Loading...
090391RANDOLPH COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS September 3, 1991 Minutes The Randolph County Board of Commissioners met in regular session at 2 p.m. on September 3, 1991, in the Commissioners Meeting Room, County Office Building, 707 McDowell Road, Asheboro. Commissioners Frye, Davidson, Langley, Petty and Comer were present. Invocation was given by Rev. Ethel Simmonette, Dogwood Acres Presbyterian Church, Asheboro. Approval of Minutes On motion of Petty, seconded by Langley, the minutes of the August 5 and August 20 meetings were approved. Bid Award — Street Signs Patty Sykes, Purchasing Agent, reported bids received for street signs and posts for the private road naming project. N.C. Department of Correction bid $74,950 (based on a 42" street name blade); U.S. Sign Company, Inc. bid $68,920 (based on a 36" street name blade). A price comparison was prepared based on a 36" blade, which placed the Department of Correction bid at $67,670. Ms. Sykes stated that Hal Johnson, Planning Director, has recommended that the contract be awarded to U.S. Sign Company because of excessive delays the County experienced with the Department of Correction with earlier orders. Since the street sign project is a part of the 911 project, timely delivery is crucial. On motion of Langley, seconded by Petty, the Board awarded the bid to U.S. Sign Company. Bid Award — Library Microfilm Equipment Ms. Sykes reported informal quotes received for two microfiche reader/printers and one microfilm reader/printer for the Library. This equipment will be purchased with funds from an LSCA Outreach Enrichment Grant. Southeastern Microfilm, Inc. bid $11,284; Document Technology, Inc. bid $12,520. Ms. Sykes recommended Southeastern be awarded the bid. On motion of Davidson, seconded by Langley, the Board approved Budget Amendment 115, which reflects $12,161 in Outreach Enrichment Grant funds for the Library from the N.C. Department of Cultural Resources. A copy is included by reference. On motion of Langley, seconded by Davidson, the Board awarded the bid to Southeastern Microfilm. Offer to Purchase County's Columbia Township Property Ms. Sykes advised the Board that since receiving the initial offer of $10,000 from the Riverside Gun Club to purchase County property they are currently leasing, she has received several upset bids, all of which have been duly advertised. The last bid received was $35,050 from Dallas Wolfe, Keith Carmac and Wade Jones. The time for upset bids has elapsed with no new bids being placed. On motion of Davidson, seconded by Petty, the Board adopted a resolution authorizing the sale of this property to Dallas Wolfe, Keith Carmac and Wade Jones for $35,050. A copy is included by reference. September 3, 1991 Minutes Page 2 Elderly and Handicapped Transportation Assistance Program Vicki Brower, Senior Adults Association, reported that Randolph County has been allocated $27,650 for the Elderly and Handicapped Transportation Assistance Program, which is to provide additional trips for elderly and handicapped. The Randolph County Senior Adults Association is currently offering this program with last year's allocation of $23,848. The Randolph County Transportation Steering Committee recommends that the Commissioners approve the application and that available funds be awarded to the Senior Adults Association. On motion. of Petty, seconded by Comer, the Board approved the filing of the application for these funds. Request for Part -Time Personnel Position Hal Scott, Personnel Director, requested a part-time receptionist, to be paid $5 per hour for a maximum of 25 hours per week, to be paid from the Administration budget. He stated that this position is needed because of the workload in Personnel and because of the heavy traffic coming into the Administration wing of the building. On motion of Langley, seconded by Petty, the Board approved this request. Proclamation - 4H Week On motion of Petty, seconded by Comer, the Board adopted a proclamation declaring October 6-12 as 4H Week in Randolph County. A copy is included by reference. D.O.T. Additions On motion of Petty, seconded by Langley, the Board adopted resolutions adding Mountain Brook Road, Twin Creek Drive, and South Creek Court to the State System of Roads. Copies are included by reference. Public Hearing - Installment Purchase of Landfill Land At 2:30 p.m. Chairman Frye opened a duly advertised public hearing concerning installment -purchases for additional land at the landfill. No one spoke. The public hearing was closed. Executive Session - Installment -Purchase of Landfill Land On motion of Petty, seconded by Langley, the Board voted at 2:31 to go into executive session to consider installment -purchase of property at the landfill. Resolution Authorizing Installment -Purchase of Landfill Land At 2:45 p.m. the Board reconvened regular session. Chairman Frye stated that Charles Small, whose property is listed as Option B in the resolution prepared, no longer wishes to sell his property to the County. The Jane Moore property, after survey, is 83.39 acres and the purchase price will be $125,085. On motion of Davidson, seconded by Langley, the Board adopted a resolution authorizing the installment -purchase of 71.4 acres from Edna M. Laughlin at $128,592, and 83.39 acres from Jane Marie Laughlin Moore at $125,085. A copy is included by reference. Landfill Planning Study George McArthur, Public Works Director, presented a planning study completed by Tribble & Richardson, Inc. on landfill alternatives. He highlighted various options discussed in the study and stated that a decision September 3, 1991 Minutes Page 3 should be made within the next three months so that the state permit process can begin. Tire Disposal Fees Mr. McArthur reported that the cost to dispose of scrap tires for the 91-92 fiscal year was $42,692 and that revenue for the same time period was $60,070. He recommended returning to tire dealers a portion of the $17,378 excess, based on the amount of scrap tire tax each dealer paid to the State. He specified that dealer documentation on taxes paid must be presented to Public Works before October 15, 1991. On motion of Petty, seconded by Langley, the Board voted to refund the surplus tire revenue to tire dealers. On motion of Davidson, seconded by Petty, the Board voted to operate for another year under the same basis for calculating tire fees, which is to calculate expenses and revenues and then to adjust fees to make up the shortage or to refund the surplus to tire dealers based on their documentation on the sale of new tires in Randolph County. On motion of Langley, seconded by Petty, the Board voted to reduce tire disposal fees to the following: 20C per passenger tire, 50C per truck tire, and $5 per tractor tire. Ambulance Fees Neil Allen, Emergency Services Director, stated that ambulance fees had not been raised since 1987 and that tax dollars account for 68% of the department's budget and user fees only 32%. He recommended the following fee changes: base fee from $100 to $170; return trip from $25 to $100; out -of -county mileage (per mile) from $1.50 to $3; drop the waiting time fee; and initiate an oxygen charge of $15. Mr. Allen estimated that these changes would save about $263,000 of tax dollars. Chairman Frye asked Mr. Allen to provide additional details for the Board's consideration before any decision is made. Proposed Watershed Protection Regulations This item was tabled since Hal Johnson could not be present to present it. Cabarrus County Appeal to Property Tax Commission Chairman Frye related that the North Carolina Association of County Commissioners has requested that all counties financially assist Cabarrus County in their appeal of the Property Tax Commission's ruling that the contract between Cabarrus County and Tax Management Associates was void as against public policy. This ruling was based primarily on the contingent fee nature of the contract for tax discoveries. The outcome of this appeal is very important since 23 other counties have entered into similar contracts with a private consultant. On motion of Davidson, seconded by Langley, the Board voted to pay their pro -rated share for the Cabarrus County appeal and approved Budget Amendment #6, which moves $2,664 from Contingency into the Legal Department, in order to fund this request. A copy is included by reference. September 3, 1991 Minutes Page 4 Appointment - Board of Health On motion of Langley, seconded by Petty, the Board appointed Karen Briles, R.Ph., to fill the unexpired term of Sim Cole, term expiring 12/93. Budget Amendment - CBA On motion of Langley, seconded by Petty, the Board approved Budget Amendment 117, which reflects an additional $142,566 in State funds and $1,210 from local contributions for the CBA program. A copy is included by reference. Proclamation - Hunting and Fishing Day On motion of Langley, seconded by Davidson, the Board adopted a proclamation declaring September 28 as Hunting and Fishing Day. A copy is included by reference. Executive Session - Personnel On motion of Petty, seconded by Comer, the Board voted to go into executive session at 3:50 p.m. to discuss and interview a candidate for the Library Director position. At 4:50 p.m. the Board reconvened regular session. The Board recessed until 7:00 p.m. At 7:00 p.m. the Board reconvened regular session to consider matters relating to a Law Enforcement Facilities bond referendum. Bond Order - Report from the Clerk Alice Dawson, Clerk to the Board, reported that the bond order entitled "BOND ORDER AUTHORIZING THE ISSUANCE OF $10,600,000 LAW ENFORCEMENT FACILITIES BONDS OF THE COUNTY OF RANDOLPH," which had been introduced on August 20, 1991, had been published in a qualified newspaper on August 21, 1991, with notice that the Board would hold a public hearing thereon on September 3, 1991. She also reported that the Finance Officer had filed in her office a statement of debt complying with the provisions of The Local Government Bond Act and that such statement showed the net indebtedness of the County to be 1.76% of the appraised valuation of property in the County subject to taxation. Public Hearing - Bond Order On motion of Davidson, seconded by Petty, the Board voted at 7:06 p.m. to proceed to hold a public hearing on the Law Enforcement Facilities Bond Order. Chairman Frye announced that the Board would hear anyone who wished to be heard on the questions of the validity of the Law Enforcement Facilities Bond Order and the advisability of issuing the bonds. Sheriff Litchard Hurley gave an overview of the current situation in the existing jail, including overcrowding, physical environment and non-compliance with State standards. Garland Knott questioned why inmates spend so long in jail before their cases are tried. September 3, 1991 Minutes Page 5 Alan Routh asked how a new jail would speed up trials. Ed Sower said that, in his opinion, there is nothing wrong with inmates sleeping on the floor. Charlie Hawks, retired supervisor at the Asheboro Prison Unit, supported the plans for a new jail and told the audience that the federal courts are the ones who have issued the mandates and set standards for jails and prisons. Roberta Hood asked how long the average stay is for inmates and how much rehabilitation can take place during this time period. She said she felt that if jailers ate meals in the new jail facility this would have an adverse effect on the economy of Asheboro's restaurants. She asked about renovating the existing jail. Helen Neill asked if the only solution being offered is to move the jail. Joe Trogdon, Mayor of Asheboro, stated that we must build a new jail whether we like it or not and urged everyone to vote for the bonds as the cheapest way to finance it. Ellen Gregg, attorney, stated that she has experience defending North Carolina counties in lawsuits brought by jail inmates. She said that, after visiting the Randolph County jail, she feels the County has potential risk for such lawsuits. She discussed civil rights litigation and the costly implications of the federal court taking control of building a new jail. Judge Bill Neely explained to the audience that the County Commissioners have no control over the court system backlog and that they have initiated electronic house arrest to help alleviate the overcrowded conditions at the jail. He said he is very uncomfortable with some of the people he has let out on bond but that there is not room in the jail to keep everyone who could pose a threat to society. Lyn Adams stated that the economy is too bad to take on a project of $10.6 million. He suggested building less now and adding on later. He also objected to moving the jail from downtown, stating that this would adversely affect the economy of downtown Asheboro and make it a ghost town. He asked the Board to halt current plans and do further study on siting the jail downtown. Chairman Frye stated that prisoners do not shop and that it was not the County Commissioners who developed Randolph Mall and Dixie Drive. He said that the courthouse should always be downtown. Bill O'Brien, architect for this project, stated that his firm is also designing the Bumcombe County jail, which is a high-rise facility. He addressed the additional costs and problems encountered with a high-rise vs. a single -level facility. He said the Bumcombe County jail will cost $65,000 per bed, whereas Randolph County's will be $35,000 per bed. Glen Keyes asked the Board to publish cost figures for a downtown jail vs. the south of town site. Bob Meinus agreed with the Board's decision on the jail site but thought it would be a plush facility. September 3, 1991 Minutes Page 6 Charles Willard stated that Robeson County is building a 412 -bed jail for $8 million. He said he thinks there is enough space downtown to build a jail, even a single -level one. Bob Bigler said the issue is not whether to build a jail but what to include and what will it cost. J. W. Smith stated that the real problem is the amount of crime. Wade Powell voiced concerns about increases in taxes. Delbert Ragsdale said something should be done to keep people from wanting to go to jail. Tom Ballentine stated that prisoners don't have rights. Samuel McRae asked how much had been spent on the jail so far and what the next step would be if the referendum fails. Frank Willis said $287,000 has been spent so far. Chairman Frye said that if the referendum fails the Board will have to decide whether to proceed with alternative financing or wait to be sued. Jim Smith, Asheboro Fire Chief, said that the blame belongs to the U.S. Supreme Court and that politics should not back up forward thinking. He said that articles on the jail issue discussing various options had been the papers for years and that everyone had had opportunities to give input all along. He also discussed fire hazards and evacuation problems with multi-level jails. He urged the Board to continue with their jail plans. On motion of Davidson, seconded by Langley, the Board closed the public hearing at 9:34 p.m. Decision on Jail Design Plans The Board discussed whether to continue with the current design plans or to restudy the feasibility of building a new jail at the current jail location. Bill O'Brien, architect, discussed problems in using any of the existing jail and extra costs involved with placing a jail at the current site. On motion of Davidson, seconded by Langley, the Board voted to proceed with the current design plan. Adoption of Bond Order On motion of Davidson, seconded by Petty, the Board voted to adopt without change and directed the Clerk to publish as prescribed by The Local Government Bond Act the bond entitled, "BOND ORDER AUTHORIZING THE ISSUANCE OF $10,600,000 LAW ENFORCEMENT FACILITIES BONDS OF THE COUNTY OF RANDOLPH, introduced at the meeting of the Board of Commissioners held on August 20, 1991. Adoption of Resolution Calling for Special Election On motion of Petty, seconded by Langley, the Board adopted a resolution, which the Clerk read at length, calling for a special bond referendum November 5, 1991. A copy is included by reference. Adjournment On motion of Davidson, seconded by Langley, the Board adjourned.