May 21PERSON COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS May 21, 2007
MEMBERS PRESENT OTHERS PRESENT
Johnny Myrl Lunsford, Chairman Steve Carpenter, County Manager
Jimmy B. Clayton, Vice-Chairman C. Ronald Aycock, County Attorney
Kyle W. Puryear Faye T. Fuller, Clerk to the Board
Larry H. Bowes
Larry E. Yarborough, Jr.
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The Board of Commissioners for the County of Person, North Carolina, met in regular
session on Monday, May 21, 2007 at 9:00 a.m. in the Commissioners’ Room of the Person
County Office Building.
Chairman Lunsford called the meeting to order. Commissioner Clayton led in prayer and
Commissioner Bowes led the Pledge of Allegiance.
DISCUSSION/ADJUSTEMNT OF AGENDA:
A motion was made by Commissioner Puryear, seconded by Commissioner Yarborough
and carried to add the selection of the NACo voting delegate to the agenda.
INFORMAL COMMENTS:
Ronnie Bugnar - Juvenile Crime Prevention Council Chairman – Encouraged approval
of $25,374 local match for JCPC Program.
Flora Peed – Spoke against additional landfill tonnage – properties in area have lost
value – news reports now of PCB soils are to be brought to landfill – methane gas in air –
Republic should be made to adhere to their contract. Raise taxes, let everyone pay, not just ones
near landfill.
Betty Blalock - PCB soils from Raleigh may come to landfill - no amount of PCB is safe
– petroleum based cover – if landfill gets PCB soils they will take it as alternative daily cover –
highly toxic.
Commissioner Puryear asked County Manager Carpenter if he was aware of any waste
being taken in from outside the contract area. Mr. Carpenter said the contract stated that no trash
will be accepted from the cities of Raleigh or Durham. Contracted waste has been picked up
from those areas by companies such as BFI. No city waste has been picked up. He said he was
not aware of any manipulation of the contract where any municipal collection from the cities of
Raleigh and Durham was picked up.
ADDITIONAL ADJUSTMENT OF AGENDA:
Commissioner Puryear made a motion to add School Board Chairman Gordon Powell to
the agenda. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Yarborough and carried unanimously.
May 21, 2007 1
ADMINISTRATIVE REPORTS:
The following Administrative Reports were received and accepted by motion of
Commissioner Bowes and second by Commissioner Puryear - Detention Center, Fire Marshal,
EMS, Tax Administration & Collections.
OLD BUSINESS:
DISCUSSION OF RE-NAMING OF BRANSCOME ROAD:
County Manager Carpenter stated that since the Board made the decision to re-name
Branscome Road several options had been presented. One suggestion was to allow a public
school class name the road, the Semora Fire Chief suggested the current name remain in place
and a third suggestion was to re-name the road Black Wolf Road. Mr. Carpenter reminded the
Board that it is within their power to name the road provided there is no duplication of names.
Commissioner Puryear said he felt the Board should move forward with re-naming the
road. Commissioner Bowes said politics would be taken out of the process by allowing a school
class suggest a name. Commissioners Yarborough and Lunsford felt it was too late in the school
year to assign such a project to a school class.
A motion was made by Commissioner Yarborough, seconded by Commissioner Puryear
and carried by a 4/1 vote to re-name Branscome Road to Black Wolf Road. Commissioner
Bowes cast the dissenting vote.
APPROVAL OF HYCONEECHEE REGIONAL LIBRARY CONTRACT:
A motion was made by Commissioner Yarborough, seconded by Commissioner Puryear
and carried to approve the 2007 Hyconeechee Regional Library Contract.
Hyconeechee Regional Library System
P.O. Box 8181
Hillsborough, NC 27278
(919) 245-2528
Brenda W. Stephens, Director
CONTRACT
This CONTRACT, made this the 1st day of July, 2007 is by and between the Hyconeechee Regional Library System,
herein after referred to as the (Regional System), and the Counties of Orange, Person and Caswell (Counties);
WITNESSETH:
WHEREAS, The Regional System is organized within the framework of the North Carolina General Statutes, Chapter
160A, Article 20, Part 1 and,
WHEREAS, the purpose of the original Regional System is to provide for the administration of library services within the
region which consists of the Counties of Orange, Person, and Caswell and;
WHEREAS, The Regional System desires to have the libraries currently operating within the Regional System to function
as County departments within the county of location of each respective library and,
May 21, 2007 2
WHEREAS, the Counties of Orange, Person and Caswell have expressed a willingness to allow the libraries to function as
County departments;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual promises and convenants contained herein, the Regional System and
the Counties of Orange, Person and Caswell agree as follows:
1. Purpose- This contract is to provide for the operation of each library located in the system as a department of the
County of location and to provide for the assignment of fiscal management functions related to the Regional System’s
assets to the Orange County Finance Director.
2. Responsibilities of the Regional System - The Regional System will remain organized with the statutory framework
referred to above and it shall be the duty of the Regional System to:
A. Maintain a Board of Directors consisting of nine (9) members with three representatives from each
participating County.
B. Meet at least once per quarter and conduct special meetings as required for transaction of Regional System
business.
C. Designate the Orange County Library as the Regional System Headquarters and the Orange County Finance
Director as Regional System’s Fiscal Agent.
D. Adopt an annual balanced budget no later than May 31st for all regional funds received from North Carolina
Department of Cultural Resources and for all other grants and/or donations received from agencies or
individuals for Regional System purposes. This budget must include appropriations to each County within
the region for library operations. The County appropriations will be divided by three and disbursed evenly.
Regional expenses such as personnel, operations and fiscal service fees, will be charged back evenly to each
County. Funds appropriated to the Counties cannot be reduced without the approval of the Boards of
Commissioners for each County.
E. Insure that all regional reporting requirements to the State and Federal governments, as well as, any and all
other grantors are met.
F. Insure that all existing and future Regional System materials and assets are made available for use throughout
the region.
3. Responsibilities of the Counties - It shall be the duty of the County to:
A. Operate the libraries under the same rules, regulations, ordinances and any and all other procedures under which
the departments of the Counties are required to operate.
B. Insure that all Library employees are treated as employees of the respective Counties and receive compensation
and benefits packages accordingly.
C. Prepare quarterly reports for the Regional System to include information pertinent to library operations and
expenditure of regionally appropriated funds and make all library records available for inspection by the Regional
System or its respective at all reasonable times.
D. Insure that disbursements made on behalf of the libraries from State, Federal and other restrictive sources are in
accordance with all required provisions.
4. Responsibilities of the Fiscal Agent and Financial Officer - The Fiscal Agent and Financial Officer for the
Regional System will be the Finance Director of Orange County and it shall be his or her duty to:
A. Provide accountability for the Regional System’s financial assets in accordance with generally accepted
accounting principles and the Local Government Budget and Fiscal Control Act.
May 21, 2007 3
B. Receive, deposit, disburse and invest the Regional System’s funds in accordance with the guidelines
contained in section 4-A above.
C. Prepare monthly financial statements for the Regional System and present these statements to the Regional
Director.
D. Insure that Regional System funds are audited annually as required within the guidelines contained in Section
4-A above.
E. Insure that all fiscal reports required by grantor agencies are prepared and submitted on a timely basis.
5. Term, Termination and Renewal - This Contract is for the period July 1, 2006 through June 30, 2007. This
Contract may be terminated by either party with six months notice prior to June 30. This Contract may be renewed
annually for July 1 through June 30 fiscal years by action of the Regional System Board of Directors and by the Board
of County Commissioners for the Counties.
Caswell County Commissioner
Person County Commissioner
Orange County Commissioner
APPROVAL OF SUBLEASE OF EXCESS REAL ESTATE:
A motion was made by Commissioner Yarborough, seconded by Chairman Lunsford
and carried to approve the sub-lease of excess real estate at the Human Services Center. The
11,000 square feet of property is now occupied by Youth Development Corporation.
The sub-lease is for a one-year period with a one additional year renewal option at rental
of $6.00 per square foot and $6.50 per square foot for year two. The property will not be needed
by the County for the term of the sub-lease.
A Resolution Authorizing Publication of Intent
To Sub-Lease Property
Whereas, the Person County Board of Commissioners desires to sub-lease excess real estate it controls at the
Person County Human Services Center.
Now therefore be it Resolved by the Person County Board of County Commissioners that:
1. The property proposed to be sub-leased is 11,000 square feet now occupied by the Youth
Development Corporation.
2. The proposed sub-lease is for a one year period with a one additional year renewal option at a rental
of $6.00 per square foot and $6.50 per square foot for year two.
3. The property proposed to be sub-leased will not be needed by the County for the term of the
proposed sub-lease.
4. The Board intends to authorize execution of the sub-lease at its May 21, 2007 meeting.
5. The Board directs that a notice of its Intent to sub-lease be published at least 10 days prior to its May
21, 2007 meeting.
This the 7th day of May, 2007.
Johnny Myrl Lunsford, Chairman
Person County Board of Commissioners
May 21, 2007 4
APPROVAL OF EXCESS BACKHAUL CAPACITY LEASE:
A motion was made by Commissioner Yarborough, seconded by Commissioner Clayton
and carried to approve the Excess Backhaul Capacity Lease. The county intends to lease
Electronic Solutions, Inc. one-third of the excess capacity on its Information Technology
Transmission system on a month-to-month basis beginning April 1, 2007. Such capacity is not
currently needed by the County. Either Party may terminate this agreement by providing 60 days
written notice to the other Party.
Excess Backhaul Capacity Lease
This agreement is made by and between Person County Government herein after referred to as “PCG” and
Electronic Solutions, Inc. herein after referred to as “ESI”
Whereas the Person County Board of Commissioners finds that:
1- The County has excess capacity on its Information Technology Transmission System, and
2- At least one-third of the capacity of such transmission system is not currently needed by the County, and
3- The required public notice of this proposed lease has been properly posted.
Now therefore the parties agree as follows:
1- Person County Government hereby leases to ESI one-third of the transmission capacity of its information
technology transmission system on a month to month basis beginning on April 1, 2007.
2- ESI agrees to pay $483 per month for such services plus such additional amounts as are determined within
item #3 below.
3- ESI agrees to pay one-third of any repair cost associated with this backhaul at the Durham Center, TV Hill,
Hill Street, and/or the Woodland School location(s).
4- Person County Government shall have the absolute right to determine the extent of necessary repairs, but
shall notify ESI in advance of the pendency of such repairs unless the nature and immediacy of such repairs
does not allow such advance notification.
5- Either Party may terminate this agreement by providing 60 days written notice to the other Party.
6- Unless sooner terminate under the provisions of Item #5 above, this agreement shall terminate on March 31,
2012.
In witness whereof the Parties have authorized the execution of this agreement by its authorized officials on the
7th of May, 2007.
Person County Government
By: Steve D. Carpenter
Electronic Solutions, Inc.
By: Randy King
APPROVAL OF JCPC PROGRAM AGREEMENT:
County Manager Carpenter presented the FY 2007-2008 JCPC Program Agreement for
Board approval. The Agreement covers the following five components and the cost of
associated with each component – 4-H YES Life Skills - $35,670; Psychological Evaluations -
May 21, 2007 5
$20,809; Community Services-$32,511; Restitution-$32,510; Teen Court-$43,250. The total
cost is $164,750, requiring a 20% local match of $25,374.
A motion was made by Commissioner Clayton, seconded by Chairman Lunsford and
carried to approve the $25,374 local match for the JCPC Program application.
APPROVAL OF PARALLEL TAXIWAY EXTENSION PROJECT CONTRACT:
County Manager Carpenter told the Board the County received 90% funding for the
parallel taxiway extension on the south side at the Airport. This will extend the taxiway up to
the end of the runway on the south end.
The County received bids from nine companies for the work to be done. The three
lowest bidders failed to include some documentation with their bids; however, the County
Attorney ruled that the county is waiving the items protested by Mainline Contracting, Inc. as
technicalities. Talbert & Bright has notified the county that based on the verification of DBE’s
provided for the project and the County’s position on waiving the items protested by Mainline
Contracting, Inc as technicalities, they would recommend award of the subject project to
Riffenburg Construction, Inc. in the amount of $925,700.
Bids received were as follows:
Rea Contracting $1,446,674.00
Sellers Brothers, Inc. 1,106,039.93
Mainline Contracting, Inc. 1,044,916.25
Riffenburg Construction 925,700.00
S. T. Wooten Corporation 978,235.50
Triangle Grading & Paving 947,867.94
Mountain States Construction 1,054,915.00
Virginia Carolina Paving 1,377,294.00
Faukoner Construction 1,046,409.45
A motion was made by Commissioner Yarborough, seconded by Commissioner Clayton
and carried to award the Parallel Taxiway Extension Project to Riffenburg Construction in the
amount of $925,700.00.
May 21, 2007 6
APPROVAL OF RESOLUTION CALLING A PUBLIC HEARING ON A PROPOSED
INSTALLMENT FINANCING AGREEMENT:
Chairman Lunsford introduced the following resolution, a copy of which had been provided to each
Commissioner and which was read by its title:
RESOLUTION CALLING A PUBLIC HEARING ON WHETHER THE
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS FOR THE COUNTY OF PERSON, NORTH
CAROLINA SHOULD APPROVE A PROPOSED INSTALLMENT
FINANCING AGREEMENT TO FINANCE THE COST OF VARIOUS
PROJECTS AND PROVIDING FOR CERTAIN RELATED MATTERS.
WHEREAS, the County of Person, North Carolina (the “County”) has determined to finance,
with any other available funds, the cost of (a) constructing, equipping and furnishing a new public
school bus garage to maintain a fleet of school buses on a site of 10.92 acres in Roxboro Township,
Person County, North Carolina, on the north side of N.C. Highway 49 North (the “School Project”),
(b) replacing the roofs on buildings “C” and “D” at the Person County Campus of Piedmont
Community College (the “Community College Project”) and (c) renovating, equipping and furnishing
the former Health Department main and annex buildings to provide space for other County
departments (the “Renovation Project”); and
WHEREAS, the County is considering entering into an installment financing agreement
and certain related documents pursuant to G.S. §160A-20, as amended, for the purpose of
providing funds in an amount not to exceed $4,300,000, with any other available funds, for the
construction and other accomplishment of the School Project, the Community College Project
and the Renovation Project (collectively the “Project”), and the County is authorized to do so
only after a public hearing on such proposed agreement; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to call a public hearing on such proposed agreement and to
provide for certain related matters at this time;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Board of Commissioners for the
County as follows:
Section 1. A public hearing shall be held at 7:00 P.M. on June 4, 2007 in the
Commissioners’ Meeting Room in the Person County Office Building, in Roxboro, North
May 21, 2007 7
Carolina for the purpose of considering whether the Board of Commissioners for the County (the
“Board”) should approve such proposed agreement and certain related documents pursuant to
G.S. §160A-20, as amended, for the purpose of providing funds in an amount not to exceed
$4,300,000, with any other available funds, for the construction and other accomplishment of the
Project. The County would secure the repayment by it of moneys advanced pursuant to such
proposed agreement by granting a security interest in a portion of the School Project and certain
related property.
Section 2. The Clerk to the Board shall cause a notice of such public hearing to be
published in The Courier-Times once at least 10 days before June 4, 2007, such notice to read
substantially as follows:
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING ON WHETHER THE BOARD OF
COMMISSIONERS FOR THE COUNTY OF PERSON, NORTH CAROLINA
SHOULD APPROVE A PROPOSED INSTALLMENT FINANCING
AGREEMENT TO FINANCE THE COST OF VARIOUS PROJECTS
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN of a public hearing to be held at 7:00 P.M. on June 4,
2004 in the Commissioners’ Meeting Room in the Person County Office Building, in Roxboro,
North Carolina for the purpose of considering whether the Board of Commissioners for the
County of Person, North Carolina (the “County”) should approve a proposed installment
financing agreement and certain related documents pursuant to G.S. §160A-20, as amended, for
the purpose of providing funds in an amount not to exceed $4,300,000, with any other available
funds, for the construction and other accomplishment of the Project hereinafter defined. The
County would secure the repayment by it of moneys advanced pursuant to such proposed
agreement by granting a security interest in a portion of the School Project hereinafter defined
constituting a part of the Project and certain related property.
May 21, 2007 8
The Project consists (a) constructing, equipping and furnishing a new public school bus
garage to maintain a fleet of school buses on a site of 10.92 acres in Roxboro Township, Person
County, North Carolina, on the north side of N.C. Highway 49 North (the “School Project”),
(b) replacing the roofs on buildings “C” and “D” at the Person County Campus of Piedmont
Community College (the “Community College Project”) and (c) renovating, equipping and
furnishing the former Health Department main and annex buildings to provide space for other
County departments (the “Renovation Project” and, together with the School Project and the
Community College Project, the “Project”).
Faye Fuller
Clerk to the Board of Commissioners
for the County of Person, North Carolina
Section 3. The Board hereby finds and determines in connection with such proposed
agreement that (a) the proceeds of such proposed agreement will be used to finance the cost of
the Project to meet an urgent need for improved school, community college and other public
facilities constituting the Project to serve the residents of the County and, accordingly, such
proposed agreement is necessary or expedient for the County, (b) such proposed agreement,
under current circumstances, is preferable to a bond issue of the County for financing the same
purpose because there is not adequate time to hold a bond referendum, (c) the sums estimated to
fall due under such proposed agreement are adequate and not excessive for its proposed purpose
because they are based upon executed construction contracts with respect to the Community
College Project and the Renovation Project and the County’s best estimate of the cost of the
School Project, (d) the County’s debt management procedures and policies are good and its debt
will continue to be managed in strict compliance with the law, (e) any increase in taxes necessary
to meet the sums estimated to fall due under such proposed agreement will not be excessive
because the County does not expect that it will be necessary to increase taxes by more than an
May 21, 2007 9
average of two cents (2¢) per one hundred dollars ($100) of the appraised value of property
subject to taxation by the County over three years in order to provide funds to pay such sums and
(f) the County is not in default regarding any of its debt service obligations.
Section 4. The County Manager, the Finance Director and the County Attorney of the
County are each hereby designated as a representative of the County to file an application for
approval of such proposed agreement with the Local Government Commission of North Carolina
and are authorized to take such other actions as may be advisable in connection with the
negotiation of such proposed agreement and the development of the related financing; and all
actions heretofore taken by any of such officers or any other officer of the County relating to
such matter on behalf of the County are hereby approved, ratified and confirmed.
Section 5. The Board hereby requests the Local Government Commission of North
Carolina to approve such proposed agreement under Article 8 of Chapter 159 of the General
Statutes of North Carolina, as amended.
Section 6. The law firm of Robinson, Bradshaw and Hinson, P.A., Charlotte, North
Carolina, is hereby appointed special counsel to the County in connection with such proposed
agreement.
Section 7. This resolution shall take effect immediately upon its passage.
Upon consideration of the foregoing resolution and motion duly made and seconded, the
foregoing resolution was passed by the following vote:
Ayes: Commissioners Lunsford, Clayton, Yarborough, Puryear, Bowes.
Noes: None.
May 21, 2007 10
APPOINTMENT OF JCPC COUNCIL:
A motion was made by Commissioner Clayton, seconded by Commissioner Bowes and
carried to appoint David R. Carter to a two year term for a Chief Court Counselor on the
Juvenile Crime Prevention Council.
APPEARANCE BY CHAIRMAN OF THE PERSON COUNTY BOARD OF
EDUCATION:
Gordon Powell, Chairman of the Person County Board of Education appeared before the
Board in response from Commissioner Puryear relating to the laptop computer learning initiative
within the school system. He indicated that the Board of Education was unified on the initiative.
He asked that the Commissioners keep the project in the forefront in order to keep it alive.
Mr. Powell said a task force of key citizens should be appointed to give a broad
prospective. He said the effort will require much study and also funding of an unknown amount
in order to make the objective achievable.
Commissioner Puryear said this will allow Person County to have an opportunity to set a
standard for other counties. He agreed a committee should be established and asked that the
Board of Education form the committee and come back to the Board with a Commissioner
appointee.
VOTING DELEGATE TO NACO:
A motion was made by Commissioner Bowes, seconded by Commissioner Yarborough
and carried to designate Commissioner Clayton as Person County’s voting delegate to the NACo
Conference to be held in Richmond, Virginia July 14-17, 2007.
May 21, 2007 11
PRESENTATION OF MANAGER’S PROPOSED FY 2007-08 BUDGET:
May 16, 2007
MEMORANDUM
To: Person County Board of Commissioners
From: Steve D. Carpenter, County Manager
Re: Budget Message 2007-2008
Herewith is transmitted the Annual Budget for FY 2007-2008 as per the Statutory Requirement. The
budget is balanced and includes a tax rate of 70 cents. The five cents tax increase is the first in years but
is the result of a growing list of expense items that is outstripping our ability to increase revenues through
growth. This situation actually occurred last year but was “patched” with an injection of about $2.1 million
dollars in savings from the fund balance of the County. That is the equivalent of about 5 cents and that
bill comes due this year.
Last years’ budget included among other items, a large compensation increase for employees as the
result of the MAPS plan, planned debt service payments for a growing list of capital projects and a 34%
increase in Public Schools operations expenses. Those items have not gone away.
In the proposed budget, at the suggestion of the Board we are including: the new shift and employees at
EMS and an expansion in the fleet maintenance program. We have put a small compensation package
for employees in the budget, (about 2.75%) but have not made a commitment as to when or how that
would be distributed. Since the County has made the decision to pay “market prices” for labor, we did not
want to slip too far behind in this area.
Since there has been no decision by the General Assembly on Medicaid funding we are proposing a
funding of approximately $2.4 million dollars. The current Medicaid cap (the amount actually spent by the
County in 2005-06) is a little over $2 million dollars so this represents an increase of about $400,000.
Actual estimates of a full funding of our County share is around $2.6 million dollars but we expect some
relief from the State again this year and that’s why we are suggesting a funding at $2.4 million dollars.
That is a guess, but without knowing what the State might do, it’s the best guess we have.
The new positions in our budget include a position at Animal Control, a shared billing position at
EMS/Home Health, another SRO in the Sheriff’s office, a grant-funded position in Extension for the
Family Connections program, two additional telecommunicators and a production supervisor at Person
Industries.
We are proposing a very limited construction plan this year that includes about three projects including
repairs at the Kirby to the back wall which is cracked and leaking into the stage area. We also are
planning on funding the School Bus Garage, the permitting complex and the PCC roof in the next year
with debt. There is discussion going on about renovations at the Courthouse and some design is
proposed during the next year but there is no funding proposed in this budget for that construction.
Should that become a priority we will need to look into our options for financing depending on how much
work we might try to do.
This is the period that the work and the mapping are done for the next re-evaluation. That is budgeted
and the appraisers will actually be working throughout this year.
The Public Schools, the College, and the Volunteer Fire and Rescue units were all given a 3% increase.
The outside agencies that we regularly fund, the Hospital and the Museum were given a 2% increase. In
some cases, that’s a lot less than their requests, but coming off the last years’ increases, it is all we could
support. Once again some of the Schools’ capital projects are proposed to be funded with Lottery money,
May 21, 2007 12
but since we can’t really estimate accurately those amounts, we budgeted for the eligible items but may
come back and add others later in the year. For capital ineligible for funding from lottery proceeds,
$157,590 is locally funded. The PCC capital request for their new building was left unfunded in hopes
that the State money might be appropriated for that project.
With the new proposed Economic Development groups, we maintained funding for all those units (RUDC-
Chamber Small Business-our EDC) in amounts we funded them this year. We also funded the incentives
programs we have offered to Spuntech and P&A in the amount of $180,000.
There were a number of new requests for funding this year but we did not fund any of them. Among them
are Safe Haven, Family Life Enrichment Center, Roxboro Chamber of Commerce’s request for assistance
with Personality, and Roxboro Family Medical/Dental. I also had a request to increase funding for our
Veterans office and to make it a separate department. That request came in late, and is still not fully
developed but may be considered in the future.
In providing this budget with the proposed tax increase we have also proposed drawing down $382,000 of
fund balance reserved for debt service and $65,000 in the Library Fund. We also drew down significant
dollars from several Public School accounts including Public School Capital, funds residing in School
Capital Reserve accounts and other areas where we had assigned funds for future debt payments.
These changes are appropriate but moving forward with the spending of these accounts reduces our
ability to respond to unforeseen projects in the Schools. There was, except as noted above, NO use of
General Fund fund balance in this proposed budget since we had drawn that account down in the current
year budget.
A number of revenue projections have been increased from original estimates due to more recent data,
like in our sales tax estimates, and while we are still comfortable with our conservative estimates they are
a little less conservative than normal. Our Tax Supervisor was integrally involved in the whole budget
process this year and has moved his collection estimates as far as he is comfortable.
All said, this budget process is a starting point for Commissioners in your job of providing the appropriate
services to this community. At the end of the day, our citizens are willing to pay for their needs, but not
necessarily everything they want. That is what our group has tried to do: figure out what they need. Now
that duty falls to you, along with the input from citizens. Our staff stands ready to assist you in coming up
with alternatives and changes from your input.
We used a larger team this year in the preparation of the budget and they all deserve recognition for their
efforts. Andy Davenport and Amy Wehrenberg did their usual good job on managing the information and
providing the analysis for us. Amy spent additional time assisting a new team of budget experts including
Russell Jones, Beth Farabaugh and John Hill who provided an alternative budget, reviewing the same
requests that we used.
Our goal was to share the process with others that may be involved in future budgets here in Person
County and they did a really good job in their review and decision making. It was interesting to note that
actually they were a little lower in their plan from ours but basically they made the same overall decisions
that Andy, Amy and I did with the budget. What we all learned and know about this budget is that there is
little extra money floating around that can be eliminated without significant changes in services. Once
you add the EMS positions and continue the current programs, the revenues run out. Hopefully, you as
Commissioners will reach the same conclusion in time.
Good luck and we’ll be looking for your discussions and suggestions.
By consensus the Board set the date of May 29, 2007 at 6:00 p.m. for a Budget Public
Forum and the date of June 11, 2007 at 6:00 p.m. for the Budget Public Hearing.
May 21, 2007 13
May 21, 2007 14
CHAIRMAN’S REPORT:
None
MANAGER’S REPORT:
Pandemic Flu table top exercise has been conducted.
Merritt-Commons dedication to be held Thursday, May 24, 2007
COMMISSION REPORTS/COMMWENTS:
Commissioner Puryear reported that the Solid Waste Public Forum held recently at City
Hall was well attended. He suggested that solid waste education and awareness be included in
the Livability section of the strategic plan.
Commissioner Clayton reminded the Board that a public hearing will be held on May 31,
6:30 at Helena to receive comments on the reclassification of Deep Creek to outstanding water
COG Meeting – 6:00 p.m. – Convention Center – Henderson
Commissioner Yarborough – RPO –assigns a priority of roads to be built by a point
system for various criteria. Fifteen points were added if a County had an Ordinance for
preserving road right of ways. Since Person County does not have such an Ordinance, US501
dropped to #9 on priority list.
Commissioner Puryear questioned if the County has a legal obligation to belong to a
Council of Governments. County Attorney Aycock replied that counties are not required by law
to participate in a COG; however, there are some beneficial services they offer to members.
ADJOURNMENT:
A motion was made by Commissioner Bowes, seconded by Commissioner Puryear and
carried to adjourn the meeting at 11:20 a.m.
_____________________________________ ______________________________
Faye T. Fuller, CMC Johnny Myrl Lunsford
Clerk to the Board Chairman