070703July 7, 2003
The Randolph County Board of Commissioners met in regular session at 4:00 p.m. in the
Commissioners Meeting Room, County Office Building, 725 McDowell Road, Asheboro, NC.
Commissioners Kemp, Frye, Davis, Holmes, and Mason were present. Pastor Rebecca Brewer, Agape
Outreach Ministries, gave the invocation, and everyone recited the Pledge of Allegiance.
Recognition of Special Guest
Chairman Kemp recognized and welcomed Sam Thomas from Boy Scout Troop #513, who was
attending the meeting to fulfill a badge requirement.
Consent Agenda
On motion of Frye, seconded by Holmes, the Board voted unanimously to approve the consent
agenda as follows:
• approve regular minutes of June 2, 2003, and special meeting minutes of June 3, 9, 12, 24,
2003;
• approve resolution adding Dean View Drive to state roads system, as follows:
WHEREAS, the Department of Transportation has investigated Dean View Drive in the Cedar
View development; and
WHEREAS, the subject street has been found to meet minimum requirements for addition.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Randolph County Board of Commissioners
that Dean View Drive in the Cedar View development be added to the Division of Highways' Secondary
Road System.;
and
• reappoint Dr. Cindy Schroder, Rev. Harold Williams, Greg Patton, Pam Hill, Jonathan
Sermon, Talmadge Baker, Clark Bell, Bill McCaskill, Joe Goldston, Robbie Mason, Sandy Key,
Sheriff Litchard Hurley, and Sherry Tate to Juvenile Crime Prevention Council (2 yr. terms);
• reappoint Martha Cleek to Adult Care Home Advisory Council (3 yr. term).
Annual Report on Adult Care and Nursing Home Community Advisory Committees
Don Heermans, Regional Long Term Care Ombudsman (RLTCO)Piedmont Triad Council of
Governments, gave a report on the Randolph County Nursing Home and Adult Care Home
Community Advisory Committees. Currently the Nursing Home Committee consists of 9 volunteer
members and the Adult Care Home Committee consists of 12 volunteer members. These committees
are responsible for working to maintain the Residents' Bill of Rights, serving as the nucleus for
increased community interaction with facilities, promoting communication, education and awareness
of issues affecting institutionalized elderly and assisting persons who have grievances with the home
and facilitate the resolution of grievances at the local level whenever appropriate. The committees
make official quarterly/annual visits to facilities in order to establish rapport with residents, families,
staff and administrators, prepare quarterly reports, attend training sessions, hold regular committee
meetings, forward information and accurate documentation to the RLTCO about complaints, and
negotiate resolution of complaints with facility administrators. Last year the volunteers averaged 65
hours of service and traveled 300 miles per quarter.
Mr. Heermans thanked Alice Dawson, Adult Care Home Committee member, for her work, and
especially for her help in replacing vacancies on the committees. He also invited the Board to a
September 23rd Elder Rights Conference.
Announcement of Digital Government Award to Randolph County
Annette Crotts, Computer Services Director, announced that Randolph County has been named one
of the top ten counties in the less than 150,000 population category of the nation as best practice
models for showing how county leaders are using technology to transform government. The Center for
Digital Government, NACo, and Government Technology magazine recently surveyed the nation's
3,066 counties to determine how governments are evolving in their use of Information technology to
improve the overall delivery of services to their citizens. They were most impressed with our web
presence and its ease of use. Randolph County will be recognized, along with the other recipients, at
NACo's annual conference on July 13 in Milwaukee. Ms. Crotts recognized members of her staff as
well as other department staff who take part in the County's website development. She stated that we
received 1,852,356 hits on our website during the month of June.
Announcement of Ketner Award Winner
Ms. Crotts announced that Tom Wassack, Programmer/Analyst for Randolph County Computer
Services, has won a $1,000 Ralph W. Ketner Employee Productivity Award for his Mobile Mug Shot
System. Mr. Wassack saw the need to provide other avenues for law enforcement to access data as
they worked out in the field. His very cost effective solution was the development of a database that
could be used to download information from our Linked Information for Emergencies (L.I.F.E.) files
onto laptops. The laptops are then used mainly in public safety vehicles to assist officers in identifying
suspects or serving warrants. The system was implemented in January 2002 and has been freely shared
with other law enforcement agencies within Randolph County. An estimated 23,000 man-hours have
been saved across all the agencies over a 12 -month period by using this system.
Technology Strategic Plan Update
Ms. Crotts said that after the Commissioners' approval in January 2003, Randolph County began
its first Technology Strategic Plan. A policy team, consisting mainly of department heads, will be
providing overall management of the plan. The functional team, made up of key employees who
understand their department's role in service delivery, will be identifying areas that need attention. Not
only are we looking at services like tax billing, tax collections, land records management, payroll and
finance, but also at document imaging, hardware standards, staff training and communications between
departments and with the public. Currently, over 100 employees are working on identifying needs and
possible solutions and are compiling a list of recommendations for further review by the department
heads. Final recommendations will be rolled into the plan for presentation to the Board of
Commissioners at the end of the calendar year.
Annual Settlement Report
Ben Chavis, Tax Administrator, submitted the collection settlement reports (real and personal
property, motor vehicles, and ambulance) for FY 2002-2003, as required by G.S. 105-373. Mr. Chavis
gave a PowerPoint presentation that highlighted specific collection criteria. The collection rate for
2002-2003 was 98.94% and he commended his collection staff for their outstanding efforts, especially
during this economically challenging year. He said Medicaid and Medicare regulations are making it
more difficult to collect on ambulance bills, and our collection rates are down in that area.
Mr. Chavis discussed the discount that the County offers to citizens who pay their property tax bills
prior to a certain date each year and said that discontinuing this discount would save the County
hundreds of thousands of dollars. He also stated that tax bills would be mailed on Friday, July 11. He
mentioned that the appeal period for personal property would expire 8/11/03.
On motion of Frye, seconded by Davis, the Board unanimously accepted the following collection
settlement reports for FY 2002-2003, as presented by Mr. Chavis.
Real and Personal Property Settlement Report:
Beginning Balances:
G01 ONLY
Current Levy
52,544,032.77
Delinquent Secured
304,561.54
Delinquent Unsecured
641,981.56
Total Beginning Receivables
53,490,575.87
Additions:
101,612.02
Manual Discoveries, Public Utilities
1,908,837.66
Supplemental Billing (second billing)
762,429.02
C red its:
94.47%
Collections
53,838,155.85
Releases
751,837.47
Discounts
543,943.67
Adjustments:
-52,462,670.31
Ending Balances:
Unpaid Taxes:
Current Secured Levy
340,340.51
Current Unsecured Levy
237,947.59
Delinquent Secured
58,228.45
Delinquent Unsecured
391,389.01
Total Ending Receivables
1 1,027,905.56
Motor Vehicle Settlement Report:
Billing Month
G01 ONLY
ALL DISTRICTS
Outstanding Balance:
941,871.57
1,452,211.25
Original Billing:
5,092,472.95
8,254,411.99
Interest Charged:
67,891.66
101,612.02
Total:
6,102,236.18
9,808,235.26
NOVEMBER
94.77%NOVEMBER
94.47%
Taxes Collected:
4,998,639.17
7,721,485.41
Interest Collected:
67,891.66
101,612.02
Taxes Released:
115,459.51
196,188.05
Unpaid Taxes:
920,245.84
1,788,949.78
Total:
6,102,236.18
9,808,235.26
MONTH
MONTH
JULY
97.40%JULY
97.16%
AUGUST
96.94%AUGUST
96.69%
SEPTEMBER
96.82%SEPTEMBER
96.54%
OCTOBER
95.62% OCTOBER
95.35%
NOVEMBER
94.77%NOVEMBER
94.47%
DECEMBER
93.45% DECEMBER
92.89%
JANUARY
93.79%JANUARY
93.27%
FEBRUARY
91.77% FEBRUARY
91.42%
MARCH
91.16% MARCH
90.78%
APRIL
89.33%APRIL
89.45%
MAY
78.02% MAY
78.17%
Ambulance Settlement Report:
UNCOLLECTED AMBULANCE FEES
JULY 1,2002
2,494,606.78
AMBULANCE FEES CHARGED TO
TAX DEPARTMENT FOR COLLECTION
JULY 1, 2002 THROUGH JUNE 30,2003
171,694.00
2,516,714.16
LEGAL FEES (GARNISHMENTS, JUDGEMENTS, ETC.
285.00
2,840.00
DEBITS
0.00
127.84
OVERPAYMENTS & REFUNDS
5,429.21
16,558.34
TOTAL:
177,408.21
5,030,847.12
ALL SUMS DEPOSITED WHICH REPRESENT
AMBULANCE FEES AND LEGAL FEES
177,493.66
1,443,111.52
RELEASES (MEDICARE, MEDICAID)
68,799.00
693,868.40
UNCOLLECTED AMBULANCE FEES
-68,884.45
2,736,321.05
CREDIT
0.00
0.00
STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS
0.001
157,546.15
TOTAL:
177,408.21
5,030,847.12
Charge to Tax Collector
Chairman Kemp read the charge to collect taxes to Ben Chavis, as follows: You are hereby
authorized, empowered and commanded to collect the taxes set forth in the tax records filed in the
office of the County Assessor and in the tax receipts delivered to you, in the amounts and from the
taxpayers likewise therein set forth. Such taxes are hereby declared to be a first lien upon all real
property of the respective taxpayers in the County of Randolph and this order shall be a full and
sufficient authority to direct, require, and enable you to levy on and sell any real and personal property
of such taxpayers, for and on account thereof, in accordance with law.
Animal Control Ordinance Amendments
MiMi Cooper, Public Health Director, told the Board that due to recent problems with
communicable disease transmission from exotic animals to people in the Midwest United States, she is
suggesting that the Randolph County Animal Control Ordinance be amended to prohibit the
possession, sell or harboring of exotic mammals. Also, she would like to strengthen the ordinance to
make it clear that all officers can investigate cruelty to animals and to clarify that the withholding of
necessary veterinary care constitutes cruelty.
On motion of Mason, seconded by Holmes, the Board voted unanimously to approve the following
additions (shaded areas only) to the Randolph County Animal Control Ordinance:
Section 1. DEFINITIONS
Animal Domestic or wild mammals capable of transmitting rabies or other communicable diseases
to other animals or humans
Owner, Harborer, Possessor Any person ow
harborinz or takinz care of anv animal or who
she
Person Any individual or parentlguardiah of a minor, corporation, partnership, organization, or
institution recognized as a legal entity
Section 2. AGENCY AUTHORITY AND RESPONSIBILITY
Section 3. ANIMAL CONTROL
Section 4. RABIES CONTROL
C. Cruelty to Animals
It shall be unlawful for any person to molest, torture, torment, deprive of necessary sustenance
and shelter, cruelly beat, needlessly mutilate or kill, wound, injure, poison, abandon, deprive of
needed veterinary care or subject to conditions detrimental to its health or general welfare any
animal, or to aid and abet in such action.
Section 6. PENALTIES
3-C(6) Exotic ReptileslMammals.
Granting of Extension of Leave Without Pay
Frank Willis told the Board that on June 26, 2002, Robert Danny Keye, one of our building
inspectors, was injured on the job while conducting an inspection of a residential facility and has been
on Worker's Compensation leave since the accident. He has been undergoing physical and
rehabilitative therapy in order to return to work. Recently, he was informed that there is a need for
vision therapy in order to eliminate a problem with his equilibrium. Our personnel policy authorizes
that the County Manager, upon the recommendation and request of the supervising department head,
may grant a County employee leave without pay for a period not to exceed one year for several
permitted reasons, one being personal injury. Approximately one year ago, Mr. Willis authorized such
a request for Mr. Keye. Now, the department head has requested that Randolph County extend leave
without pay for up to six months to allow Mr. Keye the opportunity to complete the vision therapy
with expectation that he will be able to return to his normal duties as a building inspector. Since the
one-year period that Mr. Willis authorized a year ago will soon expire, he requested that the Board
approve an extension of Mr. Keye's leave without pay through December 31, 2003.
On motion of Frye, seconded by Holmes, the Board voted unanimously to approve the extension of
leave without pay for Robert Danny Keye through December 31, 2003.
Easement to Progress Energy Across Sir Robert Motel Property
Aimee Scotton, County Attorney, said that she had been contacted by Progress Energy regarding
the need for a utility easement on the Sir Robert Motel property that is currently being renovated for
use as an expansion of Asheboro High School. Since the County took title to this property in order to
secure the funding for the expansion, it is the County that must grant this easement to Progress Energy.
On motion of Mason, seconded by Davis, the Board voted unanimously to grant an easement
across the Sir Robert Motel property to Progress Energy and authorized the Chairman to sign the
easement.
Increase County Travel Mileage Reimbursement
On motion of Holmes, seconded by Frye, the Board unanimously approved an amendment to the
Randolph County Travel Policy to state that travel by privately -owned vehicles will be reimbursed at
364per mile, effective July 1, 2003.
Set September Meeting Date
The Board set Tuesday, September 2, 2003, as the date for their regular September meeting.
Tower Components Economic Development Proiect Allocation
Melissa Foust, Existing Industry Coordinator with Randolph County Economic Development
Corporation, told the Board that Tower Components, Inc. has leased their current facility on US 311
north of Randleman since 1999. They have grown from 2 to 19 employees and have outgrown their
current location. The company will expand to a new 45,000 sq. ft. facility on an 11 -acre site on Hwy
64 East in Ramseur by fall of 2003. They will invest $2.5 million in the new facility and new
equipment and will relocate existing equipment valued at $1 million, thereby creating 20 new jobs.
The site does not have access to public water or sewer and the Town of Ramseur has applied for a
Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) to fund water and sewer extension to the new facility
at a cost of $160,000. Based on estimated project costs, the grant will provide $120,000 to be matched
by $40,000 in local match funding. The Town of Ramseur has voted to allocate $28,000 of the local
match and has requested that the County provide the remaining $12,000. In addition to the stated
project costs, the cost to prepare and administer the grant is estimated at $16,000. David Townsend,
III, Randolph County Public Works Director, has agreed to perform this service for the grant allowing
all state and local funding to be used for infrastructure construction, design, and engineering. He is
advising the Town of Ramseur throughout the project to insure best use of resources as project
manager.
On motion of Frye, seconded by Holmes, the Board voted unanimously to allocate $12, 000 from
fund balance towards the requested local match for a CDBG for water and sewer infrastructure for
Tower Components, Inc. and to provide $16, 000 in in-kind services for grant administration.
Note: See related Budget Amendment #2 below.
Public Hearing Date Set On the Expenditure of Public Funds on the Randleman Economic
Development Property
Bonnie Renfro stated that in April 2000, the Randolph County Economic Development
Corporation (EDC) purchased a 48 -acre site in Randleman for development as either an industrial park
or as an industrial site. This purchase was financed by the EDC through a bank loan for $762,500, with
a credit line of up to $1 million for additional development costs. At that time, the Randolph County
Board of Commissioners voted to support this purchase by making the debt service payments on the
above -referenced loan. While Randolph County is not purchasing this property outright, it is assisting
the EDC in this purchase through the expenditure of County funds. The first and third debt service
payments of $25,797.90 and $34,571.96, respectively, were made by the EDC. The second payment of
$60,189.85 was made by the County on 9/1/01. The next scheduled payment of $29,419.79 will be
made by the County on 9/1/03. NCGS158-7.l(c) states that whenever County funds are to be expended
for the purposes outlined in NCGS158-7.l(b), a public hearing must first be held.
On motion of Mason, seconded by Davis, the Board voted unanimously to set a public hearing for
5:00 p.m. on August 4, 2003 for the expenditure of public funds on the Randleman Economic
Development Property.
Budget Amendment — Emergency Services
Jane Leonard, Deputy Finance Officer, said that Emergency Services has received a $1,262 grant
to upgrade technology in the Emergency Operations Center. This will allow the County to replace the
computer operating the EM2000 software. There is no local match required.
On motion of Holmes, seconded by Davis, the Board voted unanimously to approve Budget
Amendment #1, as follows:
GENERAL FUND - # 1
Revenues
Increase
Restricted Intergovernmental
$1,262
Appropriations
Increase
Emergency Services
$1,262
Budget Amendment — Economic Development
See Tower Components Economic Development Project Allocation, above.
On motion of Frye, seconded by Mason, the Board voted unanimously to approve Budget
Amendment #2, as follows:
GENERAL FUND - # 2
Revenues
Increase
Fund Balance Appropriated
$12,000
Appropriations
Increase
Other Economic & Physical Development Appropriations
$12, 000
At 5:45 p.m., Chairman Kemp recessed the meeting until 6:30 p.m.
Rezoning Public Hearing
At 6:30 p.m. the Board adjourned to a duly advertised public hearing to consider rezoning
requests. Hal Johnson, Planning & Zoning Director, presented the following requests, and Chairman
Kemp opened the public hearing for comments on each request and closed it before taking action on
each request.
1. WILLIAM B. FULTON, JR., Sophia, North Carolina, is requesting that 1 acre (out of 5.04 acres)
located at 9060 Hillsville Road, Trinity Township, be rezoned from RA to HC -CU. The Conditional
Use Zoning District would specifically allow the existing residence to be used for an accounting office.
The Planning Board considered this request at public meeting on June 3, 2003 and recommended
unanimously that this request be approved.
No one spoke during the public hearing.
On motion of Frye, seconded by Davis, the Board voted unanimously to approve the request of
William Fulton, Jr.
2. JIMMY TROTTER, Thomasville, North Carolina, is requesting that 3.92 acres located on Carl Lee
Drive, Tabernacle Township, be rezoned from RA to CVOM-CU. The Conditional Use Zoning
District would specifically allow the re -division of a lot within an existing subdivision into 3 lots. The
lots would allow a single -wide mobile home, double -wide mobile home, modular home, or a site -built
home. A small portion of the property is located in Davidson County. The Planning Board considered
this request at public meeting on June 3, 2003 and recommended unanimously that this request be
denied because they were afraid that the manufactured housing would establish a pattern in this area
and because no deed restrictions or covenants were included in the request.
Joe Groomes, 3252 Hannersville Rd., Lexington, spoke in opposition to the request, saying that he
lives across from the site. He's afraid that if the rezoning on these lots is approved then other members
of the Trotter family who own land surrounding the proposed site will eventually put mobile homes on
that land as well.
Patsy Groomes, 3252 Hannersville Rd., Lexington, said that the applicant was given other options
rather than single- and double-wides but wanted to keep these options. Therefore, it is obvious that he
plans to put single- and double-wides there.
On motion of Davis, seconded by Mason, the Board voted unanimously to deny the request of
Jimmy Trotter.
3. SDT DEVELOPMENT, LLC, Archdale, North Carolina, is requesting that 39.67 acres located on
Fuller Mill Road North (just past Finch Farm Road), Tabernacle Township, be rezoned from RA to
CLOE-CU. The Conditional Use Zoning District would specifically allow the development of a 40 -lot
cluster subdivision for site -built homes only. The Planning Board considered this request at public
meeting on June 3, 2003 and recommended unanimously that this request be approved.
Stan Byrd, Stan Byrd Realtors, Archdale, spoke on behalf of the developers. He said that they are
very proud of this subdivision design, especially the open space areas. He said that they were very
fortunate that the lay of the land supports the design. They don't anticipate any problems with the
septic systems due to very favorable soils testing.
Eric Black, 6651 Post Rd., said that he lives less than 50 yards away from the proposed
subdivision. He is already having problems with run-off from the site and expects it to worsen if this
land is developed. He's also concerned about the quality of the drinking water should this subdivision
be approved. He said that Randolph County would see no positive impact from these new homes since
the site is so close to Thomasville. The only impact Randolph County would see is a negative one due
to more children in our school system.
On motion of Frye, seconded by Holmes, the Board voted unanimously to approve the request of
SDT Development, LLC.
There being no further business, the Board adjourned at 7:20 p.m.
Phil Kemp, Chairman
J. Harold Holmes
Robert O. Mason
Darrell L. Frye, Vice Chairman
Robert B. Davis
Cheryl A. Ivey, Clerk to the Board