061217 BudgetJune 12, 2017
The Randolph County Board of Commissioners met at 6:00 p.m. for a special budget session
in the 1909 Randolph County Historic Courthouse Meeting Room, 145 Worth Street, Asheboro,
NC. Commissioners Allen, Frye, Haywood, Kidd, and McDowell were present. Also present
were County Manager Hal Johnson; Finance Officer Will Massie; County Attorney Ben Morgan;
Amanda Varner, Clerk to the Board; and Dana Crisco, Deputy Clerk to the Board.
Family Crisis Center
Dare Spicer, Executive Director of the Randolph County Family Crisis Center, thanked the
Board for the many years of support and the inclusion of the requested allocation. She said the
Randolph County Family Crisis Center serves people in crisis from domestic and family
violence, sexual assault and rape abuse while working to eliminate these issues in our
community. The agency has facilities in Asheboro and in the Archdale area of Randolph
County. The requested funding will be used to match funding from the Governors Crime
Commission and go towards the cost of equipment used long-term and the supplies needed for
the first years of operation of the Child Advocacy Center (CAC). It will also cover the cost of
equipment used to collect and document evidence. The target population for the CAC is child
victims of sexual assault and their non -offending caregivers in Randolph County.
The remaining match will supply traditional operating costs. Services provided at the CAC
will include trauma informed therapy for children and non -offending caregivers, case -
management, advocacy, forensic medical examinations, and forensic interviews.
Commissioner Haywood asked about the age limit of the program. Ms. Spicer replied that 17
is the age limit and that services provided will be age appropriate for each child.
Shelter of Hope
Paulette Handy, spoke on behalf of the Shelter of Hope, a homeless shelter for men that
opened in 2010. She thanked the Board for their capital funding last year to get their new
location renovated.
Asheboro Shelter of Hope & Rehabilitative Services requested $25,000 in operational funding
to continue and expand the program they have started to assist those in their shelter who have
substance abuse issues. (This funding was not included in the County Manager's Proposed
Budget.) They now have a certified substance abuse counselor who volunteers her time twice a
week for group sessions and offers counseling for individual treatment therapy with the needs to
specifically fit each person. She stated that they have seen huge changes in the men staying at the
shelter. Many are now employed or able to be.
Randolph County Senior Adults
Martha Ogburn, Executive Director Randolph County Senior Adults Association, stated that
their request of $274,800 for 2017-2018 reflects a 3% increase ($7,215) over last year's
allocation. (The County Manager's Proposed Budget recommended $267,585.) This is due to a
reduction of $10,000 in Home and Community Care Block Grant funding for the coming year to
their agency. They have asked the County and cities to help offset this so that they do not have to
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reduce service levels for home -delivered meals, congregate meals, adult day care, and human
services transportation. She stated that transportation is a huge need.
She thanked the County for the support and is grateful for all assistance.
Commissioner Frye asked if the increase was for a match or to make up the shortfall in
funding. Ms. Ogburn verified that it was to make up for State and Federal funding cuts. She
said they want to continue to provide the same services at the existing level.
Communities in Schools (CIS)
Paula Owens, Communities in Schools Executive Director, stated their request of $70,000 is
the same amount as last year of which 42% of requested funds will be used for salaries and
operations. Through reallocation of agency funds, they have increased hours for all employees
that were under 30 hours, thus increasing the direct impact of staff in the schools. The remaining
58% of the request is applied directly to programs and student needs.
They ended the school year serving 667 students through the Back Pack Program (BPP). She
stated that 90% of students served have improved or at least maintained attendance rate and
based on teacher surveys, 90% improved or maintained academic standing.
Ms. Owens said they had a successful pilot of their summer BPP last summer and will
distribute bag with food for the weekend again this summer to all of the summer school sites in
Asheboro City Schools and the regional sites in Randolph County Schools. They are
anticipating nearly 500 bags will be distributed, serving approximately 80-85 students. Due to a
large grant from the Walmart Foundation for the BPP program this year, they are able to divert
enough agency funds to fully fund the summer food program. She said the Asheboro Randolph
Chamber of Commerce Leadership Randolph Class of 2017 will shop for, pack and deliver all of
the summer food bags as their community service project. The Friends of the Public Library
have already donated about 450 books for distribution with the bags.
They currently serve about 330 students in their mentor program. She said that 75.5% are
progressing academically. This number should rise upon end of year report completion at the
state -level. She said reports from many teachers/principals/counselors state behavior has
improved in students who demonstrated behavioral difficulties in the past, but now have
mentors. The peer mentoring program (for high school mentors paired with elementary school
students) has grown this year from one school served to four schools served. Their goal is to
continue to increase the numbers of mentors/tutors in the schools. There is a high demand for
this service and many opportunities for volunteers. She said mentor programs provide an
excellent opportunity for experienced citizens to affect growth and change in their younger, less -
experienced mentees. Check and Connect is a new intervention their staff has been trained for.
It adds a weekly monitoring component to the mentor role. This service is delivered by staff to a
small case -load of students in a school. Grades, attendance, and behavior are monitored and
parents are a vital link in the intervention. They have implemented this in two schools and will
expand in 2017-18.
• Other CIS Programs:
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o Literacy—book clubs, reading buddies, reading tutors, book giveaways
o Transitions—multiple programs that target middle and high school students, keeping
them engaged and productive in school; includes Reality Store—financial literacy for
all 8t' graders
o Student Assistance—school supply drive that provides much-needed supplies to each
school in the Randolph County and Asheboro City Schools; emergency assistance for
food or clothing to school students
o Fitness—GO FAR program now in Archdale Trinity area and at Southmontrunning
club with healthy lifestyle choices curriculum, culminating in a 5K run. Over 215
students participated in the 5K this year. They want to continue to expand this program
to other schools/areas.
Ms. Owens said their mission is to surround students with a community of support,
empowering them to stay in school and achieve in life. Drop-out prevention begins at an early
age so they intervene early to serve and enhance the educational process for many at -risk
students in Randolph County. She said they do not intend to duplicate services provided by the
school or other agencies, but rather to bring needed resources and volunteers into the schools to
both enhance and support the work they are doing.
She thanked the Board for their continued support and the inclusion of the request in the
Proposed Budget. She said they would continue to be good stewards of the taxpayers' money.
Central Boys and Girls Club (CBGC)
Bo Hedrick, CEO of the Greater High Point Boys and Girls Club, thanked the Board for their
continued support. He said he has been working in Boys and Girls Clubs for 25 years and is
excited about some of the things they are going to be doing in the Asheboro location. He said the
BGC preserves childhood for many children by giving them a safe learning environment.
Holly Ferree, Vice President of Resource and Development BGC, said the Asheboro location
served 178 youth between the ages of six and eighteen during the prior year. She said one of
their challenges has been transportation issues. They have to pick up students and provide more
transportation to the club than in the past. The club is located in one of the lowest median
household income areas. She said 72% of the children live in single parent homes, 90% live in
poverty, and 90% don't use any other youth agency. Financial support allows their staff to
present after school and summer programs that are showing strong results. Through their tutor
program, 96% of the children maintained above average grades on their report cards. She added
that club members believe in giving back and volunteered 325 hours of community service. She
concluded by thanking the Board for their continued support of the Club.
Commissioner Frye said he was Chairman of the High Point Boys and Girls Club Board when
the Asheboro location was established. He stated it had been a big help in keeping kids on a
straight path and in school. "It is a great value to our community."
Randolph County Arts Guild
Grace McFetters, Executive Director Randolph County Arts Guild, extended gratitude for the
continued support of the Guild and its programs. The requested funds will be used to both cover
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basic operating expenses such as utilities and as a required match for other funding that will be
used in support of their programs. Services will include classes, camps, workshops, lectures,
performances, conferences, special events and exhibitions. All activities will be targeted to
Randolph County residents. She said they plan to expand programs into other local
communities outside of Asheboro beginning in Liberty, Randleman and Archdale.
Randolph Vocational Industries (RVI)
Michael Ayers said that they have asked for $25,000 this year. (The County Manager's
Proposed Budget includes $20,000.) He said in this current fiscal year they have placed 28
people in jobs in the community and have 35-38 clients in house. Most of these would be on
welfare or getting some type of assistance but instead, they earn a paycheck.
Mr. Ayers said many businesses experience "flat" times where production is slow and that
also affects their clients/employees. He is hopeful for some additional work for his employees
with the increase in new businesses in the area. In order to expand opportunities, invite
creativity and enrich the lives of their clients, they plan to launch a greenhouse project in hopes
to provide another source of income and work. Remaining vocationally focused, this greenhouse
will enhance the services provided by aiding their clients in the development of life skills and
encouraging them to take the initiative to prosper. The County funding would also help offset
these unexpected expenses. They plan to apply for an $8,000 grant that is available and they
have been able to raise $6,000 from a fundraiser. He said the City of Asheboro may assist with a
concrete pad for the greenhouse. They estimate the greenhouse to cost around $25,000 to
construct.
He stated that the City of Asheboro owns the building they are located in and allows the
agency to use it as an in-kind contribution from the City. They are responsible for their own
maintenance and repairs. They had to purchase an air-conditioning unit at a cost of $7,185 for
their production area.
Mr. Ayers said they also had to purchase a used delivery truck at a cost of $22,390 for their
production process this year.
Mr. Ayers asked again this year if the Commissioners would consider changes to the policy
which requires them to provide a certified audit. Instead, he suggested they accept a certified
review which would cut their costs in half. He said it would help every nonprofit making a
request to the County. It costs RVI a little over $5,000 to have a certified audit prepared. They
get funds from other sources but do not have to submit a certified audit. He did mention that a
couple of the companies they contract with also require a certified audit.
Commissioner McDowell asked about their average number of clients served and Mr. Ayers
stated that around 125 individuals a year pass through their system. Some are able to be placed
for employment with companies, depending on their ability. They have 38 full-time employees
that work at their building right now.
Climax Fire Department
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Gary McGee, Chief of Climax Fire Department, requested a .026 cent tax increase to .15 and
gave background he feels justifies the request.
He projects 1,100 calls by June 30th, stating that this will be a 28% increase from 2016 and a
151% increase from 2011. The majority of their funding goes toward staffing and capital needs.
He discussed their 10 -year capital project needs, one of which they are planning for is the
replacement of 30 -year-old trucks in 2026 and 2027. Others are things that OSHA requires
replacement of at a specific number of years.
Chief McGee said that 26.9% of their personnel actively assist on structure fires and other
calls but expects that to decline in the next few years as one third of their volunteer firefighters
are over 70 years old. The educational demands (300-400 hours to maintain certification) on
firefighters have increased and are hard on those who have other full-time jobs. Many are busy
with family as well.
He said their requested increase is solely to be proactive and financially prepared to meet the
capital and staffing challenges ahead. They anticipate having to hire additional career staff in
2020, 2021, and 2022. The increase will prevent them from using their capital reserve to meet
the growing staff needs.
Chief McGee said they cover 47 square miles and a population of approximately 10,000.
Forty of those miles are in Randolph County. He said their NC Department of Insurance Rating
(DOI) is now a six.
Commissioner Frye asked if the department carried liability insurance for their members.
Chief McGee estimated a total of all the insurances carried to be around $1,000 a year for each
member.
Chairman Allen inquired about the number of members in the department and Chief McGee
replied they have 37 volunteers, eight full-time employees, and eight part-time employees; one
24-hour employee per station per day and one eight-hour employee per day.
Ulah Fire Department
Bryan Brown spoke on behalf of the Ulah Fire Department and requested a fire tax increase
from .07 to .09 for the upcoming fiscal year. He explained expenditures they have had and will
be facing in the coming years. They have aging fire trucks; the oldest one is now 16 years old.
They are required to replace air packs based on the age of the packs and bottles in order to be in
compliance. They have purchased some refurbished ones at approximately $60,000-$70,000. To
replace each in the station with new ones would cost them around $300,000. They are in need of
an additional full-time firefighter/employee with the continued 20-25% increase in calls per year.
Health insurance for employees has increased; the department pays 100% of the premium.
Volume of calls/response increased over the previous year. Each year they cycle out certain
turnout gear and purchase new to maintain compliance. They have started a junior firefighter
program and additional gear was required. Mr. Brown said the department lost some tax base for
the properties taken in their district for the new Hwy 64 bypass.
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Commissioner Frye asked what their ISO rating is now and Mr. Brown replied that it was a
six district -wide.
Chairman Allen inquired about membership and Mr. Brown said they have 36 volunteers and
four full-time employees.
Julian Fire Department
Jeff Folwell, Chief of Julian Fire Department, is seeking a tax increase to .13 from the current
.11. He said their Board of Directors has discussed it and though they hate to burden the
taxpayers of their fire district, they feel it is necessary to maintain quality fire protection and take
steps to improve the quality of service and eventually their ISO rating. Chief Folwell said by
improving the ISO rating, the citizens will save money on their homeowners insurance. Julian
Fire was inspected in 2010 and went from a 9S to a 6, saving the homeowners up to 33% on their
insurance premiums. They hope with the tax increase, they can continue to update and maintain
their rating. He said if the ISO rating increased, the increase in insurance premiums to the
citizens could be higher than their taxes would be with the $.02 increase in the fire tax rate.
Julian Fire Department covers 14.79 square miles of Randolph County and a population of
1,329. They had 193 calls in 2016 and 99 so far in 2017. Chief Folwell said with their current
fire tax rate of .11 their revenues total $94,579 and the requested rate of .13 revenues would total
$114,080. (They serve 7.58 square miles in Guilford County.)
Chief Folwell said, like other departments, they also have had a decrease in volunteers. In the
past three years they have had only three new volunteer members. Of those three only one is
now active. He stated that since there are not a lot of businesses in their district, volunteers are
employed elsewhere and too far away to run calls when at work. They added part-time staffing in
2009 in order to have personnel to respond Monday -Friday 8 to 5. Due to the lack of response of
volunteers on the weekends, he said they now need to staff with paid employees seven days a
week. He said like other departments, recruitment and retention is another issue they face. They
are considering developing a paid -per -call program to hopefully entice volunteers to run more
calls. He said funding is also needed to build and sustain a junior firefighter program. "Young
folks are the lifeblood of the fire service."
He estimated that they are losing approximately $5,000 in tax revenue on the land that was
purchased by the County for the megasite and will continue to lose revenue until the site is
developed and has an occupant. "Although the NCRR is not tax exempt, the demolition of the
existing structures will decrease the value of their properties. In return it will decrease the
revenue collected in upcoming years." He stated that Julian Fire & Rescue is responsible for fire
protection for the site, which makes up ten percent of the district.
Chief Folwell then discussed their capital improvement plan. He said water points need to be
added throughout the district in order to meet the NC DOI standard of a water source within 1.5
miles of every structure. Water supply plays a big role in the rating process by NCDOI. The cost
for each dry hydrant location is estimated to be $2,500 to $4,000. He said firefighter safety is
number one and replacement of aging equipment is a priority. He gave a list of the needs, as
follows:
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1. A 20 -year-old tanker needs to be replaced with one of larger capacity - $325,000.
2. Turn out gear has a 10 year life span per NFPA and estimated $9,000 per year for
replacements.
3. They have 18 self-contained breathing apparatuses that are 15 years old and in need of
replacing - $7,500 each.
4. Sleeping quarters need to be added to the station in order to provide 24-hour staffing.
5. The apron in front of the bays is cracking and crumbling under the weight of the trucks
and must be replaced - $50,000.
With a continued increase in calls, the maintenance on vehicles increases. He stated that
increased call volume exhausts the volunteers that are able to respond. The fire service has
changed dramatically in the last twenty years only making it harder on the volunteer. He feels
the volunteer fire department will soon become a thing of the past.
• 2015- Total of 324 calls
• 2016- Total of 343 calls
• 2017- Averaging 31 calls a month & estimated to run around 372 calls
Chief Folwell concluded by explaining that the Julian Fire District is made up of agricultural
and residential properties with very few commercial properties. Only a few residential structures
have been built in the last five to ten years. Without growth in the district, he said they can't
generate revenue without raising their tax rate. He said they apply for grants from different
agencies but are not guaranteed to receive them. They are also requesting a rate increase in
Guilford County to stay revenue neutral due to recent property re -valuations.
Chairman Allen stated he was a taxpayer in that fire district and kept hearing about US Hwy
421 having restricted access points and asked what the department's plan was for the south side
of the district when the megasite was developed. Chief Folwell said, depending on where the
access is granted, they most likely would have to build a new station on the south side of US
Hwy 421. They have been trying to figure out where would be the best central location to
construct a main station. He said this new facility would also need to be furnished, have
equipment,and personnel.
Commissioner Haywood asked when their last increase was and Mr. Folwell believed it was
in 2014-15.
Fair Grove Fire Department
Jason Meyers, Chief of Fair Grove Fire Department, is requesting a .02 increase in taxes to
.1083 from .088. He said they were grateful to the new and expanding businesses in their area.
However, that growth has been unable to keep up with the financial demands of providing great
service to their citizens while striving to keep the financial burden on them as low as possible.
At their annual meeting on January 26, 2017, their Board and the property owners in attendance
voted unanimously to request the increase. He explained the needs and concerns of the
department to justify the requested increase.
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He stated that they were asked by the Davidson County Fire Marshal to consider bringing an
unrated area of their county into the Fair Grove fire district. To accomplish that, they purchased
land and constructed a two -bay metal building. The building fund has been completely depleted
due to this. He said their long range plans include construction of a new station at a future date
on land they already own. Their main station is in the city limits of Thomasville but they plan to
move the primary station to the more central location. Their building fund also covers any major
work done to any existing stations. In order to start replenishing this fund, they are increasing
their building fund.
Fair Grove Fire Department is now a three -station combination department. He stated with
the recent completion of a small sub -station on Lee Rd. in Davidson County and with the
certification and opening of this station, they were able to bring 99.5% of their citizens to within
five miles of a certified fire station. They were also able to expand their service district to
envelope a section of unrated area in the Noahtown Rd and Buie Bodenheimer Rd. area
(Davidson County) that adjoins Tabernacle Fire Department's service district (Randolph
County). In addition to the Randolph County Station on Welborn Rd. in Trinity, this new station
on Lee Rd. in Davidson County also strategically places additional equipment closer to Randolph
County for the Tabernacle response area. The current response from this station is dependent on
volunteers responding or paid personnel intermittently being at this station to perform equipment
checks and maintain the station.
He stated that one of the major obstacles facing their department is the recruitment and
retention of experienced part-time paid personnel. They currently staff the Cedar Lodge Rd.
station in Thomasville and Welborn Rd. station in Trinity with one Firefighter/EMT 24/7 and an
additional firefighter at both stations 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday -Friday. Chief Meyers stated they
are losing many of their experienced personnel (or witnessing a reduction in the amount of hours
they are willing to work) to neighboring departments that are paying a higher hourly wage. He
believes it is necessary to increase the current employee's hourly rate to a competitive amount as
well as raise the starting hourly rate to attract qualified new hires. Even with the proposed
increases, he said they will still fall below the starting rate of some of the neighboring
departments.
Another major concern of Fair Grove Fire Department is their aging fleet and the continued
increase in maintenance costs to keep these apparatus response -ready. They have witnessed an
increase in their call volume and expect it to only rise, partly in relation to the expansion of their
service district, as well as with population growth due to new development. Their call volume
has continued to increase, especially over the last three years, culminating with 1103 calls in
2016. This constitutes more fuel costs as well as additional wear and tear on apparatus. He said
their fleet is growing extremely old and is experiencing break downs more often. They have
three stations, each with an engine and a tanker. Their capital plan includes the purchase of a
firetruck every five years. They plan to repurpose them to tankers after they are 15 years old. At
this rate, the oldest tanker they have would be about 30 years old when it is replaced. They have
other vehicles they need to replace this upcoming year. He said they must have dependable
apparatus in order to provide the high level of medical, fire and rescue services their citizens
expect. Of the last three trucks added to their fleet, two were purchased used and one was
donated. They purchased the used trucks to fill Department of Insurance (DOI) requirements
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after Station 45 and Station 44 were completed. The City of High Point donated a used air truck
and it is housed at Station 43. Their vehicles have additional wear and tear because they assist
numerous volunteer departments along with Guil-Rand Fire Department and the City of
Thomasville Fire Department. In order to replace aging trucks at a rate to create a dependable
fleet, they have increased their budget for apparatus by $39,650.
Chief Meyers said they currently have 74 members on the roster with 21 of these members
being part-time employees as well and nine junior firefighters, ready to respond at a moment's
notice. He said due to funding, they have not done a good job of making sure firefighters are
physically capable of performing the requirements of a firefighter. He said if awarded this tax
adjustment, they plan to provide physicals to all of their interior firefighters and apparatus
drivers to ensure they are response -ready. This will assist Fair Grove in becoming more
compliant with OSHA's Respiratory Protection Standard.
The balance of the increase is distributed over all other line items including medical supplies,
insurance, radios, repairs to trucks and equipment, fuel, utilities etc.
He said they have made great efforts to supplement their tax based revenue with grants when
possible. They are awaiting word on two active AFG grants; one of which is for the purchase of
a new engine and the second is for the replacement of all fire hoses and appliances.
On August 1, 2016, they received their grading from NCDOI for ISO inspection and improved
their Protection Class Rating from a 6/9E to a 5/9E and residents of the district should see
savings in their homeowners insurance.
In conclusion, Chief Meyers said they strongly believe this is a testament of their continued
commitment to providing citizens with the best service possible. They will continue to look for
ways to enhance services and they take feedback from citizens seriously_ He thanked the Board
for continued support of the Fair Grove Fire Department and the citizens within the community.
Commissioner Frye stated that the thing to remember that hasn't been mentioned is that the
fire departments are the first responders to medical calls and most often arrive before an
ambulance and are able to begin patient care quicker.
Special Meeting for June 15th - Cancelled
Chairman Allen announced that the special meeting the Board set for Thursday, June 15th has
been cancelled because the consultants from Magellan were unable to attend. The Board wanted
to hear highlights from the study prior to budget adoption. On June 91h, the Board added item III.
Agri -Business Civic Center Feasibility Study Report—Chairman Allen, to the agenda for
tonight.
Agri -Business Civic Center Feasibility Study Report
Chairman Allen, also a member of the Randolph County Agri -Business Civic Center Planning
Committee, reviewed the feasibility study summary that was presented to the Planning
Committee.
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Magellan Strategy Group performed a feasibility study to identify the potential benefits of an
ag center on the 104 -acre site located on Hwy 64 East that the County purchased earlier in the
year. The funding for the study was provided by the Randolph County Tourism Development
Authority. Chairman Allen said that Magellan has quoted things on the conservative side.
Chairman Allen said "ag center" is used to denote a variety of different facilities: offices of
the county extension service, community centers, convention and performance centers,
agricultural event centers, or all of the above. He said some members of the Committee went
and visited several centers. Based on observations of other centers and feedback, Magellan
recommended building an agricultural center first, with traditional meeting and event space as a
complementary feature to allow for maximized flexibility of the venue. This will fulfill several
community needs for Randolph County. Magellan suggested the facility include:
• Indoor Ag Show Arena
o Approximately 65,000 square feet with a show ring measuring 120' x 240'
o Grandstand seating capacity for 2,500 with additional seating capacity on the
floor
o Concrete floor, with the ability to have a variety of coverings (dirt, turf,
carpet) for maximum versatility.
• Warm -Up Rings
o One covered/one outdoor. Both adjacent to the arena— measuring 120' x 240'
• Barns for Housing Livestock (3)
0 100 stalls each measuring 10' x 10' for each barn
o Ability to house both horses and cattle, with several wash rack stations per
barn
• Meeting and Event Space (Educational and Conference Facility)
o Approximately 7,000 square feet, divisible with moveable walls and catering
kitchen
• Office Space
o 10,000 square feet for Extension Service offices
Chairman Allen noted that they would be discussing the meeting and office space further as
neither may be adequate. The plan was to include Soil and Water and maybe other agencies in
the office space.
• Parking and RV Hookups
o Combination of paved and unpaved spaces
0 30 sites with electric and water
Chairman Allen elaborated on the reason for the sites. Horse owners often tow trailers that
house their horses and sleeping quarters for themselves.
In the third full year of operation, when the center should reach stabilized demand, the
consultant projects the arena portion will attract 65,942 guests to a total of 68 events annually.
The meeting and conference venue is projected to attract 10,775 guests to 109 events. Magellan
projects facility revenues of $351,561 by year three and expenses of $453,900 in the same year.
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Magellan claims this kind of operating loss on government-owned and operated civic facilities is
rather typical, as they are built to provide other direct and indirect benefits to the community.
They believe there may be a number of options available to enhance revenues and reduce
construction and operating expenses. It is anticipated that the proposed center will generate $2.87
million in offsite attendee expenditures. Most of this amount will be from overnight visitors to
the center.
Chairman Allen said this doesn't include potential revenues from concessions, the possibility
of naming rights, etc. He said naming rights could be at a fee of $25,000 per year. He stated that
he feels the County could break even or make money, if done right.
There are several potential significant benefits to Randolph County:
•
Agriculture—Randolph County is among the top two counties in the state for production
of beef and dairy cattle. Agriculture is a sizeable industry for the county, with nearly
1,500 farms. Randolph ranked ninth in the state overall for livestock and crop farm cash
receipts in 2015 as well as ranking among the leaders in the state for cattle, broilers,
hogs/pigs, layers, and goats. A new ag center would bolster the competitiveness of the
county's farms and further establish it as a regional agribusiness hub.
• Tourism—This sector is also big business in the County, with 2015 visitor expenditures
placing it 35th among NC's 100 counties. The center would enhance the ability to draw
new visitors and complement existing attractions by bringing an estimated 10,600
overnight visitors per year. The consultants said this is an outstanding site for an ag event
center, with 438 hotel rooms within five miles and 303 rooms within a little over a mile,
and a close location to numerous restaurants, retail stores, and an interstate highway.
Chairman Allen said other ag centers in NC are seven to fourteen miles from lodging or
food.
• Agriculture education—Randolph has a significant number of teachers and students
involved in ag education at the high school and middle school level but often lack
adequate facilities. The center would also support development of an agriculture degree
program at RCC.
•
Community—By growing agriculture in the county, farmland is preserved for future
generations and the county's natural beauty is protected. The center also provides new
dedicated meeting and conference space for a variety of functions.
• Potential operational models include local government ownership and operation by either
the County or Cooperative Extension; local government ownership with an outside
private contracted operator; operation by a local higher education institution; or non-
profit ownership and/or operation of the facility.
Chairman Allen said the construction impact alone would create 111 jobs and generate
$102,128 in tax revenue. The ag center operations would support seven local jobs (two indirect)
and have an economic impact of roughly $6,700.
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He said according to the consultants, the location was what made this site so exciting, not
only because of where the facility is located in the county but with the county being located in
the middle of the state. He said the consultant also felt the facility would dominate this type of
market in this area since there is nothing comparable.
Chairman Allen said the consultants stated at the meeting that they estimated the cost of the
project to be $8.9-$10 million, depending on the air conditioning of the arena and any changes in
size of the facility. He said he wanted to give this overview since the Commissioners have been
discussing the funding of it.
Commissioner McDowell asked how many people would 7,000 square feet of event space
hold. Chairman Allen said he was unsure but that the consultant said there was not any facility
like it in the area and it would not compete with any existing event center. He added again that a
catering kitchen is included with partitions in the event area to section off for smaller meetings.
Building Inspections Director David Bryant and Fire Marshall Erik Beard spoke up and said they
estimate a 450 person occupancy level in 7,000 square feet.
Chairman Allen asked Cooperative Extension Director Jonathan Black about the expected
attendance for state-wide events and Mr. Black said he was unsure but the feasibility study gives
the County a starting point; from here, "we can make changes to meet the needs of the County."
Chairman Allen stated that the more events held at the ag center, the more attractive it would
be. He said things like trade shows, graduations, ag events, and even concerts could be held
there.
Budget Public Hearings - Rules of Procedure
County Attorney Ben Morgan read the rules established for the budget public hearings.
Public Hearing — Appropriations for Economic Development
Chairman Allen said appropriations and an expenditure of $334,500.00 in County funds for
economic development to the Randolph County Economic Development Corporation requires a
public hearing, pursuant to Section 158-7.1 of the North Carolina General Statutes.
At 7:33 p.m., the Chairman opened the public hearing and invited citizens to speak. Hearing
no comments, Chairman Allen closed the public hearing.
Proposed Budget Public Hearing
At 7:33 p.m., the Chairman stated that pursuant to NCGS 159-12 the governing board must
hold a public hearing on the proposed budget. All individuals who wish to address the budget
must be afforded an opportunity to speak. He opened the public hearing and invited citizens to
speak concerning the Proposed Budget.
Nikki Domally, 656 Kennedy Country Rd., Asheboro, said she wanted to advocate for the
addition to Asheboro High School (AHS). She explained that she was a graduate of AHS, came
back to be a teacher, and is now the principal at Lindley Park Elementary. AHS is overcrowded
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and needs classroom space for students who are currently packed into rooms that were not built
for the numbers. She feels the programs the high schools are now offering are a benefit to
students in making decision about their future and space is needed for those as well. Ms.
Domally said she knows the value of education and wants the students to have opportunities. She
said her son will be entering kindergarten this fall. She said she is thankful, certainly as a
principal, but most of all as a mom, the Commissioners are considering this investment in the
children and the students she serves every day.
Tyler Wilhoit, 1167 Westover Terrace, Asheboro, spoke in favor of the addition to Asheboro
High School. Mr. Wilhoit is a local realtor and also a graduate of AHS. He asked the Board to
support the funding of the renovation so the construction could begin soon for AHS to have the
space needed for classrooms and programs.
At 7:38 p.m., hearing no further comments, Chairman Allen closed the public hearing.
Discussion
Chairman Allen reminded the Board that positions, systems, and equipment had been
requested from departments; schools had presented their needs, outside agencies and fire
departments had made requests. He asked if there was any additional discussion about these
requests. Hearing none, he reminded them of the June 19th meeting at 6:00 p.m. to adopt the
final budget.
Adjournment
At 7:39 p.m., on motion by Frye, seconded by McDowell, the Board adjourned.
David L. Allen, Chairman Darrell Frye
Stan Haywood
Maxton McDowell
Kenny Kidd
Amanda Varner, Clerk to the Board
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