02-18-2025 Meeting Minutes BOCFebruary 18, 2025
1
PERSON COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS February 18, 2025
MEMBERS PRESENT OTHERS PRESENT
Kyle Puryear Katherine M. Cathey, County Manager
Jason Thomas Michele Solomon, Clerk to the Board
Sherry Wilborn T.C. Morphis, Jr., County Attorney
Antoinetta Royster
Tracy Ellixson-ABSENT
The Board of Commissioners for the County of Person, North Carolina, met in
Regular session on Tuesday, February 18, 2025 at 9:00 a.m. This meeting was set as the
Board’s annual retreat focusing primarily on the Fiscal Year 2025-2026 Budget and/or any
other topics as deemed appropriate. The Retreat location was at the Kirby Cultural Arts
Complex (Upstairs) located at 213 N. Main Street, Roxboro, NC.
Chairman Puryear called the meeting to order.
Chairman Puryear read an email received from Commissioner Ellixson on February
17, 2025. The email read as follows:
Good evening,
I will be taking a temporary leave of absence to attend to personal and family matters.
During this time, I will be requesting an unpaid leave for the next 8 weeks.
Kind regards
Tracy Ellixson
DISCUSSION/ADJUSTMENT/APPROVAL OF AGENDA:
A motion was made by Commissioner Royster and carried 4-0 to approve the
agenda.
February 18, 2025
2
HUMAN SERVICES BOARD ORIENTATION
CCR Consultants Sherry Bradsher and Revella Nesbit presented the following:
February 18, 2025
3
February 18, 2025
4
Commissioner Royster stated that she knows that there is a quarterly report or data
workbook that addresses the DSS workforce that has to be submitted to the State. She asked
CCR if they believe that would be beneficial instead of waiting for the big annual report at
the end, that way every quarter the Board can see where things are. Bradsher stated
absolutely and if the Board has time to commit to the quarterly report or they could put
parameters on it, for example, anything in red that is concerning would be brought to the
Board, and anything in green and good to go, would go to the Human Services Director to
manage. She stated that or the Board may want to see the entire report and have it placed on
the consent agenda.
February 18, 2025
5
Bradsher explained, as an observation by CCR, that the Board may want to re-visit
the public comment portion of the agenda when convening as the Consolidated Human
Services Board.
There were no further questions or comments presented by the Board for CCR
Consultants.
February 18, 2025
6
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
County Attorney T.C. Morphis, Jr. presented the following:
February 18, 2025
7
February 18, 2025
8
February 18, 2025
9
February 18, 2025
10
February 18, 2025
11
February 18, 2025
12
February 18, 2025
13
February 18, 2025
14
February 18, 2025
15
February 18, 2025
16
February 18, 2025
17
February 18, 2025
18
February 18, 2025
19
There were no questions or comments presented by the Board for County Attorney
Morphis.
Chairman Puryear called a ten-minute recess at 10:15 a.m.
Chairman Puryear called the meeting back to order at 10:25 a.m.
February 18, 2025
20
MID-YEAR FISCAL UPDATES
Chief Financial Officer Tracy Clayton presented the following:
February 18, 2025
21
February 18, 2025
22
February 18, 2025
23
Commissioner Wilborn asked Clayton why was Inspections grouped in with Public
Safety. Clayton stated that it is her assumption that they are grouped in with Public Safety
because it is related to safety of the buildings. She stated that she would research this
information.
February 18, 2025
24
February 18, 2025
25
Commissioner Wilborn asked for further clarification on the total outstanding debt
for the schools. Clayton advised that the debt consists of many projects going back several
years that includes ADA compliance projects, as well as roofing, and other things. She stated
that she is happy to provide the Board with a detailed spreadsheet of the projects. County
Manager Katherine Cathey stated that there will be a detailed analysis included in the CIP
presentation to the Board in April.
February 18, 2025
26
There were no further questions or comments from the Board for Chief Financial
Officer Tracy Clayton.
February 18, 2025
27
PROPERTY TAX REVENUE PREVIEW AND REAPPRAISAL UPDATE
Tax Administrator Russell Jones presented the following:
February 18, 2025
28
February 18, 2025
29
February 18, 2025
30
Chairman Puryear asked Jones when will the revenue neutral rate be published.
Jones stated that he does not publish the revenue neutral rate, that the final revenue neutral
rate is published as part of the budget adoption by the County Commissioners.
Commissioner Royster stated that she appreciated Jones checking with other
counties. She stated that she also checked with other counties as well. She stated that she
would like to see the State get involved in Person County, as an extra layer of assurance for
the constituents. She stated that there are concerns, not only here in Person County, yet all
over the state. She stated that she would like for the State Board of Equalization and Review
to come to Person County and conduct peer reviews, give oversight and insight to the
reappraisal process.
February 18, 2025
31
Commissioner Wilborn stated at the board meeting of the NC Association of County
Commissioners (NCACC) that she attended, there was a lot of talk about this. She stated
that the NCACC did offer a service, at no cost, where they could do a peer review of
revaluations led by their tax person, David Baker. Jones stated that David Baker is the retired
Property Tax Division Head for the Department of Revenue and is now the liaison between
counties and the NCACC.
A motion was made by Commissioner Royster and carried 4-0 to instruct staff to
reach out to David Baker and ask if he could come to Person County to conduct a peer
review, and give his input on if the appraisals seem to be accurate.
County Manager Katherine Cathey advised that she would reach out to the
NCACC’s Outreach Services and get a timeline on when Baker would be available.
Jones stated House Bill 59 (HB59), not related to reappraisals, has been submitted
for next year, and would increase, if approved, the senior citizen exception income limit.
He stated currently the income limit is $37,900 and if approved would go to $48K. He stated
that the County has 900 or so households receiving benefit from the homestead exemption.
He stated that if approved, it could possibly double the number of households that could
benefit from this.
A motion was made by Commissioner Wilborn and carried 4-0 for a resolution to
be prepared and signed by the Board in support of HB 59.
February 18, 2025
32
FY26 BUDGET PREVIEW
County Manager Katherine Cathey presented the following:
Vice-Chairman Thomas asked if Cathey knew the timeline for when PCC would be moving
into the CHATT Building. Cathey stated that she did not know, however, she was advised
that certain programs will be phased.
February 18, 2025
33
February 18, 2025
34
Commissioner Royster had questions related to the splashpad and asked if other
funding sources or grants had been considered. Cathey stated that one of the main reasons
for not including it in the next fiscal year is that it is still on the plan for future years and
due to staff capacity and other large projects that are underway with Parks and Rec. She
stated that the County likely could find some additional capacity to do this. She stated that
there is the American Rescue Plan Funding that is reserved that could potentially be used
towards this project if the Board is supportive of moving forward and developing a plan for
it. She stated that there is also the opportunity to seek grant funding for it.
February 18, 2025
35
Chairman Puryear stated that each Commissioner will be giving input on what their
thoughts are, and ultimately, they are the ones that are going to be approving the final tax
rate. He stated that he would like to see the County Manager take a strong approach towards
a revenue neutral tax rate in the proposed budget.
Commissioner Wilborn stated that the splashpad is an upfront cost, has to be
maintained, and that you have to have staffing, which is already struggling with a number
of new projects that have been approved in recent years. She stated that if the County goes
revenue neutral, we would basically be doing a cut, so she would stick with what Cathey
has recommended and continue to push it out, especially if there is no staffing.
Vice-Chairman Thomas stated that he agrees with Wilborn.
February 18, 2025
36
There were no further questions or comments from the Board for County Manager
Katherine Cathey.
February 18, 2025
37
STRATEGIC PLAN REVIEW
Assistant County Manager Brian Hart presented the following:
February 18, 2025
38
February 18, 2025
39
February 18, 2025
40
February 18, 2025
41
Commissioner Royster stated that she has spoken to a few people that were
interested and accepted into the Civics Academy. She stated that they were excited and
looking forward to it.
Commissioner Wilborn had feedback related to the Mission/Vision statement related
to Economic Growth, as well as Economic Opportunity and Growth, Capital
Investment/Facility Needs Assessment, and Service Excellence. She provided what she
feels needed to be updated on each one. County Manager Cathey asked Wilborn to please
provide her with her recommendations.
February 18, 2025
42
CD-01-24- A REQUEST BY THE APPLICANT AND PROPERTY OWNER, DUKE
ENERGY PROGRESS, LLC FOR CONDITIONAL DISTRICT REZONING
APPROVAL ON A 297-ACRE VACANT LOT, LOCATED BESIDE 1700
DUNNAWAY ROAD, TAX MAP A15 304, FROM RESIDENTIAL TO
CONDITIONAL DISTRICT-GENERAL INDUSTRIAL
County Manager Katherine Cathey advised the Board that this item was tabled at
the February 3, 2025 meeting. She stated that this is a legislative decision. She stated that it
went before the Planning Board through a public hearing, and it was their recommendation
for it to go to the Board of Commissioners. She stated that the Board of Commissioners
public hearing was on February 3, 2025, at which time it was tabled. She stated that it is
before the Board today for a decision.
Vice-Chairman Thomas stated that it is essential to keep this process going with
Duke Energy and the need to keep Duke Energy in Person County. He stated that Duke
Energy brings in a lot of tax revenue for the County.
Commissioner Royster stated that Duke Energy provides a lot to this community.
She stated that she posed some questions to Duke Energy at the last meeting, which now
have been answered. She stated that the Board tabled this item on February 3, 2025 so
constituents could review the information, as some people were not able to pull up the
information on the website. She stated that now, the constituents are not allowed to speak,
and she understands that this is a retreat and there are processes in place.
Commissioner Wilborn stated that this is a rezoning, and not a support of the project.
She stated that in her mind, she feels that this should be an administrative rezoning. She
stated that the power plant was there before zoning took place in the County. She stated that
she believes the wrong zoning was overlaid there when it was zoned as Residential. She
stated that she is in agreement with what Commissioner Thomas stated.
A motion was made by Vice-Chairman Thomas and carried 3-1 to approve
Conditional District Rezoning Application, CD-01-24, for the Duke Energy Progress, LLC
site to rezone the 297-acre vacant subject property from a R (Residential) to a CD-GI
(Conditional District-General Industrial) zoning designation and find it is consistent with
the adopted Person County & City of Roxboro Joint Comprehensive Land Use Plan.
Commissioner Royster voted in opposition.
February 18, 2025
43
EDC RESOLUTION FOR AMENDMENT TO EDC BOARD MEMBERSHIP
County Manager Katherine Cathey stated that at its January meeting, the
Economic Development Commission (EDC) voted to recommend to the Board of
Commissioners, a membership change within the EDC. She stated that there is currently a
vacant seat on the EDC Board, and what they are requesting is that the vacancy, which is a
voting seat be filled by the Farmland Preservation seat, which is currently an Ex-Officio
(non-voting seat) filled by Claudia Berryhill and make it a voting seat.
Commissioner Wilborn referenced the County’s Strategic Plan, and stated that
Goal 16, states preserve and celebrate rural character and lifestyle, implement
conservation programs, which would include farmland preservation and promote
agribusiness and agritourism. She stated by making this a voting position on the EDC, it
gives more focus to that goal.
A motion was made by Commissioner Wilborn and carried 4-0 to approve a
Resolution Amending the EDC Board Membership.
CLOSING REMARKS:
Chairman Puryear closed the retreat by expressing thanks to staff and everyone for
their time. He stated that Commissioner Royster will not be in attendance at the next
Board meeting on March 3, 2025, due to her attendance at the NACO Legislative
Conference in Washington, D.C.
ADJOURNMENT:
A motion was made by Commissioner Royster and carried 4-0 to adjourn the
meeting at 12:03p.m.
____________________________ ______________________________
Michele Solomon Kyle Puryear
Clerk to the Board Chairman