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HomeMy WebLinkAbout102814mHARNETT COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS Minutes of Special Session October 28, 2014 The Harnett County Board of Commissioners met in special session on Tuesday, October 28, 2014, in the Commissioners Meeting Room, County Administration Building, 102 East Front Street, Lillington, North Carolina. Members present: Joe Miller, Chairman Gary House, Vice Chairman Jim Burgin, Commissioner Beatrice B. Hill, Commissioner Members absent: Gordon Springle, Commissioner Staff present: Tommy Burns, Harnett County Manager Joseph Jeffries, Deputy County Manager Dwight Snow, County Attorney Janet C. Smith, Staff Attorney Kimberly Honeycutt, Finance Officer Margaret Regina Wheeler, Clerk to the Board Chairman Miller called the meeting to order at 9:00 am. Commissioner Burgin led the pledge of allegiance and invocation. The following agenda was before commissioners: 1) Summerville Bunnlevel Fire & Rescue, Inc. is requesting approval to purchase a 1992 International 2674 General Fire Safety Engine with a 65' Telesquirt Aerial Ladder/Water Tower. 2) Discussion regarding the Harnett County Schools Revised Capital Outlay Project List 3) Finance Officer's Report — September 2014 4) County Manager's Report 5) Regular Meeting Agenda Review Mr. Gary Pope, Director of Emergency Services, noted that it states in their contract that fire departments must come before the Board of Commissioners if they wish to spend over $20,000 if not included in their current approved budget. Mr. Leo McDonald, President of the Board of Directors, and Chief Melvin Yow presented Summerville Bunnlevel Fire & Rescue, Inc.'s request to purchase a 1992 International 2674 General Fire Safety Engine with a 65' Telesquirt Aerial Ladder /Water Tower. Mr. McDonald reported that they have the funds available for this October 28, 2014, Special Session Minutes Harnett County Board of Commissioners Page 1 of 4 purchase and no financing would be required. He also noted out this apparatus would cost over $600,000 new. Chief Yow discussed the justifications and benefits of having such equipment. Chief Yow explained that the truck and equipment just became available on GovDeal last week with an October 30th bid date. He has been assured that this truck is in excellent condition. Chief Yow also said staff would need to take several classes in a hurry if they get this equipment. Given the bid date, it was the consensus of the Board to move forward with bidding on the equipment not to exceed $35,000. Chief Yow also said they are very lucky to have junior firemen coming in who have been through the training at the Harnett Central Fire Academy. Mr. Pope said it is a great program. Chief Yow invited the group to a demonstration by the Harnett Central Fire Academy students at Yow's today at noon. Commissioners discussed the revised capital outlay project list submitted Harnett County Schools. Superintendent Frye had request that the projects on the revised list be funded from the capital outlay (1/4 cent sales tax) appropriation as approved by the Harnett County Board of Commissioners' Budget for fiscal year 2014/2015. Mr. Burns said the project list is being considered because they don't currently have a new capital construction project for the '/ cent sales tax. Commissioners discussed the items on the revised capital outlay project list; trying to identify what were capital projects and what were repairs. Commissioner House said he believed the intent of the fund was to save money for capital project. Mrs. Honeycutt said the County has currently collected $424,000 from sales tax and noted we would have more by the time the schools go out for bid for any work. It was the consensus of the Board that the Harnett County Schools tentatively move forward with the plumbing replacement based on available funds. The Board acknowledged the projected costs provided were estimates. Having discussed all items on the list, commissioners believed that the plumbing replacement was the only capital project on the list provided and asked that the school board come back to them with other capital needs in the future. The group believes that the School Board already has the due diligence on the elementary school property covered but if due diligence is part of the new school then it may be done as part of the capital project. Commissioner Miller said he doesn't believed that the School Board has made a counter offer or done anything regarding that property yet. Mr. Burns reminded the group that the County will apply for the additional $2.2 million of QSCB funds in January 2015 and the School Board can use these funds for repairs in June 2015 when school is out. Commissioner Burgin asked Mrs. Honeycutt to find out what money the state allocates for a new school. He would like to know exactly what the state pays for when a brand new school us built. October 28, 2014, Special Session Minutes Harnett County Board of Commissioners Page 2 of 4 Mrs. Honeycutt and Deputy Finance Officer Allen Coats presented Harnett County Financial Summary Report for September 2014 which included: 1) General Fund: 2) Public Utilities Fund: 3) Solid Waste Fund: 4) Medical Insurance Fund 5) Dental Insurance Fund a) b) c) a) b) a) b) Cash and Investments Debt Service and Transfer Requirements Information regarding estimated fund balance Cash and Investments Debt Service and Transfer Requirements Cash and Investments Debt Service and Transfer Requirements Commissioner Burgin asked in the future if they would also include what we have spent this year compared to last year at this time; showing where we are month to month. The group discussed the general fund balance which Mrs. Honeycutt said was approximately $5 million at this time. She said the state only looks at the fund balance percentage at the end of the year from the audit. It was noted that the County will draw down some of Public Utilities' fund balance for a few months. The group discussed Public Utilities' Fund balance and upcoming debt payments, the Solid Waste Fund as well as the Medical and Dental Insurance Funds. Mrs. Honeycutt responded we currently have positive cash in the Workman's Comp account which is holding its own right now. Under the County Manager's Report, Public Utilities Director Steve Ward and Mr. Burns wanted to make the Board aware of a new amendment to a general statute regarding Senate Bill 744 - Ratified, Water Infrastructure, Section 14.17: "§159G-37. Application to CWSRF, Wastewater Reserve, DWSRF, and Drinking Water Reserve now requires (b) Certification — The Division of Water Infrastructure shall require all local governments applying for loans or grants for water or wastewater purposes to certify that no funds received from water or wastewater utility operations have been transferred to the local government's general fund for the purpose of supplementing the resources of the general fund. The prohibition in this section shall not be interpreted to include payments made to the local government to reimburse the general fund for expenses paid from that fund that are reasonably allocable to the regular and ongoing operations of the utility, including, but not limited to, rent and shared facility costs, engineering and design work, plan review, and shared personnel costs." Mr. Ward said this looks like an attempt to say "maybe you don't need to be borrowing money from us if you have money to subsidize your local government's general fund ". Mr. Ward said Public Utilities made application for a project in September and then received notice that this certification must be part of the application. Mr. Ward said Public Utilities has transferred $400,000 to the county's general fund for "economic development" for the past ten years and he is not sure how they will interpret that appropriation. October 28, 2014, Special Session Minutes Harnett County Board of Commissioners Page 3 of 4 Mr. Ward said there aren't many pots of state money left for them to borrow from. He said if their application is denied and they still want to do this project it would take approximately $5 Million of the Public Utilities General Fund. Mr. Burns noted that they are talking to Davenport about potential refunds in the future. Referencing the handout Mr. Ward shared regarding the new amendment to Senate Bill 744- Ratified, Water Infrastructure, Section 14.17, Commissioner Burgin asked if we had applied for or if the Town of Erwin could apply for the $500,000 grant to local governments in development tier two areas for water and sewer infrastructure projects [Section 14.17A (1)] to continue improvements in the Town of Erwin. Mr. Burns shared a copy of the new employee benefits guide printed by our insurance broker for county employees. Mr. Burns also reminded the group of the upcoming Treatment Court Graduation on November 12th at 2:00 pm in courtroom six on the third floor. The group reviewed the November 3, 2014, regular meeting agenda. Chairman Miller inquired about the status of the floor at the Dunn -Erwin landfill. Mr. Jeffries said the process is on -going and they are in review now to fix and repair certain aspects of the floor. Staff believes the landfill will have to be closed again during repairs. Commissioner Burgin asked if the company responsible would incur the costs associated with the closure. Mr. Jeffries reported staff had filed for peimits for new cells at both landfills. He also noted a public meeting with a resolution in support of that application forthcoming in November. Commissioner Burgin asked Mr. Snow to research the County's agreement with Harnett Health. Commissioner Burgin said there are some obligations from that organization to the County plus we have $2.5 Million dollars of tax payer money tied up in improvements at Brightwater. He asked what is the County's obligation and involvement. Commissioner Hill moved to adjourn the meeting at 10:13 am. Commissioner Burgin seconded the motio which passed 4 to 0. / AL PA Joe er, Ch irman ` " Naga et Regina eeler, Clerk October 28, 2014, Special Session Minutes Harnett County Board of Commissioners Page 4 of 4