HomeMy WebLinkAboutC.054.93009_2098I% Sales Tax
Commissioner Fortner asked if the sales tax would exclude food items. Hibbitts said he
thought it would with maybe a few variations.
Commissioner Johnson said that 1999 was a revaluation year for Iredell County and some
citizens were seeing an 80% property value increase. He said he would be somewhat reluctant to
impose another tax.
Commissioner Ikerd mentioned that in Catawba County some of the board members had
campaigned for the sales tax. The voters agreed and elected them into office. He also mentioned
that Catawba associations/organizations were in favor of the sales tax.
Commissioner Huffman said she felt that Catawba's property tax had actually been too low
during the past few years.
Commissioner Brotherton said he was opposed to property taxes being increased. He said
he favored impact fees.
Road Improvements
Chairman Hallman said his county had pressing road improvement needs for Hwy. 16. He
mentioned the Lincoln officials had met with DOT Secretary Colson and DOT Board Member Ann
Gaither. However, the Hwy. 16 project was continually "pushed back" on the list. He said the
completion date was now at 2008. Hallman asked for collaboration between the three counties on
the project.
Chairman Hibbitts said he understood the Hwy. 16 improvement needs. He said that if the
road was improved it would assist Iredell County because it would help in decreasing the traffic on
Hwy. 21 and I-77. Hibbitts said Hwy. 16 needed to be improved because it was an economic and
public safety issue. He mentioned that Hwy. 150 also needed improvements.
Commissioner Huffman suggested that letters or resolutions be sent to Ann Gaither
Chairman Haire said that for years Iredell had been trying to obtain road improvements. She
mentioned that Mrs. Gaither had suggested that a single priority listing be done for the entire county.
All of the municipalities helped to create the listing and it was presented to the state. However, to
date, not much progress has been achieved. She mentioned that Brawley School Road was at least
on the TIP, but it was still seven or eight work years away.
Commissioner Gamble, a past member of the N.C. House of Representatives (16 years),
said he was convinced that if a delegation of people visited with the House and Senate Chairpersons
for Transportation that results would be faster coming than talking with the local DOT Board
representative (Gaither). He also suggested writing letters.
Chairman Haire and Commissioner Fortner said that Iredell had repeatedly been told there
were no funds available for road improvements.
Chairman Hallman made a suggestion for the three county managers to meet and develop
a joint resolution for the counties to review and adopt pertaining to road improvements.
Water Sewer
Barry Edwards, the engineering director for Catawba, was asked if his county had
experienced any water sewer problems. He said that, as a matter of fact, the owners of
Lineberger's had recently had problems.