Loading...
062094Randolph County Board of Commissioners June 20, 1994 Minutes The Randolph County Board of Commissioners met in special budget session at 2:00 p.m on June 20, 1994, in the Commissioners Meeting Room, 725 McDowell Road, Asheboro, NC. Commissioners Kemp, Frye, Langley, Petty, and Comer were present. Randolph County Schools Worth Hatley, Superintendent, introduced school board members present and acknowledged a group of about 65 citizens in the audience who were present to support the County Schools budget requests. He pointed out that their request in current expense is for $7,120,000, but only $6,800,000 is proposed. He said 7.2% of that is just to replace funds lost this year. He requested that the Archdale -Trinity school tax rate remain at 8.5(. Mr. Hatley discussed the rapid growth in the northern and northwestern portions of the county and the overcrowding in the schools in these areas. He said three critical projects have been identified: renovation and new construction at Coleridge; renovation and new construction at Tabernacle; and a new school in the Level Cross area which would take students from Grays Chapel, Randleman, and New Market. Mr. Hatley said it would take $2,500,000'per year for the next five years to take care of their most immediate needs. Chairman Kemp announced that the County is exploring ways to fund $10,000,000 for these three projects without a tax increase, and that they should have this worked out soon. Asheboro City Schools Dr. Bob Gordon, Superintendent, introduced board members present. He discussed needs under current expense. They are adding ROTC and a second ESL teacher; year-round school requires more air conditioning. Evening classes have been added at the high school, and the media center there is open until 9 p.m. Capital needs include air conditioning at Donna Lee Loflin and a new activity bus. Randolph Community College Dr. Larry Linker, President, discussed RCC's budget requests and said they will need an additional $1,000,000 in the next few years for construction. He informed the Board about a project RCC is working on to assist emergency agencies (fire, EMS, law enforcement, NC State Guard, etc.) in the county with certification programs and training needs. He said the State increases regulations every year and agency needs are not being met. Dr. Linker said RCC needs a specialized training facility that will include a large parking lot for driver certification, a firing range, a burn -rescue building, classroom and showers, and a BLET training course. He said he is exploring the possibility of using some of the County -owned property at the landfill. Mental Health Mazie Fleetwood, Director, presented Mental Health's budget. Major changes include the following: Willie M and Thomas S funding is up; County funding request increased by $35,000; salaries and health insurance costs are up; and there is a construction carryover of $100,000. Ms. Fleetwood also requested the County's participation in any cost -of -living increases. She reported that their Archdale office has continued to grow. Client base has grown from 63 when they 6/20/94 Minutes page 2 opened in February, 1992, to 375 currently. They have outgrown their space twice and are looking for additional space to rent. Asheboro/Randolph Chamber of Commerce George Gusler, Executive Vice President, stated that Randolph County has several tourist attractions that are not being marketed adequately. He said investments in promoting tourism give a 5-1 return. He requested $62,640 from the County for the following items: a brochure and visitors guide, magazine advertisements, billboard advertising, a digital radio transmitter, and postage. Mary Joan Pugh also spoke in support of this request. Chairman Kemp asked about the possibility of an occupancy tax to support tourism. Mr. Gusler stated that local legislation would be needed to enact an occupancy tax in Randolph County. Design Development Plans for New Jail Dudley Lacy, architect, stated that O'Brien/Atkins has completed the design development phase of the designs for the new jail. The next phase, in which more detail will be added, is construction documentation. He highlighted the components of the design and noted that they had redesigned for centralized visitation. Mr. Lacy said the project should be ready to bid by October. He said dealing with a written transition plan is the next step. This work can be contracted. Frank Willis, County Manager, noted that the County is entitled to 32 hours of service from Sedgwick James, our insurance company, for law enforcement work. This service will be used to define the jail transition coordinator's duties and the transition plan. On motion of Frye, seconded by Petty, the Board unanimously approved the design development plans as presented and authorized O'Brien/Atkins to proceed with construction documents. Underground Storage Tank Removal Contract David Townsend, Public Works Director, reported the following bids received for the removal of two underground gasoline tanks located at the current jail: Bidder Section 1 Section 2 Total Mapco 4,047.00 6,549.85 10,596.85 Stack & Associates 2,985.00 10,030.00 13,015.00 Jones & Frank 5,200.00 7,875.00 **15,100.00 Petroleum Pump & Tank 5,950.00 10,160.75 *16,110.75 G & H Oil Equipment NO BID NO BID NO BID * Error in addition on bid submitted for opening; should be $16,111.25. **Error in addition on bid submitted for opening; should be $13,075.00. Mr. Townsend stated that the County must also submit to the State a Tank Closure Report. This report includes soil testing, actual field inspections of tank removal, and written assurance that all State requirements are met. The report must be sealed by a registered geologist or professional engineer. Armstrong Geological & Engineer Services have submitted a proposal of $2,491 to perform these services. They have a wide range of experience with tank removal 6/20/94 Minutes page 3 operations and maintain a $1 million pollution liability policy. On motion of Frye, seconded by Langley, the Board unanimously awarded the tank removal contract to the low bidder, Mapco, for $10,596.85 and awarded a contract to Armstrong Geological & Engineer Services for $2,491 to provide the County a tank closure report. Resolution Authorizing Financing for Voting Equipment Mr. Willis stated that a down payment on the new voting equipment will be paid from the current budget. He said the financing for the remaining amount of the equipment will not require a public hearing or Local Government Commission approval. He reviewed all bids received for this project (see attached resolution). On motion of Langley, seconded by Petty, the Board unanimously adopted a resolution (ATTACHED) awarding an installment -purchase financing contract to Central Carolina Bank & Trust Company and authorizing the County Manager to execute the contract and any other documents relevant to the financing. Budget Discussion The Board discussed the possibility of funding the soil scientist, social worker, and desk sergeant positions requested but not proposed. They also discussed the possibility of taking the $10,000 allocated to the Arts Guild and using it for brochures for the Chamber of Commerce. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- At 6:00 p.m. the meeting was recessed until 7:30 p.m. Public Hearing - Home & Community Block Grant Funding Plan At 7:30 p.m. the meeting was reconvened. Chairman Kemp opened a public hearing on the Home & Community Block Grant Funding Plan. Candie Rudzinski introduced herself as the Executive Director for the Randolph County Senior Adults Association and Chairperson of the Randolph County Aging Services Planning Committee. Ms. Rudzinski stated that she was presenting the Home & Community Care Block Grant funding recommendation totaling $362,578 and handed out copies of DOA -731 County Funding Plan -County Services Summary. The moneys would go to the following agencies for the services specified: Randolph County Senior Adults Association ($241,273) to provide Adult Day Care, Care Management, Information and Referral/Case Assistance, General Transportation, Medical Transportation, Congregate Nutrition and Home Delivered Meals; Regional Consolidated Services ($78,823) to provide In -Home Aide Services (levels 1,2,3) and Minor Home Improvement and Repair; and Randolph County Department of Social Services ($42,482) to provide In -Home Aide Services (level 1). Programs experiencing an increase greater than 2.7% include the RCS Level 1 In -Home Aide Services and the RCSAA Congregate Nutrition Program and their Home Delivered Meals Program. RCS's increase is due to a cost -of -living increase for current staff and an increase in beginning salaries for new staff to allow RCS to be more competitive in the market and retain capable staff. The increase in both the Congregate Nutrition and the Home -Delivered Program is due to an 6/20/94 Minutes page 4 increase in direct salaries as a result of staff spending additional time in these programs, planning activities, reviewing routing schedules, recruiting volunteers and preparing reports. Chairman Kemp invited comments on the funding plan from the public. No one spoke. The public hearing was closed. On motion of Frye, seconded by Petty, the Board unanimously approved the Home & Community Care Block Grand funding recommendation of $362,578 as presented. Public Hearing — 1994-95 Budget Chairman Kemp opened the public hearing. Charles Edwards, Principal of Coleridge Elementary School, spoke in support of County funding for renovation and construction at Coleridge and told the Board how much he appreciated their efforts to work out a funding plan for this. Lisa Waisner, PTO President at Coleridge School, thanked the Commissioners for their financial support. Mike Fox, President of Tabernacle Athletic Association, thanked the Board for their financial support. No one else asked to speak. The public hearing was closed. The meeting adjourned.