BOC Minutes November 19 2018approve
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PERSON COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS NOVEMBER 19, 2018
MEMBERS PRESENT OTHERS PRESENT
Tracey L. Kendrick Heidi York, County Manager
Gordon Powell C. Ronald Aycock, County Attorney
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
regular session on Monday, November 19, 2018 at 9:00am in the Person County Office
Building Auditorium.
Chairman Kendrick called the meeting to order. Vice Chairman Powell gave 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.
RECOGNITION OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT DAY:
Chairman Kendrick welcomed the Person High School students enrolled in civics
and economics participating in Local Government Day to observe the Board of County
Commissioners in session. Chairman Kendrick, Vice Chairman Powell and
Commissioners Clayton, Jeffers and Puryear proceeded to introduce themselves and shared
general information about the office of a commissioner and general government. County
Manager, Heidi York, Assistant County Manager, Sybil Tate, Clerk to the Board, Brenda
Reaves, Tax Administrator, Russell Jones, Finance Director, Amy Wehrenberg, IT
Director, Chris Puryear, Emergency Management Director, Doug Young and Planning
Director, Lori Oakley also introduced themselves.
INFORMAL COMMENTS:
The following individual appeared before the Board to make informal comments:
Mr. David Forsythe, Executive Director of Person County Group Homes, Inc., a
non-profit provider for those in the county with disabilities located at 202 North Main
Street, Roxboro, requested the Board to consider a one-time contribution of $100,000 to
assist with the cost of their employees’ insurance costs. He stated as a result of the
Affordable Health Care for America, the insurance costs for their employees has increased
approximately $200,000.
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DISCUSSION/ADJUSTMENT/APPROVAL OF CONSENT AGENDA:
A motion was made by Vice Chairman Powell and carried 5-0 to approve the
Consent Agenda with the following items:
A. Approval of Minutes of October 22, 2018,
B. Budget Amendment #10,
C. Resolution Designation of Applicant’s Agent to file applications for federal
and/or state disaster assistance,
D. Person County Airport Renewal of Safety/Maintenance Agreement and
Resolution of Sponsor for 100% state funding,
E. Capital Project Budget Ordinance relating to Person County’s Community
Development Block Grant for the Polywood Building Reuse Project
F. Transitioning Person County’s Domain from .net to .gov, and
G. Tax Adjustments for November 2018
a. Tax Releases
b. NC Vehicle Tax System pending refunds
NEW BUSINESS:
FOUNDATION FORWARD, INC. PRESENTATION:
Commissioner Jeffers introduced Dr. David Streater, Director of Education of the
Charters of Freedom, Inc., a 501(c)(3) organization called Foundation Forward to share the
following information with the Board related to displaying the country’s founding
documents at a prominent location in Person County. His presentation follows:
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Dr. Streater stated their non-profit provided the construction of a brick display for
the country’s founding documents, however, for the difference in additional costs, the
county may upgrade the brick veneer to a limestone ($45,000) or a granite ($70,000). Dr.
Streater asked for the Board to consider gaining community support through civic
organizations and community partners to provide donations, discounted materials, and in-
kind contributions. He said the county may consider allowing its maintenance staff or
asking for volunteers in the construction efforts.
Also with each display construction, a time-capsule vault was included and he
would ask county officials and the community to write documents to be placed inside the
vault with instructions to be opened on Constitution Day, September 17, 2087.
Mr. Streater noted the construction site for the display would include three separate
displays; two would be six feet wide and the one in the middle would be approximately 30
ft. wide.
Commissioner Jeffers advocated for the Board to solicit support by the community
and said the three sites he had thought of were the Person County Veterans Park, the Person
County Courthouse and the Person County Museum of History.
A motion was made by Commissioner Jeffers and carried 5-0 to direct the County
Manager to start the process for a site selection for the displaying of the country’s founding
documents in Person County.
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RESOLUTION REQUESTING MAINTENANCE ABANDONMENT OF A
PORTION OF SECONDARY ROAD 1370 GLENNIE IRVINE ROAD:
Planning Director, Lori Oakley presented a Resolution Requesting Maintenance
Abandonment of a Portion of Secondary Road 1370 Glennie Irvine Road on behalf of the
applicants, Michael and Tanya Lunsford. Ms. Oakley stated the applicants are requesting
that NCDOT abandon the maintenance of approximately the last 400 feet of Glennie Irvine
Road. Ms. Oakley confirmed the applicants own the property on both sides of the road for
the last 400 feet and have stated that if the request was approved, they will install a gravel
area to allow vehicles to turn around and a gate with a break-away feature for emergency
vehicles. Mr. Lunsford provided the following statement for the reason why he made the
request:
I am requesting this change in order to install a gate on Glennie Irvin Road to
control access to the property. This property has basically been abandoned for the
past 4 years and folks have come and gone as they please and fished the existing
pond completely out. I have placed No Trespassing signs and they have had little if
any effect on the folks coming onto the land. I have made a large investment on the
structures and pond in order to enjoy the property with my family and I would like
to protect that investment.
NCDOT has informed the applicant that he must include a resolution from the
county indicating the desire to abandon the maintenance of the right-of-way along with his
application. The resolution will be included along with the application and NCDOT’s
recommendation on the maintenance abandonment to the state Board of Transportation.
The NC Board of Transportation will render the final decision on the maintenance
abandonment of the last 400 feet of Glennie Irvine Road.
A motion was made by Vice Chairman Powell and carried 5-0 to approve by
resolution to request Maintenance Abandonment of a portion of Secondary Road 1370
Glennie Irvine Road, as presented.
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CONSIDERATION OF APPROVAL OF LATE EXEMPTION APPLICATIONS:
Tax Administrator, Russell Jones stated every year, the tax office receives
applications for the Senior, Disabled, Veteran, and Circuit Breaker exemptions that fail to
meet the June 1st deadline. Mr. Jones said in an effort to help inform the public of these
exemptions, the tax office mailed information along with our listing forms to 6,033 citizens
along with updated brochures for the three exemption programs, which made these
programs easier to understand, and passed out over 500 copies. The Tax Office also
included information about these exemptions on the county web site that also included
access to an on-line application form. Application information was published in the local
newspaper. A final effort included mailing 10,635 postcards to all property owners that
did not receive a listing form that reminded all citizens of the upcoming tax deadlines.
Mr. Jones said the Tax Office efforts resulted in 120 new applications, with 80
approved applications, 28 denied applications (14 were over the income limit, 11 did not
complete application, and 3 were not their primary residence) and 8 late applications.
Mr. Jones presented the 8 late applications that are submitted to the Board for
review noting they would have been approved had they been received by the tax office by
June 1st. These applications met all requirements, however since these were late, they could
not be approved by the tax office.
The Board of Commissioners may approve late applications if they are received by
December 31st. Since these applications met all guidelines (other than the application
deadline), Mr. Jones recommended approval.
The following spreadsheet outlined the tax impact and the reasons for the late
applications. Overall the County has 776 (increased by 51 properties since 2017)
properties that are receiving benefit from these exemptions, which does not include the 8
applications that are submitted for approval by the Board.
A motion was made by Commissioner Jeffers and carried 5-0 to approve the late
exemption applications, as presented.
Taxpayer Application Application Date Reason for Late Application Map Tax Value County Bill Fire Bill City Bill Total Bill Tax Value County Bill Fire Bill City Bill New Bill Savings
Eily, Frederick & Mia Veteran 11/1/2018 Waiting on VA 128 73 267,360 1,871.52 26.74 1,898.26 222,360 1,556.52 22.24 1,578.76 319.50
Renfrow, Paul Elderly 10/27/2018 Illness A43 38 99,996 699.97 10.00 709.97 53,199 372.39 5.32 377.71 332.26
Smith, Robert & Haslitt, Terri Disabled 10/13/2018 Unaware of program A5 54 77,977 545.84 7.80 553.64 40,599 284.19 4.06 288.25 265.38
Jackson, Ophelia Elderly 9/17/2018 Did not know deadline 79 21 68,084 476.59 6.81 483.40 34,042 238.29 3.40 241.70 241.70
Roques, Rolando & Martha Elderly 7/31/2018 Out of country 68 90 167,319 1,171.23 16.73 1,187.96 84,345 590.42 8.43 598.85 589.12
Tillman, Edythe Veteran 7/17/2018 Waiting on VA A40 328 102,489 717.42 10.25 727.67 57,489 402.42 5.75 408.17 319.50
Oakley, Richard Disabled 11/7/2018 Unaware of program 88 1 1 22,079 154.55 2.21 156.76 0 0.00 0.00 0.00 156.76
West, Timothy Wayne Disabled 8/31/2017 Did not know deadline A64 524 88,391 618.74 8.84 627.58 49,238 344.67 4.92 349.59 277.99
6,255.87 89.37 0.00 6,345.23 3,788.90 54.13 0.00 3,843.03 2,502.20
Total County Tax Saving to Taxpayer 2,466.96
Total Fire Tax Saving to Taxpayer 35.24
Total City Tax Saving to Taxpayer 0.00
Total Saving To Taxpayer 2,502.20
Before Exemption After Exemption
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LAND ACQUISITION FOR STORMWATER REGULATION COMPLIANCE:
County Manager, Heidi York noted the Board met in closed session on July 2, 2018
to discuss a possible solution for exceeding the impervious surface limits of the Stormwater
Regulations in the Stories Creek Watershed. After a paving project for the General
Services Grounds Maintenance Building and Animal Services, the county exceeded the
24% impervious limit. The current property did not have sufficient room for a stormwater
management system so the engineering consultant recommended purchasing an additional
two acres of land adjacent to the county’s current property.
Ms. York said the county reached an agreement with private landowners to
purchase 2.07 acres at a purchase price of $10,000 per acre, adjacent to Animal Services.
Survey work and legal services have been completed for a total price of $24,846.24. Once
the purchase agreement is executed, the county will be in compliance with the impervious
surface requirements.
Ms. York requested the Board to authorize the County Manager to execute the
purchase agreement for an additional 2.07 acres from the current landowners and
appropriate contingency funds in the amount of $24,846.24 to the General Services budget.
A motion was made by Commissioner Jeffers and carried 5-0 to authorize the
County Manager to execute the purchase agreement for an additional 2.07 acres from the
current landowners and appropriate contingency funds in the amount of $24,846.24 to the
General Services budget.
APPOINTMENT TO ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES ADVISORY COMMITTEE:
Clerk to the Board, Brenda Reaves presented an interested citizen application for
consideration for appointment to the Environmental Issues Advisory Committee. Mr.
James Bradsher Wilkins has submitted an application of interest to serve as the Woodsdale
Township representative.
A motion was made by Commissioner Jeffers and carried 5-0 to appoint Mr. James
Bradsher Wilkins to the Environmental Issues Advisory Committee as the Woodsdale
Township representative for a 3-year term.
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CHAIRMAN’S REPORT:
Chairman Kendrick reported the County would host an employee service award
banquet on November 28, 2018 noting his regrets that he could not attend. He asked Vice
Chairman Powell to attend in his stead.
Chairman Kendrick said that the NC State Auditor, Beth Wood would be attending
the Kiwanis Club meeting set for later this same date.
COMMISSIONER REPORT/COMMENTS:
Commissioner Clayton reported his attendance at the recent Rural Assembly Day
in Raleigh.
Commissioner Jeffers asked the County Manager to assist in the road maintenance
of Jessie Hicks Road where school buses turnaround and deteriorate the condition of the
road. He noted the county had previously put some gravel on this section of the road
before.
Commissioner Puryear thanked the students for their attendance at the Board
meeting and thanked the voters of the county that re-elected him to another four years. He
said Board meetings were not the place to bring up election issues.
Vice Chairman Powell reported he was serving on the Executive Committee of the
Research Triangle Regional Partnership that includes ten counties.
MANAGER’S REPORT:
County Manager, Heidi York announced a new Director has been hired for the
Person Area Transportation System (PATS); Glen LaBar, Jr. will begin on November 26,
2018.
Ms. York reminded the group of the joint meeting at 1:00pm with the Board of
Education to receive the Schools’ Facilities Needs Audit.
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RECESS:
A motion was made by Vice Chairman Powell and carried 5-0 to recess the
meeting at 10:02am. until 1:00pm in the County Auditorium for the purpose of joint session
with the Board of Education.
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Chairman Kendrick called the recessed meeting to order at 1:00pm.
The following individuals were present for the joint session meeting to discuss the
Person County Schools’ Long Range Facility Needs Assessment 2018:
In attendance representing Person County was Chairman Kendrick, Vice Chairman
Powell and Commissioners Clayton and Jeffers. Commissioner Puryear was absent. Also
present were County Manager, Heidi York, Assistant County Manager, Sybil Tate, Finance
Director, Amy Wehrenberg and Clerk to the Board, Brenda Reaves.
In attendance representing the Board of Education was School Board Chairman,
Dr. Kay Allen, Vice-Chair Margaret Bradsher and members Harriett Tillett, Phillip Gillis
and Freda Tillman. Superintendent, Dr. Rodney Peterson, Chief Operations Officer, Larry
King, and Communications Director, Lily Hayes were also present.
Mr. Larry King introduced Mr. Ed Gordon, Vice President of Smith Sinnett
Architecture, P.A. of Raleigh to the group. Mr. Gordon shared a brief overview of the
Person County Schools Long Range Facility Needs Assessment through the two following
presentations.
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Dr. Allen requested the Board’s consideration to establishing a committee of
individuals representing both the Board of Commissioners and the Board of Education
along with key staff for further discussions related to safety, handicap accessibility as well
as the need for extra classrooms. Chairman Kendrick requested that the Board of
Commissioners have the opportunity to be organized at its December meeting prior to
forming a committee.
ADJOURNMENT:
A motion was made by Vice Chairman Powell and carried 5-0 to adjourn the
meeting at 1:41pm.
_____________________________ ______________________________
Brenda B. Reaves Tracey L. Kendrick
Clerk to the Board Chairman