) STOKES COUNTY GOVERNMENT
COUNTY OF STOKES ) DANBURY, NORTH CAROLINA
) OCTOBER 15, 2007
The Board of
Commissioners of the County of Stokes, State of North Carolina, met
for a Goals Planning Session - Overview in the Commissioners’ Chambers
of the Ronald
Wilson Reagan Memorial Building (Administrative Building) located in
Danbury, North
Carolina on Monday, October 15, 2007 at 4:00 pm with the following
members present:
Chairman
J. Leon Inman
Vice-Chairman
Jimmy Walker
Commissioner Ron
Carroll
Commissioner
Ernest Lankford
Commissioner
Stanley Smith
County
Personnel in Attendance:
County
Manager K. Bryan Steen
Clerk
to the Board Darlene Bullins
Finance Director
Julia Edwards
Chairman Leon Inman called the meeting to
order.
Commissioner Lankford delivered the
invocation.
Chairman Inman opened
the meeting by inviting the citizens in attendance to
join the Board with the Pledge of Allegiance.
Goals
Planning Session - Overview
Chairman Inman
expressed his appreciation to the Board for their willingness to
meet to review the Board’s goals.
Chairman Inman requested Board members to note issues they would like
to discuss.
Commissioner Carroll noted the following:
·
Where are we going?
·
What are we going to do?
·
What are our plans?
·
Economic Development
·
Schools
·
Forsyth Technical Community College
·
County facilities and space issues
Commissioner Lankford noted the following:
·
Making sure the County has a fund balance that will
enable the county do accomplish its goals
·
Economic Development
·
Employee benefits
·
Control spending
·
County facilities and space issues – need for a
plan
Finance Director Edwards noted that the audit
is due in Raleigh by October 31, 2007
and plans are scheduled for the audit report to be delivered to the
Board of Commissioners at
the first meeting in November.
Vice Chairman Walker noted the following:
·
Economic Development
·
Schools
·
Fund Balance
·
Finding out where we are at relating to the goals –
need for a progress report
·
Would like to add county-wide internet connectivity
to the goals
·
Discussion to start planning to save valuable
farmland
·
Plans for river protection- Dan River
Commissioner Smith noted the following:
·
Reopening Southwestern Service Center which has
been opened – the need to continue to increase services at the Center
·
Health Department Services – increasing services for
the citizens of the County
·
County owned facilities – best use of county
property
·
Fund Balance
·
Location of EMS station at Sauratown Fire
Department still viable
·
Employee benefits
·
Schools- Workforce Development
·
Conclusion to the Fire Service District Funding
Agreement
Chairman Inman noted the following:
·
Echoed the sentiments of his fellow Commissioners
·
Need to evaluate the on-going goals
·
Need continuously to add to the on-going goals
Vice Chairman Walker noted that King City
Manager has made reference wanting to
start communication with the County regarding county utilities.
Fire Service
District – Funding Agreements
Chairman Inman read
correspondence received from Chairman Mike Merritt –
Stokes County Fire & Rescue Association. Chairman Inman noted the following:
·
Received a signed funding agreement from the Fire
Departments in the Service District along with a revised 8-page document
(Guidelines for Fire Commission) for the Commissioners’ approval
·
Revised Guidelines incorporates the Open Meetings
Laws
·
Funding Agreements received are not the revised
funding agreement approved by the Board of Commissioners
Chairman Inman directed County Manager Steen
to review the submitted agreements.
Commissioner Carroll noted the Open Meeting
Laws was not the only issue in
8-page document.
The Board discussed
the positive feedback being received from citizens in the County
regarding the fire service districts agreements.
Commissioner Carroll
requested that the funding for paying the Fire Commissioners be
transferred and paid from a line item in the Governing Body’s
budget. This funding should
not be allocated to the Stokes County Fire and Rescue Association, the
Board of
Commissioners created the Fire Commission.
County Manager Bryan
Steen requested the Board to indicate their desire to have a
budget amendment at the next meeting which would transfer the allocated
amount currently in
the Fire & Rescue Association budget for reimbursement to Fire
Commissioners to a line item
in the Governing Body’s budget.
The consensus of the
Board was to have the County Manager present a budget
amendment at the next meeting for the Board’s consideration.
Vice Chairman Walker
questioned what the Board needs to do to resolve the issue with
the fire departments. Vice Chairman Walker noted the valuable service
provided by these
organizations.
The Board discussed
the revisions made to the agreements, what steps to take next, and
possibly providing factual information to the public.
County Manager Steen suggested placing a
generic copy of the recently approved
revised agreements along with factual information pertaining to fire
service district funding
on the county’s website.
The consensus of the
Board was to direct the County Manager to place a generic copy
of the approved revised agreement along with factual information
regarding this matter on the
county’s website.
Commissioner Carroll
reiterated that the Board of Commissioners sets the tax rate along
with the fire tax for Stokes County.
Chairman Inman stated
that he would be willing to meet with any fire department to
discuss the issues.
Schools
Chairman Inman noted a
recent meeting with Chairperson Sonya Cox- Board of
Education, Interim Superintendent Nelson Jessup and County Manager
Bryan Steen, which was
held to start discussion for a future bond referendum.
Chairman Inman presented a request received
from Chairperson Sonya Cox- Board of
Education to the Board regarding the need to update the OrEd
Study. Interim Superintendent
Jessup had requested (on behalf of the Board of Education) if the Board
of Commissioners
would consider funding half of the cost for an update to the OrEd
Study. The cost of the update
is estimated at $6500 (County’s share $3250). The Board discussed the request from the
Board of Education regarding the funding for the update. Vice Chairman Walker noted he
would need more information regarding the update before making a
decision. It was the
consensus of the Board not to fund half of the cost ($3250) of the OrEd
Study update.
Commissioner Carroll
noted that the Board of Education should submit their list of
needs/projects and the Board would then decide what could be funded.
The Board discussed
the growth in the County not only in the King area but other
growing areas in the County.
Economic
Development
Chairman Inman noted
that the Economic Development Director would be retiring on
October 31, 2007 at which time the County Manager would assume the role
of Interim
Economic Development Director.
County Manager Steen
discussed his current role as Interim Health Director and the
time involved with that department.
Manager Steen did not have any idea how long this
interim position would last.
Vice Chairman Walker noted
the response he had received from the public regarding
the elimination of the Economic Development Director in the adoption of
the fiscal year 07-08
budget. Citizens have commented
that the County needs to stress Economic Development in
the County.
The
Board discussed the County Manager taking on another role while serving as
Interim Health Director, current Economic Development in Stokes County,
cost effective
economic development in the County, and the status of the Economic
Development
Department when Mr. Morgan retires at the end of the month.
Commissioner Smith
noted the need to look at reinstating the position as a
full time position or a contract position.
Commissioner Lankford
expressed his desire to wait until the current situation is
resolved before making a decision to reinstate the full time position.
Commissioner Carroll
noted the need to know what is being done and where we are
as far as Economic Development in Stokes County. Commissioner Carroll noted the possibility
of reinstating the Economic Development Director position as a full
time position.
Vice Chairman Walker
reiterated the need to have a full time Economic Development
Director to continue to bring Economic Development into Stokes County
to keep Stokes
County citizens from having to leave Stokes County to work and to help
the existing businesses
in the County.
County Manager Steen
further discussed his current role as Interim Health Director,
overseeing Public Works/Utilities until the new Director comes on
board, and being County
Manager.
Commissioner Carroll
noted that the projected savings of $87,000 from Medicaid
could be used to fund the position for the remainder of the fiscal
year.
The majority of the
Board requested the item be placed on the Discussion Agenda
at the October 22nd meeting.
Vice Chairman Walker
reiterated the need to have a full time Economic Development
Director to keep the County moving in the right direction, to help plan
for the future, and to
help strengthen tourism in the County.
The Board discussed
the feasibility study funded by the Water & Sewer Authority
and the Board of Commissioners.
Chairman Inman, with
full consent of the Board, directed the County Manager to
schedule Golder Associates NC, Inc. for a future board meeting for a
presentation update.
County Manager Steen
updated the Board regarding the current provider
MLP who is contracted by the Water and Sewer Authority to provide
billing services to the
County and service the water lines servicing the Germanton area. Manager Steen noted the
new Public Works Director will be on board October 22nd has
experience in water and
sewer services and should be an asset to the Water and Sewer Authority.
Vice Chairman Walker
noted another reason to reinstate the full time Economic
Development Director position - to work with the Water and Sewer
Authority to expand water
and sewer in Stokes County.
Chairman Inman suggested a possible joint
meeting with the Water and Sewer
Authority at a future date to discuss the current and future
water/sewer needs in Stokes County.
Commissioner Smith
noted the recent feasibility study should help in obtaining
grants for water and sewer projects.
Schools
Commissioner Carroll
reiterated the need for the Board of Education to present
their needs to this Board so that we can start looking at all funding
options available to the
County.
Chairman Inman noted
after receiving the results of the fiscal year 2006-07 audit in
November, the need to schedule a meeting with the Local Government
Commission (LGC) to
see where the County stands as far as consideration for holding a
future bond referendum.
The referendum could include funds for a Forsyth Technical Community
College stand-alone
campus in Stokes County.
Finance Director Julia
Edwards noted that the projected lottery revenues are not
expected to be as high as the earlier projections.
The Board discussed
the Meadows Property, which had been approved by a previous
Board as the location for a FTCC stand alone campus. Chairman Inman noted that FTCC has
discussed the possibility of conducting a feasibility study related to
a stand-alone campus in
Stokes County.
Proposed VA
CBOC Clinic
Vice Chairman Walker
noted that Crow McGee had not received information allocating
funding for a CBOC in Stokes County yet. Mr. McGee is still working on the project.
Commissioner Smith
questioned if it would be possible to place the Veterans Officer
in King at the America Legion or Southwestern Service Center one day a
week. Commissioner
Lankford noted the District Office does not recommend a satellite
office at the current time due
to having to transfer clients’ records between Danbury and King –
confidentiality of records.
Southwestern
Service Center
Interim Health
Director/Manager Bryan Steen briefed the Board on the possibility of
hiring another mid level provider in order to provide additional
services in Danbury
and King. Interim
Director/Manager Steen also noted that the Maternal Outreach workers
would be moving to Southwestern Service Center which will save time and
gasoline, and
allow workers to be able to see clients more efficiently in that area.
Interim
Director/Manager Steen stated he is currently working with health department
personnel to look at other possible options to be able to provide more
services to the citizens of
Stokes County. Interim
Director/Manager Steen stated he did not know how long he would be
serving as Interim Health Director.
Old Correction
Property located in the Meadows
County Manager Bryan
Steen updated the Board regarding the clean up work being
done at the old Prison Property in Meadows.
Animal
Control
County Manager Bryan
Steen updated the Board regarding the work being done
at the Animal Shelter, which was mandated by the State at the last
inspection. Manager Steen
noted that most of the work has been completed.
Space Issues
The Board discussed
the need for a complete facility inventory/space needs assessment
in order start working on space issues (District Attorney, Board of
Elections, etc.) in the
County.
Chairman Inman expressed appreciation to the
Board for a very productive meeting.
Adjournment
There being no further
business to come before the Board, Chairman Inman
entertained a motion to adjourn the Goals Planning Session.
Commissioner Smith moved to adjourn the Goals
Planning Session. Vice Chairman
Walker seconded and the motion carried unanimously.
_________________________ _____________________________
Darlene M.
Bullins
J. Leon Inman
Clerk to the
Board Chairman