Michael Bobbitt: Notes from the Peanut Gallery (BoC November 3rd, 2014)


Monday’s meeting occurred before Tuesday’s re-election of Commissioners Brummitt, Hester, and Wilder. Congratulations to you all. Chairwoman Brown opened the meeting congratulating Commissioner Brummitt on his appointment by Governor McCrory to the NC Code Officials Qualifications Board. I hope I found correct link to Code Officials Qualifications Board http://www.ncdoi.com/OSFM/Engineering_and_Codes/Default.aspx?field1=Code_Officials_Qualification_Board_USER&user=Code_Officials_Qualification_Board

Public Hearings – Rezoning Request

Glandon Forest Equity, LLC, applied through the landowner for a zoning change allowing for the construction of some unknown commercial structure on 1.36 acres of land near the intersection of NC39 and Rock Mill Road. Commissioner Brummitt first objected to the request because of current and possible future traffic pattern issues a new commercial property could make on. He requested that DOT conduct a review before the rezoning request is reviewed. Commissioner Brummitt is basically applying project development thinking, to his decision to approve the rezoning request. At first Commissioners Garrison and Wilder agreed to the need for a DOT review. Commissioner Hester requested the son of the property owner to come and speak to the Board. Commissioner Hester asked Mr. Donald Faulkner, Jr. one question; if a thirty day wait for a DOT study was detrimental to construction plans. Mr. Faulkner said he prefer no further delays. Commissioner Hester thanked Mr. Faulkner then turned his attention to Commissioner Brummitt. Commissioner Hester asked basically if DOT’s post construction traffic review showed unsafe conditions then change should be made. His question completely ignores sound project management theory. Anyone who thinks that a post construction DOT traffic study would prohibit use of the property needs to look no further than the phases 2A & 2B of the water project. Something about Commissioner Hester’s question triggered the go ahead switch in Commissioner Brummitt followed immediately by Commissioners Garrison and Wilder. The request was approved.

Water District Board

First a question, if the Chair failed to gavel the Water District Board to order did the Water District Board officially meet? The County Attorney did caution the Chair of the need to close the public hearing before voting their approval of the rezoning. If it did not officially meet does that mean any votes taken are moot?

Jordan McMillan started this portion of the meeting by reading from the summation of November 3rd’s Water Committee’s meeting and not the Water Committee’s October 22nd meeting summation. A copy of the November summation was not provided to the media or the public; I have my notes and it was recorded. On October 22nd the Water Committee met with representatives of the City administration and Council members Michael Inscoe and James Kearney. The county’s intent at the meeting was to sell the city on idea for foregoing their plans to expand water and sewer service into parts of the ETJ on Oxford and Parrot Roads so the county can provide the water, sans the sewer. Both the city and county are in the water distribution business. Commissioner Hester had proposed this idea at a city council meeting in August. He was supposedly speaking for his self (and the prospective voters in his district) while using county supplies, staff, and contracted services to support his independence. At the November 3rd, Water Committee meeting the county’s contracted engineer informed everyone the areas Commissioner Hester is attempting to wrestle away from the city are not in the original request for the USDA R funding and can not be added or finessed into the system. Basically, another example of the county government’s ready, fire, aim project development life cycle. During both committee level and board level meetings you will hear commissioners moaning their dissatisfaction for returning excess or unneeded funds to the State or Federal sources. Funds projected for a need and found to be not needed. I hear the constant refrain that government needs to live within it means. Returning unspent funding in my thinking is a step towards living within your budget. The county commissioners borrowed what they projected to be enough money to build a water system in a part of the county where less than 50% of the property owners expressed any interest (sign-ups). Now that the construction is essentially completed Commission Hester in the Board meeting and Commission Taylor in the committee meeting are objecting to un-borrowing $1,500,000 because it looks bad. It looks bad to who; the lender, the Federal Government? This is in plain view of the city property owners who are on the hook this year for $203,000 of county debit and $750,000 for the next 10 year. A debit city property owners had zero input to accept and as much benefit.

There was an upside from the Water Committee some of the unspent money will be used to connect three roads in other of the city’s ETJ allowing the county water system to reduce the water wasted (flushed) to keep the lines clear and clean.

If you are one of those who signed up for a $20 a month tap only to be surprised to learn approximate can mean 66% more than you budgeted and are withholding payment on your $30 a month tap be prepared for another surprise. EnviroLink with commissioners’ full knowledge and approval will collect their pint of revenge with a lien against the property and any income tax refund. Enjoy.

Committee Reports and Recommendations

Human Resources Committee withheld approval for Lead Code Enforcement position and approved the six other positions. All new positions are filling vacancies not new positions. The Recreation Ad Hoc Committee has met with the city generally behind closed doors for the two to find a way for the county to take full control of parks and recreation across the county. Neither the city nor the county has the resources (money) to adequately maintain the parks or support recreational offerings. The city took a step last week allowing organizations, churches, businesses, individuals to adopt a park, similar to adopt a highway.

Finance Director’s Report

The first quarter of the fiscal year 2014 – 2015 ended on September 30th. The Finance Director’s report is lacking a first quarter financial summary. The report is also lacking any update on the outside auditor’s review of computer and accounting system controls and compliance with generally accepted accounting principles all as follow-up on a seven year embezzlement scheme that according to court documents will cost Vance County taxpayers in excess of $400,000.