The Commissioners worked so swiftly through their long agenda those of us in the Peanut Gallery thought the meeting would end in record time, alas that did not happen. Issues with County Wide Water drowned that potential. But I’ve gotten ahead of myself.
Public Hearings and appointments
The Commissioners’ completed two public hearings and two appointments in record time, about 15 minutes total time. First of these was the approval to close the Community Development Block Grant for Scattered Site Housing. Somebody got their house rebuilt thanks to the American taxpayers. I understand the original house was purchased from Sear’s and shipped by Railroad Express Agency to Henderson. Think IKEA except instead of furniture you get the whole house in a box. The other public hearing was a plea for the Commissioners’ support to encourage the Corp of Engineers to install a no wake buoy. Commissioner Brummitt reminded everyone this issue has come up before and is out of the Commissioners’ responsibility. The request was approved even though the sponsor for the plea was not present due to a family emergency and no one else who would benefit with the request bothered to attend the meeting. The two appointment items were swiftly handled. One was a request for the Commissioners’ to support a cancer prevention study that will occur on October 26th. Details of the study have been in the paper and posted on HiH. The last appointment was a lesson on the timeliness of property tax payments. The party learning the lesson is MCNC a provider of rural broadband services. According to Mr. Brooks our county’s capable Tax Manager, MCNC was working under a false impression that they were not required to pay property taxes. Ms. Brooks added that MCNC was seven months late filing their appeal. Commissioners agreed with the Tax Manager that a penalty is due especially when you are seven months late on paying five years of back taxes.
Committee Reports and Recommendations
Generally there is little comment when Argretta Johen, the county’s Human Resources Director, presents the report of vacant positions for their approval by the Commissioners. Last night the process stumbled when Commissioner Taylor asked Ms. Johen when the numerous positions became open. Ms. Johen provided the details for each open position. Commissioner Taylor then asked the Board why is it necessary to wait until the Board meeting to begin the search to fill a budgeted and funded position. Adding he understood this hoop was implemented some ten years ago. Chairman Hester, ever then one to complete the agenda on time suggested approving the positions then think about Commissioner Taylor’s question. Commissioner Taylor said he sees this Board as an impediment to hiring. To avoid any further discussion Chairman Hester asked for and got a 6 to 1 approve for the Human Resources Committee’s recommendation. Note, the Human Resources Committee is a sub-committee of the Board. After the vote Commissioner Brown asked Commissioner Garrison to explain why the HR Committee was set up adding that the reason for the delay in hiring decisions is to ensure the diversity of our community is represented in county jobs. I could not hear Commissioner Garrison’s answer. Commissioner Wright suddenly suggested reviewing the obvious Board impediment to hiring.
Farmers Market Change Orders
Thank you Commissioner Wilder for attempting to save the taxpayers $1,600 for a ‘golden tablet’ commemorating the spending of a half million dollars of taxpayers’ money to build a farmers market in a less than prime location instead of modernizing one of the many abandoned buildings in once prime locations.
Consent Agenda
Consent agenda is generally another of the very mechanical processes the Board quickly approves as it races towards the end of the meeting. Commissioner Brummitt asked that the minutes for the September 26th Special Called Meeting be withheld pending corrections. Commissioner Brummitt said he received an electronic copy of that meeting which did not include answers to questions he asked. Commissioner Brummitt and Mr. Care had a short and heated disagreement regarding the exchange of emails of Commissioner Brummitt’s questions. The end result, the consent agenda items were approved sans the September 26th Special Called Meeting minutes.
Water Board
This is always the fun part of the monthly Commissioners’ meetings since each commissioner is also a Water Board member. Before the Water Board segment, the commissioners sat like wooden dolls while Lawrence Brame spoke during the public comment period. Mr. Brame succinctly expressed his request for a refund of his deposit for three water taps. His point was simple. When “sold” on county wide water the price was $25 a month now it is $63 a month. With Mr. Brame’s comments in the rearview mirror of the night’s meeting the Water Board was opened for business. First up was Jordan McMillan’s recitation of the same marketing plans that failed to convince even a plurality of land owners they needed to forego their well for city water. Now that these same property owners, such as Mr. Brame, have learned they need to spend one third more for one third less water than was originally offered as recently as September 25, 2013. Since the vote for County Wide Water project eight years ago the light at the end of the tunnel is now visible; except the light is a high speed train racing towards the Water Board and their other face the Commissioners. Commissioner Brown is eight years behind the curve when saying, “we need some meat put into these statements”, regarding the selling of the project. The absolute best part of the entire discussion came when Commission Taylor asked when will water begin to flow. His question came as Chairman Hester pressed to conclude what he appeared to consider as a frivolous discussion and move the meeting along to his intended end time. After much stammering the project manager said maybe next week water will begin to flow. Every sad story needs comedic relief. Last night Commissioner Wilder was the straight man and the project engineers the comedians. Question, what about the pump needed to fill the water tank? Answer, well now we seem to have a problem with this. We don’t know if the previous project engineer knew what he was doing, but you can trust us to know.