051099May 10, 1999
The Randolph County Board of Commissioners met in special session at 6:30 p.m. in the Learning
Resources Auditorium of Randolph Community College, 629 Industrial Park Avenue, Asheboro, NC.
Commissioners Frye, Kemp, Davis, Holmes, and Mason were present. The purpose of this meeting was to
hold a public hearing to hear citizen comments concerning a proposed capital projects financing plan to sell
Certificates of Participation (COPS) to the public. COPS do not require a vote of the people because the asset
itself supports the debt.
Bids will be accepted on the projects December 15, 1999 to February 11, 2000. The proposed sale
date is March 15, 2000. Debt service for these projects will require a 3¢ tax increase, effective July 1, 1999.
Following is a summary of projects to be financed:
Randolph Community College
Emergency Training Facility 3,100,000
Randolph County
New Courthouse and renovations 10,200,000
Asheboro City Schools
Guy B. Teachey Elementary - new classrooms 2,300,000
South Asheboro Middle - new classrooms,
science lab and new media center 2,500,000
Charles W. McCrary Elementary - new classrooms
and multipurpose areas 500,000
Total Asheboro City Schools 5,300,000
Randolph County Schools
New Southwest Elementary School 9,300,000
New Archdale -Trinity Elementary School 9,500,000
New Farmer/Tabernacle Middle School 12,000,000
Archdale Elementary - renovations and expansion 3,000,000
Total Randolph County Schools 33,800,000
TOTAL PROJECTS 52,400,000
Chairman Frye explained the purpose of the meeting and how the hearing would be conducted.
Randolph Community College
Dr. Larry Linker, RCC President, explained the need for their proposed emergency training facility, to
be located at the County landfill. He said that without these funds, it would take another 6 or 7 years of
normal capital funding to pay for this project; this way, they can do it within a year.
Asheboro City Schools
Dr. Bob Gordon, Superintendent of Asheboro City Schools, introduced all their proposed projects with
transparencies projected onto a large screen. He cited population growth and aging facilities as reasons for
needing these construction and renovation projects.
Randolph County Schools
Worth Hatley, Superintendent of Randolph County Schools, highlighted their proposed projects, which
include 3 new schools and one renovation project to handle the growth in student population. He said they can
save money by using floor plans of recently built schools for the proposed new ones.
Randolph County Courthouse
Chairman Frye stated that the courthouse project, which could have been funded separately, was
included in this capital projects financing plan in order to leverage tax dollars. He explained that Certificates of
Participation (COPS) financing was chosen instead of bonds because COPS will require only a 30 tax increase,
while bonds would require a 6-7¢ increase.
Citizen Comments
Guy Troy, P.O. Box 455, Liberty, said he does not question the needs that have been presented, but he
does question raising taxes for these projects. Many people are on fixed income and can't afford a tax
increase. He asked why the increased economic development and tax base will not pay for these projects.
Chairman Frye commented that growth in the industrial and business base is the reason the Board
hasn't had to increase taxes in the last 6 years; even with the proposed increase, Randolph County would still
have one of the lowest tax rates in North Carolina, and the lowest among counties with a population over
100,000. He reminded the audience that the County has completed several major projects in recent years
without raising taxes.
Jackson Ellison, 1809 Spoons Chapel Church Road, Asheboro, said the County is wasting millions on
County vehicles, which are also being driven home needlessly and being used for personal business. He added
that this county has a lot of Mexicans who are not paying taxes but are using County services. He said he
shouldn't have to pay for RCC's project when RCC has discriminated against him as a white male by not
allowing a class to be taught on the Confederacy.
Sharon Causey, 4629 Robbins Circle, Asheboro, Advisory Board member for Tabernacle School,
advocated for a new middle school in the Tabernacle area. She expressed concerns about overcrowding,
safety, and the limited number of students who can participate in athletics.
Sue Suggs, 110 Winchester Court, Trinity, representing the PTO of Trindale, advocated for the
projects and stated her appreciation for financial support.
Amanda Hasty, 5963 Southrock Street, Seagrove, discussed overcrowding and safety issues at
Seagrove Elementary and said the need for a new school in this area is urgent.
Jeanette McBride, 476 Walnut Drive, Asheboro, reiterated comments made by Mrs. Hasty.
Fred Rutledge, Sheriff s Department, spoke on the need for an emergency training center. They have
nowhere else for driving practice and they badly need a firing range. He explained the mandated training that
law enforcement officers and others go through.
Reid Pollard, Greencastle Road, Asheboro, thanked the Board for their support of schools in years
past and said that he has seen improved performance and good management of growth in the last decade. He
said if we don't find a way to pay for these schools now, we will be going backward. He added that this is a
good time to finance because rates are low for municipal financing.
Lt. Larry Lewallen, Jr., Ramseur Police Department, advocated for the emergency training center,
stating that he is a driving instructor but has no driving facility; they also need a shooting range where
neighbors won't hear the noise, and the firemen need a practice burn building.
Bobby Allen, 408 South Main Street, Asheboro, of the Randolph County Fire Protection Association,
advocated for the new training center.
Lew Jones, 2447 Tot Hill Farm Road, Asheboro, said the schools are crowded because Randolph
County is a good place to live and more and more people continue to move here. He said mobile classrooms
do not provide the most desirable learning environment, and 3 ¢ is not much to pay for what we will get. He
said he has not needed any emergency services so far. If he does, he wants them well trained, so he supports
the training center as well.
Sharon Hughes, 6142 Jackson Creek Road, Denton, representing the Advisory Council of Farmer
School, said the Council wholeheartedly supports the proposal because all of the negative issues they discuss
are a direct result of overcrowding. She commented that as small farms are no longer profitable, large tracts of
land will continue to be sold and new construction will continue. This will result in more children in the
schools.
Stacy Federhart, Teachey PTO, warned against being shortsighted by adding only classrooms there.
John Cable, Archdale , talked about the ever growing population in the Archdale area and said the
projects would be worth 10 times the 3¢ increase.
Lisa Goth, Archdale, spoke in support of the plan.
Randy Hoover, Archdale, said he has seen the care and attention that students get from the teachers
and staff. He stated that he supports the tax increase and the County Commissioners' work.
Karen Briles, Old Highway 49, Asheboro, spoke in support of the plan.
Chairman Frye closed the public hearing and adjourned the meeting at 7:55 p.m.
Darrell L. Frye, Chairman
J. Harold Holmes
Robert O. Mason
Phil Kemp
Robert B. Davis
Alice D. Dawson, Clerk to the Board