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061520 Budget Meeting and Public HearingJune 15, 2020 Budget Meeting and Public Hearing The Randolph County Board of Commissioners met in a special budget session at 6:00 p.m. in the 1909 Randolph County Historic Courthouse Meeting Room, 145 Worth Street, Asheboro, NC. Chairman Darrell Frye, Vice -Chairman David Allen, Commissioner Kenny Kidd, Commissioner Maxton McDowell, and Commissioner Hope Haywood were present. Also present were County Manager Hal Johnson, Finance Officer Will Massie, County Attorney Ben Morgan, and Clerk to the Board Dana Crisco. Required social distancing was maintained throughout the meeting due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The meeting was livestreamed on Facebook. The meeting room capacity was limited to 50 people. Randolph Senior Adults Association (RSAA) Mark Hensley, RSAA Executive Director, thanked the Commissioners for their support of RSAA. He gave updates regarding programming, especially during the pandemic. Meal distribution began to increase even before the Stay -at -Home order from the Governor. After that, numbers of requests for meals increased much more. CARES Act money will be used to help offset that expense, but that is only one time funding. He had been trying to leverage more funding through all the sources he could. The meal distribution is valuable to the clients for a healthy meal, a wellness check, and social interaction. All of these things are for the well-being of the clients. Therefore, RSAA is requesting an increase in funding from $267,585 to $317,585. If the Board is unable to provide that increase, the number of clients served will need to be decreased. Commissioner McDowell asked what the response had been so far on his requests from other sources. Mr. Hensley said it had been positive and negative. RSAA had been able to obtain a COVID-19 grant through Timken and some municipalities were able to increase their allocations a small amount. Communities in Schools Paula Owens, Communities in Schools Executive Director, thanked the Board for their continued support. She said they are not asking for an increase. Their request remains at $70,000. Because the agency works so closely with the schools in the area, she was not sure how they would carry out their mission when the schools were closed by the Governor's Executive Order 120 for the pandemic. Communities in Schools did not shut down but instead changed their operation methods. Instead of volunteers mentoring in the schools, they became pen pals with their students. Staff packed the Backpack Pals food themselves since most organizations where shut down. The Backpack Pals food bags are normally distributed through Summer School locations. This summer, volunteers will instead deliver those directly to students. The staff used the time for professional development. They also continued to stay in touch with the students by phone, email, virtual methods, and USPS. She is concerned about upcoming revenue. She was thankful for the collaboration of both school systems with Communities in Schools. 6/15/20 Commissioner Allen asked if they would be eligible for money from the CARES Act. Ms. Owens stated that they had just received a grant for Emergency Food and Shelter. It will help with the food needs during the summer. She has applied for a lot of grants. The feedback has been positive and negative. She had not applied for a Payroll Protection Plan (PPP) loan because their payroll is small during the summer. Now that the regulations have changed, it would benefit them to apply for a PPP loan. Randolph County Tourism Development Authority (RCTDA) Amber Scarlett, Interim CEO of the RCTDA, and Amber Skeen, Director of Office Administration of the RCTDA, presented the FY 20-21 Budget. Ms. Scarlett explained the creation of the RCTDA and their involvement with the I-73/74 Visitors Centers (VC). They have fulfilled the FY 19-20 contract with the NC Department of Transportation (DOT) for the staffing and operation of the VC. The FY 20-21 contract is in place as well. She turned the presentation over to Ms. Skeen. Due to the pandemic, the main source of revenue for the RCTDA, occupancy tax, decreased exponentially. Events were cancelled and people were ordered to Stay -at -Home by the Governor. Ms. Skeen gave a breakdown of the financial reductions of personnel, operating, and marketing expenses that had been made to reduce the remainder of the FY 19-20 budget. These reductions will continue during the FY 20-21 budget. The Proposed FY 20-21 Budget was $700,000 compared to $1.1 million for FY 19-20. Chairman Frye asked if revenues would come back to a normal level for the fall Furniture Market. Ms. Scarlett said they have no way of knowing that. Randolph Arts Guild Grace Moffitt, Arts Guild Board of Directors President, and David Gaskin, Arts Guild Board of Directors Vice -President, gave updates on the operations of the Arts Guild. Like many agencies, they have lost funding and fundraising opportunities. They had hired a consultant before the pandemic and are continuing to utilize the services to overcome potential shortages. They applied for a PPP loan in the amount of $29,000 that will cover salaries and utilities. They raised $2,000 in donations from their Board. Their annual Rummage Sale was more successful than previous years even though it was by invitation only. The Arts Guild is gearing up for the Fall Festival. Two of the Arts Guild full-time employees are furloughed so they will be brought back to work on this project. This is the biggest fundraiser of the year for them. Vendors have been contacting the office to receive applications to reserve a spot. Vendors and staff are hopeful that Fall Festival will occur this year. Chairman Frye asked how many employees the Arts Guild had. Mr. Gaskins responded two to three regularly. The Director is no longer with them. The consultant is working with the Board to realign their services and staffing. Commissioner Allen commented that the PPP loan should be forgiven if the furloughed employees are brought back. Mr. Gaskin agreed. 6/15/20 Commissioner Haywood said that she has heard many organizations that want to get back to "normal." An article she had read said if everyone will take precautions against COVID-19, the faster things can get back to "normal." Family Crisis Center Dare Spicer, Executive Director, thanked the Board for their support. Her agency never closes. She explained that the Family Crisis Center serves victims of domestic abuse, sexual assault, child abuse, and human trafficking. They recently lost $80,000 of funding from a federal source. Their largest fundraiser had to be cancelled. Ms. Spicer stated decisions must be made to sustain the agency. Before COVID-19, things were already tough financially. The Archdale shelter had to be closed due to an unexpected large increase in rent. The size of the existing shelter is being increased with use of funds provided in a memorial donation. She asked the Board for increase of $34,000 from last year. Family Crisis Center has been at the same level of funding, $41,000, for the last thirteen years. Now, there are more clients to serve. There is a Child Advocacy Center (CAC) to operate. The agency needs $75,000 of funding along with an in-kind donation of volunteer hours to make a match on a federal grant. Since the State budget was never adopted last year, she does not know when State funding will be sent. She did not apply for the PPP initially because she did not want to lose other federal funding. Now, she needs the money for matching grant funds. The match shows commitment from local sources. Commissioner McDowell asked to have the match explained. Ms. Spicer clarified that one of the federal grants Family Crisis Center receives in the amount of $650,000 requires a match of $127,000. In order to meet that, she would use the requested $75,000 from the County along with an in-kind donation of volunteer hours. Chairman Frye asked what the volunteers did. Ms. Spicer said she has volunteers that are paid through an employment program (NCBA/SEE). Using these workers has saved on personnel expenses for an office assistant and two workers at the shelter. Chairman Frye inquired if there had been people at the shelter during COVID-19. Ms. Spicer responded that there were. There was an outbreak, the shelter closed and had to be cleaned, and the Family Crisis Center had to pay for hotel rooms and food for the clients that were displaced. Chairman Frye asked how the State budget not being adopted has affected their funding. Ms. Spicer said that for last year, State funding had been delayed seven months. There was a loophole that allowed one of the State funders to send the amount from the previously adopted budget. With the budget not adopted last year, the loophole can't be used for this year's funding. Chairman Frye stated that there will not be a budget to adopt this year. Ms. Spicer understood that too. Commissioner Kidd said the shelter was gone in Archdale but asked if the office was still open. Ms. Spicer stated that the programming there is still going strong. 6/15/20 Commissioner Kidd asked for an update on the Child Advocacy Center (CAC). Ms. Spicer said that over 200 children had been served. They are working on the accreditation for the Center. They are also looking for a second therapist because the case load had increased. Chairman Frye asked about the working relationship with Social Services. Ms. Spicer stated that she and Tracie Murphy, Social Services Director, and their respective agencies worked well together. Commissioner Allen inquired if the Family Crisis Center works with Sandhills Mental Health. Ms. Spicer said they do not because they were told that Sandhills was not taking any new partners. The service they use does get them reimbursements for Medicaid. Westside Fire Department Chief Recil Williamson gave an update on the status of Westside Fire Department. Volunteers are hard to get. In 2008, they were forced to hire 24-hour staff. There is equipment needing upgrading. He want to continue the level of service they give now. He thanked the Board for the informational videos during COVID-19. He said those made a difference. Commissioner McDowell commended the staff of Westside Fire Department for their work on the Cedar Grove Community Building. It looks good. Randleman Fire Department Assistant Chief Michael Smith said the Department is asking for a 3% increase on their tax rate. They have had a 25% increase in call volume, a lack of volunteers, and have equipment to upgrade and replace. They are also looking for land for a new station. He thanked the Board for their consideration. Commissioner Haywood asked where they wanted to build a new station. Assistant Chief Smith said 1/4 mile from the old station to maintain the insurance rating for citizens. It is hard to locate 3-4 acres of land in the city. Commissioner Kidd asked about staffing levels. Assistant Chief Smith stated there were twenty full-time employees and eight to ten active volunteers. Commissioner McDowell commented on the need for volunteers. Assistant Chief Smith said they would like to have more volunteers. Liberty/Northeast Fire Department Chief Matt Talbott is asking for a 3% increase on their tax rate to cover personnel expenses. He said he faces the same issues as the other departments and must now pay firefighters because they cannot get volunteers. He has four full-time and ten part-time employees and five to six active volunteers. 6/15/20 Commissioner Allen commented that he has spoken with Chief Talbott for a few years about the lack of volunteers and it has not gotten better. Chief Talbott said it is hard to find volunteers willing to get up at 3 a.m. to go on a fire call. Boys and Girls Club Gary Parks, Chairman, thanked the Board and mentioned the program has moved to the First E&R Church. He then introduced Floyd Johnson, the CEO of the Boys and Girls Club of Greater High Point. Mr. Floyd Johnson thanked the Commissioners for their continuing support of the Boys and Girls Club. He has been CEO since August 2019. They serve hundreds of children in Asheboro with the support of the Board. Their new location at First E&R Church at 221 Cliff Rd. has been an ideal location being across the street from Lindley Park Elementary School. The church leadership has been excellent to work with. The new Unit Director for this location is Caleb Hughes, a Randolph County native. He has been working on getting the summer camp opened during the Coronavirus. They are looking at ways to serve more youth in Randolph County. Chairman Frye asked how social distancing was determined. Mr. Floyd Johnson said he uses a formula from the US Boys and Girls Club to determine that. The staff is also checking temperatures, wearing masks, and spacing out the activities. Chairman Frye commented that he was on the Boys and Girls Club Board in the past. He keeps in touch with that Board and understands that there has been a lot of change. He hoped things have settled down. Mr. Floyd Johnson agreed. Commissioner Kidd asked if they used the fellowship hall and class rooms at First E&R Church. Mr. Floyd Johnson replied they use the basement, fellowship hall, and classrooms. He reiterated how great the leaders had been to work with. Proposed Randolph County Economic Development Corporation (EDC) Budget Allocation Public Hearing Kevin Franklin, President of the EDC, said they are celebrating 35 years of business. He thanked the Board for their long term support. In 35 years, $1.9 billion has been leveraged with new and expanding businesses. There have been over 12,000 jobs created. He stated they are not asking for an increase in FY 20-21 funding. Over the last twelve to eighteen months, he became president of the EDC and Crystal Gettys was hired. They have provided help and resources with the assistance of Sam Varner, Randolph County Wellness Adminstrator, to businesses for COVID-19. They have continued to work with businesses through Building Reuse Grants. The Randolph Industrial Council was created but has only met twice because of the virus. The EDC is working on product development to attract new business to the area. A Strategic Plan will be presented to their Board for approval at the Annual Meeting. At 7:38 p.m., the Chairman stated that pursuant to NCGS 158-7.1, the governing board must hold a public hearing on the proposed economic development allocation in the FY20-21 Proposed 6/15/20 Budget. All individuals who wish to address the budget must be afforded an opportunity to speak. Chairman Frye opened the Public Hearing and closed it after no one wished to speak. Proposed Budget Public Hearing At 7:39 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. Chairman Frye opened the public hearing and invited citizens to speak concerning the Proposed Budget and closed it after everyone wishing to speak had done so. Sean Walker, 2748 Eden Forest Dr., Sophia, spoke regarding the Sheriff's Proposed Budget. He said he was confused by what the Sheriff was asking for because it had changed from the initial Proposed Budget of the County Manager and Finance Officer. The Sheriff was wanting more employees but still only had forty-nine Patrol Officers. He wanted new cars but was not increasing Patrol Units. Chairman Frye explained that the new employees granted in the Proposed Budget were for the expanded Detention Center which would open in the spring of 2021. The Detention Officers must be trained before they can work in the Detention Center. The cars were not included in the Proposed Budget. Commissioner Kidd suggested putting the updated request of the Sheriff on the County website to be clear about what was requested. Chairman Frye made some comments regarding the budget. The Family Crisis Center can leverage more money with fund matches. The Proposed Budget does not have a change for school funding. There is no increase for County employees. Future sales tax revenues are an unknown. The Sheriff is an elected official but he still has to be accountable for his budget. There is no funding for a Sheriff's Garage. Commissioner Haywood pointed out that Sheriff Seabolt did have approximately $300,000 in Law Enforcement Restricted Funds that he may be able to use for new cars. Adiourn At 7:52 p.m., on motion of Allen, seconded by Haywood, the Board voted unanimously to adjourn. Darrell Frye, Chairman David Allen Kenny Kidd Maxton McDowell 6/15/20 Hope Haywood Dana Crisco, Clerk to the Board 6/15/20