February 1
February 1, 2010 1
PERSON COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS FEBRUARY 1, 2010 MEMBERS PRESENT OTHERS PRESENT
Johnny Myrl Lunsford Heidi York, County Manager
Jimmy B. Clayton C. Ronald Aycock, County Attorney Kyle W. Puryear Brenda B. Reaves, Clerk to the Board
B. Ray Jeffers
Samuel R. Kennington
The Board of Commissioners for the County of Person, North Carolina, met in regular session on Monday, February 1, 2010 at 7:00 p.m. in the Commissioners’ meeting room in the Person County Office Building.
Chairman Lunsford called the meeting to order and asked Commissioner Clayton
to lead in prayer and Commissioner Kennington to lead the Pledge of Allegiance. DISCUSSION/ADJUSTMENT/APPROVAL OF AGENDA: A motion was made by Commissioner Puryear, seconded by Commissioner
Jeffers and carried to approve the agenda.
INFORMAL COMMENTS: There were no comments from the public.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES:
A motion was made by Commissioner Clayton, seconded by Commissioner Jeffers, and carried to approve the minutes of January 19, 2010.
ADMINISTRATIVE REPORTS:
A motion was made by Commissioner Puryear, seconded by Commissioner
Jeffers, and carried to approve the Administrative Reports for the Airport, Surplus Property, Surplus Vehicles, and Tax Administration & Collections.
OLD BUSINESS:
APPOINTMENTS TO THE PERSON-CASWELL CRIMINAL JUSTICE PARTNERSHIP ADVISORY BOARD: County Manager, Heidi York stated at the Board’s January 19, 2010 meeting,
action was taken to allow Person County to enter into a partnership with Caswell County
to establish a joint Criminal Justice Partnership Program. This partnership will allow
Person County to draw down funds from the NC Department of Correction for substance abuse treatment for offenders that are on probation and parole in our community. There
is an advisory board that oversees the implementation of this program. Committee
members include the District Attorney, Superior and District Court Judges, County
Sheriff, and County Manager, among other stakeholders of the criminal justice system.
February 1, 2010 2
The committee is supported by staff from the Piedmont Triad Council of Governments
and Caswell County has accepted the responsibility to be the fiscal agent for the Program.
Person County is being requested to appoint the County Manager and the Sheriff to serve
on this Advisory Board. Ms. York requested the Board’s consideration to appoint the County Manager and the Sheriff to represent Person County on the Criminal Justice
Partnership Advisory Board.
A motion was made by Commissioner Clayton, seconded by Commissioner
Puryear, and carried to appoint the County Manager and the Sheriff to represent Person County on the Criminal Justice Partnership Advisory Board.
NEW BUSINESS:
REPORT OF UNPAID TAXES:
Tax Administrator, Russell Jones told the Board that General Statute 105-369(a)
requires that the Tax Collector report to the Board the amount of unpaid 2009 taxes that
are a lien on real property as of February 1st. This is simply a check point for the Board
as to the progress that the Tax Office is making on collections and a way to alert the
Board if collections are down creating a budget shortfall.
Mr. Jones reported Person County is ahead of last year by $25,000 with less
unpaid taxes currently than the same date last year noting $1,646,189 are due to the
County in unpaid real estate taxes which is about $30,000 less on the same date of last
year. Mr. Jones further noted collections are about one-half percent ahead of the overall
collection rate for 2009, current at 92% and he anticipated reaching the budgeted
collection of 96.5%. Mr. Jones stated he did not see any reason to cause a budget shortfall
with the anticipated collection rate.
A motion was made by Commissioner Puryear, seconded by Commissioner
Jeffers, and carried to receive the Report of Unpaid Taxes as presented by the Tax
Administrator.
ADVERTISEMENT OF UNPAID REAL ESTATE TAXES:
Tax Administrator, Russell Jones stated a motion from the Board is required to
order the advertisement and set the advertisement date for delinquent 2009 real property taxes. The Tax Office recommended the advertisement date to be March 6, 2010. The newspaper advertisement is required under General Statute 105-369(c) and can be placed
anytime between March 1st and June 30th. The cost of the advertisement is charged to the
delinquent real estate bills.
February 1, 2010 3
A motion was made by Commissioner Clayton, seconded by Commissioner
Puryear, and carried to set the Advertisement of Unpaid Real Estate Taxes date for
March 6, 2010, as recommended by the Tax Office.
BOARD OF EQUALIZATION AND REVIEW MEETING DATE: Tax Administrator, Russell Jones requested the Board to set the meeting date for
the Board of Equalization and Review explaining the date will need to meet in the month
of April. General Statue 105-322(f) requires the meeting date to be advertised at least 10
days in advance. The Department of Revenue recommends that the Board of Equalization and Review remain open longer than one day to allow tax payers a lesser
restrictive opportunity for appeals. Mr. Jones proposed the Board of Equalization and
Review meeting be held on April 6, 2010 starting at 1:00 pm to hear citizens and then
recess until after the Board’s meeting on April 19, 2010. The Board of Equalization and
Review can adjourn on April 19, 2010 after the opportunity for any citizens present to be heard. Mr. Jones noted the Board may also need to meet between these dates if the
number of taxpayers appealing their value is higher than in the past.
Commissioner Kennington requested consideration of the start time of the Board
of Equalization and Review Meeting to start at 1:30 p.m. on April 6, 2010.
A motion was made by Commissioner Puryear, seconded by Commissioner
Jeffers, and carried to set the meeting date for the Board of Equalization and Review to
be held on April 6, 2010 starting at 1:30 pm to hear citizens and then recess until after the
Board’s meeting on April 19, 2010 unless additional meetings were required.
FISCAL YEAR 2010-2011 NONPROFIT FUNDING PROCESS:
County Manager, Heidi York reminded the Board that a nonprofit funding process
was created in current Fiscal Year 2009-2010 stating a policy was adopted by the Board of Commissioners on December 1, 2008 creating an accountable and objective process
for funding nonprofit agency grant requests. Ms. York noted Person County Government
and Person County United Way began meeting last year to consider partnering funding of
nonprofits with a goal towards the creation of one seamless funding application. Ms.
York stated that one application for both entities would be more user-friendly for nonprofits while creating a consistent set of criteria across the community for which
nonprofits were being evaluated for funding as well as increase the accountability of the
funding decision process. Ms. York presented the joint funding application to the Board
for review and feedback. Ms. York admitted the application and process used by Person
County United Way is much more involved than what Person County Government implemented last year which resulted in Person County’s application last year being two
pages to the proposed joint application at seven pages.
Ms. York noted Person County will post on the County website on Friday,
February 5, 2010 the application approved by the Board with a deadline for nonprofit applicants to submit back to the County by Friday, March 5, 2010 at noon.
February 1, 2010 4
Commissioners Clayton, Jeffers, Puryear and Kennington recognized the
proposed joint application may burden County staff administratively.
A motion was made by Commissioner Puryear, seconded by Commissioner
Kennington, and carried to approve the Person County Non-Profit Funding Application
as used in Fiscal Year 2009-2010.
Commissioner Kennington asked the County Manager to continue consideration of the possibility of a future joint application with United Way.
BUDGET AMENDMENT:
County Manager, Heidi York presented and explained the following Budget Amendment.
Upon a motion by Commissioner Clayton, and a second by Commissioner
Jeffers and majority vote, the Board of Commissioners of Person County does hereby
amend the Budget of the General Fund(s) on this, the 1st day of February 2010, as follows:
Dept./Acct No. Department Name Amount Incr / (Decr)
EXPENDITURES General Fund General Government 51,389 Public Buildings & Grounds 550
Economic & Physical Development (48,270) Human Services 10,850 Culture & Recreation 29,288
Contingency
(3,119) Transfers to other Funds 61,810
Person Industries Fund-Special Revenue Fund 32,522 REVENUES General Fund
Other Revenues 102,498 Person Industries Fund-Special Revenue Fund Transfer from General Fund 32,522
Appropriate: Property & Liability insurance payment for a claim filed with the NCACC
Risk Pool ($3,119); Interfund transfer from GIS to Information Technology ($48,270);
reimbursement of copier buyout costs for the departments that had leased copiers
($62,360); and insurance claim received for vehicle in Health Department ($10,850).
February 1, 2010 5
CHAIRMAN’S REPORT: Chairman Lunsford noted that he and Commissioner Clayton recently attended a
Council of Government (COG) Board Meeting and received a copy of the Kerr-Tar
Regional Council of Governments Audit Report dated June 30, 2009, which will be in the
County Manager’s Office for public inspection.
Chairman Lunsford shared with the Board a copy of the Annual Statement of
Secondary Roads Paved during the 2009 calendar year.
Chairman Lunsford announced the Airport Commission will be meeting on
February 19, 2010 at 10:00 a.m. in the Board Room. County Manager, Heidi York noted Board members may announce boards and committee meeting dates during a Board
meeting to provide public notice.
Chairman Lunsford and Ms. York reminded the Board of the events scheduled for
February 8, 2010 whereby the Board would be leaving Person County at approximately 1:15 p.m. to go to Durham County to go on a tour at 2:00 p.m. to view historical
renovation projects as well as meet in joint session at 4:00 p.m. with the Durham County
Board of County Commissioners. Chairman Lunsford stated the purpose of the joint
session with Durham County to discuss topics of mutual interest, i.e. watershed issue as
well as to gain a mutual understanding of both boards and to set the tone for any future meetings and partnerships. Chairman Lunsford stated he had spoken to Chairman Page
of Durham County who extended an invitation for Person County to have dinner with the
Durham Board following the joint session.
MANAGER’S REPORT: County Manager, Heidi York stated she would be contacting each of the Board
members for individual meetings to discuss the Board Retreat agenda.
Ms. York stated a memo would be forthcoming regarding adding additional roofing projects to the four critical roofing project list noting this item would be on the
February 15, 2010 Board meeting agenda.
COMMISSIONER REPORT/COMMENTS:
Commissioner Kennington had no comments.
Commissioner Puryear stated the Future’s Economic Development Committee
would be meeting on February 2, 2010 at 6:30 p.m. at Talbert Building Supply.
Commissioner Puryear noted good news was forthcoming regarding CenturyLink.
February 1, 2010 6
Commissioner Jeffers stated his next Future’s meeting would be held on February
4, 2010 at 5:30 p.m.
Commissioner Clayton shared with the Board a copy of comments regarding the proposed Falls Water Supply Nutrient Strategy Rules from Mr. Jim Wrenn, Jr., and Mr.
Glenn Dunn, Attorneys for South Granville Water and Sewer Authority, Granville
County, the Town of Butner and Person County that is addressed to the NC Division of
Water Quality dated January 29, 2010. Commissioner Clayton stated the North Carolina
League of Municipalities has hired an environmental specialist to provide input regarding the proposed rules. Commissioner Clayton stated one proposal is for a Commission to be
created to monitor sampling uniformly across the State.
Commissioner Clayton stated he and Commissioner Jeffers will be attending State
Association committee meetings on February 9, 2010.
ADJOURNMENT:
A motion was made by Commissioner Puryear, seconded by Commissioner Jeffers, and carried to adjourn the meeting at 7:30 p.m.
_____________________________ ______________________________
Brenda B. Reaves Johnny Myrl Lunsford Clerk to the Board Chairman