Caldwell County BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS Lenoir, North Carolina August 4, 2014 6:00 pm Present: Absent: Staff Present: Clay Bollinger, Chairman Jeff Branch Chris Barlowe Randy T. Church Mike LaBrose None Stan Kiser, County Manager Kathy T. Greene, Clerk to the Board David S. Lackey, County Attorney Chairman Bollinger called the meeting to order and welcomed everyone. Public Comment Period There was no public participation. Regular Session Commissioner LaBrose gave the invocation and Commissioner Barlowe led the Pledge of Allegiance. Chairman Bollinger asked if there were any amendments to the August 4, 2014 agenda. Ms. Greene advised there were no amendments. Commissioner LaBrose moved to accept the agenda as presented and the vote was unanimous. Customer Service Award for Second Quarter 2014 Caldwell County Design Team member Suzanne Kymer announced county employees nominated for the Customer Service Award for the Second Quarter of 2014. Of those nominated, Ms. Kymer announced April Davis was chosen as the winner of the award. Ms. Kymer read the letter of nomination for Ms. Davis. Following, the Board of Commissioners formally presented Ms. Davis the award and extended appreciation for her service and dedication to Caldwell County and its citizens. Recognition of Retirees Fire Marshal Robbie Wilkie recognized Kenneth Hinson on his retirement from Caldwell County s EMS after more than 24 years of service. EMS Director Dino DiBernardi commended Mr. Hinson for his work and, in recognition of Mr. Hinson s service and dedication, presented him with a shadow box containing his service patch, service badge, and a gold badge. In addition, the Board of Commissioners extended appreciation to Mr. Hinson and formally presented him a retirement plaque in recognition of his service.
Public Hearing Economic Development Incentive for Menlo Worldwide Logistics EDC Chairman William Howard presented the request from Menlo Worldwide Logistics for a local jobs incentive of $12,000 (six new jobs @ $2,000). He said the company was founded in 1990 and had operated their specialist firm in Lenoir, North Carolina for seven years. He said the company provided services for several significant industries in Caldwell County and in recent years had added a variety of new customers as their fourth party logistics (4PL) business experienced growth. It was noted the company currently employed thirteen people. Mr. Howard said the company hoped to add a total of six new employees within the next year, bringing the company s total employment to nineteen. He noted the new positions would pay an average salary of $27,000 per year. Chairman Bollinger declared the public hearing open. There was no public comment; therefore, Chairman Bollinger declared the public hearing closed. Commissioner Barlowe moved to approve a local jobs incentive of $2,000.00 per job for a total of $12,000.00 to Menlo Worldwide Logistics for six new jobs. The vote was unanimous. Proclamation Child Support Awareness Month Mitchell Laws, Child Support Supervisor with the Department of Social Services, announced the Governor of North Carolina had proclaimed August as Child Support Awareness Month. Mr. Laws shared information about the Caldwell County Child Support Division s programs and work. He also reported accomplishments achieved in fiscal year 2013-2014: served 3,950 children; established 417 new child support obligations; established 258 paternities of children born out of wedlock; made 5,892 enforcement actions, i.e. show causes, income withholdings, liens on bank accounts, etc.; intercepted $451,522.77 in state and federal income tax refunds toward child support arrearages; and collected $5,825,845 in child support payments. Mr. Laws commended the 10-member staff for their work and dedication, noting they set high standards and took their jobs very seriously. Mr. Laws also commended the collaboration and assistance from community partners: Caldwell County Sheriff Department, Clerk of Court, magistrates, district attorneys, judges, Lenoir Police Department, Hudson Police Department, and Granite Falls Police Department. He said Caldwell County s Child Support Team was known as one of the best programs across the State. The Clerk read the proclamation and, upon its reading, Commissioner Branch moved to adopt same which is hereby incorporated by reference and made a part of these minutes (Exhibit A). The motion carried unanimously. Acquisition of E-911 Phone System Lucas Bentley, IT Director, formally requested approval to replace the Sentinel ECS1000 telephone system currently being utilized by the County. He said the manufacturer of the system would no longer support the equipment after April 2015 and with the direction moving towards next generation 911 utilization of text messages, emails, etc. in addition to telephone calls would require upgrading the current system as well. Mr. Bentley said funding for acquisition of a
replacement system would be entirely 911 eligible; therefore, no local funds would be required. He said he obtained quotes for a new Geo-Diverse Sentinel 4 VoIP E9-1-1 System and Wireless Communications had quoted $348,965.68, the same price quoted to Salem, Virginia for the same system. He talked about Caldwell County s ability to piggyback Salem, Virginia s quote in accordance with N.C.G.S. 143-129(g) that allows counties to piggyback quotes for other local governments for the same equipment that have been awarded a contract during the past twelve months. Mr. Bentley said the equipment had a one year warranty from date of acceptance and the costs for maintenance after the initial one-year period would also be eligible to be paid from 911 funding. Mr. Bentley informed Commissioners the new system would be co-located at both the Sheriff Office 911 Center as well as Lenoir Police Department s 911 Center as the two departments served as backup for each agency. He noted the system would work together or independently. The funds to purchase the new system were budgeted in FY2013-2014 but were not spent because the County was waiting on approval from the State. The State did approve the backup plan in June 2014. Commissioner Church moved to authorize the purchase of the new E-911 system and equipment as identified once issues raised concerning the agreement, terms and conditions had been clarified; and, to approve the following budget amendment. The motion carried unanimously. Increase 13.3000.397000 Fund Balance Appropriation $348,965.68 Increase 13.4309.451000 Equipment $348,965.68 Request for Continuation of Caldwell County as an Electing County Work First Program Grant Plan for 2016-2019 Will Wakefield with Caldwell County DSS formally requested Commissioners approval for DSS to continue Electing County status for the department s Work First Program. He said the Electing County Plan for 2016-2019 was the department s 7 th plan and he said the status gave the department flexibility to use funding among programs which benefited the County and the clients. Commissioner Church moved to formally approve the request to continue the County s designation as an electing county and approve the FY2016-2019 Electing County Plan. The vote was unanimous. Request for Approval to Hire Environmental Health Specialist Denise Michaud reported Chief Environmental Health Specialist Frank Prince s retirement would be effective February 1, 2015. Ms. Michaud said Health Department staff had been working with county administration to prepare for Mr. Prince s retirement and subsequent loss of his experience. To help with the transition, Ms. Michaud requested authorization from the Board of Commissioners to fund one of the two unfunded but existing Environmental Health positions for six months in an effort to begin recruitment and training of a qualified applicant. Commissioner LaBrose moved to approve the hire of an Environmental Health Specialist to fill one of the two existing vacancies and the associated budget amendment as follows. The motion
carried unanimously. Increase 10.9800.397000 Fund Balance Appropriation $19,370.00 Increase 10.5111.412100 Salary $14,237.00 Increase 10.5111.418100 FICA $ 1,090.00 Increase 10.5111.418200 Retirement $ 1,007.00 Increase 10.5111.418300 Health Insurance $ 2,875.00 Increase 10.5111.418400 Dental Insurance $ 138.00 Increase 10.5111.418700 Life Insurance $ 23.00 Water Purchase Contract with the City of Lenoir Chairman Bollinger reported the County had been working for nearly two years with the City of Lenoir to lower the minimum volume of water for purchase required in the agreement between Caldwell County and the City of Lenoir. Finance Officer Tony Helton reported the agreement signed in 2007 required Caldwell County to purchase a minimum of 505,672,555 gallons of potable water from the City of Lenoir. Mr. Helton said County officials hoped to renegotiate the agreement with the City of Lenoir to a more feasible minimum based on historical water volume numbers; not water that is not produced by the City or used by the County. He talked about the difference in water purchase costs of the City of Lenoir, the Town of Granite Falls, and the City of Hickory. Chairman Bollinger said the agreement was for 15 years and expired in the year 2022. Chairman Bollinger moved to respectfully deny the ten percent reduction to the water purchase contract offered by Lenoir City Council and to direct the County Manager to offer a counter proposal to amend the formula for calculating the annual payment by deleting the lowest and highest consumption years to be recalculated by averaging the remaining eight years. The vote was unanimous. Consent Agenda 1. Approval of Minutes The County Manager recommended the Board of Commissioners formally approve the minutes of the July 14, 2014 meeting as prepared and presented by the Clerk. 2. Request to Declare Library Books Surplus and Authorize Donation to Friends of the Library It was noted that the library staff identified 4,780 books, videos, and magazines that had been accumulated. Sarah Greene, Library Director, requested the items be declared surplus and donated to the Friends of the Caldwell County Public Library, a non-profit organization that supports the library system that, in turn, would sell the items valued at approximately $2,390 ($.50 each). The proceeds of the sale would be used to support the public programs and services of the library system. The County Manager recommended the Board of Commissioners declare the 4,780 books and items surplus and authorize donation of the items to the Friends of the Library for their ongoing book sales to help support program and services of the library system.
3. Caldwell County Schools Application for Use of NC Public School Lottery Funds Mr. Kiser reported the receipt of applications from Caldwell County Schools requesting the use of $395,274.99 to pay the debt serve on two outstanding QSCB loans. He recommended the Board of Commissioners approve the applications and the following budget amendment, and adopt the project budget ordinance which is hereby incorporated by reference and made a part of these minutes (Exhibit B). Increase 75.5910.334301 ADM Funds $245,374.99 Increase 75.5910.465810 ADM Funds $245,374.99 Increase 75.5910.334301 Lottery Funds $149,900.00 Increase 75.5910.465810 Lottery Funds $149,900.00 4. Rollover of Prior Year Funds to Purchase New Telephone Recording System Mr. Kiser informed Commissioners staff had requested approval to roll over funds included in last year s budget to purchase a new telephone recording system to the current year because the system was not acquired and the funds were not spent before the fiscal year ended. It was noted the action would not require any new local dollars and Mr. Kiser recommended the Board of Commissioners approve the following budget amendment necessary to proceed with the purchase this fiscal year. Increase 41.3000.397000 Fund Balance Appropriation $ 18,247.50 Increase 41.9010.451000.4310 Equipment $ 18,247.50 Increase 13.3000.397000 Fund Balance Appropriation $171,236.00 Increase 13.4309.451000 Equipment $171,236.00 Commissioner Church moved to approve the four items on the consent agenda as presented and recommended by the County Manager. The motion carried unanimously. Appointments The County Manager reported Sheila Weeks with Western Piedmont Council of Governments forwarded applications from the following individuals who wish to serve on the Regional Aging Advisory Committee. Mary Ellen Moore Georgianna Bland Karen Phoenix Commissioner Branch moved to appoint the individuals and the motion carried unanimously. Fireworks Display Permits County Attorney David Lackey reported that State of North Carolina law required county boards of commissioners to approve fireworks display permits; therefore, Commissioners could not grant authorization for the Fire Marshal to issue the permits. Mr. Lackey said he had sought opinions from colleagues and the prevailing opinion was that the approval must be made by the board itself so unless the State law was changed, approval of permits for fireworks displays in Caldwell County would have to be granted by the Caldwell County Board of Commissioners.
Closed Session At 6:57 p.m., Commissioner Church moved to go into closed session pursuant to N.C.G.S 143-318.11 (a)(6) in order to discuss a personnel matter. The motion carried unanimously. At 7:42 p.m., Commissioner Barlowe moved to leave closed session to go back into regular session and the vote was unanimous. There being no further business to conduct, Commissioner Church moved to adjourn and, by unanimous vote, Chairman Bollinger declared the meeting adjourned at 7:43 p.m.