BOC Minutes September 17 2018approve
September 17, 2018
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PERSON COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS SEPTEMBER 17, 2018
MEMBERS PRESENT OTHERS PRESENT
Tracey L. Kendrick 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
regular session on Monday, September 17, 2018 at 9:00am in the Commissioners’ meeting
room in the Person County Office Building.
Vice Chairman Powell called the meeting to order and offered an invocation.
Commissioner Puryear led the group in the Pledge of Allegiance. Chairman Kendrick
attended the meeting via telephone conference call.
DISCUSSION/ADJUSTMENT/APPROVAL OF AGENDA:
A motion was made by Commissioner Puryear and carried 5-0 to approve the
agenda.
PUBLIC HEARING:
CITIZEN INPUT REGARDING THE USE OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
BLOCK GRANT FUNDS:
A motion was made by Commissioner Puryear and carried 5-0 to open the duly
advertised public hearing for citizen input regarding the use of Community Development
Block Grant funds.
Vice Chairman Powell stated the purpose of the public hearing was to receive
citizen input regarding the use of Community Development Block Grant funds from the
North Carolina Department of Commerce and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban
Development noting CDBG funds may be used for infrastructure improvements,
demolition or building reuse projects, which promote Economic Development through the
creation of jobs, designed to benefit low and moderate-income residents within the County.
There were no individuals appearing before the Board to speak in favor of or in
opposition to the use of Community Development Block Grant funding.
A motion was made by Commissioner Jeffers and carried 5-0 to close the public
hearing for citizen input regarding the use of Community Development Block Grant funds.
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PUBLIC HEARING:
CITIZEN INPUT REGARDING THE PROPOSAL TO PURCHASE PERSON
COUNTY’S HOME HEALTH AND HOSPICE AGENCIES:
A motion was made by Commissioner Puryear and carried 5-0 to open the duly
advertised public hearing for citizen input regarding the proposal to purchase Person
County’s Home Health and Hospice Agencies.
County Manager, Heidi York noted the proposed purchase was pursuant to the
provisions of Chapter 131E of the NC General Statutes. The proposal received from
Medical Services of America, Inc., for $200,000, was made available for public review on
September 4, 2018. She added the due diligence process was ongoing.
Ms. York advised the next step in this process was to bring back a resolution to
approve a sale at the Board’s regular scheduled meeting on October 22, 2018.
There were no individuals appearing before the Board to speak in favor of or in
opposition to the proposal to purchase Person County’s Home Health and Hospice
Agencies.
A motion was made by Commissioner Puryear and carried 5-0 to close the public
hearing for citizen input regarding the proposal to purchase Person County’s Home Health
and Hospice Agencies.
INFORMAL COMMENTS:
There were no comments from the public.
DISCUSSION/ADJUSTMENT/APPROVAL OF CONSENT AGENDA:
A motion was made by Commissioner Puyear and carried 5-0 to approve the
Consent Agenda with the following items:
A. Budget Amendment #5, and
B. Tax Adjustments for September 2018
a. Tax Releases
b. NC Vehicle Tax System pending refunds
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NEW BUSINESS:
TOURISM DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY 2017-2018 ANNUAL REPORT:
Tourism Development Authority (TDA) Director, Margaret McMann provided a
brief report for TDA’s 2017-2018 Annual Report. She highlighted TDA’s new website
including a new one-minute video and answered questions from the Board.
Commissioner Jeffers requested detailed information related to the TDA’s budget
expenditures to which Ms. McMann said she would email the data to the County Manager
for distribution this date.
Commissioner Jeffers and Vice Chairman Powell voiced displeasure of not
receiving the TDA’s report ahead of the meeting in the board packet.
SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICER FUNDING:
Assistant County Manager, Sybil Tate stated that the Roxboro Community School
(RCS) and Person County Schools (PCS) each requested and received grant funds from the
State for a School Resource Officer (SRO) position with notification of grant funding made
after the FY2018-2019 budget was adopted.
Ms. Tate noted that the State SRO grant pays $29,102 per SRO for two years. There
is no guarantee that funding will be made available after two years; however RCS and PCS
have stated that they will cover the full cost of the SRO position, if the grant was not
continued after two years.
Ms. Tate projected the total cost of an SRO was $59,497, which both RCS and PCS
are proposing to fund using the grant and their own monies. However, RCS and PCS have
requested that the county fund two new patrol vehicles, which each cost $31,787 per year,
inclusive of fuel and maintenance. The vehicles will be used for the SRO positions and for
patrol duties as needed.
Ms. Tate presented the Board with the following options for consideration:
1. Do nothing. The Board is not required to fund additional SRO positions.
2. Accept the offer(s). The County Attorney has reviewed the offer(s) and believes
that the offer(s) meet statutory requirements, as long as the charter school SRO
position and vehicle are used for general law enforcement duties, as assigned by
the Sheriff.
3. Continue negotiations. Gaston County provides an SRO to a charter school. The
charter schools pays for 83% of the position costs and 100% of the vehicle purchase
cost (replaced every 5 years). Overhead costs, such as maintenance, gas, and
administration support could also be required.
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Representatives from both RCS and PCS were present, in the audience, to respond
to questions about their requests. Mr. Dave Ebert, Director of RCS and Dr. Rodney
Peterson, Superintendent of PCS both told the Board that the Sheriff of Person County said
that a car would be required to have a sworn officer located at the schools noting that officer
would also respond to calls accordingly, as needed by the Sheriff, especially when not
acting as the SRO at the school site. Both representatives stated their intent to continue the
SRO at their school(s) after the grants ended in two years.
Commissioner Clayton noted the request was a one-time cost for the vehicle. Ms.
Tate confirmed the vehicle would cost between $28,000-$29,000 with the remaining
funding designated for fuel and maintenance.
Dr. Peterson clarified that the PCS request for a SRO would be split between South
Elementary and Woodland Elementary.
Chairman Kendrick stated his support for the safety of the children but did not agree
with the purchase and maintenance of the vehicle by the County.
A motion was made by Commissioner Clayton and carried 5-0 to approve funding
for the costs of two vehicles for the Sheriff’s Office for one to be used for a SRO at RCS
and one SRO at PCS in the amount of $63,574, funded from the County’s Contingency
Fund.
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CHAIRMAN’S REPORT:
Chairman Kendrick thanked Vice Chairman Powell and staff for accommodating
his request to attend the meeting via telephone conference call. As his absence related to
his position with Duke Energy for duties to assist with restoration of power to the many
areas in NC, he asked for prayers for those affected, as the recovery would be slow.
MANAGER’S REPORT:
County Manager, Heidi York provided an update on the storm situation noting the
County opened its Emergency Operations Center with staff on Thursday, September 13,
2018, and was currently inactive, but on standby. Person County has coordinated with the
State to deploy some of its resources, including sending a light tower to the State’s staging
area, sending a communication leader to assist at the State Regional Coordination Center
as well as sent an ambulance with two paramedics to collaborate with five other counties
to assist with an evacuation of a medical shelter in the Fayetteville area. Ms. York further
noted that the County’s 911 Center reported calls for 25 trees down, three flooded roads
and zero calls for rescue. Ms. York said the County’s Declaration of a State of Emergency
would remain active for a least one more day before it would be rescinded.
COMMISSIONER REPORT/COMMENTS:
Commissioner Jeffers reported the non-profit, Foundation Forward, who builds the
display cases for the Constitution and the Bill of Rights, will be invited to present to the
Board at its October 22, 2018 meeting. He added he would send along the website so the
Board could view ahead of time.
Commissioner Clayton requested a moment of silence to honor the memory of
former County Commissioner Larry Bowes and former County maintenance staff, Ed
Wrenn. Commissioner Clayton thanked the County Manager for her efforts related to
storm preparedness. He also suggested that the Board of Commissioners and the Board of
Health meet jointly, if appropriate.
Commissioner Puryear commented on the good man that former County
Commissioner Larry Bowes noting his service to the County. He also reported his
attendance at the 911 Memorial at the Veterans Parks that honored those who lost their
lives and to recognize the efforts of first responders.
Vice Chairman Powell noted he was told the 911 Memorial Service was well
attended and that he was honored of attending the funeral of former County Commissioner
Larry Bowes.
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ADJOURNMENT:
A motion was made by Commissioner Puryear and carried 5-0 to adjourn the
meeting at 9:43am.
_____________________________ ______________________________
Brenda B. Reaves Tracey L. Kendrick
Clerk to the Board Chairman