Notes on 2-7-11 county commission meeting


by Michael Bobbitt

  • Mike Bradford presented the 2009 – 2010 audit report for Vance County. He noted it was unqualified, which for everyone means there were no significant issues that would have qualified the report.

    Revenue was $2 million less than the previous year, and expenses were $897,500 less than budgeted.

    Commissioner Deborah Brown had some questions about what was on page 41 and a pooled account that is not in a FDIC insured account. Mr. Bradford explained that the pooled account met FDIC criteria. Brown had question on the income from Carolina Telephone on page 96. The answer to the question was that the County Finance Director or County Manager have not taken the time to change the account name in the last several years. After some confusion on the part of the board, they accepted the audit report for fiscal 2009 – 2010.

  • Jeanne Fox was presented a recognition honoring her service as the director of the H. Leslie Perry Memorial Library.
  • The new information technology manager, Kevin Brown, was introduced. Commissioner Brown made it a point to inform the commission that she and Mr. Brown are not related.
  • No one made any public comments.
  • The Consent Agenda Items were next on the agenda. The Consent Agenda items include budget items (where our money is spent), and ambulance charge-offs. Monthly reports were next; there was a report for the different departments in the county. Commissioners Brown and Brummitt had a insiders’ discussion on the Tourism report. Commissioner Brummitt pointed out that the report was new and would be published quarterly. The Occupancy Tax revenue is not in yet and is expected shortly. Commission Brown asked that the Tax Manager make a report to the Commissioners at next month’s meeting. Commissioner Brummitt brought up a new issue, that of the state’s reduction of court-ordered child support payments.
  • During Committee Reports, the Human Resources Director presented a recommend change to the employee handbook. Changes in Section 2 will reduce the risk of nepotism in the Sherriff’s Office, the Board of Elections, and some other county offices. She asked the commissions for their approval. Both Commissioners Brown and Wright had conflicts of interest and abstained from discussion and voting. The change was approved.
  • Regarding the County Water Project, nobody has factual clue how much water into the home will cost. Until the price of the water is agreed and a contract signed this project is at a standstill.

    According to County Manager Jerry Asycue, a draft report of the Kittrell sewer line project is coming out in days.

    Ayscue also reported that an intern will work on the Subdivision Road Conditions survey. Asycue mentioned that there will be a tax assessment on the properties that get paved roads. Then he added that the county funds the cost of paving the roads, and the landowners’ pay back this cost overtime.

  • The board agreed to submit the school board’s long range plan to the state after it was understood that commissioners generally disagreed with the plan. There was a discussion of the school board request for $500,000 for four multi-purpose rooms. The money will take 15 years to pay back. Commissioner Brown said twice that no one knows if the schools will be in use in 15 years. Then Commissioner Garrison said that 80% of all the children in the school are black.

    Commissioners collectively told the school board that it could keep the Clark Street school property. Commissioners agreed to take possession of the Henderson-Vance Armory in a swap with the city of Henderson that will see the Southern National Bank owned solely by Henderson.

    Commissioners agreed to a resolution supporting law enforcement request to increase multiple misdemeanors offenses to felonies. There was a resolution on unfunded mandates.