BOC Minutes February 21 2017approve
February 21, 2017
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PERSON COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS FEBRUARY 21, 2017
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 Tuesday, February, 2017 at 9:00am in the Commissioners’ meeting
room in the Person County Office Building.
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.
PUBLIC HEARING:
REQUEST TO ADD NEW ROADWAY NAME, LICK CREEK LN, TO THE
DATABASE OF ROADWAY NAMES USED FOR E-911 DISPATCHING:
A motion was made by Commissioner Puryear and carried 5-0 to open the duly
advertised public hearing for a request to add a new roadway name, Lick Creek Ln, to the
database of roadway names used for E-911 dispatching.
GIS Manager, Sallie Vaughn presented a request by the Person County Address
Coordinator to add Lick Creek Ln to the database of roadway names used for E-911
dispatching. The private roadway, proposed for a new name, is accessible off Gray Rd
which begins in Orange County, and terminates in Person County. Due to impending
changes in E-911 dispatching software, Ms. Vaughn stated by adding a new roadway along
the private driveway and re-addressing the two private residences would reduce ambiguity
caused when 911 calls are dispatched and first responders are routed to a road outside
Person County as well as for the addressing to be in compliance with the County’s
Addressing Ordinance and to protect public health, safety and general welfare.
Ms. Vaughn noted the property owners have been kept informed of these impending
changes via certified mail.
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There were no individuals appearing before the Board to speak in favor of the
request to add a new roadway name, Lick Creek Ln, to the database of roadway names
used for E-911 dispatching.
Speaking in opposition to a request to add a new roadway name, Lick Creek Ln, to
the database of roadway names used for E-911 dispatching was the following individuals:
Mr. John M. Tezai of 5214 Gray Rd, Timberlake stated issue with the impending
change noting an extreme hardship and inconvenience for he and his wife, as well as, his
neighbor, Ms. Theresa Brewer, the second resident on the property. Mr. Tezai stated he
and Ms. Brewer reside on the old Gray Farm in Timberlake. Mr. Tezai noted the primary
entrance to the farm is off of Al Gray Rd., which is in Person County which is where Ms.
Brewer’s home and an old vacant farmhouse is located. Mr. Tezai said his parcel
containing seven acres has 4.5 acres in Orange County and 2.5 in Person County. With
septic issues, Mr. Tezai stated he was prohibited to build on the Orange County side of his
parcel. His house is on Gray Rd in Person County. Because it was a jurisdictional issue,
Mr. Tezai explained he contacted Orange County when he built his house so the system
would be ready noting all his services are from Hillsborough (Orange County), except for
public safety. Mr. Tezai noted for a 911 call from his residence, it will be received in
Orange County, to which a note was created to notify Person County, whose system has a
note with directions to his home. Ms. Tezai recognized that Person County has the right
and authority to name or rename a road or street in its jurisdiction. Mr. Tezai noted the
jurisdictional issue is that Gray Rd is in Orange County and about 100 yards of his driveway
is in Orange County, whereby Person County is trying to name a road that will be in Orange
County, outside the Person County jurisdiction, which would need to be vetted with the
Orange County system to not upset the Orange County 911 database as well as similar
roads already existing. Mr. Tezai said that Ms. Vaughn indicated that the new software
upgrade will no longer allow for manually entering notes to give directions to his home.
Mr. Tezai asked why the software system couldn’t be manipulated to continue to recognize
his current address for a least disruptive method.
Ms. Theresa M. Brewer of 327 Al Gray Rd, Timberlake stated the hardship that
will be caused related to all their contacts that she and the Tezais currently have that will
be impacted with both residences having a new address imposed.
Chairman Kendrick asked Ms. Vaughn why Gray Rd would not work for 911
dispatching to which she replied the issue would be duplication in both Person and Orange
Counties. Ms. Vaughn stated she has spoken with the address coordinators in Orange
County and they have approved the proposed roadway name as well as two of the three
names that the property owners have suggested. Ms. Vaughn noted that both the road name
and the number for the addresses are proposed to change. She added that with the proposed
change, the new system will pick up their calls to 911 so that they are routed to Person
County and not Orange County.
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Ms. Vaughn addressed the software system where currently there is a note in the
system that directs services to the Tezai property. Ms. Vaughn said the conversion of that
note to the new software system was going live April 1st was not going to happen. Ms.
Vaughn said she did not know if a new note would be possible, and who would be
responsible to enter such, into the new software due to not being able to confirm with the
software vendor. Ms. Susan Tezai added that it was her understanding that the ability to
add notes to the software system was an option that was decided not to be purchased. Ms.
Vaughn confirmed.
Sheriff Jones, when asked by Commissioner Jeffers, stated there was a longer delay
in emergency response time that could be corrected, if changed.
Commissioner Jeffers asked if the Tezai address was integrated into the Person
County system and 911 dispatched to Gray Rd, and should that be the only Gray Rd in
Person County, why wouldn’t that not work. Ms. Vaughn stated the responders would
know to go to that one specific address, but anything along that road range or if they used
a cell phone, there will be a problem. She advocated that lesser individuals would be
impacted by renaming the roadway as proposed.
A motion was made by Commissioner Puryear and carried 5-0 to close the public
hearing for a request to add a new roadway name, Lick Creek Ln, to the database of
roadway names used for E-911 dispatching.
CONSIDERATION TO GRANT OR DENY REQUEST TO ADD NEW ROADWAY
NAME OF LICK CREEK LN:
GIS Manager, Sallie Vaughn stated the individuals that live along this road made
suggestions for the roadway name preferences should a new roadway name be chosen in
lieu of their current address. Those include: Brewer Ln, Cedar Ridge Ln and Gray Farm
Ln. Ms. Vaughn said all the new roadway names have been approved by Orange County
with Person County’s 911 preference for Brewer Ln or Gray Farm Ln.
Commissioner Jeffers stated disbelief that the County is paying for a software
system that the vendor contact is unreachable. Commissioner Jeffers stated preference to
get the questions answered that should have been answered before being presented to the
Board. He offered that the Board consider delaying action to allow time to reach the vendor
about adding a note to the new system and the cost of the conversion to transfer any notes
in the current system to the new system.
A motion was made by Commissioner Jeffers and carried 5-0 to delay action on
the request to add a new roadway name, Lick Creek Ln, to the database of roadway names
used for E-911 dispatching until the Board’s March 6, 2017 meeting at 7:00pm.
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INFORMAL COMMENTS:
The following individual appeared before the Board to make informal comments:
Sheriff Dewey Jones of 1780 Clay Long Rd., Timberlake advocated for the
additional new position for a sworn officer that was needed to handle the new technology
with body-worn cameras and in-car cameras for use as evidence for court proceedings.
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 January 12, 2017,
B. Approval of Minutes of January 23, 2017,
C. Approval of Minutes of February 6, 2017,
D. Budget Amendment 14,
E. Tax Adjustments for the month of February 2017
a. Tax Releases
b. NC Vehicle Tax System pending refunds
BROADBAND UPDATE:
Assistant County Manager, Sybil Tate recalled that on August 25, 2016, Person
County released a Request for Proposals (RFP) asking vendors to submit proposals to
provide broadband service to unserved areas of the county, economic corridors, and install
fiber to government facilities. Since the broadband project was last discussed, Ms. Tate
stated one of the broadband vendors has rescinded their proposal. The vendor stated that
they have other projects that they are focused on and are considering two other broadband
RFPs; however they may be interested in working with Person County at a later date.
In addition, the General Assembly has expressed interest in addressing issues
surrounding rural broadband, so staff has provided an option that moves the wireless
installation forward, but delays some of the fiber build out.
Ms. Tate noted that at the budget retreat, the Board did not have consensus for a
funding mechanism for the fiber project. As a result, staff has provided a cheaper annual
option. This option will result in more long-term costs, but the initial annual costs are less.
Below are the options that were presented by the broadband consultant, Mr. Joe
Freddoso via Skype teleconference with the Board:
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OPTION #1- Move forward with wireless and county fiber construction only.
Re-issue fiber RFP in FY2020.
FY17 FY18 FY19 FY20 FY21 TOTAL
$100,000 $1,950,000 $1,800,000 ? ? $3,850,000
OPTION #2 – Open access network with county-owned fiber with a long-term (20-30
years) lease to vendor to serve all unserved areas. Estimated maintenance annually at
$35,000 with incentives to each unserved household.
OPTION #3 – Open access network with privately-owned county fiber to which the county
would lease at a projected cost annually at $20,000. The estimated annual maintenance
costs $20,000.
Annual payment of $380,000 per year beyond the 4 year contract
Mr. Freddoso confirmed that Option 1 presented provided the lease cost to the
county, but would allow for expansion at a later time.
A motion was made by Commissioner Puryear and carried 5-0 to pursue Option 1
as presented to move forward with wireless and county fiber construction only at this time.
REMEDIATE METHANE GAS AT CLOSED COUNTY LANDFILL:
General Services Director, Ray Foushee informed the Board that several years ago
the NC Dept. of Environmental and Natural Resources (NCDENR) required that the
County implement a means of removing methane gas at the County’s closed landfill which
was migrating to the western property boundary. In response, the County installed a
passive gas vent system. Though the required monthly monitoring over the last couple
years, NCDENR has determined that the passive vent system was insufficient in removing
the necessary amount of methane gas, as the monitoring levels at the property boundary
was still too high, and further corrective action was necessary. Mr. Foushee told the group
that corrective action was required by NCDENR.
FY18 FY19 FY20 FY21 TOTAL
$1,953,300 $2,719,800
$1,022,000 $915,712 $6,610,812
FY18 FY19 FY20 FY21 TOTAL
$646,700 $1,284,200
$1,369,200 $781,600 $4,081,700
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Mr. Foushee stated that the County’s landfill engineers, Smith & Gardner, have
recommended that the most cost effective approach would be to modify the current system
to be an active landfill gas system, through the use of two passive solar flares. Mr. Foushee
noted the approximate cost, including installation, was $24,750 to which Smith & Gardner
would handle the installation.
Mr. Foushee noted the annual gas monitoring would be $10,800, which reflects a
slight increase over the current monitoring fee that is already in the landfill budget.
Mr. Foushee sought approval from the Board to have Smith & Gardner modify the
County’s current gas remediation system at cost of $24,750, and to be funded using
contingency funds.
Chairman Kendrick inquired about the possibility of converting methane into
electricity to which Mr. Foushee stated he had not researched that option as he sought the
most cost effective approach. Commissioner Clayton added that there may not be enough
of the methane gas being produced for conversion to electricity, but the amount surpassed
the threshold allowable by NCDENR.
A motion was made by Commissioner Jeffers and carried 5-0 to approve Smith &
Gardner to remediate the County’s Methane Gas System at the County’s Closed Landfill
at a cost of $24,750 and to fund the costs from the Contingency Fund.
RE-APPOINTMENTS TO PERSON COUNTY BOARD OF EQUALIZATION AND
REVIEW:
Tax Administrator Russell Jones requested Board consideration and action to
appoint members to the Special Board of Equalization and Review and to select a chair.
At the 2017 Budget Retreat, the Commissioners discussed the upcoming need to
appoint members to the Person County Board of Equalization and Review to which the
Board asked Mr. Jones to contact the previous members about their availability to continue
to serve in this capacity. The following members responded back to Mr. Jones that they
were willing to serve:
Margaret Bradsher, former Chair
Curtis Bradsher
Sam Kennington
David Newell, Sr.
Faye Boyd
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Mr. Jones noted the County’s Special Board, which was established by resolution
on January 7, 2013, functions as the Board of Equalization and Review to hear appeals
from taxpayers regarding tax values for property taxes. The adopted Resolution provided
for the membership, qualifications, terms of office, and the filling of vacancies on this
board. This Special Board consists of five members with a term of four years.
Commissioner Puryear stated his interest in continuing to serve as an active
member on the Board of Equalization and Review.
Commissioner Jeffers stated his willingness to continue to serve as an alternate
member of the Board of Equalization and Review.
A motion was made by Commissioner Puryear and carried 5-0 to reappoint former
commissioners, Ms. Margaret Bradsher, Mr. Curtis Bradsher, Mr. Sam Kennington, Mr.
David Newell, Sr. and Commissioner Kyle Puryear to serve as the active members, and to
reappoint Faye Boyd and Commissioner Jeffers as alternates to the Person County Special
Board of Equalization and Review and to select Ms. Margaret Bradsher as the Chair.
BOARD AND COMMITTEE APPOINTMENTS:
Brenda Reaves, Clerk to the Board presented citizen applications for consideration
for appointment received for current vacancies on county boards and committees and asked
for Board nomination for appointment as deemed appropriate.
Board of Adjustment
Unspecified Term; 1 position for an alternate
1) James A. Thomasson requested appointment
A motion was made by Commissioner Puryear and carried 5-0 to appoint James
A. Thomasson to the Board Adjustment to serve as the alternate for an unspecified term.
Person Area Transportation System Board
3-Year Term:
1 position available for a representative of private industry
No applications received
1 position available for a representative of economic development
No applications received
2 positions available for citizens-at-large
1) Jason Torian requested appointment
A motion was made by Commissioner Jeffers and carried 5-0 to appoint Jason
Torian to the Person Area Transportation System Board for a 3-year term.
February 21, 2017
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CONSIDERATION TO CHANGE THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
JULY 17, 2017 MEETING TO A NEW DATE AT 9:00AM:
Commissioner Clayton requested Board consideration to change the Board’s July
17, 2017 regular scheduled meeting to be changed to a new date mutually agreeable to the
Board at 9:00am.
A motion was made by Commissioner Clayton and carried 5-0 to change the
Board of Commissioners’ July regular scheduled meeting to now be held on July 10, 2017.
CHAIRMAN’S REPORT:
Chairman Kendrick reported statistics associated with accessibility to broadband
would increase businesses by 5% or 6,000 and increase 6,541 jobs.
MANAGER’S REPORT:
County Manager, Heidi York stated that both Chairman Kendrick and
Commissioner Puryear had interest in holding an informal FY2017-2018 budget comments
prior to the Manager’s Recommended Budget would be presented on May 15, 2017. She
asked the Board if they desired to hold an additional public hearing prior to May 15, 2017
noting the scheduled Budget Public Hearing was scheduled for the meeting following the
recommended budget on June 5, 2017. It was the consensus of the Board to not hold an
additional public hearing and to schedule the budget work sessions after the June 5, 2017
budget public hearing.
Ms. York asked for direction on the educational budgets; if joint meetings with both
the Board of Education and Piedmont Community College (PCC) Board of Trustees was
the desire of the board or if subcommittee with the Chairs and Vice Chairs were favored,
or if the Manager should receive the budget request for the recommended budget. It was
the consensus of the Board of Commissioners to have a presentation from each Person
County Schools and PCC at one of the scheduled work sessions.
COMMISSIONER REPORT/COMMENTS:
Commissioner Jeffers reported he had been asked to serve on a Strategic Planning
Committee for Timberlake Volunteer Fire Department.
Commissioner Clayton reported that former Health Department retiree, Nannie
Wilson Hatcher, has passed away. Commissioner Clayton introduced Mr. Ric Bruton with
Cardinal Innovations Healthcare, present in the audience.
Commissioner Puryear had no report.
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Vice Chairman Powell announced that the Board of Commissioners has been
invited to a local town hall meeting scheduled to be held on April 4, 2017 at 10:00am in
the City Hall Council Chambers noting both Representative Larry Yarborough and Senator
Mike Woodard would be present.
CLOSED SESSION #1
A motion was made by Commissioner Puryear and carried 5-0 to enter Closed
Session per General Statute 143-318.11(a) (3) at 10:11am to consult with an attorney with
the following individuals permitted to attend: County Manager, Heidi York, Clerk to the
Board, Brenda Reaves, County Attorney, Ron Aycock, and Assistant County Manager,
Sybil Tate.
Chairman Kendrick called the Closed Session to order at 10:13am.
A motion was made by Vice Chairman Powell and carried 5-0 to return to open
session at 10:32am.
Chairman Kendrick announced that from the Closed Session, the Board has decided
to move forward with scheduling the public hearing associated with the franchise for the
operation of the County’s landfill.
A motion was made by Commissioner Puryear and carried 5-0 to call for a public
hearing regarding application for Solid Waste Disposal Franchise Ordinance to be held on
April 3, 2017 at 7:00pm in the County Office Building Auditorium.
A motion was made by Commissioner Jeffers and carried 5-0 to change the
location of the Board’s April 3, 2017 meeting to be convened in the County Office Building
Auditorium.
Chairman Kendrick announced that he, Vice Chairman Powell and Commissioner
Jeffers would be meeting with Ms. Natalie Brozy, Director of Roxboro Community School
for a tour immediately following the meeting.
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ADJOURNMENT:
A motion was made by Commissioner Jeffers and carried 5-0 to adjourn the
meeting at 10:34am.
_____________________________ ______________________________
Brenda B. Reaves Tracey L. Kendrick
Clerk to the Board Chairman