HomeMy WebLinkAboutC.054.93008_1108IREDELL COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
MINUTES
SEPTEMBER 22, 1986
(JOINT MEETING WITH THE STATESVILLE CITY COUNCIL)
The Iredell County Board of Commissioners met with the Statesville City Council at the States-
ville City Club on Monday, September 22, 1986, 6:00 p.m. Present for the meeting were:
Larry S. Hedrick, Chairman
William A. Mills, Vice Chairman
Jessie S. Crosswhite
Frances L. Murdock
Alice M. Stewart
Staff present: J. Wayne Deal, County Manager
William P. Pope, County Attorney
Alice Fortner, Clerk to the Board
Others present; Members of the Statesville City Council
Mayor Ralph Bentley
City Attorney Whittenton
Members of the Press
CALL TO ORDER: By Chairman Hedrick and Mayor Bentley
INVOCATION: By Councilman A. E. Peterson
PRESIDING OFFICER: Chairman Hedrick announced that Mayor Bentley would be conducting the
meeting.
HOTEL/MOTEL TAX: Mayor Bentley said that the Statesville City Council had set the development
of a civic center as a high priority. The City Council wanted to use the hotel/motel tax as a
source of income for this project. The City would like to put the revenues from a hotel/motel tax
in a reserve account and after a period of time, they could use these funds as "seed" money to begin
construction on a civic center.
Mayor Bentley asked the County to abolish the Civic Center Authority so the City of Statesville
could implement the hotel/motel tax for the purpose of constructing a civic center. The projected
potential income from such a tax is approximately $200,000 annually, based on a 50% occupancy rate.
Vice Chairman Mills inquired how this would be set up so that the county commissioners would be
assured that this is what the money would be used for, to which the Mayor replied that the funds
would be set up in a special account and earmarked by a resolution. Mayor Bentley also said it
would probably be two years before they could "break ground." He said they would be promoting small
conventions; they would want the project to be self-supporting, no taxes to support a civic center.
Councilman Rick Dagenhart said the first priority would be to get the civic center paid for,
and eventually have a user fee for supporting the civic center, which should make it self-suppor-
ting.
Commissioner Alice Stewart inquired if a time limit could be established for building a civic
center. Mayor Bentley said they do not have a timetable; they would need to get outside information
before a timetable can be established.
Vice Chairman Mills said a lot of revenue was being lost through not having a hotel/motel tax.
Commissioner Crosswhite inquired if, in the future, this project was found not to be feasible, the
proceedscould be divided between the City and the County on a percentage basis. Vice Chairman
Mills also mentioned that eventually the civic center would be paid for and then the City would have
the funds for something else.
County Manager Deal inquired about the collection procedure for the hotel/motel tax if the
county commissioners agreed to do as the City asked. It was decided that the City would collect
this revenue and it would not come through the County's Tax Collection Office.
County Attorney William P. Pope said he believed the two governmental bodies could enter into a
contract with one another, each saying what they would do. He said he did not see why it would not
be a valid contract.
MOTION from Chairman Hedrick to authorize the execution of a contract between the City of
Statesville and the County of Iredell whereby the County of Iredell agrees to abolish the Civic
Center Authority and the City of Statesville agrees that the proceeds from the levy of a hotel/motel
tax will be applied towards the construction of a civic center, and in the event construction of a
civic center is found unfeasible by the City of Statesville, the unspent funds would be divided
between the City of Statesville and the County of Iredell on a 50/50 basis, and future taxing
authority would be as determined by the North Carolina General Assembly.
VOTING: Ayes - 5; Nays - 0.
Vice Chairman Mills said the contract would still have to be approved; this is simply the