BOC Minutes June 6 2016
June 6, 2016
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PERSON COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS JUNE 6, 2016
MEMBERS PRESENT OTHERS PRESENT
David Newell, Sr. Heidi York, County Manager
Tracey L. Kendrick 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, June 6, 2016 at 7:00pm in the Commissioners’ meeting room
in the Person County Office Building.
Chairman Newell called the meeting to order. Vice Chairman Kendrick gave an
invocation and Judge Mark Galloway led the group in the Pledge of Allegiance.
DISCUSSION/ADJUSTMENT/APPROVAL OF AGENDA:
Chairman Newell requested a Closed Session related to economic development be
added to the agenda.
A motion was made by Commissioner Puryear and carried 5-0 to add a Closed
Session to the agenda and to approve the agenda as adjusted.
RECOGNITION:
RESOLUTION OF APPRECIATION:
Chairman Newell read and presented a Resolution of Appreciation to Person
County Retiree, Judith Shepard.
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PUBLIC HEARING:
FISCAL YEAR 2016-2017 RECOMMENDED BUDGET:
A motion was made by Commissioner Jeffers and carried 5-0 to open the duly
advertised public hearing for the Fiscal Year 2016-2017 Recommended Budget.
There were no individuals from the public appearing to speaking in favor of the
Fiscal Year 2016-2017 Recommended Budget.
Speaking in opposition to Fiscal Year 2016-2017 Recommended Budget were:
Mr. Doug Mabe of 400 Oakland Lane, Roxboro, and President of the Person
County Museum Board of Directors requested the Board to consider adding the Museum’s
contracted service for lawn maintenance in the amount of $11,000 to the County’s budget
due to the Tourism Development Authority funding to the Museum being reduced thereby
making the operations budget of the Museum difficult to sustain. Mr. Mabe commended
General Services’ staff on excellent response to maintain the seven county buildings on the
property.
Mr. Joe Parrish of 165 Crystal Springs Drive, Timberlake stated concerns related
to the County’s funding to education noting older textbooks and improper equipment affect
student’s performance.
Mr. Derrick Sims of 2409 Flat Woods Road, Timberlake and the Chairman for the
Roxboro Area Chamber of Commerce requested Board support through funding its
upcoming 37th annual Personality event. The Board was given a handout with a letter
penned by Mr. Sims requesting funding of $2,500 to support the 2-day family festival.
Ms. Estella Poteat of 611 Thaxton Road, Roxboro and a teacher with Person County
Schools for 17 years asked the Board to consider additional funding to be appropriated to
the Person County Schools’ budget.
Register of Deeds, Amanda Garrett of 50 Jessica Lane, Roxboro restated her plea
to the Board to reinstate the proposed cut position in her office. Ms. Garrett stated her
knowledge of land and vital records coupled with the proposed less personnel costs through
staff transitions and use of her technology fund provided an avenue for the Board to fund
a deputy register of deeds positon for seven months so not to diminish services to the
public.
Judge Mark Galloway of 215 Crestwood, Roxboro advocated for additional
funding for the Drug Court Program. Judge Galloway stated a total of $15,000 was needed
from the county to sustain the program. The manager had recommended in the budget
$10,000 therefore, he was requesting the additional $5,000 be added to the budget.
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Ms. Paulina Lopez of 8499 Durham Road, Timberlake addressed the need for
updated textbooks that include the Common Core curriculum, the need for more funding
for supplies, i.e. copy paper is rationed and by the end there is not enough paper to send
home needed copies of homework. Ms. Lopez asked the Board to consider additional
funding to Person County Schools to assist with the reductions.
A motion was made by Vice Chairman Kendrick and carried 5-0 to close the
public hearing for the Fiscal Year 2016-2017 Recommended Budget.
INFORMAL COMMENTS:
There were no comments from the public.
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 May 16, 2016
UNFINISHED BUSINESS:
DECISION ON ROADWAY NAME FOR R-2241A:
At the Board’s May 16, 2016 meeting, Ms. Sallie Vaughn, GIS Manager, appeared
before the Board to further discuss the Board’s decision on Roadway name for R-2241A
(US 501 from NC 49 in Roxboro to South of SR 1502/Mill Creek Rd) and confirmed to
the Board that the roadway name of Veterans Memorial Highway was unavailable for
Person County’s use. Ms. Vaughn noted the roadway name honoring professional golfer
and Roxboro native, Jim Thorpe was a viable option. The Board tabled action on this item
to this date so that the Thorpe family could be contacted.
Commissioner Jeffers stated he had spoken with Mr. Jim Thorpe who was honored
to have the roadway named after him.
A motion was made by Commissioner Jeffers and carried 5-0 to submit to NC
DOT the roadway name of Jim Thorpe Highway for R-2241A.
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NEW BUSINESS:
HOME & COMMUNITY CARE BLOCK GRANT FUNDING 2016-2017:
Maynell Harper, Aging Services Director for the Person County Senior Center
requested Board approval of the Home & Community Care Block Grant (HCCBG)
Committee’s funding allocation recommendation for Fiscal Year 2016-2017.
Ms. Harper stated the Person County HCCBG Committee recommended Person
County’s allotment of $333,975 to be appropriated as follows:
o $297,238 to the lead agency, Person County Senior Center for mandated
services including Congregate and Home Delivered Nutrition,
Transportation, In-Home Aide II and III, Home Care, Consumer Directed
Services and Operations.
o $36,737 to Person County Department of Social Services for In-Home Aide
services.
A motion was made by Commissioner Jeffers and carried 5-0 to approve the Home
& Community Care Block Grant Funding for Fiscal Year 2016-2017 as presented.
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LEASE BETWEEN PIEDMONT COMMUNITY COLLEGE AND PERSON
COUNTY GOVERNMENT FOR THE WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT CENTER
SPACE:
County Manager, Heidi York stated at the May 2, 2016 Board meeting, staff was
directed to develop a lease agreement between the County and Piedmont Community
College (PCC) for the Workforce Development Center, located at the Huck Sansbury
Complex. Ms. York presented a proposed lease to formalize PCC’s use of the space for
workforce development training needs as well as authorizes PCC to sublease and collect
rental fees for the space to other workforce development entities. Ms. York noted the
proposed lease was for a five year period 2016-2021 with a termination clause by either
party with a 90-day notice.
Vice Chairman Kendrick noted his opposition to PCC receiving $250 per month
rental fees because it is a county facility paid for by the taxpayers of Person County.
A motion was made by Vice Chairman Kendrick and carried 5-0 to accept the
Lease Agreement between Piedmont Community College and Person County Government
with one change that the $250 per month rent collected be given to the Person County’s
General Fund.
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FARMLAND PRESERVATION PLAN:
Cooperative Extension Director, Paul Westfall presented the Farmland
Preservation Plan to the Board for approval. In FY2015, the Board approved a grant
request to apply for funding to create a Farmland Preservation Plan (FPP). The State
awarded Person County $14,000 to create the plan (an additional $2,000 was provided by
the County and community groups provided another $4,000). A stakeholder group was
appointed to oversee the development of the plan. Mr. Westfall stated since its first
meeting, the FPP stakeholder group has focused on the economic impact of agriculture in
Person County. The plan presented to the Board reflected that focus and suggested ways
to continue to grow the agricultural economy in the county.
According to 2012 Census of Agriculture, there were 395 farms encompassing
92,521 acres in Person County. Cash receipts to farms exceeded $41M and, according to
the Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics at NC State University, the
calculated value-added impact of agriculture and forestry on the Person County economy
was $90.7M. That report also showed that Person County agriculture and agribusiness
accounted for 11.2% of employment (848 hired workers) with a $6.5M payroll in the
county. With more than three million potential customers within a 2-hour drive, Person
County is positioned to be a major agricultural destination and supplier of agricultural
commodities. Mr. Westfall noted challenges to ag economic development include start-up
costs, competing land uses, labor availability and costs, changing markets, and farm
transition. Mr. Westfall stated the data for the FPP was collected through interviews and
survey from over 200 farmers, foresters, agribusiness owners/operators, and agriculture
related individuals in the county. Based on the collected data and input from the
stakeholder group, the following list details top priorities for promoting agricultural
economic development:
1. Incorporate the FPP Action Plan into the regular work of the Person County
Agricultural Advisory Board,
2. Hire a full-time Ag Economic Development Officer through grant funds,
3. Present the “state of Person County Agriculture” report to the Board on an annual
basis,
4. Offer an annual farm transition workshop, labor issues forum, networking event for
existing farmers,
5. Work with Piedmont Community College to offer classes such as a sustainable ag,
crop diversification, and farm equipment repair for new farmers,
6. Plan for expansion of agribusiness and agritourism using planning tools,
7. Develop a funding mechanism for new ag business ventures,
8. Invest in ag infrastructure, such as a refrigeration facility, value-added processing
facility, or a large equipment co-op, and
9. Launch a Person County Foods marking campaign.
A motion was made by Commissioner Jeffers and carried 5-0 to approve the
Farmland Preservation Plan as presented.
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CHAIRMAN’S REPORT:
Chairman Newell had no report.
MANAGER’S REPORT:
County Manager, Heidi York reported the Board’s next scheduled budget work
session would be held on June 7, 2016 at 9:00am.
Ms. York reported a budget transfer in the amount of $4,452 from General Services
to Planning & Zoning to remedy a chronic violator of the County’s ordinance whereby the
County would purchase and install a fence to properly screen the nuisance; the property
owner has agreed to reimburse the county on a payment schedule prior to a lien being
enforced.
COMMISSIONER REPORT/COMMENTS:
Commissioner Jeffers had no report.
Commissioner Clayton commented that Congressman Mark Walker presented the
Distinguished Service Cross to the family of World War I veteran Jessie Lunsford at the
Person County Museum.
Commissioner Puryear commented that on June 11, 2016 S. P. Gentry’s Store
would be recognized for its 100th anniversary in business from 12:00noon to 4:00pm.
Vice Chairman Kendrick had no report.
CLOSED SESSION #1
A motion was made by Vice Chairman Kendrick and carried 5-0 to enter Closed
Session 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) at 8:03pm with the following individuals permitted to attend:
County Manager, Heidi York, Clerk to the Board, Brenda Reaves, County Attorney, Ron
Aycock, Summer Intern, Ellis Johnson and Economic Development Director, Stuart
Gilbert.
Chairman Newell called the Closed Session to order at 8:07pm.
A motion was made by Vice Chairman Kendrick and carried 5-0 to return to open
session at 8:21pm.
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Vice Chairman Kendrick stated that he, Chairman Newell and County Manager,
Heidi York met with Jason Simmons, an Intergovernmental Affairs representative for
Person County on behalf of Governor McCrory, whereby the group discussed topics
including the Falls Watershed rules, coal ash, and economic development. Vice Chairman
Kendrick noted Mr. Simmons had set up a meeting with the Secretary of the Division of
Environmental Quality for June 16, 2016 at 10:00am in Raleigh and he invited the other
board members to consider attending.
RECESS:
A motion was made by Vice Chairman Kendrick and carried 5-0 to recess the
meeting at 8:28pm until June 7, 2016 at 9:00am.
_____________________________ ______________________________
Brenda B. Reaves David Newell, Sr.
Clerk to the Board Chairman