08-17-2020 Meeting Minutes BOC
August 17, 2020
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PERSON COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS AUGUST 17, 2020
MEMBERS PRESENT OTHERS PRESENT
B. Ray Jeffers Heidi York, County Manager
Jimmy B. Clayton Brenda B. Reaves, Clerk to the Board
Kyle W. Puryear C. Ronald Aycock, County Attorney
Gordon Powell
C. Derrick Sims
The Board of Commissioners for the County of Person, North Carolina, met in
regular session on Monday, August 17, 2020 at 9:00am in the Person County Office
Building Auditorium.
Chairman Jeffers called the meeting to order. Commissioner Sims offered an
invocation and Vice Chairman Powell 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:
The following individual appeared before the Board to make informal comments:
Mr. John Seepe of 277 Barefoot Landing Lane, Semora stated his inquiries from
the last board meeting had gone unanswered relating to the Economic Development
Commission (EDC); he said he wanted to know about any economic inquiries and the
response to such inquiries. In addition, he asked about the performance and oversight of
the economic efforts of staff and the EDC.
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 July 13, 2020,
B. Approval of Minutes of August 3, 2020,
C. Budget Amendment #3, and
D. Tax Adjustments for August 2020
a. Tax Releases
b. NC Vehicle Tax System pending refunds
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NEW BUSINESS:
ADOPTION OF THE 2020 ENO-HAW REGIONAL MULTI-JURISDICTION
HAZARD MITIGATION PLAN:
Per the requirements of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency
Assistance Act and the Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000, counties and cities are required to
periodically adopt All Hazards Mitigtion plans to remain eligible for federal funding in the
event of a natural or man-made disaster. Planning Director, Lori Oakley introduced County
Planner, Kayla DiCristina to present the Hazard Mitigation Plan for consideration.
Ms. DiCristina stated the request by the Person County Planning Department and
Emergency Management Department before the Board was for adoption of a Resolution
Adopting the Eno-Haw Regional Multi-Jurisdiction Hazard Mitigation Plan.
Ms. DiCristina said the previous Hazard Mitigation Plan was adopted in 2015 and
expired in April of 2020. The Person County Departments of Planning and Zoning and
Emergency Management began the process of creating an updated Hazard Mitigation Plan
in the Fall of 2019 with the planning consulting firm Wood. The county’s previous Hazard
Mitigation Plan was created in conjunction with the City of Roxboro. The new Hazard
Mitigation Plan (“Eno-Haw Regional Multi-Jurisdiction Hazard Mitigation Plan”) was
created in conjunction with the City of Roxboro and the Eno-Haw Region including
Alamance, Durham, and Orange Counties along with their associated municipalities.
Coordination between the noted entities included creating attainable and measurable goals
and objectives, updating data provided from the consulting firm, and attending public
meetings. The decision to join the Eno-Haw Region in preparing this Plan was due to cost.
While Person County’s hazard mitigation strategies are housed under the Eno-Haw Region,
the Plan contains separate analyses of natural and man-made hazard risks to the jurisdiction
and separate mitigation action items that apply solely to the county.
Ms. DiCristina said that in May of 2020, Person County received the Approval
Pending Adoption letter from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). This
letter indicated that FEMA had approved the proposed plan and that the County was cleared
to adopt as written.
Ms. DiCristina noted the new Hazard Mitigation Plan addresses all requirements
needed for FEMA funding in the event of a disaster impacting Person County and provides
a roadmap for goals and objectives that will strengthen the resilience of Person County as
well as addresses multiple hazards and the goals and objectives cover a variety of impacts
and departments. Examples of hazards include floods, hurricanes, droughts, tornados,
earthquakes, etc. Ms. DiCristina stated Planning Staff recommended adoption of the Eno-
Haw Regional Multi-Jurisdiction Hazard Mitigation Plan to ensure Person County is
eligible for federal funding in the event of a natural or man-made disaster; she asked the
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Board to vote to approve or deny the adoption of the Eno-Haw Regional Multi-Jurisdiction
Hazard Mitigation Plan via the resolution.
Commissioner Puryear asked if all jurisdictions were required to adopt the regional
plan prior to Person County’s plan to be effective. Douglas Young, Emergency
Management Director said the presented would be the County’s Plan upon adoption and
yes, all jurisdictions would need to adopt the Plan to be eligible in regional federal funding
should there be an event.
A motion was made by Commissioner Puryear and carried 5-0 to adopt a
Resolution Adopting the Eno-Haw Regional Multi-Jurisdiction Hazard Mitigation Plan.
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2019-2020 TAX COLLECTOR SETTLEMENT:
Tax Administrator, Russell Jones shared the following presentation for his 2019
Tax Collector Settlement report to the Board of Commissioners.
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Mr. Jones said his personal goal was to have a collection rate of 99%; he said
98.91% may be the best yet County collection rate to date. He added that the Stormwater
collection rate was 97.33%, the City’s collection rate was 98.71% and the Fire Tax
collection rate was 98.94%.
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Mr. Jones stated the below slide addresses the write-off for the 7/100% uncollected
which totaled $20,090.85.
Mr. Jones stated he anticipated mailing out the current tax bills in early September.
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The Board echoed each other’s commendations to the Tax Administrator and his
staff for their outstanding job. Commissioner Clayton pointed out the vehicle tax legislation
by the National Association of Counties assisted in increasing the vehicle tax collection
rate to nearly 100%.
A motion was made by Vice Chairman Powell and carried 5-0 to accept the 2019
Tax Collector Settlement, as presented.
ORDER TO COLLECT TAXES:
Tax Administrator, Russell Jones stated as required by General Statute 105-321,
the governing board of the taxing unit must issue an order of collection to tax collectors.
This gives the tax collector legal authority to collect taxes for 2020 and all delinquent taxes
from prior years.
A motion was made by Vice Chairman Powell and carried 5-0 to order the Tax
Collector to collect taxes for 2020 and all delinquent taxes from prior years.
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CHAIRMAN’S REPORT:
Chairman Jeffers reported on the following:
He and the new Fire Marshal attended the Fire Chief’s meeting; he said an illegal
burning ordinance may be recommended to come before the Board; County
Manager, Heidi York said the Fire Marshal may cite individuals for illegal burning
and that the Sheriff’s Office enforces such citations.
He noted some farmers are complaining of illegal dumping.
He asked the County Manager to reach out to the Republic Services about their
hours and being closed on Saturdays to be temporary or permanent.
MANAGER’S REPORT:
County Manager, Heidi York responded to some of the inquiries about the
Economic Development Commission (EDC) and noted their bylaws state the requirement
to meet at least once every three months. She stated the EDC’s Chairman, Phillip Allen
would consider cancelling its usual monthly meeting should there not be any official
business to conduct. Ms. York said the Director of Economic Development (ED) sends
out weekly updates and suggested posting such on the ED and County websites to inform
the public.
COMMISSIONER REPORT/COMMENTS:
Commissioner Sims stated he was a former member of the Economic Development
Commission (EDC) and understood that project updates were confidential at the prospect’s
request noting a premature release of information could result in losing the prospect
altogether.
Commissioner Sims requested information related to responding to an emergency
at the airport noting the Timberlake Volunteer Fire Department (TVFD) was needing the
airport’s fire safety plan. Chairman Jeffers stated he served on the TVFD strategic plan
committee and it was he thought the TVFD had keys for entry at the airport in an
emergency.
Vice Chairman Powell noted a case when he was a member of the EDC whereby a
breach of confidential information took place and the company’s headquarters pulled the
plug and the project went no further.
Vice Chairman Powell requested that the Economic Development Director to post
her weekly economic update on both the County website and the Economic Development’s
web site.
Commissioners Clayton and Puryear had no reports or comments.
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ADJOURNMENT:
A motion was made by Vice Chairman Powell and carried 5-0 to adjourn the
meeting at 9:33am.
_____________________________ ______________________________
Brenda B. Reaves B. Ray Jeffers
Clerk to the Board Chairman