Meeting started with the members of the 2012 Henderson-Vance Leadership class standing and introducing themselves. After pleasantries were bestowed on the class the Commissioners got down to business. A side note, the Commissioners did not introduce themselves to the class. Maybe one side thinks everyone knows who’s who.
Hazard Mitigation Plan
Brian Short and Jordan McMillien introduced the changes to the mitigation plan requested by the Commissioners in January. Commissioner Brummitt took the lead on the review of this plan pointing out some more specification details that still require change such are removal of the 500 year flood plan and changing the frequency of inspections from regularly to periodically. Mr. Short pointed out that federal and state authorities had already reviewed and approved the Plan as written. The Commissioners approved the Plan with the final requested changes.
Permit Fee Adjustments
This is something five of the seven Commissioners have some level of understanding, based on their input and questions. Basically the need to adjust the permit fees is explained in Mr. Millien’s cover memo, the current method is based on a complex formula making it difficult to estimate pricing ahead of receiving plans and completing a review. As I listened to the discussion and read the new fee schedule, I wondered why such a complex formula was used in the first place. The new permit fee structure will be effective May 1st after some additional tweaking of the schedule agreed to by the five Commissioners.
Comprehensive Transportation Plan
State Department of Transportation presented maps for proposed highways, bicycle routes, pedestrian walkways showing existing route, proposed routes, and routes that need improvement. Continuation of the western loop was a big issue for Commissioner Hester. Until I heard the DOT concern with truck traffic from Number 1 By-Pass to I 85, I did not understand the need for that loop. Commissioner Brown was displeased that her district is basically ignored for highway improvements; her district does benefit with bike trails. There will be two public meeting to discuss the State’s proposals one in Kittrell and the other in Henderson.
Five County Mental Health Joint Resolution
Valerie Hennike, Area Director, presented to the Commissioners a resolution to merge the Five County Mental Health with ten more counties making a fifteen county mental health conglomerate. Listening to the complaining by some Commissioners of the impact on mental health care to county residence I wondered where all this concern was last May. Last May in the very same meeting room State Senator Berger and State Representative Wray conducted a very public discussion on the proposed State budget cuts that would cause this merger. The same budget cuts that reduced the number of assistant district attorneys and increased the area they cover. Where was all that concern last year Commissioners? I digress, Ms. Hennike’s presentation was merely a formality for the inevitable, unless Vance County has some secrete funds to go our own way.
County Manager’s Report
Among the routine matters in this report was one that should raise some concern, the destruction of old records. The Commissioners agreed to send old paper records to the landfill for “proper disposal”. The question should have been asked of Mr. Asycue, what do you mean by disposed of properly? Does this mean the paper is shredded in a secured method or just tossed into a truck and driven to the landfill? Iron Mountain, to name only one, is a company certified to securely destroy old paper records. It will cost a few dollars less to securely destroy old records, than it would cost to handle the public embarrassment caused by the unsecured destruction of old records in a landfill.
Typical of the Commissioners not to give their names–after all–“Don’t you know who I am?” is byword of several of the members. Of course, this is my observation–and opinion.
Disposed of properly–what is being deemed “old”? Maybe the missing Bank Bag is in that mess somewhere. In my humble opinion–things are going from bad to worse.
Prudence, I have copied exactly what is in the County Manager’s Report to the Board that is in the commissioner’s agenda packet as posted on HiH and made available to the Dispatch. (page 134 in 20120402_vcboc_agenda_packet).
“D. Destruction of Old Records. NC General Statutes require the Board of County Commissioners’ approval of lists of records to be destroyed. Upon approval, the records will be taken directly to the landfill and disposed of properly. Recommend: Approve the list of records to be destroyed as presented.”
The list of records to be destroyed is not included in the Commissioner’s packet or is not a public document. Although the missing bank bag is a major mystery, the dumping of paper records in a landfill should be a major concern. The point I was attempting to make is this, using a company certified to securely dispose of old records (most likely paper records) does not place old records in a landfill or potentially expose old records dumped in a landfill to unauthorized release.
I am in total agreement with you MB–. The Commissioners and all public elected officials need a course in Identity Theft–.
In my opinion, this county and city are run all too loosely.
Keep up the good reporting MB.