1. Comprehensive Transportation Plan Maps
Scott Walston, with the NC Department of Transportation, presented the Comprehensive Transportation Plan for Commissioners’ and publics’ review. This is a forward looking transportation plan for Vance County. Mr. Walston first reviewed the process for planning transportation needs, then quickly reviewed the maps of roadways, bike trails, and high speed rail. Before anyone gets excited all of the maps are drafts or concepts. Mr. Walston made it clear this was not the time to approve or reject the drafts. When asked who would make the final call on any plans Mike Ciriello said the Commissioners would make the final decision along with their counter parts in adjoining counties. A couple of high level points: 1. Expand I85 to six lanes, 2. Making Dabney Drive a one-way pair using the Dabney and Corbitt Roads, 3. Building a by-passing around Kittrell. The latter two elicited the most comment from the Commissioners. The State is evaluating the feasibility of making Dabney Drive a one-way pair, meaning can it be done. Commissioner Hester asked and was assured that the public would have an opportunity to comment on Dabney Drive split. Then Commissioner Hester made it a point to say that he was not endorsing the Dabney drive paired way. Several Commissioners were rankled at the idea of building a by-pass around Kittrell. They said we want to get people to stop here not just drive through. I wondered if they had notices that the highway already by-passes the town of Kittrell on the west. The State considers US 1 a strategic highway corridor within the State and that dictates certain requirements. When pressed about by-passing Kittrell the Commissioners were told having a train station in Henderson strengthens the reason to build the by-pass around Kittrell. This was a public hearing on the plans. When Chairman Garrison opened the floor for public comment on the plan the public’s silence was loud. Maybe the public will speak at the August 27 and October 1, meetings hosted by the State. The Commissioners agreed to accept the plan as presented.
2. Scattered Site Program
Do you know what scattered site program is? I didn’t. I had to look it up. The scattered site program is section 8 housing intended to help low and moderate income families to become homeowners. It’s called scattered to avoid concentrating low-income families in one neighborhood. The Commissioners awarded bids to repair three or four homes for occupancy. My notes indicate approval for three yet the documents in the packet indicate four. I hope this program meets the goal of helping some families. For more information use this link: http://www.ncdhhs.gov/aging/homeimprovement/Vance.pdf
3. Schedule for Audit Reports from Volunteer Fire Departments
This is the second topic in the County Manager’s report and is follow-up from the July meeting. This topic has been a bee under Commissioner Brown’s bonnet for some time and tonight she clearly explained why. Commissioner Brown said that if you are given the public’s money you must account for how it is spent. The issue is actually very simple. Commissioner Brown insists that the numerous volunteer fire departments use an independent audit to report back to the Board how the publics’ funds were spent. These public funds are the fire tax dollars collected by the County from property owners and dispersed to the volunteer fire departments. The Commissioners by a 6 to 1 vote (I did not hear who objected) agreed to notify the volunteer fire departments to submit their signed contracts by mid-September and agree to file their audit reports by the fourth month after their respective fiscal year-ends or forgo County funds starting October 1, 2012.
5. REO Properties
Mr. Care informed the Board the County’s brand new process for selling foreclosed property was getting its shake down voyage. A buyer has offered to buy two foreclosed lots in Kittrell. The Board had to approve the sale and there must be an advertisement of the pending transaction before the deal is final. A question I hope someone with knowledge can answer; what is a cost estimate for obtaining a clear title on foreclosed property transferred with a non-warranty deed?
Mr. Care’s presentation also included two contracts dealing with purchasing and leasing equipment to Semprius Inc that the Board had to approve. For those still attending the meeting at this time we were treated to a spontaneous moment of humor as one of the cast members lost their place in the script.
6. Consent Items
Generally by the time in the agenda Consent Items are considered for an up or down approval everyone is tired and about ready to end the monthly meeting. This night Commissioner Wilder asked about ambulance charge offs for costs occurring in 2012. As the discussion on those specific charge offs moved along I was reminded of Commissioner Brown’s earlier comment regarding being good stewards of the public’s money. The agreed solution was to pull the ambulance charge offs from the Consent Items. Next month’s ambulance charge offs may or may not include costs occurring in 2012.
Scattered Site…..my first thought after reading it’s definition was that of a person taking a large quantity of fecal matter and throwing it in to a giant fan. Can you imagine what a mess that would make???
Thanks for your report, Michael.
NO MORE SECTION 8 HOUSING..It has destroyed the economic development of this area.
Mojo, your description is basically what the slum lord’s and thier elected puppets have been doing to this county for years.
Prudence the only way to stop the section 8 housing is to stop the government from handing down community development block grants. If politicians truly wanted to stop wasteful government spending CDBGs would be the best place to start.
It has been brought to my attention, albeit indirectly, that I misrepresented the Scattered Site Program approved at Monday’s, County Commissioners Meeting. I met with Chairman Garrison to clarify what I understood about Scattered Site Housing program. Chairman Garrison said that the four homes approved for the program are not section 8 rental properties. I apologize for implying that the Vance County Scattered Site Housing Program is for section 8 rent to own housing.
I appreciate the clarification, Michael. Good to know that the properties in question will not be income based…..or will they?
Recently, a couple friends and I were out of town and chatted with some associates about where we lived. Immediately our group was the target of questions and comments ranging from “What in the heck happened to Henderson? to Why are there no standards in place for keeping your property looking neat? Crime is everywhere but our town has a problem with criminals who live in Henderson”.
Unfortunately, our reputation is growing. We did not prompt these statements, these folks genuinely wanted to know the reasoning behind the decay of a once thriving town. I do as well for that matter but more importantly want to know how it can be fixed.
One thing that shocks me is we have people moving from the north east (NY NJ) down here so they can live off Uncle Sam.