Loading...
BOC Minutes April 7 2014 April 7, 2014 1 PERSON COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS APRIL 7, 2014 MEMBERS PRESENT OTHERS PRESENT Jimmy B. Clayton Heidi York, County Manager Kyle W. Puryear C. Ronald Aycock, County Attorney B. Ray Jeffers Brenda B. Reaves, Clerk to the Board Frances P. Blalock David Newell, Sr. The Board of Commissioners for the County of Person, North Carolina, met in recessed session on Monday, April 7, 2014 at 5:30 pm in the Commissioners’ meeting room in the Person County Office Building for the purpose of a joint session meeting with Piedmont Community College (PCC) Board of Trustees. In attendance representing Person County was Chairman Clayton, Vice Chairman Jeffers (arrived at 5:32 pm) and Commissioners Puryear, Blalock and Newell. County Manager, Heidi York, Finance Director, Amy Wehrenberg and Clerk to the Board, Brenda Reaves were also present. In attendance representing PCC Board of Trustees was Ms. Maggie Whitt, Chair, Mr. Donald Wilson, Vice Chair, Mr. Phillip Allen, Mr. Ronald K. Booker, Mr. Eddie Burton, Mr. J. Linwood Cates, Mr. Bayard Crumpton, Mr. Tim Gilliam, Mr. Donovan Harper, Mr. Cleve Wagstaff, and Mr. Larry Wilkerson. PCC Board of Trustees absent was Ms. Tanya Evans, Ms. Caressa Thomas, SGA President, Ms. Nicole McGhee, and Ms. Gail Stilwell. PCC President, Dr. Walter Bartlett, Finance Officer, Robert Simons and Executive Assistant, Cindy Fox was also present. Chairman Clayton called the meeting to order and welcomed the group. Overview of PCC’s Budget Request Dr. Walter Bartlett, PCC President provided the group with the following presentation titled 2014-15 Budget Proposal. Dr. Bartlett, in summary, requested an additional one percent funding to the current fiscal year allocation to be phased in over the next two fiscal years with one-half percent in each fiscal year 2015 and fiscal year 2016. Dr. Bartlett noted concerns with the County’s current fiscal year budget appropriating at 17% of the county total budget to the public school system and only 2% of the county total budget to the college. Dr. Bartlett stated he was requesting a more proportional allotment of the county budget. April 7, 2014 2 April 7, 2014 3 April 7, 2014 4 Dr. Bartlett stated the analysis presented included both PCC and Caswell Community Colleges. Dr. Bartlett confirmed he would be making the same budget request of Caswell County as well. April 7, 2014 5 April 7, 2014 6 April 7, 2014 7 April 7, 2014 8 April 7, 2014 9 April 7, 2014 10 Dr. Bartlett commented while the school system has approximately 4,600 students and 540 employees, PCC has 4,400 full time students and 530 staff. April 7, 2014 11 County Manager, Heidi York asked if the requested 2.5% of the county’s budget and the comparable community colleges appropriations reflect the allotment of the respective county’s total budget or the part of the budget that does not include the pass- through funding from state and federal sources. Dr. Bartlett stated to his understanding it is the total budget. April 7, 2014 12 Dr. Bartlett stated the goal to raise the custodial salary to more than $10 per hour. April 7, 2014 13 April 7, 2014 14 April 7, 2014 15 April 7, 2014 16 April 7, 2014 17 April 7, 2014 18 April 7, 2014 19 Commissioner Newell asked Dr. Bartlett the amount of the college’s total budget and the amount of PCC’s Fund Balance. Dr. Bartlett and PCC staff responded that PCC did not have a Fund Balance, however, PCC retains $250,000 in unrestricted institutional funds that are used to pay program fees upfront when grants are in process. Dr. Bartlett noted the total PCC budget is approximately $15-$17 million and the one-half percent request of additional funding equates to $260,000 in the county’s current budget. Commissioner Blalock asked if the additional funding request from the county would save positions from being lost due to state cuts to which Dr. Bartlett replied it would help some. Dr. Bartlett presented operational areas that costs have increased, i.e. electricity, additional custodian position, additional security personnel, insurance, benefits and equipment where additional local funding would free up state funding for other uses. Commissioner Blalock asked Dr. Bartlett if PCC’s tuition would be raised. Dr. Bartlett noted state legislation would determine any increase in tuition for PCC. On behalf of the Fire Chief’s Association, Vice Chairman Jeffers asked about cuts to the classes that volunteer fire and rescue members maintain certification(s). Dr. Bartlett stated the enrollment minimum for these classes is at 10 students, it would need to be set at 17 to break even on the costs. Dr. Bartlett could not confirm whether or not any changes would be made in this area. County Manager, Heidi York stated statutorily the county has a duty to respond but not mandated to be present related to on-campus security. April 7, 2014 20 Overview of Capital Projects Funding County Manager Heidi York provided the completed and ongoing projects for PCC since 2010 which totals $1.3 million noting the county is only statutorily mandated to fund capital needs. April 7, 2014 21 Ms. York stated the above chart outlined the requested capital projects just for PCC. Chairman Clayton called for a brief to recess at 6:30 pm. April 7, 2014 22 Chairman Clayton reconvened the meeting at 6:34 pm for the purpose to hold an informal interview with an interested citizen for the Planning Board. CLOSED SESSION #1 A motion was made by Commissioner Blalock and carried 5-0 to enter Closed Session at 6:34 pm for the purpose of considering appointment of individuals through an informal interview process with an applicant of a competitive committee, boards, and commissions per General Statutes 143-318.11(a)(6). A motion was made by Vice Chairman Jeffers and carried 5-0 to return to open session at 6:39 pm. Clerk to the Board, Brenda Reaves informed the Board that another citizen application had been received since the Board’s last meeting for consideration to the Planning Board noting a copy of Robert Allen’s application was placed at their seat. Ms. Reaves stated Mr. Allen was asked upon receipt of his application for his availability to attend the informal interview process on April 7, 2014 however his schedule had a conflict to which he was not able attend. Ms. Reaves requested Board direction related to Mr. Allen’s application. Chairman Clayton requested the Clerk to report back to the Board Mr. Allen’s attendance for the current committees to which he is appointed. Ms. Reaves requested Board consideration of the interested citizen, Ms. Lynn Jones, who participated in the informal interview process. Ms. Reaves stated the Planning Board currently has two seats available; one seat available for a three-year term, and one seat with an unexpired term to June 30, 2015. A motion was made by Chairman Clayton and carried 5-0 to appoint Ms. Lynn Jones to the Planning Board for a three-year term. A motion was made by Vice Chairman Jeffers and carried 5-0 to recess the meeting at 6:42 pm until 7:00 pm for the Board’s regularly scheduled meeting. Chairman Clayton called the regularly scheduled meeting to order, led invocation and asked Vice Chairman Jeffers to lead the Pledge of Allegiance. DISCUSSION/ADJUSTMENT/APPROVAL OF AGENDA: Chairman Clayton requested a Resolution designating Person County’s agents to file application for federal and/or state assistance related to the March 7, 2014 ice storm be added for discussion and action. A motion was made by Vice Chairman Jeffers and carried 5-0 to add the Resolution Designation of Person County’s Agents to the agenda and to approve the agenda as adjusted. April 7, 2014 23 FISCAL YEAR 2014-2015 BUDGET INFORMAL COMMENTS: The Fiscal Year 2014-2015 Budget Informal Comments provided an opportunity to share with the Board funding priorities from residents prior to the County Manager presenting her Recommended Budget. The following individuals appeared before the Board to make informal comments supporting the Person County School’s budget request as presented to the Board on March 24, 2014: Mr. Kenny Rickman of 5936 Allensville Road, Roxboro and spouse to a school system teacher, Ms. Theresa Torian of 959 Mollie Mooney Road, Roxboro and current school system teacher and parent of children in the school system, Mr. Jason Torian of 959 Mollie Mooney Road, Roxboro and spouse to a school system teacher, Ms. Joan Hodges of 2325 Thee Hester Road, Roxboro and current school system teacher, Ms. Jennifer Phillips of 4440 Helena Moriah Road, Rougemont, and former school system teacher and a parent of children in the school system, Mr. Gordon Powell of 299 N. Ridge Circle, Roxboro and Board of Education Chairman, Ms. Freda Tillman, of 121 Robert Norris Road, Roxboro and Board of Education member, and Ms. LaJeanne Ashley of 177 Rougemont Road, Rougemont, and current school system teacher. The following individuals appeared before the Board to make informal comments in support of the proposed Recreation and Senior Center going forward: Rev. Clyde Winstead of 2920 Lawson Chapel Church Road, Roxboro, and Person County NAACP representative and President of the Person County Ministerial Alliance, Ms. Paulina Lopez of 4961 Boston Road, Roxboro, Mr. Robert Trotter of 117 Hill Street, Roxboro Ms. Kechal King of 741 N. Main Street, Apartment F, Roxboro, Ms. Maddison Teasley of 445 River Oaks Parkway, Timberlake, and Mr. Kirk Redman of 214 Fox Croft Drive, Timberlake. April 7, 2014 24 INFORMAL COMMENTS: The following individuals appeared before the Board to make informal comments unrelated to the Budget Informal Comments: Individuals noting opposition to the Board’s proposed consideration to allow any waste from the coal ash spill in the Dan River be taken into the regional landfill located in Person County: Ms. Pat Hill of 916 Mann Oakley Road, Rougemont, Ms. Betty Blalock of 144 Tirzah Ridge, Rougemont, and Ms. Faye Boyd of 69 Foxwood Drive, Timberlake. Mr. Godrey Laws of 3509 Hurdle Mills Road, Roxboro and Volunteer for the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare presented a Social Security Proclamation and a petition form for Board consideration. DISCUSSION/ADJUSTMENT/APPROVAL OF CONSENT AGENDA: A motion was made by Vice Chairman Jeffers and carried 5-0 to approve the Consent Agenda with the following items: A. Approval of Minutes of February 24, 2014 B. Approval of Minutes of March 17, 2014 C. Budget Amendments #12 and #13 D. CDBG Monthly Reporting for the month of March 2014 UNFINISHED BUSINESS: SUMMARY OF INFORMATION ON THE COAL ASH SPILL IN THE DAN RIVER: Commissioner Blalock stated she has done more research as well as attended an informational meeting in Raleigh on March 24, 2014. Commissioner Blalock noted she had shared a Technical Report No. 14-083 Coal Ash Disposition with the Board which reads “fly ash is a dry residue from burning of coal captured by the pollution control devices. Bottom ash is the residue which collects in the bottom of the boiler during the coal burning process. Both types of ash are laced with toxic elements”. Commissioner Blalock told the group the toxic elements are concentrated and will not go away. Commissioner Blalock told the group the report suggests an alternative to disposing of coal ash and recommends use of cylindrical containers like the ones being used in South Carolina for the hazardous waste from the Savannah River project noting these containers encase and conceal the ash in a hardened state that will not migrate into the air, land or water. April 7, 2014 25 Commissioner Blalock stated the current method suggested by EPA is to put coal ash in lined landfills. Commissioner Blalock said the EPA, under stress from a lawsuit by environmental groups, indicated plans to issue a final rule at the end of this year, 2014, regarding the classification of coal ash. Commissioner Blalock stated the report cites an expert of landfills, Dr. G. Fred Lee whose assessment of Subtitle D landfills is that all landfills will eventually leak due to chemical reaction, pressure, heat, rodents, etc., and become brittle and deteriorate over time. Commissioner Blalock highlighted pages 7-10 in the report of two cities. The first city is Kingston, Tennessee in which an 84-acre containment a dike failed on December 22, 2008 releasing 1.1 billion gallons of coal ash that covered surrounding areas with six feet of coal slurry. Commissioner Blalock stated Person County currently has coal ash ponds over 100 acres, with the smallest at 140 acres, with a dam at 2,300 feet long and 90 feet high. Commissioner Blalock noted a report from Earth Justice that Person County has six coal ash ponds and two coal ash landfills with a mention of CPI that brings coal ash to the landfill. The second city Commissioner Blalock spoke about in the report was Uniontown, Alabama which became the destination of over 4 million tons of toxic slurry. The Alabama Department of Environmental Management and Perry County each received $1.05 cents per ton. Commissioner Blalock noted there is only one hotel to show for the revenue in Perry County. Once the Perry County Commissioners opened the door to accept coal ash for a price, the liability transferred to the county, Commissioner Blalock stated the same will happen to Person County, if allowed, noting health and environmental problems. Commissioner Blalock noted House Bill 74, Section 59.4.(e) G.S. 130A-294(b1) is amended by adding a new subdivision to read “ A local government may elect to include as part of a franchise agreement a surcharge on waste disposed of in its jurisdiction by other local governments located within the State. Funds collected by a local government pursuant to such a surcharge may be used to support any services supported by the local government’s general fund.” Section 59.4(f) reads “This section becomes effective August 1, 2013, and Section 59.4(e) is applicable to franchise agreements executed on or after that date.” Commissioner Blalock stated she was informed on March 28, 2014 that Greg Duhon asked County Manager, Heidi York to poll the Board related to accepting a million tons of coal ash to the Upper Piedmont landfill. Commissioner Blalock asked Ms. York to share the results of the poll. Ms. York clarified it was not a formal poll, but a conversation that she had with each commissioner via telephone. Ms. York stated she did not want to speak for individual commissioners and asked they address the question. April 7, 2014 26 To answer the question whether or not he would be in favor of putting coal ash waste in the landfill, Commissioner Newell said yes explaining the existing ash ponds have no liners considering the possible well contamination around existing ponds. Commissioner Newell agreed with the logic for the coal ash to be to be stored on the company’s property but if the ash has to be moved to a landfill, it appears to be safer to be moved to a landfill with a liner than to be stored in a landfill without a liner. Commissioner Newell stated there is no doubt that fly ash presents a contamination problem. Commissioner Newell stated CP&L stopped letting people use fly ash to put on their driveways a long time ago for the simple reason that it was a liability by spreading the chemicals. Commissioner Blalock stated she answered absolutely not because she knows if it put on the highways and concrete, it can migrate into the water system and eventually do something because it does not deteriorate and the heavy metals will build up and they will cause health problems. Commissioner Blalock recommended the group to further study the Uniontown case noting one the county commissioners (whose father marched with Martin Luther King) brokered the deal with TVA and is now lobbying the EPA not to call the ash hazardous as he wants to keep accepting in their landfill. Commissioner Blalock stated Person County does not need the ash brought here or given the liability. Commissioner Blalock stated landfills will mix with other things and make it alternative daily cover. Commissioner Blalock urged the group to stand up and say no to preserve the safe environment. Commissioner Puryear stated when he heard the request, he contacted Tanya Evans at Duke Energy and to her knowledge there was no such request. Commissioner Puryear stated he then called landfill and according to them there has been no proposal so to his understanding it is a non-issue. Commissioner Puryear spoke to being an elected official with items before the Board, such as teachers want more money, the school systems want more money, a new Senior Center, a new recreation center, a new recycle center, all increasing the quality of living. Commissioner Puryear stated he would like to have more information and he wanted the public to know all the information and that nothing would be done behind closed doors prior to any decision to allow coal ash in the landfill. Commissioner Puryear stated Person County does not have a long-term solid waste plan noting the current contract ends in 2017. Commissioner Puryear stated he did not like the County having a landfill and he would not vote to create a new landfill, but the fact remains Person County has a regional landfill and they will from time to time ask to increase the tonnage. Commissioner Puryear asked the group to consider some the impact of the landfill being closed, i.e. transfer stations, costs increased to transport trash to a farther landfill. Commissioner Puryear stated the entire county has a right to hear any proposal to evaluate the pros and the cons. April 7, 2014 27 Vice Chairman Jeffers stated he did not give the County Manager an answer because a poll is like a vote and if there is a vote, it has to be done in public session noting his understanding is that the request for such a poll came from Republic not Duke Energy. Vice Chairman Jeffers advocated for transparent government. Chairman Clayton stated he was elected to the Board after the current landfill was approved and he has not voted for an expansion of the landfill or the additional new cell at the landfill noting some of the current Board members may have voted for such. Chairman Clayton stated he would answer very quickly to not accept the coal ash in the Person County landfill and is of the opinion that the coal ash should be located on the property it is formed so that the company is responsible for any such safeguards and the state environmental agency can monitor. Chairman Clayton stated the County could use $2 million over two years but he is not in support of earning the revenue by accepting coal ash. Chairman Clayton noted his opinion that Republic was feeling out the Board before an official vote. Commissioner Blalock noted Senator Woodard is still very interested in the County/City joint meeting and has offered to have other representatives from Raleigh to attend as well as Ms. Evans from Duke Energy and whoever else appropriate to provide both governing bodies and the citizens with information. BROADBAND TEMPORARY SOLUTION: Assistant County Manager, Sybil Tate reminded the Board that at their February 24, 2014 meeting, the Board asked LightLeap to provide a broadband solution that could be implemented sooner than the proposed timeline in the Public Safety/Broadband feasibility study. Ms. Tate stated LightLeap proposes installing equipment on an existing private cell tower located on 124 Julian Oakley Road for a contract period of five years. LightLeap estimates that 100 households will sign up for service. The costs are outlined below for the five-year period: First year cost Equipment: $5,084 Subscriber Costs: $18,840 (80 subscribers) Tower rent: $22,800 for rent and $2,500 for structural analysis = $25,300 Fiber connection: $10,000 for fiber build out Bandwidth = $3,600 TOTAL: $62,824 Second year cost Subscriber Costs: $4,710 (20 subscribers) Tower rent: $22,800 Bandwidth = $3,600 TOTAL: $31,110 April 7, 2014 28 Third year cost Subscriber Costs: $2,355 (10 subscribers) Tower rent: $22,800 Bandwidth = $3,600 TOTAL: $28,755 Fourth year cost Subscriber Costs: $2,355 (10 subscribers) Tower rent: $22,800 Bandwidth = $3,600 TOTAL: $28,755 Fifth year cost Subscriber Costs: $2,355 (10 subscribers) Tower rent: $22,800 Bandwidth = $3,600 TOTAL: $28,755 TOTAL PROJECT cost over five years Equipment: $5,084 Subscriber Costs: $30,615 Tower rent: $116,500 Fiber connection: $10,000 Bandwidth: $18,000 TOTAL: $180,199 Ms. Tate noted the timeframe for LightLeap to lite an existing tower, assuming no road blocks, is 12 weeks. Ms. Tate asked the Board to direct staff whether or not to move forward with the broadband pilot on Julian Oakley Road. Vice Chairman Jeffers advocated for the Board to consider doing the same for all unserved areas and not single out just one area within the county to provide access to broadband. Commissioner Puryear advocated for the public safety towers project due to life safety concerns noting at that same time the County can improve technology and provide access to broadband. Commissioner Blalock stated the Board owes to the citizens of the County the opportunity to provide input to the County’s list of projects coming before the Board via survey, newspaper, etc. to decide if the projects are a need, a want or a luxury. Commissioner Blalock stated the public safety towers, in her opinion, are a need but advocated for a lesser cost version with the Board being conservative spending the tax payer’s money. April 7, 2014 29 Vice Chairman Jeffers asked the County Manager if it was too late to have broadband added to the November ballot. County Manager, Heidi York stated she would find out. Vice Chairman Jeffers stated he was not supportive of spending $100,000- $180,000 on broadband for sixty people. Vice Chairman Jeffers asked Ms. Tate if anyone had spoken with Avery County. Ms. Tate stated Avery County is not allocating any funding toward their broadband but is facilitating LightLeap to provide service to unserved areas. Chairman Clayton told Ms. Tate that he had spoken to another provider that may be able to offer Person County another option. He said he would get the contact information to Ms. Tate. It was the consensus of the Board to not pursue the broadband temporary solution for the Julian Oakley Road by using the private cell tower as presented. Chairman Clayton suggested the Board consider a second opinion to review the Public Safety/Broadband feasibility study. Commissioner Puryear voiced his opposition to conducting an additional study. Chairman Clayton clarified that he was not suggesting an additional study but to have someone review the current study. Ms. Tate added the life span of a study is approximately 18 months. Ms. Tate stated Mr. Frank H. Schmit, General Manager of Granville Communications/Wireless Communications, the consultant from the 2004 Public Safety Communication Study was present in the audience and available to discuss what was recommended in the 2004 study and what has been done thus far in terms of improvements. Ms. Tate noted public safety staff was also available to offer input: Mr. Hal Oakley and Mr. Brett Wrenn from 911, Wes Lail, Emergency Services Director and Sheriff Jones. Public safety staff noted the Bushy Fork area is the worst area in the County for coverage; however, Ms. York stated the most call volume is in the southern part of the County. Mr. Schmit gave the Board the following highlights from the 2004 report: • FCC licenses should reflect the locations of each base and repeater station. Some have been moved without making changes to the licenses. Mr. Schmit recommended not making any changes to the present license until a final location is determined for each station as the County unloads the Piedmont tower. • 2004 report states on page 10 and 11 that Fire and EMS rely heavily on tone and voice pagers for dispatch. Under the Appendix E tab, there were no complaints about paging coverage. Pager coverage nor pager coverage maps were not addressed in the 2004 report. Mr. Schmit noted the recent change to use narrow banding would have decreased the coverage by 10%. Mr. Schmit stated the VIPER system and the paging system are two separate systems. April 7, 2014 30 • EMS is now using a repeater instead of a base station, giving them much better unit to unit coverage. Mr. Schmit stated the following were recommendations from the 2004 Report: • Lightning protection needs to be added to all equipment at all sites. Protection was added but not completed to R-56 (industry) standards. • Auxiliary voting receiver sites, remove 3-way splitters 3-way splitters are still in use. • Moriah site, upgrade transmission line with ½” heliax. This was done. • Replace tower. This has not been done noting the Board’s recent action to re- guy wire the tower as a quick fix. • Remove all leased lines from voting receiving sites and replace with microwave. The least expensive microwave was used to replace the leased lines. The microwave used today is unlicensed. Public Safety needs to have licensed microwave paths to prevent interference. • Replace commercial grade bases and repeaters with continuous duty Public Safety stations. For the most part stations were replaced, some new, some used. Depot support will soon be ending for some of the stations. • Remove stations from the EMS building to a shelter located under the Barden Street/EMS tower. It was completed in 2006 per Mr. Oakley. Then the stations were consolidated at the Piedmont tower. The report states that all equipment located at one site is a potential for catastrophic failure. (page 26 of the 2004 Report). Mr. Oakley told the group that approximately $70,000 was spent in upgrades from the 2004 Report noting to implement all the changes recommended, the cost would have been close to $250,000. Commissioner Puryear asked staff about the possibility to rent space to others on the proposed new public safety towers and/or for Person County to co-locate on existing towers. Ms. Tate stated co-location is an option in either case if there is adequate space and a rental agreed by both parties. It was the consensus of the Board for staff to bring back at the next Board meeting a planning timeline for the environmental study(s) and construction of the proposed two towers to avoid any unnecessary delays. April 7, 2014 31 NEW BUSINESS: RECOMMENDED CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN FOR FISCAL YEAR 2015-2019: County Manager, Heidi York and Finance Director, Amy Wehrenberg presented to the Board the Recommended Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) for Fiscal Years 2015- 2019. Ms. York stated the CIP is a planning tool for implementing large, capital projects in excess of $50,000 from county departments, Piedmont Community College and Person County Schools. Ms. York highlighted the funding schedule on pages 11-13 outlines the projects and the project costs anticipated for funding during FY15 to FY19. Ms. York stated the CIP met the three goals set in the CIP Work Session: 1) to cap the spending at $5 million, 2) have no more than two financings, and 3) not to exceed $10 million in such financings so not to lose tax exempt status. Ms. York summarized the recommended funded capital projects in FY15 include: • two of the public safety towers, • the Recycling Center purchase and up fit of code requirements only, and • critical roofing projects. April 7, 2014 32 April 7, 2014 33 April 7, 2014 34 April 7, 2014 35 Vice Chairman Jeffers requested the $387,700 in the Recreation and Senior Center Project Contingency Fund remain in place to follow the project. Vice Chairman Jeffers requested the status of the City of Roxboro confirming a joint meeting with the Board of Commissioners. Chairman Clayton stated City Council would be meeting on April 8, 2014 and it was his understanding that Council would discuss and make a decision on the requested joint meeting. Vice Chairman Jeffers requested a Closed Session be added to the April 21, 2014 Board agenda to discuss acquisition of property (former Leggett site or any other potential sites related to the Recreation and Senior Center project). Ms. Wehrenberg explained potential timing and collateral issues related to the financing the Public Safety Towers noting a pay-as-you-go plan might be an option or to couple the project with roofing needs and using the facilities to be re-roofed as collateral. Ms. Wehrenberg noted to finance with Piedmont Electric Coop for the USDA funding a 20% cash match would be required, estimating approximately $925,000 for four towers. Ms. Wehrenberg stated General Obligation Bonds, with approval by the voters, authorize an increase in taxes to cover any such designated project. Ms. York stated the $1 million in FY16 is a placeholder for the Senior Center project noting that is the current price to renovate and locate the Senior Center only at the Huck Sansbury site. Ms. York stated a new feasibility study would be needed to review any other sites for the Senior Center and/or the Recreation Center. RESOLUTION TO DESIGNATE PERSON COUNTY’S AGENTS: Chairman Clayton presented the Resolution designating Person County’s agents to execute and file application for federal and/or state assistance on behalf of Person County related to the Declaration of Emergency that was set in place during the March Ice Storm. A motion was made by Commissioner Puryear and carried 5-0 to adopt the Resolution to Designate Person County’s Agents for the NC Division of Emergency Management as presented. April 7, 2014 36 April 7, 2014 37 CHAIRMAN’S REPORT: Chairman Clayton had no report. MANAGER’S REPORT: County Manager, Heidi York announced budget work sessions for May 19, 2014 immediately following the Board meeting, any time on May 27, 2014 and June 3, 2014. Ms. York asked the Board for direction related to Commissioner Blalock’s suggestion for a survey for public input related to the capital projects as wants, needs and luxuries. Commissioner Blalock reiterated that the citizens need to understand the process before the Board. Vice Chairman Jeffers suggested a local government day for citizens to learn about government. Commissioner Puryear stated the Board has the budget public hearing for citizens to provide input. COMMISSIONER REPORT/COMMENTS: Commissioners Newell and Blalock had no report. Commissioner Puryear stated he and Chairman Clayton recently attended an event at the Kirby Art Gallery recognizing scholarship winners and extended congratulations to Mindy Satterfield as the Alumnus of the Year as well as all the award winners. Vice Chairman Jeffers reported an idea from the Fire Chief’s meeting is to consider purchasing fire department equipment/items in bulk for cost savings versus each department using different vendors. Vice Chairman Jeffers noted he attended a town hall forum focusing on Mental Health Reform held at City Hall noting many challenges ahead for providers and clients due to changes at the state level. Commissioner Blalock asked if the county has a resource guide for accessing services. County Manager, Heidi York stated the Roxboro Chamber Guide as well as United Way has contact information for program services. Carlton Paylor, Director of Department of Social Services, present in the audience, said they have had one but it is in need for an update. April 7, 2014 38 CLOSED SESSION #2 A motion was made by Vice Chairman Jeffers and carried 5-0 to enter Closed Session per General Statute 143-318.11(a)(2) at 9:21 pm for the purpose to consult with the county attorney in order to preserve the attorney-client privilege with the following individuals permitted to attend: County Manager, Heidi York, Clerk to the Board, Brenda Reaves, Assistant County Manager, Sybil Tate and County Attorney, Ron Aycock. A motion was made by Commissioner Blalock and carried 5-0 to return to open session at 9:44 pm. ADJOURNMENT: A motion was made by Commissioner Newell, and carried 5-0 to adjourn the meeting at 9:44 pm. _____________________________ ______________________________ Brenda B. Reaves Jimmy B. Clayton Clerk to the Board Chairman