043091RANDOLPH COUNTY
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
April 30, 1991 Minutes
The Randolph County Board of Commissioners met in special session at
7:00 p.m. on April 30, 1991, to hold public hearings on Fairgrove Fire
District annexation and on expansion of certain fire districts from 4 to
5 miles. Commissioners Frye, Davidson, Langley and Comer were present.
Commissioner Petty was absent.
Chairman Frye declared the public hearing to be in session.
Fairgrove Fire District Annexation
Neil Allen, Emergency Services Director, advised the Board that his
office had received a petition to annex territory into the Fairgrove Fire
District and that the Tax Department had verified signatures for 82% of
the resident freeholders in the affected area. Mr. Allen stated that all
legal requirements for annexation had been met and he presented an
affidavit of publication of the notice of public hearing to the Clerk to
the Board.
On motion of Langley, seconded by Comer, the Board adopted a
resolution annexing territory described therein to the Fairgrove Fire
District. Resolution is included by reference.
Expansion of Fire Districts from 4 to 5 Miles
Neil Allen stated that the Board could, after public hearing, adopt
a resolution to increase the fire tax area for fire districts from 4 to 5
road miles from the fire station. Fourteen of the 19 volunteer fire
districts have requested this expansion. Mr. Allen stated that he had
met all legal requirements for this process, which included notifying by
mail all property owners in the fifth mile that a public hearing would be
held, advertising the public hearing in a newspaper of general
circulation, and making a report, including maps of the affected area,
available for public inspection in the Clerk to the Board's office. Mr.
Allen presented to the Clerk an affidavit certifying that all
requirements had been met.
Chairman Frye opened the hearing for public comment.
Climax (142 property owners affected)
No one spoke.
Coleridge (404 property owners affected)
Bill Brower stated that he owns pasture land in the affected area
and that he doesn't think land without buildings should be taxed. He
questioned how current fire tax funds are spent by the fire department.
Chairman Frye explained that all records for tax revenues received
and spent by fire departments are public and must be made available to
the property owners of that district. He added that meetings of their
board of directors must be open meetings and that each district's annual
meeting must be advertised.
Bobby Garner, Grady Culler, and Ray Brower opposed taxing the fifth
April 30, 1991 Minutes
Page 2
mile.
Charles Teague spoke in support of the tax and listed firefighting
equipment owned and used by the Coleridge Fire Department.
Mark Hinesly, fireman, stated that at their last annual meeting,
which was advertised in 3 newspapers, there was only one resident who
attended.
Eastside (550 property owners affected)
Milton Ives, Chapel Heights Subdivision, asked why he had been
assessed a fire tax for the last several years when he is in the 5th
mile, and he asked if he could get a tax credit for the years he has
paid.
Chairman Frye advised Mr. Ives to go to the Tax Department later to
get this matter straightened out.
Roger Swain, Route 6, Asheboro, spoke in support of the tax, stating
that he had given donations to the fire department for years.
Bobby Allen, owner of a 53 -acre farm in the affected area, spoke in
support of the tax.
Franklinville (449 property owners affected)
Neil Allen advised the Board that last year at budget time some
citizens in the Franklinville Fire Tax District were dissatisfied with
the fire department. He said he had just received a petition from these
citizens requesting that a referendum be called to abolish their fire tax
district.
Mark Brower, Route 1, Franklinville, asked if dwellings and land
could be separated for purposes of taxing.
Neil Allen explained that the State Legislature controls taxing
methods and that the County Commissioners have no authority to exempt
land from taxes.
Terry Cook asked how much of a reduction he would receive on his
homeowner's insurance premium if he becomes part of the taxed district.
Neil Allen explained that all those living within 5 road miles of a
fire station are already receiving the insurance premium discount.
John Nance, Route 1, Franklinville, opposed the current fire tax
rate for Franklinville.
James Parrish, Chief of the Franklinville Fire Department, stated
that it might be possible to reduce the current fire tax rate if the
fifth mile is taken in, thereby increasing the tax base.
Julian (3 property owners affected)
No one spoke.
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Page 3
Randleman (275 property owners affected)
No one spoke.
Staley (92 property owners affected)
Patty Campbell said she is unsure which district she is in.
Neil Allen told Ms. Campbell that he would look at the printout of
affected parcels to see which district she is listed under.
Chairman Frye stated that the Board would vote on the expansion for
fire districts at their May 6 meeting.
On motion of Davidson, seconded by Langley, the Board adjourned.