) STOKES
) FEBRUARY 2, 2008
The Board of
Commissioners of the
for a Board Retreat in the Commissioners’ Chambers of the Ronald Wilson
Reagan
Saturday, February 2, 2008 at 9:00 am with the following members present:
Chairman
J. Leon Inman
Vice-Chairman
Jimmy Walker
Commissioner Ron
Carroll
Commissioner
Ernest Lankford
Commissioner
Stanley Smith
County
Manager K. Bryan Steen
Clerk
to the Board Darlene Bullins
Finance
Director Julia Edwards
Chairman J. Leon Inman called the meeting to
order.
Commissioner Smith delivered the invocation.
Chairman Inman opened
the meeting by inviting the citizens in attendance to
join the Board with the Pledge of Allegiance.
GENERAL
GOVERNMENT – GOVERNING BODY – APPROVAL OF AGENDA
Chairman Inman entertained a motion to approve
or amend the February 2, 2008
agenda.
Vice Chairman Walker
requested to add Economic Development to 2008-09 County
Budget Discussion – Item VI.
The Board had no issues with adding Economic Development
to the agenda.
Vice Chairman Walker moved to approve the
agenda as amended. Commissioner
Smith seconded and the motion carried unanimously.
Opening
Remarks
Chairman Inman
expressed his appreciation to fellow board members for taking the
time to work together to set goals, to work toward those goals, and to
review those goals
periodically.
Chairman Inman
requested Board members to express items that each board member
wished to discuss at today’s meeting:
Vice Chairman
Walker
§
Education – Schools
§
Stand alone community college
§
Economic Development
§
The top three issues are in no specific order
§
Wireless internet connectivity
§
Keep taxes as low as possible
Commissioner Lankford
§
Keep property tax low – hold the line
§
Public Education
§
Improve employee morale
§
Economic Development – long term investments
Commissioner Carroll
§
Only agenda I have is the agenda approved for
today’s meeting
Commissioner Smith
§
Public Education
§
Providing the best services available
§
Providing services that are cost effective
Chairman Inman
§
Reiterated that all goals interact with each other
§
Making all the pieces fit together
§
The need to realistically develop an Economic
Development plan that can attract Economic Development to the County –
Economic
Development
The Board discussed
the following issues pertaining to Economic Development (ED):
§
The importance of Economic Development in
§
§
Creation of small businesses
§
Laying the foundation for Economic Development in a
cost effective way
§
Working to build schools, looking at water and
sewer projects,
§
Need for a feasibility study when the new ED
Director is hired
§
Need to look at agriculture businesses, home
businesses, and existing businesses
§
Need to identify the economic needs and opportunities
in this county and prioritize those needs and opportunities
§
One of the most important issues is the County must
have a plan
§
The director’s vacancy in the ED department – need
for a full time position
Economic
Development Commission (EDC)
Chairman Inman
requested members to express their expectations and role of the EDC.
Commissioner
Carroll
§
First step is to perform a needs assessment –what
does
§
Also perform a needs assessment of what is
realistic for
§
Identify what
§
The current EDC is set up as an “Advisory Board”
§
The EDC should bring information that they feel the
Board of Commissioners needs to hear – not just what the Board wants to hear
Commissioner
Lankford
§
Needs assessment for land planning – need to assess
potential areas that have not been identified
§
EDC serves as an Advisory Board to the Board of
Commissioners which will feed information to the Board of Commissioners
§
Help the Board of Commissioners to develop a
strategic plan for the County and make it work with “teamwork”
§
Appointed as an “Advisory Board” not as a separate
board – to report to the Board of the Commissioners
Commissioner Smith
§
Advisory Board to the Board of Commissioners
§
Perform needs assessment of the County’s assets
§
Use the knowledge and experience of the members of
the EDC
Vice Chairman Walker
§
Needs assessment of the areas that have potential
for Economic Development
§
Identify the needs and opportunities and establish
priorities
§
Define what sets
§
EDC should be more than an Advisory Board, it such
be exclusive of the Board of Commissioners – their job is to create and move
Economic Development forward in
§
EDC should be able to communicate with the proper
sources and try to do whatever it takes to get the job done
§
EDC should not have restrictions – the EDC should
not be made to feel that they serve the Board of Commissioners
Chairman Inman
§
Reiterated the EDC is currently set up as “Advisory
Board” – to advise the Board of Commissioners
The Board discussed the role and expectations
of the EDC, the EDC being an Advisory
Board, statutory boards, and the need to provide the EDC with what is
expected from the Board
of Commissioners.
County Manager Bryan
Steen noted the following regarding an EDC which he had
previously worked with:
§
The EDC was made up of business individuals who all
had certain capabilities such as banking, marketing, etc. who could network and
facilitate relationships that attracted new businesses
§
All decisions regarding Economic Development were
the final authority of the Board of Commissioners for policies and expenditures
related to Economic Development
§
The EDC would work with the Economic Development
Director to not only attract new businesses, but help existing businesses
expand
§
The Commissioner that was appointed by the Board of
Commissioners to serve on the EDC was automatically appointed to serve as the
Chairman of the EDC – the Chairman was the liaison between both boards
§
The members of the EDC bring knowledge to the table
Manager Steen suggested a possible mission
statement between the Stokes EDC and
Board of Commissioners. Manager Steen submitted a legal review
regarding Economic
Development Commission from
Chairman Inman
requested the Board review the legal review submitted by County
Attorney Powell for future discussion.
Vice Chairman Walker
stated that he thinks the County needs a plan to move forward
with Economic Development and the possibility of adding additional
members to the
Commission.
The Board discussed
the possibility of a joint meeting with the EDC at the next
EDC monthly meeting. The Board
would discuss a possible joint meeting at their next regular
meeting.
EDC Member Sam Hill
noted the need for the EDC to have a clear understanding of
their powers and duties so that they can get on with business.
Chairman Inman
concluded the Board was all in agreement that Economic
Development was a top priority of this Board.
Review of
County’s Current Financial Status
Finance Director Julia
Edwards presented a detailed financial report as of 01-31-2008.
Finance Director Edwards discussed the following:
§
Revenues and Expenditures
§
Ad Valoren Taxes – approximately 90.93% collected
§
EMS Fees –
approximately 80.50% collected
§
Investments – approximately 77.29% collected
§
Expenditures – 49.01% spent – on target
§
Contingency Accounts
§
Total available cash = $16,473,210.39
§
Fund Balance – currently stands in good status
Finance Director Julia Edwards noted revenues
were on target with expenditures
holding the line.
County Manager Steen noted that the County had
implemented procedures to conserve
energy.
Review of
Second Quarter Revenues/Expenditures
County Manager Bryan
Steen discussed the following regarding the second quarterly
review of revenues and expenditures:
§
Sales tax – approximately 41% for the year
§
Sheriff and Jail revenues on target
§
Investments are on target
§
EMS revenue could possibly go over budget by
$500,000
§
Health and DSS revenues are two months behind due
to state reimbursement
§
King Clinic revenue under budget due to the
fluctuation of providers and the opening of the new pediatric clinic (private
practice) in King that accepts Medicaid (Interim Health Department Director
Braswell has been notified of the issue)
§
Home Health – revenue under budget due to competing
with private providers and the vacant Public Health Nurse position
§
Quarterly review resulted in reverting back the
following to the General Fund:
o
Elections = $50,239
o
Information Technology = $20,897
o
Cooperative Extension = $29,000
o
Stokes Reynolds Hospital - $106,110
o
Contingency balance remains at $127,587
o
Personnel Contingency balance remains at $114,593
o
Approximately $450,000 that can be reverted back to
fund balance if not needed before June 30, 2008
§
Investments in North Carolina Capital Management
Trust is currently yielding 4.32% with loans for possible capital needs at
2.93% and 2.75%
Vice Chairman
Walker suggested looking into selling the older cars for smaller compact
cars that are more fuel efficient with possibly building this into the
upcoming budget.
Upcoming
2008-09 County Budget – Discussion
County Manager Bryan
Steen discussed the following special projects:
§
Parking Lot – Government Center
§
Parking Lot – Danbury Library
§
Parking Lot – Walnut Cove EMS Station
§
Roof – Government Center
§
Roof – Communications Building
§
Roof (Ice Guards)– Booth Mountain Building
§
New EMS Station – Pinnacle area
§
Potential of completing the third floor of the
Administrative Building
§
Smaller projects
·
Space for District Attorney
·
Courtroom “C”
·
Animal Control –additional space
The Board discussed the special projects
presented by Manager Steen and the need for
a new EMS facility for the two units based in the Pinnacle area.
Chairman Inman suggested the Manager
prioritize the special projects with cost
estimates for the upcoming budget year and for future budgets.
Manager Steen requested
if the Board had any special projects that needed to be added
to the list.
Vice Chairman Walker noted the need to add the
following to special projects:
§
Assessment of the pavement at the Greenbox sites
§
Increasing the availability of high speed Internet
connectivity in the county
§
Market job classification salary study
Commissioners Lankford and Carroll both noted
that the new salary pay plan needs to
be in place at least a year before implementing a market job
classification salary study.
Commissioner Smith
noted that a market job classification salary study be done before
too long.
Manager Steen noted
possibly looking at a study in March/April in 2009 with
implementation in the 2009-10 budget.
Chairman Inman noted
the importance of keeping our salaries as competitive as
possible, but that must be balanced with all the other county needs.
Vice Chairman Walker
agreed with Chairman Inman’s thoughts regarding keeping
salaries as competitive as possible, but balancing the county needs.
Commissioner Carroll
noted the need to possibly adjust the salary schedule across the
board by at least 1%.
Commissioner Lankford
noted the need to seriously consider funding a market study
in March/April 2009 with implementation in the 2009-10 budget.
The Board discussed
Commissioner Carroll’s suggestion of adjusting the salary
schedule across the board by at least 1%.
County Manager Steen
requested guidance from the Board regarding the tax rate for
upcoming fiscal year 2008-09.
Vice
Chairman Walker
§
Keep tax rate the same for this budget year
Commissioner
Smith
§
Ready to build a school – not ready to put a number
on the tax rate
Commissioner
Lankford
§
Keep tax rate low
Commissioner
Carroll
§
Need to start setting aside as much as possible for
schools, the more in bank, the less there is borrow – can’t build schools without a tax increase
Chairman
Inman
§
Uncertain at this time with the need to have an
analysis from the financial advisor
The Board discussed
the Hold Harmless Funding, 2009 Revaluation, growth in real
assessed value, financing options for schools, debt service, need to
review the Board of
Education’s priority list for capital projects, and the need to hire a
financial advisor.
The Board discussed
cost estimates for completion of third floor.
Chairman Inman
directed Manager Steen to return cost estimates for the third floor
completion of the Administrative Building at the next meeting.
Commissioner Lankford noted the need to
explore every possible grant available.
Vice Chairman Walker
noted the need to continue to explore regionalism with utilities
and possibly talk with Pilot Mountain-Surry County regarding water.
Vice Chairman Walker
also noted the need to develop a suggestion system where
employees could suggest cost savings ideas, which would save the county
funding. Employees
could possibly receive some of the savings.
Review of
2007 Goals
County Manager Bryan
Steen discussed the following 2007 Goals with the Board:
§
User Friendlier Department
o
Have not had any serious complaints
§
Recreation
o
Survey recently completed by YMCA
§
Legal
o
More economical for contracting with attorney
versus a full time attorney
o
Board agreed the county attorney should only attend
Board meetings
when needed
§
County Manager
o
Hired a manager in April 2007
§
Economic Development
o
Economic Development currently in transition
o
New Public Works Director brings valuable knowledge
regarding water systems
o
Vice Chairman Walker noted the need to have the
final feasibility study from Golder and Associates, the need to secure grants
that are available for infrastructure, and the need to continue to investigate
regionalism for utilities
§
Stokes Reynolds Hospital
o
Continues to decrease losses
§
CBOC
o
Commissioner Lankford noted that the CBOC Project
is still ongoing
§
Health Services Alliance
o
Vice Chairman Walker noted the Alliance continues
to have a presence
in the County seeking various ways to make
health services in Stokes County better
§
Mental Health
o
Interviews with candidates for the Mental Health
Coordinator will start next week
§
EMS
o
Presented information from EMS Director regarding
EMS stations in Fire Departments, evaluation of current EMS stations,
convalescent calls in Stokes County, history of EMS collections and evaluation
of vehicle needs
§
Tourism
o
EDC related activity
o
Need for a motel/conference center in the area
§
District Plan for Electing Commissioners and School
Board Members
o
Should hear back by April 1st from the
committee
§
Schools
o
Previous meeting with a Board of Education
o
Need for a financial advisor
§
Compensatory Time/Holiday Time/Vacation Time Payoff
o
Advised department heads to closely monitor comp.
time and reduce the current employees’ balances
§
Community College
o
Need for a timeline on the Environmental Study and
Feasibility Study
o
Request from Director Ann Watts-FTC for a possible
Task Force – discussion to continue at the next regular meeting
o
Vice Chairman Walker noted the need to keep the
process moving to have a stand alone campus
o
Commissioner Smith noted the need to see documentation
that supports a community college that will provide a two year degree transfer
program and a two degree program – not a community college just for selective
one semester programs
Chairman Inman expressed his appreciation to
Board members for their time.
Adjournment
There being no further business to come before
the Board, Chairman Inman entertained
a motion to adjourn the meeting.
Commissioner Lankford moved to adjourn the
meeting. Vice Chairman Walker
seconded and the motion carried unanimously.
_________________________
_____________________________
Darlene M.
Bullins
J. Leon Inman
Clerk to the
Board Chairman