October 29 2012
October 29, 2012
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PERSON COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS OCTOBER 29, 2012
MEMBERS PRESENT OTHERS PRESENT
Jimmy B. Clayton Heidi York, County Manager
Kyle W. Puryear
B. Ray Jeffers Brenda B. Reaves, Clerk to the Board
Samuel R. Kennington
Frances P. Blalock
The Board of Commissioners for the County of Person, North Carolina, met in
special called session on Monday, October 29, 2012 at 6:30 p.m. in the Auditorium of the
Bethel Hill Charter School located at 401 Bethel Hill School Road, Roxboro for the
purpose of holding an informal Community Conversations meeting.
Chairman Clayton called the Community Conversations meeting to order at 6:30
pm. Board members and county staff present introduced themselves to the audience.
The purpose of the informal Community Conversations meeting is to receive
feedback from the community about county services.
Attendees were given the opportunity to sign up with the Clerk to the Board to
address the Board or the option to write down questions or comments to be read.
A total of 37 people were in attendance which included Board members, county
staff and citizens.
County Manager, Heidi York told the group the Community Conversations
meetings were developed to show more transparency in county government as well as
give the public a chance to speak to the commissioners about community priorities.
Ms. York highlighted the What’s Happening in Person County Government flyer
presented to all attendees upon arrival. The handout included information about New
Values for all Real Property in 2013, County-wide high speed internet, an update on
Recycling, Library news, Person County’s Strategic Plan, statistics related to your
property tax dollars, neighboring counties’ tax rates, as well as explained where revenue
is gained and to which county services or function areas it is spent, as well as the
structure of the Board of Commissioners and their meetings.
Clerk to the Board, Brenda Reaves, called the names of those individuals who had
signed up to speak in the following order:
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Mr. Cal Berryhill of 296 Claude Hall Road, Roxboro and farmer in northern
Person County, advocated for the county to invest in extending sewer lines to the
northern part of the county due to poor soils and poor land percolation. Mr. Berryhill
stated the need for additional recreation programs in the northern part of the county. Vice
Chairman Puryear agreed for the need for more recreational facilities and suggested the
county recreation department expand its resources towards the different areas of the
county. Commissioner Jeffers offered to take Mr. Berryhill’s comments related to the
needed recreational programs to the Recreation Advisory Board for discussion.
Mr. Jay Jennings of 155 High Rock Road, Hurdle Mills questioned the Board for
a status on the water quality testing that would determine if Person County was
contributing to the Falls Lake pollution and asked about the possibility for the Board to
ask legislators to grant Person County a 2-year waiver to the Falls Lake Rules.
Chairman Clayton asked the Assistant County Manager, Sybil Tate to give an update.
Ms. Tate noted Person County has contracted with a nationally known consulting firm to
conduct studies on the existing data. Ms. Tate stated a report is forthcoming in
January/February 2013 that will identify what monitoring will be accepted by the State of
NC. Ms. Tate told the group the next step will be obtaining the loading data. Chairman
Clayton added that Person County believes the models that were relied upon when the
Falls Lake Rules were enacted were inaccurate and that the county is trying to have its
own water quality data to submit to the State of NC. Vice Chairman Puryear stated the
Falls Lake rules were mandated by the State of NC and the Board voted to use General
Fund Balance to absorb the costs so that residents would not be assessed a fee noting a
request for waiver may be possible once the water quality results are determined. Mr.
Jennings also asked the Board if the proposed Development Services Director is needed.
Commissioner Blalock asked the County Manager, Heidi York to speak to the group
relating to one-stop shop for permitting. Ms. York explained the City of Roxboro’s
Planner and the County’s Planning Department are co-located as a first step to streamline
the permitting process, noting the Development Services Director would be responsible
for coordination of the processes between Planning, Inspections, Environmental Health
and the applicant for those services, further noting this position would lead the 2-year
process of unifying the City and County’s Planning Ordinance. Mr. Jennings asked if the
unified ordinance would consolidate the stormwater processes noting he would like to
have a more local Stormwater Utility Services Manager which is currently in Granville
County as a shared resource with Person County.
Mr. George Woody of 555 Bethel Hill School Road, Roxboro addressed the
Board related to First Responders and the new stipulations and the associated costs. Ms.
York noted the Medical Director is implementing new guidelines for First Responders
and the need to stock certain supplies to supplement patient services at the scene of an
accident. The additional costs is estimated at approximately $2,000 to which Ms. York
stated she would be recommending in next year’s budget an increase for each volunteer
fire department funding amount to accommodate the additional costs. Commissioner
Kennington thanked Mr. Woody and his fellow volunteer fire fighters for the important
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job they do for the community noting the Board of Commissioner has always supported
volunteer fire departments.
Mr. John Betterton of 490 Richland Road, Roxboro, and Principal of Bethel Hill
Charter School commented on the impact of Bethel Hill Charter School serving 385
students annually with a 100 plus waiting list with its 24 renovated classrooms located on
51 acre property. In addition eight more classrooms are being planned. Mr. Betterton
noted the growth in facility capital was accomplished without availability of local capital
funds or the NC Education Lottery capital funds. Mr. Betterton stated a lack of sewage
line in the northern end of the county is one of the facility issues that limit growth noting
with such sewage treatment, business, industry and Bethel Hill Charter School will have
the potential to expand their services to Person County citizens. Mr. Betterton also
suggested for Board consideration to offer a matching grant program for local
communities as an opportunity to combine resources to provide benefits to citizens.
Commissioner Jeffers commended Mr. Betterton for his participation and attendance in
Raleigh legislative meetings.
Chairman Clayton asked the County Manager to add discussion related to sewer
services to the next joint session agenda with the City of Roxboro. Commissioner Jeffers
suggested staff to send the Board an update as to where the infrastructure is located in the
county.
Commissioner Kennington asked that Mr. Berryhill talk with Person County’s
Economic Development Director, Stuart Gilbert related to visiting a farm operations and
discussion related to a sewer line extended to the northern part of the county.
Commissioner Kennington recognized Mr. Betterton for his appointment by the
Governor of NC to the 12-member Charter School Commission and for serving as its
Chairperson noting 1000 students in Person County are attending charter schools and all
citizens have a choice of schools.
Commissioner Blalock thanked Mr. Betterton and Commissioner Kennington for
their efforts with charter schools noting another high school was saved from being built
by the charter schools.
Ms. Laura Woody of 555 Bethel Hill School Road, Roxboro spoke of the need of
a postal drop box in the northern part of the county due to the cutbacks at the Roxboro
post office and the closing of the Leasburg post office. Vice Chairman Puryear suggested
Ms. Woody contact Congressman Howard Coble.
Ms. Wendy McFarland of 6366 Boston Road, Roxboro thanked the county for the
assistance for the volunteer fire departments and for any help for Bethel Hill Charter
School noting the invaluable service the community receives from both entities.
Chairman Clayton encouraged citizens to pay the dues to the community volunteer fire
departments.
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Ms. York and the Board of Commissioners thanked everyone for attending and
participating in the Community Conversations meeting. Commissioner Blalock
recognized a young boy scout in the audience that was attending to see how local
government works. Commissioner Kennington recognized Mr. Berryhill and Mr.
Bernard Obie both present that participated in the First Annual Farm Tour recently.
A motion was made by Vice Chairman Puryear, seconded by Commissioner
Jeffers, and carried 5-0 to adjourn the meeting at 7:44 pm.
_____________________________ ______________________________
Brenda B. Reaves Jimmy B. Clayton
Clerk to the Board Chairman