Note to readers, the agenda I was working with was provided by the County Manager on Thursday afternoon. The County Manager subsequently amended the agenda before the start of Monday’s meeting adding several major new and unplanned topics.
Brownfields Grant Application
Jordan McMillen, Planning & Development Manager, started this topic summarizing his memo requesting engagement of a third party to submit the grant applications to the EPA. Mr. Jordan explained that Mid-Atlantic Associates (a private company) needs the Boards approval to initiate an application for taxpayers dollars to inventory, characterize, assessing and cleanup planning of environmentally hazardous sites on fifteen (15) privately owned and one (1) city of Henderson owned properties. Back in 2002, the then Republican president expanded the government funding for assessment and cleanup of environmentally hazardous sites thus saving the property owner the cost of cleaning up the mess they made, knowingly or inadvertently. Darin McClure, Vice President, Principal Engineer, of Mid-Atlantic assisted Mr. McMillen in answering the many questions the Commissioners did ask. Mr. McClure confirmed said that if a site is selected for clean up this, “opens the door for millions of dollars in development from the government.” Mr. McMillen clarified that there are no administrative cost because they are called programmatic fees. Commissioner Hester got clarity on the $4,000 cost for the grant. Mr. McClure stated it does not come from the federal government. So if Mid-Atlantic does not get the contract to make some of those millions of development dollars then the County pays the $4,000. Commissioner Brown asked who has a say where the money is in the next step is spent. The next step is the millions in development from the government. Mr. Jordan stated that by that time there will be a steering committee to guide that spending. Mid-Atlantic obtained the Board’s approval for preparing and submitting two Brownfield Assessment Grants.
Kay Fields informed the Board that Social Services earned Best Practice Award from the State of NC. She explained that this is a major recognition of the work her group does. Nice Job there Ms. Fields. Off-line she told me this was a first for Vance County Social Services.
Committee Reports and Recommendations
Human Resources Committee (only filling the openings were on the agenda some how between publishing the agenda and the meeting the question of bonuses and a new position county water manager were added) – approval for the two Deputy Sheriffs and two Social Services opening was swiftly approved. Then Commissioner Garrison asked why the employee annual reviews where moved to November and will be moved to the first of October next year. The answer was logical, to avoid linking annual employee reviews to the annual budget process. Commission Garrison objected and Commission Brown concurred with the objection then agreed to table this discussion to a further time. Mr. Asycue added that it was time to make employee bonuses and the revenue is there. Commission Hester sang praises for Mr. Asycue. Chairman Wright sang praises for the county managers and the sheriff. Mr. Asycue requested a change in Mr. McMillen’s job description and a raise saying he had done a good job with all that is on his plate. Commissioner Brummitt objected to singling out one employee over all the others for such high praise and a raise. In the end approval was given to pay the bonuses and change Mr. McMillen’s title and bank balance. Then Mr. Asycue asked for the authority to find a county water manager to carry the county water project forward. So he were four years plus since the voters approved the county wide water plan which if current acceptance is any gage will be far less than a county wide water plan and now the County Manager wants to create a new position a county water manager at an unknown salary. Not one Commissioner asked one question about this new position before all approved it.
Public Safety Committee (This topic was added to the agenda on Monday afternoon.) – Mr. Asycue explained that we need to develop a Back Up PSAP system to the County’s current Emergency Operation and 911 Service Center. Brian Short, Emergency Operations Director, had a prepared presentation for the Commissioners to review. In North Carolina, each county operates their own emergency operations and 911 service center (site). The State establishes the operating guidelines and minimal service requirements for each county’s site. Mr. Short explained that after June of 2012, each county is required to have a back-up site (hot site) from which to operate if the primary site is unavailable or inoperable. Mr. Short came prepared to discuss at length the two options he was proposing and the costs of each option. Option one is the creation of a ‘regional hot site’ for Warren, Franklin, and Vance Counties. The other is a standalone hot site just for Vance County. Mr. Short suggested locating the hot site at a closed school building in Epson, because it is close to both Warren and Franklin Counties should they join in a ‘regional site’ and sufficient distance from the our primary site to avoid simultaneous failures. Apparently the funds for building the hot site come from the 911 surcharge in our phone bills. Mr. Short stated that the County had sufficient surplus funds (over a two year period) to cover the estimated $600,000 construction costs for building the hot site. The Commissioners discussed and queried Mr. Short plans, options, funding, reserve funds, and need to have cooperative agreements with Warren and Franklin Counties then approved his request to utilize the residual 911 surplus to begin the process of building the hot site.
Bearpond Fire Department
Bearpond fire department was again before the Board requesting the County pay the unbudgeted rent on a private building that is essentially severing as the fire station. As I understand this issue non-payment of the rent is not linked to providing fire and rescue service by Bearpond. Commissioner Garrison asked the detailed questions that cleared some misunderstandings and exposed the crux of this problem. Bearpond Fire Department’s budget did not include the $18,000 rent for the building used as a fire station, nor the $400 a month utility cost. Commissioner Brown asked reminded Chief Harold Lenrich that she has not seen the requested comprehensive study on fire station costs nor the plans for building and funding the fire stations. Chief Lenrich stated it would take six of seven months to prepare the plan in the meantime there is this outstanding rent. Commissioner Garrison rejected the option of paying the rent without a plan. Commissioner Brummitt pointed out that last year the Board approved the (fire department’s) budget without a discussion. Nice way to say the Board failed in their oversight of a budget. Chairman Wright requested a roll call vote. Commissioners Hester, Brown, Wright, and Garrison opposed the funding request at this time while Commissioners Wilder and Brummitt favored the funding. An aside, about half way through the discussion Chairman Wright attempted to end the discussion. Remember this topic was presented to the Commissioners’ on the day of the meeting and the Board failed in their initial oversight of the fire department budget.
County Attorney’s Report – Redistricting Resolution and Map
Mr. Jonathon Care, the County Attorney, presentation a resolution for approval of the redistricting and map. Approval given and everyone is happy they get to keep their districts.
County Manager’s Report
Disposal of Tax Foreclosed County-Owned Property was the first topic. Mr. Care has drafted procedures for selling foreclosed county owned property. Mr. Care and Commissioner Garrison discussed the minutia of this process almost to the exclusion of the other Commissioners. Briefly, this is what I understood. When the County auctions tax foreclosed property the opening bid is the amount of taxes owed. In theory one could by a piece of real estate for just the taxes owed say $500 or $1000, even though the property is worth many times that amount.
Pending Business
County Water Project – Mr. Asycue said a significant amount of title works needs to be completed but there may be light at the end of this tunnel. Commissioner Brummitt asked if they can have some discussions on the fringe areas. I wonder if they plan to leave the price of water to the end user an unknown until after the tap is turned on?