) STOKES COUNTY GOVERNMENT
COUNTY OF STOKES ) DANBURY, NORTH CAROLINA
) JUNE 13, 2006
The Board of Commissioners of the
County of Stokes, State of North Carolina, met
for a
Budget Work Session to discuss the proposed 2006-07 fiscal year county budget
in
the
Commissioners’ Chambers of the Ronald Wilson Reagan Memorial Building
(Administrative
Building) located in Danbury, North Carolina on Tuesday, June 13, 2006
at 6:00
pm with the following members present:
Chairman Leon Inman
Vice-Chairman
Joe Turpin
Commissioner Sandy McHugh Commissioner
John Turpin
Commissioner
Jimmy Walker
County
Personnel in Attendance:
Clerk to
the Board/Interim County Manager Darlene Bullins
Budget
Director Dennis Thompson
Finance
Director Julia Edwards
Assistant Finance Director Lisa Lankford
GIS/Mapping Director Jake Oakley
Health Director Don Moore
Program Director Lynn Martens – Senior Services
Fire Marshal Brad Cheek
Telecommunicator Darryl Black
Sheriff Mike Joyce
District Resource Director Tony Hill
Emergency Communications Director Del Hall
Emergency Services Director Monty Stevens
DSS Director Jan Spencer
Administrative Officer Patty St. Hilaire-DSS
Other
Attendees:
Lloyd
Brown and Jonathan Young – NC Forestry-Stokes
Chairman
Harold Dillman – Stokes Fire Association
Chairman
Marvin Cavanaugh – District Soil Board
Chairman Leon Inman called the
Budget Work Session to discuss the submitted
proposed
Stokes County Fiscal Year 2006-07 Budget to order.
Commissioner Walker delivered the invocation.
Chairman Inman opened the
meeting by inviting the citizens in attendance to
join
the Board with the Pledge of Allegiance.
BUDGET WORK SESSION –
PROPOSED FISCAL YEAR 2006-07 BUDGET
Chairman
Inman welcomed those in attendance for the budget work session.
Forestry- Stokes County
Lloyd
Brown, District Forestry Service and Jonathan Young –Stokes County Ranger
discussed the following concerns
regarding the proposed 2006-07 budget:
·
State
employees-recommendation is for a 5% COLA for state employees
·
On call pay which was
initiated last year
·
Fuel cost continues to
increase
·
Truck lease
·
Requested Increase of
$2,808 for salary increases only (not including fuel cost or truck lease)
·
Requested increase with
fuel and truck $6,088
Mr. Brown presented a handout that details
statistical information regarding what the
Forestry Service does for Stokes County.
(a copy will be retained by the Clerk to the Board)
GIS/Mapping
GIS/Mapping Administrator Jake Oakley discussed the
following concerns regarding
the proposed 2006-07 budget:
·
Request the
GIS/Addressing Tech from permanent part time to permanent full time
·
Salary increase $5,002
fringe $4,336.61 totaling $9,338.61
·
Proposed Atlas/E911
booklets
o
Outside vendor
estimated cost $55,000
o
In House estimated cost
$18,528-Machine $16,028 Supplies 2,500
o
Recoup cost within
approximately 1 to 2 years. If added to
06-07 budget, revenues would need to be projected.
Administrator
Oakley reiterated the need for the increase hours for the
GIS/Addressing Tech with the new
conversion of software in Mapping, Tax Department,
and E911. Administrator Oakley submitted letters of recommendation for the
full time
position from Tax Administrator Wren
Carmichael and Information Technology Director
Dianna Fulp.
Chairman
Inman directed Administrator Oakley to submit detail information
regarding the printing of the atlas in
house versus using an outside vendor to the Clerk
for further discussion.
Health Department
Health
Director Don Moore discussed the following concerns regarding the proposed
2006-07 budget:
·
Professional staff
increase 7.5% for retention and recruitment Cost $21,192.38 including fringe
·
Office Support III
permanent part time to permanent full time $11,880.36 including fringe
·
Administrative Officer
I part time to permanent full time and would be a reclassification
o
Director Moore
requested cost $21,829.04 including fringe
o
County policy-Minimum +
6% cost $13,197.18 including fringe
·
Increase in revenue
collection up 50%
Director
Moore spoke briefly regarding the urgent need to increase nurses’ salaries
in order to retain personnel and be
competitive in the job market. Director
Moore also
discussed the start up cost of the King
Clinic, increase in environmental fees effective
July 1, 2006, increase revenue factors
along with this year’s Health Dept. proposed
budget reduces county funding.
Commissioner
McHugh requested Director Moore prepare a separate budget that
does not include the King Clinic.
Home Health Department
Health Director Don Moore discussed the following
concerns regarding the proposed
2006-07 budget:
·
Professional staff
increase 7.5% for retention and recruitment Cost $14,729.44 including fringe
·
PHN II position cost
including fringe $45,444.56 (Position assigned but not funded)
·
Laptop and Software
$40,000-Employees would enter information at site of patient and would assist
with correct coding with Medicaid and Medicare for collections of fees.
·
The revenues were
reduced for the removal of the position and equipment. If the position and equipment were added
back the home health fees would be increased.
Health
Director Moore spoke briefly regarding the new software desperately
needed to maximize coding for fees, red
flags anything that Medicare/Medicaid might
question, and decreases time spent by
nurses for documentation.
Budget
Director Dennis Thompson noted that if the PHN position was approved,
revenues would need to be increased.
Environmental Health Department
Health Director Don Moore discussed the following
concerns regarding the proposed
2006-07 budget:
·
Need and Purchase of
Truck $18,000
Director
Moore noted the new Environmental Health Specialist would start on
June 19th and should be able
to recertified by the State for Stokes County on June 30th.
King Clinic
Health
Director Don Moore discussed the following concerns regarding the
proposed 2006-07 budget:
·
Request $71,000 for
reopening the King Clinic. This amount
includes the start up funds.
Senior Services
Program Director Lynn Martens discussed the following
concerns regarding the
proposed 2006-07 budget:
·
Reclassification Office
Assistant I to Office Assistant II
o
Requested that the
position be put at minimum and 2% increase at six months at a cost of $440.76
with fringe
o
Reduce Human Resource
Aide part time hours from 1,000 to 946 with a savings of $440.76
·
Position would be a
reclassification and would be funded at minimum plus 6% at a cost of $1,539.28
·
NWPCOG Congregate Meals
and Home Delivered Meals revenues did not include the USDA funds of
$33,060. A revised copy of Senior
Services budget and revenue sheet will be provided on 06/14/06.
Program
Director Martens presented a worksheet detailing the cost for the
reclassification of an Office Assistant I
to Office Assistant II along with the duties
currently being performed by the
employee. Program Director Martens
concluded that
county funding would decrease from $202,704 to $169,644 due to the $33,000
revenue
added to the proposed budget.
Fire Marshal
Fire Marshal Brad Cheek discussed the following
concerns regarding the
proposed 2006-07 budget:
·
Fire Inspection
position
o
Budget request for 6
months at a cost including fringes $17,626.45
o
Total cost including
fringe $37,885.57 full year
o
Other cost associated
with this position totals $3,540.
·
Capital Outlay
requested Firehouse Software Maintenance and upgrade $2.075, rope rescue
equipment $1,400, PDA handheld computers $1,200
Fire
Marshal Cheek presented a detail justification for the Fire Inspector
position and requested the Board
reinstate the position into the proposed 2006-07 budget.
Fire Marshal Cheek also presented
detailed justification for the Truck 310 –Emergency
Response along with letters of
recommendation for the program from various fire
departments.
Fire Association
Chairman Harold Dillman and Secretary Daryl Black –
Stokes County Fire
Association requested the Board reinstate
the amount cut for capital equipment, training
and non-equipment.
Chairman
Dillman discussed the following concerns regarding the proposed 2006-07
budget:
·
Request reduced for
capital outlay $21,663
o
Laptop computer and
projector to be used for training for fire departments $6,000
o
Ropes and other
equipment for mountain rescue that was agree upon by the board for the
association to provide the service $14,018
o
Rescue Randy to be used
for fire and mountain training $845
o
Incident command system
$600
o
Hazardous material
suits $200.
Chairman
Dillman spoke briefly detailing the need for the equipment for the
technical rescue team created by Stokes
County.
Sheriff Department
Sheriff Mike Joyce discussed the following concerns
regarding the proposed
2006-07 budget:
·
Need for Five
Bulletproof vest $3,495
·
Discussion of SRO
officers being in the Sheriff’s Department budget
Sheriff
Joyce spoke briefly on the duties of the SRO Officer with the Board and
the need for the bulletproof vests for
officers.
District Resource Center
DRC Director Tony Hill discussed the following
concerns regarding the proposed
2006-07 budget:
·
Work program is saving
the County about $18,720 for mowing the facilities.
o
The mowing equipment
was purchase with grants and reallocated funds
o
Public works was using
about three staff position to mow the facilities
·
Request that the part
time PTR/DRC Work Program Assistant position be made permanent full time at a
cost including fringe $10,380.97
·
Reclassification of the
Office Assistant II to Office Assistant III at a cost including fringe $730.02
·
Request Miscellaneous
Contractual Services $7,800 funds for onsite substance abuse treatment.
·
Departmental Supplies,
travel, and training $582 requested
Director
Hill presented the Board with an estimated amount of time and funding
the DRC Work Program is saving Stokes
County.
Director
Hill reiterated the need for the fulltime position who supervises
community services workers and the
reclassification of the clerical position.
Natural Resources
Chairman Marvin Cavanaugh –District Soil & Water
Board - discussed the following
concerns regarding the proposed 2006-07
budget:
·
Requesting funding for
James Booth working 7.5 per week @ $15 per hour, 37.50 hours per pay period @
$450 per pay period, $5,850 per year.
·
Supervisor for the Soil
Conservation/Natural Resource Department with 2.5 employees supervising,
budget, overseeing office operations and etc
Chairman
Canavaugh reiterated the dedication and hard work Mr. Booth has
given Stokes County over the past 5 years
and has requested no pay.
Emergency Communications
Communications
Director Del Hall discussed the following concerns regarding the
proposed 2006-07 budget:
·
Two additional position
at a cost including fringe $65,831.48
o
EMD program
o
Increased call volume
·
Training and travel
$6,800 EMD training new employees and recertification
Director
Hall reiterated the need for the 2 additional positions as it associates with
the new EMD training, and the increased
call volume. Grant paid for the initial
training of
employees, any turnover will result in
EMD training to new personnel, which will be paid
by the County. Director Hall spoke briefly concerning new radio frequency
equipment
(another channel for EMS) which will be
needed in the next few years.
Emergency Medical Services
Emergency Medical Services Director Monty Stevens
discussed the following
concerns regarding the proposed 2006-07
budget:
·
EMS Station #3 Pinnacle
$250,000
·
Ambulance $115,000
·
16% increase in call
volume
Director
Stevens reiterated the urgent need for a new station due to problems
associated having four individuals in
small quarters, (eight on the premises during shift
changes), parking issues, entering and
exiting the station, one bath, and small kitchen area.
Director Stevens spoke concerning the
high mileage on the spare units and the need for
a replacement for Unit #2 which has
approximately 213,000 miles.
Social Services
DSS Director Jan Spencer discussed the following
concerns regarding the
proposed 2006-07 budget:
·
Staffing Requests (In
order of need)
o
IMC II Adult Medicaid
$29,947.76 including fringe (Federal $16,172 State $1,497 County $12,279)
o
Office Support III
$24,435.37 including fringe (Federal $13,195 State $1,222 County $10,019)
o
IMC II screener for
Food Stamps ad F&C Medicaid $29,947.76 including fringe (Federal $16,172
State $1,497 County $12,279)
o
Income Maintenance
Investigator II-Program Integrity (75%)/LIEAP worker (25%) $32,093.21 including
fringe (Federal $17,330 State $1,605 County $13,158)
·
Reclassifications
Social Worker Supervisor II to a Social Worker Supervisor III $2,397.09
including fringe (Federal 1,294 State $120 County $983)
·
Cell Phones for Child
Welfare and Adult Services
·
King Office-one
day/week
·
Foster Care-60 children
currently in care
·
MOE $301,244 (reduced
due to electing status)
·
COLA for employees
Director Spencer noted information
received from exit interviews done when
employees leave – one main reason – more pay.
Chairman
Inman noted the next budget work session is scheduled for
Wednesday, June 14, 2006.
There being no further business to come before the Board,
Chairman Inman
entertained a motion to
adjourn the budget session.
Commissioner John Turpin moved to
adjourn the budget
session. Vice Chairman Joe Turpin
seconded and the motion carried
unanimously.
_________________________ _____________________________
Darlene M. Bullins J. Leon Inman
Clerk to the Board Chairman