BOC Minutes March 24 2014
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PERSON COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS MARCH 24, 2014
MEMBERS PRESENT OTHERS PRESENT
Jimmy B. Clayton Heidi York, County Manager
Kyle W. Puryear
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, March 24, 2014 at 5:00 pm in the Commissioners’ meeting
room in the Person County Office Building for the purpose of a capital projects work
session.
Chairman Clayton called the meeting to order. County Manager, Heidi York
stated the CIP Work Session was held to receive input from the Board related to
prioritizing the larger projects for consideration for financing.
Vice Chairman Jeffers asked the Finance Director the amount of the County’s
undesignated Fund Balance. Finance Director, Amy Wehrenberg stated the County’s
Fund Balance as of June 30, 2013 was at $19 million with $10 million unassigned
(19.9%) and to retain 18% Fund Balance, the excess funds available to be appropriated is
estimated at $932,847.
Vice Chairman Jeffers stated he would have to leave the CIP Work Session early
and was unable to attend the joint session meeting with the Board of Education. Vice
Chairman Jeffers asked the County Manager to find out how much lottery funding is
available to drawdown for Person County.
Vice Chairman Jeffers requested Board action to excuse him from the remainder
of the meeting at 5:20 pm.
A motion was made by Commissioner Blalock, and carried 3-1 to excuse Vice
Chairman Jeffers from the remainder of the meeting at 5:20 pm. Commissioner Newell
cast the lone dissenting vote.
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Ms. York guided the Board through the CIP Work Session with the following
presentation:
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Ms. York stated the required repairs for the recycling center to meet code are
$250,000 which is the minimum for consideration. It was determined the sprinkler
system at an estimated cost of $110,000 was not required; however other life safety
equipment is included to meet the code by the Inspections Director.
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Ms. York stated the County has twelve years remaining on the current PI
building. General Services Director, Ray Foushee confirmed the County would be
allowed to sub-lease that building.
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Mr. Foushee stated two additional roofs in bad condition that are not included in
the Roofing considerations for FY15 are 1) PI main building (patched many times with
leaks current) estimated at $453,000 and 2) recycling center roof to which a quote is
forthcoming.
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Ms. Wehrenberg explained the appropriateness of collateral and the lack thereof
for the high cost of the Public Safety/Broadband towers noting a 20% cash match may be
an option with the cooperative interest free loan for a ten-year term. Ms. Wehrenberg
estimated a 20% cash match for a two tower project at $475,000.
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In reviewing the capital projects presented and keeping in mind the $5 million
financing threshold for FY15, it was the consensus of the Board to budget in the FY15
CIP the following:
• two of the four towers for the Public Safety/Broadband project at $2.5
million,
• the Roofing projects presented at $2 million, and
• the Recycling Center property purchase reimbursement ($850,000), and
the minimum repair deficiencies ($250,000) for a Recycling Center
project of $1.1 million.
It was the consensus of the Board to not include the feasibility study at an
estimated cost of $26,000 in the FY15 budget for additional sites for the Recreation
and/or the Senior Center.
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RECESS:
A motion was made by Commissioner Blalock, and carried 4-0 to recess the
meeting at 5:45 pm until 6:00 pm in the County Auditorium for joint session with the
Board of Education.
_____________________________ ______________________________
Brenda B. Reaves Jimmy B. Clayton
Clerk to the Board Chairman
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PERSON COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS MARCH 24, 2014
MEMBERS PRESENT OTHERS PRESENT
Jimmy B. Clayton Heidi York, County Manager
Kyle W. Puryear
B. Ray Jeffers - ABSENT 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, March 24 at 6:00 pm for the purpose of a special joint
meeting with the Board of Education in the County Auditorium.
In attendance representing Person County was Chairman Clayton and
Commissioners Puryear, Blalock and Newell. Vice Chairman Jeffers was absent.
County Manager, Heidi York, Finance Director, Amy Wehrenberg and Clerk to the
Board, Brenda Reaves were also present.
In attendance representing the Board of Education was School Board Chairman,
Gordon Powell, Vice-Chair Margaret Bradsher and members Jimmy Wilkins, and Freda
Tillman. School Board member Jennifer Kafer was absent until 6:10 pm.
Superintendent, Danny Holloman, Executive Assistant and Clerk, Teresa Shotwell,
Finance Officer, Kim McVey were also present.
Chairman Clayton called the meeting to order and welcomed the group.
OVERVIEW OF THE PERSON COUNTY SCHOOLS’ BUDGET REQUEST:
Mr. Danny Holloman, Superintendent provided the Board of Commissioners the
following overview of the Person County Schools’ budget request noting the budget
includes all known expenditures and requested revenues to provide for the expenditures:
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Mr. Holloman noted the local budget request may have to be amended once the
district receives its state and federal planning allotment, further noting both state and
federal funding has been decreasing over the past few years.
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Commissioner Puryear asked about the Aramark contract and the Gas/Fuel budget
requests. Person County Schools’ staff noted Aramark far surpasses other providers and
the desire is to keep the contract as well as the schools have the ability to purchase gas at
any location at the state contract price.
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Person County Schools Finance Director, Kim McVey stated the certified
supplement budget request included district matching benefits for retirees. Mr. Holloman
explained the eligible employee of the district coaching supplement process noting there
are no stipends budgeted for volunteer coaching positions. Mr. Holloman stated there are
over 2,000 volunteers at the school system in which background checks are completed on
each invidivual.
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Mr. Holloman highlighted the budget request supplement increase which equates
to a two percent (2%) increase for teachers, principals as well as classified employees.
The current supplement for Person County Schools is eight percent (8%) which has not
been increased since 2006; Mr. Holloman stated Person County Schools lose teachers to
other districts with higher supplements.
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Mr. Holloman stated the FY14-15 budget request impacts both the traditional
public schools and charter schools, as the charter schools will receive approximately $1.7
million of the local funding given to Person County Schools. Mr. Holloman noted there
are approximately 5,700 total Person County students.
Mr. Holloman spoke briefly about pending litigation for a voucher system that
would appropriate $4,200 per student.
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Mr. Holloman stated the budget request presented reflects advocacy for what is
needed; it does not reflect the wants but the needs. Mr. Holloman stated the budget
request of $9,955,831 includes an 8% increase over the current local appropriation by the
County.
Board of Education Chairman, Gordon Powell noted inflation which has grown at
a rate of 8.4% since 2010 which adds up to $747,000.
Board of Education Vice Chair, Margaret Bradsher spoke to the many resources
needed to teach a child to read. Ms. Bradsher noted state legislation mandating third-
graders to be proficient in reading before being promoted to fourth-grade giving an
example of one school in the county where there are only 7 students out of 47 third-
graders currently proficient in reading. Ms. Bradsher advocated to the Board of
Commissioners that quality education creates a trained workforce which in turn promotes
economic development.
Commissioner Blalock inquired about innovative programs used to ensure
students are successful. Mr. Holloman stated once a successful resource is proven in
some schools, it will be implemented in all schools.
Commissioner Newell asked about the Schools’ Fund Balance. Ms. McVey stated
at fiscal year-end, June 30, 2013, the School Fund Balance was at $781,592 which
represents approximately one-month of spending.
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OVERVIEW OF CAPITAL PROJECTS FUNDING:
County Manager, Heidi York and Finance Director, Amy Wehrenberg gave the
group an overview of the Person County Capital Improvement Plan reflecting the
schools’ requests and the recommendations from the roofing and window studies. Ms.
York stated total funding to Person County Schools this current budget year is at $14
million when capital expenditures are included. Ms. York noted the county is mandated
to provide for the public school systems’ capital needs.
Ms. Wehrenberg noted a correction: Window Roofing Projects should read
Window Replacement Projects.
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Ms. Wehrenberg stated the capital projects list as presented differs from the
school’s presented capital projects noting the need to collaborate on the school’s capital
project priorities to set the funding schedule in the appropriate fiscal years. Ms.
Wehrenberg summarized the total requested capital projects for the public school system
(not including the county or the community college projects) for the next five fiscal years
totals $5.2 million which include projects just over $1 million, $2 million in roofing and
$2.2 million in window replacements. Ms. Wehrenberg noted the projects in Fiscal Year
2014-2015 would require a County contribution of $1.2 million.
Ms. Wehrenberg asked Person County Schools’ staff what is the lottery funding
balance. Ms. McVey stated the unallocated balance as of February 25, 2014 is $791,000.
Ms. McVey stated she was not sure if the unallocated balance reflected the first two
quarters of the current fiscal year which is at $182,000.
RECESS:
A motion was made by Commissioner Newell, and carried 4-0 to recess the
meeting at 7:29 pm until April 7, 2014 at 5:30 p.m. for a special joint meeting with
Piedmont Community College Board of Trustees.
_____________________________ ______________________________
Brenda B. Reaves Jimmy B. Clayton
Clerk to the Board Chairman