06-11-2019 Meeting Minutes BOC
June 11, 2019
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PERSON COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS JUNE 11, 2019
MEMBERS PRESENT OTHERS PRESENT
David B. Newell, Sr. Heidi York, County Manager
Gordon Powell
Jimmy B. Clayton Brenda B. Reaves, Clerk to the Board
Kyle W. Puryear
B. Ray Jeffers
The Board of Commissioners for the County of Person, North Carolina, met in
recessed session on Tuesday, June 11, 2019 at 9:00am in the Commissioners’ meeting
room in the Person County Office Building.
Chairman Newell called the recessed meeting to order. Chairman Newell
announced that a Closed Session for economic development was requested to be added
following budget discussion.
Commissioner Puryear stated at the end of the last budget work session, he would
bring back a proposal for a budget that included no property tax increase. He proposed the
following:
1% reduction across the board for county departments ($382,151),
Health Department $400,000 General Fund allocation to Health Department Fund
Balance appropriation ($400,000),
Hold compression study implementation for 1/3 of workforce until a potential new
revenue received ($216,000),
Retain the former cell phone policy ($22,590),
Hold Land Use Plan County appropriation ($140,000), and
Cut the Manager recommended property tax rate increase of $.02 ($896,000)
Commissioner Puryear stated the above reflected a savings of $264,741 in the
proposed budget without a property tax increase; that coupled with a fire tax increase fully
funds the Manager’s recommended budget with $11,592 for undesignated contingency.
Commissioner Puryear confirmed his proposal includes the appropriation as
recommended by the Manager for the Schools, but does not include any appropriations for
an increase in the operating budget for Economic Development nor any appropriation for
a Water & Sewer Fund. He added he would consent to a Fund Balance appropriation for
Economic Development.
Vice Chairman Jeffers voiced his concern how the across the board cuts for county
departments would affect funding revenue sources with a match, i.e., the Department of
Social Services and the Health Department. County Manager, Heidi York stated the cuts
would impact operating budgets but the 1% cuts could be made without affecting the match
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amounts. She reiterated that staff needed time to calculate a 1% reduction for all
department’s operating budgets, if that was the consensus of the Board.
Vice Chairman Jeffers proposed the following adjustments to the Manager’s
Recommended Budget:
Increase Economic Development operating budget by $250,000,
Include the study for the YMCA at $25,000,
Fund the Compression Study for 2-year implementation (versus the 3-year
implementation proposed by the Manager at $216,330) for $363,471.50 for an increase
of $147,141.50,
Establish a water/sewer fund for future infrastructure projects using $1M from Fund
Balance,
Cut Woodsdale VFD appropriation by $30,000 (review breach of contract for not
attending ISO Training or working to reduce ISO rating) retaining that amount in the
VFD unallocated fund,
Study Health Department services offered and while under the study, cut the Public
Health Nurse Director I position (currently funding around $80,000), as well as freeze
all vacant positions, and
Reduce the Agricultural well permit fee from $300 to $100 (note: this is not applicable
for home/dwelling well permits).
Vice Chairman Jeffers’ funding to achieve the above noted items was to increase
taxes one additional cent over the Manager’s proposed two-cent increase ($.70 to $.73).
Commissioner Powell asked if a study was warranted based on the recent meeting
with the YMCA. Ms. York stated that she, Chairman Newell and Vice Chairman Jeffers
met with the Danville YMCA Executive Director and a few of their board members noting
they were not in a position to confirm expansion of their services to Person County until a
consultant conducted a feasibility study to determine whether or not the community would
be able to support and sustain a YMCA at certain price points and at certain location
options. Ms. York further noted positive results were required of the survey before the
umbrella YMCA would expand into a new market. Commissioner Powell confirmed that
this would not be a free public swimming pool that indeed charges for use by individual or
family rates would apply which was affirmed. Commissioners Powell and Puryear stated
they were not supportive of the $25,000 cost of the study. Vice Chairman Jeffers stated
this was one of the items that was recently approved by the Board in its strategic plan.
Commissioner Powell asked about the YES program budget reduction to which
Assistant County Manager, Sybil Tate said the Juvenile Crime Prevention Council had
reduced the amount of funding for that program and the staff had agreed to staying on at
the reduced amount, therefore it was a wash in the budget.
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Commissioner Powell asked about the extension agent increase to which Ms. York
explained she recommended in the Cooperative Extension contracted services budget an
increase of $32,500 funding to move the extension director from part-time to full-time.
A motion was made by Commissioner Puryear to direct county staff to review his
proposal to confirm the figures and for the County Manager to prepare a Budget Ordinance
reflecting such.
A substitute motion was made by Commissioner Clayton and carried 3-2 to
accept Vice Chairman Jeffers’ budget proposal as presented and to direct the County
Manager to prepare a Budget Ordinance reflecting that proposal. Commissioner Clayton,
Chairman Newell and Vice Chairman Jeffers voted in favor of the motion. Commissioners
Puryear and Powell cast the dissenting votes.
Chairman Newell stated the Board of Commissioners only had control of the
checkbook relating to the Health Department noting circumstances and risks are out of the
Commissioners’ control. He suggested working with the Board of Health to protect the
County’s interest as the County is liable for any such consequences. Commissioner
Puryear went on record to say that Janet Clayton has been the best Health Director in the
state of NC.
Finance Director, Amy Wehrenberg confirmed a Budget Ordinance would be ready
by the Board’s next meeting. Laura Jensen, Assistant Finance Director and Budget
Manager stated staff would amend the proposed budget as per the prevailing motion. She
provided the Board the following chart outlining a running total noting some figures may
adjust based on the prevailing motion with any left over funding to be appropriated in the
Contingency undesignated fund.
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CLOSED SESSION 1:
A motion was made by Commissioner Powell and carried 5-0 to enter into Closed
Session at 9:38am per General Statute 143-318.11(a)(4) for the purpose of discussion of
matters relating to the location or expansion of industries or other businesses in the county
(economic development) with the following individuals permitted to attend: County
Manager, Heidi York, Clerk to the Board, Brenda Reaves, and Economic Development
Director, Sherry Wilborn.
A motion was made by Vice Chairman Jeffers and carried 5-0 to return to open
session at 9:47am.
ADJOURNMENT:
A motion was made by Vice Chairman Jeffers and carried 5-0 to adjourn the
meeting at 9:48am.
_____________________________ ______________________________
Brenda B. Reaves David B. Newell, Sr.
Clerk to the Board Chairman