HomeMy WebLinkAboutC.054.93009_2061DINNER MEETING WITH LEGISLATORS
BLACK ANGUS RESTAURANT
125 NORTH CENTER STREET, STATESVILLE, NC
6:00 P.M. - 8:30 P.M.
All of the commissioners were present along with: Senator James Forrester, M.D. - 391"
Senatorial District, Senator James Phillips - 23rd Senatorial District, Representative Frank Mitchell -
42"d House District, and Representative Mitchell Setzer - 43'd House District. Others attending
were: County Finance Director, Susan Blumenstein, Support Services Director Jim Vernon, Clerk
to the Board Jean Moore, and Record & Landmark Reporter Ginger Guy. (The county manager was
absent due to illness.)
Volunteer Fire Departments:
Commissioner Johnson said he had received complaints fiom fire departments about the
increased amount of paperwork needing completion after calls. He said some VFDs had
complained it took longer to finish the paperwork than it did to extinguish the fires. Representative
Mitchell said he planned to discuss this matter with the state fire marshal.
Commissioner Stewart said the Department of Insurance needed some of the forms.
Code 5 - Alarm Activations:
Commissioner Bowles mentioned the expense being absorbed by fire departments when they
responded to false alarms (home/business security systems). Bowles said the departments were
working on a fee system, after a certain number of false alarms occurred. Representative Mitchell
said he would be glad to assist if needed.
Highway Funding: Chairman Haire said she understood that highway funds were supporting
other areas of state government. Senator Phillips said the entire state was growing rapidly. Phillips
said he was more inclined to believe the Highway Commission now regarding funds and projects,
than he was a year ago.
41 Year Bond Money for Iredell-Statesville Schools: Commissioner Fortner and Finance
Director Blumenstein reported to the legislators that the Iredell-Statesville Schools needed the fourth
year bond money now. They said that any action on the legislator's part to speed up the process
would be appreciated.
School Boards & Taxing Authority: Commissioner Bowles asked the legislators their
opinions on school boards being given taxing authority status. Senator Forrester said a local bill
could be introduced into the legislature if there was unanimous local support. Bowles said he was
just asking for opinions. (A discussion followed and some attendees stressed there would not be
unanimous, local support.)
DSS Maintenance of Effort: Commissioner Stewart reminded the legislators that the
county's electing Welfare Reform Plan had not been approved. She said that Iredell County had
started some reform procedures before the statewide reform program was implemented. The local
DSS Department is now below its maintenance of effort. Stewart encouraged the legislators to
"tweak" the system so that Iredell County citizens would not be penalized for doing a good job.
Senator Phillips said he knew more people were working and that welfare usage was
declining. Both Phillips and Forrester said they would take this issue up at their first committee
meeting.
Comments from Forrester: Senator Forrester said the legislature had been hit hard with
lawsuits (intangibles, the Bailey court case, funding for low wealth schools) and that Governor Hunt
would push to keep Smart Start and the Office of Juvenile Justice well funded during the next budget
year. Forrester mentioned that he knew the NCACC was encouraging the passage of the one cent
local option sales tax. He said this would be controversial. Forrester said last year the legislature
had a $1.4 billion surplus; however, the money would be needed for the lawsuits, raises for teachers,
bond payments, and state health care plan payments. He reminded the group that he was a prior