstein, County Finance Director; and
Jean Moore, Clerk to the Board.
CROSSROADS BEHAVIORAL HEALTHCARE'S REQUEST FOR SUPPORT IN
SEEKING A MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT WITH NETCARE, INC., FOR
OPERATION OF THE DELTA PSYCHIATRIC INPATIENT UNIT AT DAVIS
COMMUNITY MEDICAL CENTER: David Swann, the Director for Crossroads Behavioral
Healthcare, said Davis Community Medical Center had been purchased by NetCare, Inc., a company
based out of Nashville, TN. The CEO for NetCare is Steve Blaine who was previously affiliated
with Davis Hospital. Swann said he wanted to submit a proposal to manage the hospital's inpatient
psychiatric unit. He mentioned that on August 28, 1998, the psychiatric unit at Northern Surry
Hospital had closed, and the Delta Unit was the only psychiatric inpatient facility remaining in the
Crossroads catchment area. Mr. Swann said there were a number of ways to contract inpatient
care, but a management contract with Delta was the preferred approach. Swann also said Delta
had 16 beds and Crossroads already referred 90-95% of the patients.
Commissioner Johnson asked if additional funding would be needed. Swann said no. The
funding would come from the patient revenue stream.
Commissioner Stewart asked about state approval. Swann said it was not needed.
Commissioner Fortner asked if Surry County residents would receive inpatient medical
treatment at Delta. Swann said all children would have to be treated somewhere else. In reference
to adults, it depended upon the location of their homes. If they lived in Elkin, Statesville would be
the closest site. If the patients lived in Mt. Airy, Winston-Salem would be the closest site.
Commissioner Johnson asked about the relationship between the Iredell County Sheriffs
Office and Crossroads. Swann said a meeting had been scheduled to discuss ideas to streamline the
psychiatric "paper" process. He said he already knew the procedure was cumbersome and needed
improvements. (Currently, law enforcement officers take psychiatric patients to the emergency room
at Iredell Memorial Hospital. The individual is examined and Crossroads is called. The Crossroads
case worker sees the patient and refers him/her to Davis Community Hospital. The process then
starts all over again.)
RECOGNITION OF CHRISTINE UNDERWOOD, REPORTER WITH THE
STATESVII.LE RECORD & LANDMARK: Ms. Underwood will soon leave the Statesville/Stony
Point area to assume new job duties in Savannah, GA. Underwood will work at the School of Arts
and Design. Chairman Haire wished Underwood much success in her career endeavors.
REQUEST FROM PLANNING & ENFORCEMENT OFFICE FOR RECLASSIFI-
CATION OF THE PLANS REVIEW OFFICER: Mr. Mashburn said finding qualified
applicants for the inspections department was becoming more difficult. Recently, a job was
advertised and four applications were received. Out of the four, only two applicants had the
necessary skills, but out of these two, only one had all of the specifications described in the
advertisement. Mashburn said the job description was written several years ago and since that time