06-19-2023 Meeting Minutes BOC
June 19, 2023
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PERSON COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS JUNE 19, 2023
MEMBERS PRESENT OTHERS PRESENT
Gordon Powell Katherine M. Cathey, County Manager
C. Derrick Sims Brenda B. Reaves, Clerk to the Board
Kyle W. Puryear S. Ellis Hankins, County Attorney
Charlie Palmer
Jason Thomas
The Board of Commissioners for the County of Person, North Carolina, met in
regular session on Monday, June 19, 2023 at 9:00am in the Commissioners’ Boardroom 215
in the Person County Office Building located at 304 S. Morgan Street, Roxboro, NC.
Chairman Powell called the meeting to order. Vice Chairman Sims offered an
invocation and Commissioner Puryear led the group in the Pledge of Allegiance.
DISCUSSION/ADJUSTMENT/APPROVAL OF AGENDA:
A motion was made by Commissioner Puryear and carried 5-0 to approve the
agenda.
INFORMAL COMMENTS:
There were no comments from the public.
DISCUSSION/ADJUSTMENT/APPROVAL OF CONSENT AGENDA:
A motion was made by Commissioner Puryear and carried 5-0 to approve the
Consent Agenda with the following items:
A. Approval of Minutes of May 1, 2023,
B. Approval of Minutes of May 15, 2023,
C. Budget Amendment #21,
D. Budget Amendment #22,
E. Memorandum of Agreement between the Board of County Commissioners
Person County and North Carolina State University,
F. FY24 and FY25 Volunteer Fire Departments and Rescue Squad Contracts,
G. Application for FY2024 Rural State Operating Funds for PATS, and
H. FY24 Classification and Pay Plan and Personnel Policy Manual Amendments
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NEW BUSINESS:
PROPOSED UPTOWN ROXBORO STREETSCAPE PLAN PRESENTATION:
Lauren Johnson, City of Roxboro Planning & Development Department Director
and April Spencer, Uptown Roxboro Program Manager appeared before the Board to
provide an informational presentation to keep the county commissioners and residents of
Person County abreast of planning efforts that impact Uptown Roxboro and the various
facilities with that area.
Ms. Johnson said the City of Roxboro received a Rural Transformation Grant in the
amount of $175K from the NC Rural Economic Development Division for its Uptown
Roxboro Strategic Streetscape Improvement Project, which is the largest comprehensive
planning project for the Uptown district in nearly four decades. She noted the last streetscape
was around 1980.
Ms. Johnson shared the following concept plan documents, which will provide
details about preliminary assessments and background work for the project, as well as
proposals for the comprehensive plan development. The City of Roxboro will conduct the
second public meeting on this plan development at its meeting on July 11, 2023 at 7:00pm.
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Chairman Powell thanked Ms. Johnson for the informative plan recreating the city’s
image. He asked if there were any roundabouts to which she said none were in the proposed
plan. Vice Chairman Sims added safety was of the upmost importance at events in the
Uptown area; Ms. Johnson said the proposed plan narrows streets for increased pedestrian
and vehicular traffic safety. Commissioner Palmer asked Ms. Johnson about the trees, and
benches to which she noted the current trees may be reaching their life span, and some trees
may be replaced with smaller growth trees and/or shrubs or planter boxes. She further noted
that no additional furniture was included in the proposed plan but would be included in
future conversations.
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FY24 BUDGET ORDINANCE AND FEE SCHEDULE ADOPTION:
County Manager Katherine Cathey and Finance Director Amy Wehrenberg
presented the Fiscal Year 2024 Budget Ordinance and Fee Schedule for adoption.
General Statute 159-13(a) states the annual budget must be adopted by July 1. The
budget ordinance may be adopted at any regular or special meeting at which a quorum is
present by a majority of those present and voting. Ms. Cathey stated the Budget Ordinance
for FY24 was before the Board for adoption having fulfilled the legal requirements
including the conducting of a public hearing.
Ms. Wehrenberg highlighted two changes in the budget ordinance; the first change
is listed in Section 2 provides information where funds are appropriated for the schools and
county’s budget and how capital payments are managed by the county for the schools. Prior
to Fiscal Year 2021, the county operating and regular capital costs for the schools was
budgeted in a dedicated department in the General Fund. However, when the county created
the Capital Investment Fund in Fiscal Year 2021, a special revenue fund for the management
of capital and debt expenditures, the budget for school capital was relocated to this Fund to
manage, along with the schools and county debt. This section reflects that school capital
will be paid out of this special revenue fund. In addition, it also clarifies that capital outlay
for schools will be expended within the appropriated budget and paid by the Person County
Finance Officer, upon receipt and review of invoices and other applicable documents.
Ms. Wehrenberg said the second change lies in Section 29(d), which clarifies certain
limitations and authorizations given to the Budget Officer, who is the County Manager, for
the approval of certain transfers and budget amendments throughout the year, with or
without a report to the Board. Ms. Wehrenberg stated the proposed change will allow the
Budget Officer to approve a fiscal year end budget amendment at the request of the Finance
Officer for the purposes of maintaining budgetary compliance related to three recent
accounting standards issued by the Government Accounting Standards Board (GASB),
which is the national oversight committee for governmental units. She noted these three
standards involve the reporting of leases, subscription based information technology
agreements, the Social Services’ Representative Payee Fund, fines and forfeitures and the
Sheriff’s execution fund (a common term for the execution of documents). The budgetary
transfers and amendments for these funds do not cause a net surplus or a deficient in any
fund. Ms. Wehrenberg said this request was to prevent the possibility of going over-budget
and these specific expenditure lines that could create an audit finding for the county for the
reporting year. She added many transactions occur in these expenditure lines after the last
budget meeting for the fiscal year that could contribute to an over-expenditure. This revised
provision provides the county with some flexibility to cover these lines with sufficient
budget prior to fiscal year end and without a report to the Board since the result of these
transactions are primarily transfers or recognition of existing revenues and expenditures.
She added no fund balance appropriations are involved or necessary for these entries.
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Ms. Wehrenberg stated the final Adjustments from Recommended to Adopted
Budget, as agreed by the Board during the budget work session on June 7, 2023 are shown
below noting an increase of $469,020 to the General Funds reflecting the total difference of
amended changes over (under) the Recommended Budget. There were no adjustments made
to any of the Other Funds.
Chairman Powell complimented staff on bringing a budget to the Board considering
the challenges with the increased costs of operations and inflation, while still providing a
benefits package to employees, along with a competitive pay plan investment of $2.5M with
the need of additional vehicles and new positions. He noted the Board was accountable to
the taxpayers countywide through service to all the citizens.
Vice Chairman Sims stated his support of the budget yet voicing his concerns related
to staffing needs and shortages (EMS and the Sheriff’s Office) as the county entices trained
people to come to Person County. Chairman Powell stated the staffing needs and shortages
at EMS and the Sheriff’s Office are common statewide, not just in Person County. He further
added that public safety was nearly 25% of the county’s overall budget noting his concern
was that education was #4 right now in funding in Person County.
Commissioner Palmer commended staff and the Board of Commissioners for its
work on obtaining this budget for next fiscal year.
Commissioner Puryear echoed the comments already made and thanked the
commissioners for working together in harmony and with leadership coming to an
agreement on issues noting his support.
Commissioner Thomas stated the budget was a great team effort.
A motion was made by Commissioner Puryear and carried 5-0 to adopt the Fiscal
Year 2024 Budget Ordinance and Fee Schedule, including the changes, as presented by the
Finance Director.
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Department Explanation of Change
Revenue
Changes
Expenditure
Changes
Equivalent
Tax Rate
(1 cent =
$536,729)
General Fund
Recommended Budget 73,267,286 73,267,286
Revenues Fund Balance Appropriation (10090-399991)194,315 0.36
Fund Balance Appropriation (19090-399991)274,705 0.51
Expenditures Finance-Added new position: Grant Writer (1004130)69,511 0.13
EMS-Reduced cost of ambulance (1004370-454000)(152,945) (0.28)
Animal Services-Added new position: Program Coordinator (1004380)59,381 0.11
Contingency-Property and Liability Insurance (1009910-499300)38,000 0.07
Fleet Fund-Added 3 vehicles for Sheriff's Department (1054125-454100)180,368 0.34
DSS Fund (Admin)-Added five new Medicaid Expansion positions (1905310)274,705 0.51
Total Amended General Fund Budget 73,736,306 73,736,306 0.00
Difference of Amended Changes over (under) Recommended 469,020 469,020 0.87
Total Self-Funded Health Insurance Fund 5,397,915 5,397,915 0.00
Total Capital Investment Fund Budget 6,575,284 6,575,284 0.00
Total Representative Payees Fund Budget 900,000 900,000 0.00
Total Person Industries and Material Recovery Facility Fund Budget 2,396,641 2,396,641 0.00
Total Sheriff's Execution Fund Budget 35,000 35,000 0.00
Total Fire District Tax Fund Budget 2,306,743 2,306,743 0.00
Emergency Telephone System - Special Revenue Fund
Total Emergency Telephone System Fund Budget 208,079 208,079 0.00
Revolving Loan - Special Revenue Fund
Total Revolving Loan Fund Budget 6,255 6,255 0.00
Economic Catalyst - Special Revenue Fund
Total Economic Catalyst Fund Budget 1,686,783 1,686,783 0.00
Water and Sewer - Special Revenue Fund
Total Water and Sewer Fund Budget 80,000 80,000 0.00
Stormwater - Enterprise Fund
Total Stormwater Fund Budget 279,000 279,000 0.00
Total Amended Budget FY 2023-24 93,608,006 93,608,006
Total Difference of Amended Changes over (under) Recommended 469,020 469,020
Fire Tax District - Special Revenue Fund
Self-Funded Health Insurance Fund - Internal Service Fund
Capital Investment Fund - Special Revenue Fund
Representative Payees - Special Revenue Fund
Person Industries and Material Recovery Facility - Special Revenue Fund
Sheriff's Execution - Special Revenue Fund
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APPOINTMENTS TO BOARDS AND COMMITTEES:
Clerk to the Board Brenda Reaves presented the following interested citizen
applications to the Board for nomination and appointment as deemed appropriate. The
Person County Board of Commissioners solicited volunteers to fill positions on the
following boards, commissions, authorities, and committees through advertisement in the
Courier-Times edition dated May 11, 2023 with notice to submit applications by the
deadline of noon June 6, 2023.
ABC Board
3-Year Term: 1 position available
1) Brian Black requested appointment
2) Robert (Danny) Bumpass, Jr. requested reappointment
3) Robert Alan Satterfield requested appointment
A motion was made by Commissioner Puryear and carried 5-0 to reappoint Robert
(Danny) Bumpass, Jr. to the ABC Board for a 3-year term.
Adult Care Home Community Advisory Committee
1-Year Initial Term; 3-Year Reappointment: 4 positions available (no applications)
Agricultural Advisory Board
1 position for a county resident or landowner for a term expiring 12/31/2024
Members solicited to provide the broadest possible representation of the geographical
regions of Person County and to represent, to the extent possible, all segments of agricultural
production existing within the county.
1) David White requested appointment
A motion was made by Commissioner Palmer and carried 5-0 to appoint David
White to the Agricultural Advisory Board for a term effective immediately and expiring
December 31, 2024.
Animal Services Advisory Committee
Unspecified Term: 2 citizen-at-large seats
1) Kay Farrell requested reappointment
2) Cynthia Martin requested reappointment
A motion was made by Vice Chairman Sims and carried 5-0 to reappoint Kay
Farrell and Cynthia Martin to the Animal Services Advisory Committee, each for a 3-year
term.
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Board of Adjustment
3-Year Term: 2 positions available and 1 position for an Alternate (no applications)
Board of Health
1 position for an engineer: 1) Randy Eakes requested reappointment
1 position for a pharmacist: 1) Ted Michie requested reappointment
1 position from the general public 1) Christopher Atkins, Jr. requested reappointment
A motion was made by Vice Chairman Sims and carried 5-0 to reappoint Randy
Easkes as the engineer representative, Ted Michie as the pharmacist representative and
Christopher Atkins, Jr. as the general public representative on the Board of Health, each for
a 3-year term.
Environmental Issues Advisory Committee
3-Year Term: 1 position for a citizen residing in each of the following townships:
the Holloway Township, the Flat River Township and the Olive Hill Township
(no applications)
Industrial Facilities and Pollution Control Financing Authority
6-Year Term: 7 positions available (no applications)
Jury Commission
2-Year Term; 1 position available
1) Froncello Bumpass requested reappointment
A motion was made by Commissioner Palmer and carried 5-0 to reappoint
Froncello Bumpass to the Jury Commission for a 2-year term.
Juvenile Crime Prevention Council
1-Year Initial Term: 2-Year Reappointment
2 positions available for a citizen under the age of 21(one may be a member of the public
representing the interests of families of at-risk juveniles),
one member of the business community: Charles H. Harvey requested reappointment
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2-Year Term:
1 position for each of the following:
Juvenile Defense Attorney: (no applications)
Chief of Police: Captain Ricky Hughes requested reappointment
Managed Care Organization representative: Laura Sharpe requested reappointment
Health Director: Elizabeth Haebig requested reappointment
up to 4 citizens-at-large positions: (no applications)
A motion was made by Vice Chairman Sims and carried 5-0 to reappoint Charles
H. Harvey as a business community representative, Captain Ricky Hughes as the Chief of
Police designee, Laura Sharpe as the Managed Care Organization (Vaya’s representative),
and Elizabeth Haebig as the Health Director’s designee to the Juvenile Crime Prevention
Council, each for a 2-year term.
An unexpired term of the Chief Court Counselor or designee: David Carter has been
working with the state since the fall of 2022; Nicole Grant is the current Chief Court
Counselor for Person County and requested appointment to the Person County JCPC. Staff
requested for the Board to appoint for the remainder of the unexpired term (12/31/23) as
well as a new 2-year term, expiring 12/31/25.
A motion was made by Commissioner Palmer and carried 5-0 to appoint Nicole
Grant in her capacity as the Chief Court Counselor of Person County to the Juvenile Crime
Prevention Council for the remainder of the unexpired term as well as a new 2-year term
expiring December 31, 2025.
Kerr Tar Regional Council of Government Board
1 citizen-at-large alternate position representing private sector business
1) Sherry Wilborn requested appointment
A motion was made by Vice Chairman Sims and carried 5-0 to appoint Sherry
Wilborn to represent Person County as an alternate representing private sector business on
the Kerr Tar Regional Council of Government Board for an unspecified term.
Library Advisory Board
3-Year Term: 1 position available
1) Susan C. Powell requested reappointment
A motion was made by Commissioner Puryear and carried 5-0 to reappoint Susan
C. Powell to the Library Advisory Board for a 3-year term.
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Nursing Home Advisory Committee
1-Year Initial Term: 3-Year Reappointment; 4 positions available (no applications)
Opioid Settlement Advisory Committee
2 citizen-at-large positions with lived experience (personal or family member), and
a substance use treatment provider representative position (no applications)
PATS Transportation Advisory Board
3-Year Term:
1 position available for an occupational affiliation representative for a medical related
service: (no applications);
1 unexpired term to 6/30/24 for a representative of economic development/Chamber of
Commerce: (no applications); and
1 unexpired term to 6/30/2024 (resignation of PI staff Kim Morgan) for a Person Industries
representative: Lisa Jeffreys requested appointment
A motion was made by Vice Chairman Sims and carried 5-0 to appoint Lisa
Jeffreys on the PATS Transportation Advisory Board as the Person Industries representative
fulfilling an unexpired term to June 30, 2024.
Person-Caswell Lake Authority
3-Year Term: 1 position available
1) John Bullock requested reappointment
A motion was made by Commissioner Puryear and carried 5-0 to reappoint John
Bullock to the Person-Caswell Lake Authority for a 3-year term.
Piedmont Community College Board of Trustees
4-Year Term: 1 position available
1) James J. Woody requested reappointment
A motion was made by Commissioner Thomas and carried 5-0 to reappoint James
J. Woody to the Piedmont Community College Board of Trustees for a 4-year term.
Planning Board
3-Year Term: 1 position available
1) Kay Rimmer requested appointment
2) Robert Allen request reappointment (late application at the commissioners’ seats)
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A motion was made by Commissioner Puryear and carried 5-0 to reappoint Robert
Allen to the Planning Board for a 3-year term.
Recreation Advisory Board
3-Year Term: 2 positions available
1) Cameron Jones requested appointment
2) Froncello Bumpass requested reappointment
3) Robert Honeycutt requested appointment
4) Carl Smith requested appointment
A motion was made by Vice Chairman Sims and carried 5-0 to reappoint Froncello
Bumpass and to appoint Carl Smith to the Recreation Advisory Board, each for a 3-year
term.
Research Triangle Regional Partnership (RTRP) Board of Directors Fiscal Year 2023-
2024
Brandy Lynch, Person County Economic Development Director,
Gordon Powell, Chairman of the Person County Board of Commissioners and
commissioner representative on the Economic Development Commission (also
serves on the RTRP Executive Board), and
Phillip Allen, Chairman, Economic Development Commission
A motion was made by Commissioner Puryear and carried 5-0 to appoint Brandy
Lynch, Gordon Powell and Phillip Allen to serve on the Research Triangle Regional
Partnership Board of Directors for Fiscal Year 2023-2024.
Workforce Development Board
1-Year Initial Term; 2-Year Reappointment
1 position available for a member or an officer of organized labor (no applications)
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CHAIRMAN’S REPORT:
Chairman Powell reported he attended the Veterans Summit, a well-organized event
promoting Person County’s veterans and the services provided to veterans; he commented
he attended a bus trip to Sanford with other county and city officials to glean the
enhancements in Sanford and Lee County through touring their airport, community college
and county government departments. Chairman Powell informed the group that the county
has obtained a fully executed lease for the aircraft hangar at the Raleigh Regional Airport
at Person County. He added the Charters of Freedom project was still in process and when
constructed would house replicas of the nation’s founding documents.
MANAGER’S REPORT:
County Manager Katherine Cathey reported on the bus trip event that was called
Dream It, See It, Do It and organized by Piedmont Community College and the Chamber of
Commerce noting the concept was to build on the ideas, assign goals to small groups and
broaden the efforts focusing on the long-term growth and quality of life.
Ms. Cathey thanked the department directors and the commissioners on working
toward a final budget noting she looked forward to all the possibilities the new fiscal year
brings.
COMMISSIONER REPORT/COMMENTS:
Vice Chairman Sims reported he attended the Veterans Summit noting the Veterans
Council was a strong growing group with an informative discussion. He also thanked all
citizens applying to the boards and committees noting some vacancies are available should
there be interest.
Commissioner Palmer said he and Chairman Powell attended the opening day at the
Willow Oak bluegrass music event; he said he enjoyed attending the Veterans Summit at
City Hall as well as a Craft Fair with the veterans noting a good turnout. Commissioner
Palmer recognized Keshav Javvadi, Person County Fellow through the UNC School of
Government as well as welcomed new IT employee, Hector Rios to the county.
Commissioner Thomas thanked the Person County team for its hard work on the
budget that will increase employee morale. He congratulated Person County resident, Chad
Kendrick, on being part of the winning team at the 654th Big Rock tournament and awarded
over $2.7M.
Commissioner Puryear asked everyone to keep the family of Larry and Kimmie
Yarborough in their thoughts and prayers during the loss of their son, Trent.
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ADJOURNMENT:
A motion was made by Vice Chairman Sims and carried 5-0 to adjourn the meeting
at 10:04am.
_____________________________ ______________________________
Brenda B. Reaves Gordon Powell
Clerk to the Board Chairman