06192001721
MINUTES
SPECIAL CALL
CITY OF DUNN
DUNN, NORTH CAROLINA
TIIE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF DUNN HELD A SPECIAL CALL MEETING ON
TUESDAY JUNE 19, 2001 AT 7:00 P.M. IN THE DUNN MUNICIPAL BUILDING. PRE SENT
WAS MAYOR ABRAHAM OUDEH, MAYOR PRO -TEM MIKE WOMBLE AND
COUNCILMEMBERS CAROLYN MCDOUGAL, TOBY SUMNER, GEORGE ROBINSON, JOEY
TART AND PAUL BASS. ALSO PRESENT WAS INTERIM CITY MANAGER RONNIE AUTRY,
FINANCE DIRECTOR RENEE' DAUGHTRY, RECREATION DIRECTOR PERRY HUDSON,
POLICE CHIEF PAT GODWIN, FIRE CHIEF AUSTIN TEW, UTILITIES DIRECTOR JOE
CAMPBELL, CITY ENGINEER ED POWELL, LIBRARIAN DEBORAH MELVIN,
PLANNER/CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICER KELLY BOLLINGER, CITY ATTORNEY
BILLY GODWIN, INTERIM HUMAN RESOURCE OFFICER MOSES GALLION, DEPUTY
CLERK TINA SILLS AND DAILY RECORD REPORTER LISA FARMER.
INVOCATION
MAYOR OUDEH OPENED THE MEETING AT 7:03 P.M. AND ASKED MAYOR PRO -TEM
WOMBLE TO GIVE THE INVOCATION. AFTERWARD, THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE WAS
REPEATED.
INTERIM CITY MANAGER AUTRY STATED THAT HE WOULD LIKE TO BRIEFLY REVIEW A
FEW HIGHLIGHTS OF THE PROPOSED BUDGET WITH COUNCIL AND TIIE CITIZENS
PRESENT TONIGHT:
REVENUES: GE NERAL
A. AD VALOREM TAXES: FIGURES ARE BASED ON A 99% COLLECTION RATE WITH AN
APPROXIMATE TAX BASE OF $407,406,452 WITH A TAX RATE OF .46 PER $100
VALUATION.
B. RESIDENTIAL GARBAGE FEES ARE RECOMMENDED TO CHANGE FROM $6.00 TO
$8.00 PER MONTH. THIS INCREASE WOULD COVER A PORTION OF THE COST TO
COLLECT LEAVES, SHRUBS, LIMBS AND GRASS CLIPPINGS.
C. $319,536 HAS BEEN OBLIGATED FOR THE TRANSFER FROM THE WATER FUND TO
THE GENERAL FUND TO COVER JOINT COSTS OF PERSONNEL, MATERIALS,
INSURANCE AND ASSOCIATED COSTS.
D. $415,067.98 HAS BEEN APPROPRIATED FROM PRIOR YEAR'S UNAPPROPRIATED
FUND BALANCE TO COVER OPERATING, CAPITAL COSTS AND ONE TIME
EXPENDITURES.
E. $175,000 HAS BEEN OBLIGATED FROM AVERASBORO FIRE DISTRICT REVENUES
FOR OPERATING AND CAPITAL COSTS FOR FIRE SERVICE.
REVENUES: WATER
A. A 5% INCREASE N WATER AND SEWER RATES FOR RESIDENTIAL AND
COMMERCIAL CUSTOMERS IS RECOMMENDED. ALSO A 5% INCREASE N WATER
RATES FOR BULK WATER CUSTOMERS IS RECOMMENDED.
B. $116,000.00 HAS BEEN APPROPRIATED OUT OF PRIOR YEAR'S UNAPPROPRIATED
FUND BALANCE TOWARD THE PURCHASE OF A JET -VAC TRUCK.
EXPENDITURES- GF.NF.RAL
A. EMPLOYEE HOSPITALIZATION INSURANCE HAS BEEN BUDGETED AT
$250.00 /EMPLOYEE BUT AN INCREASE IS PROJECTED N OCTOBER.
B. OF THE MAJOR CAPITAL EXPENDITURES FOR NEXT YEAR, THE SPECIFIC AREAS
INVOLVE THE PURCHASE OF N CAR VIDEO CAMERAS, 30 SCBA BOTTLES, 8 SCBA,
AND PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT.
C. TWO (2) NEW POSITIONS HAVE BEEN PROPOSED; ONE FOR THE LIBRARY AND ONE
FOR RECREATION.
D. ALL DEBT SERVICE REQUIREMENTS HAVE BEEN APPROPRIATED N THIS BUDGET
TO MEET OUR DEBT OBLIGATION.
EXPENDITURES: WATER
A. $125,000.00 HAS BEEN APPROPRIATED TO CONTINUE WORK TO CORRECT
INFILTRATION PROBLEMS AND $185,000.00 TO PURCHASE A JET -VAC TRUCK.
B. ALL DEBT SERVICE REQUIREMENTS HAVE BEEN OBLIGATED IN THE FY 2001 -2002
BUDGET TO MEET OUR DEBT RESPONSIBILITIES.
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C. THE PROPOSED BUDGET PROVIDES A COST OF LIVING INCREASE FOR ALL
EMPLOYEES OF 3 %. .ALSO, A LONGEVITY SUPPLEMENT IS PROPOSED AT THE
FOLLOWING RATES:
0 -4 YEARS SERVICE
$ 90
5 -9 YEARS SERVICE
300
10 -14 YEARS SERVICE
400
15 -19 YEARS SERVICE
500
20 -29 YEARS SERVICE
600
30 PLUS YEARS SERVICE
700
THE LANDSCAPING PROJECT FOR HWY 421 PROPOSED BY THE CHAMBER'S
BEAUTIFICATION & IMAGE COMMITTEE AT A COST OF $10,000 HAS BEEN APPROPRIATED.
THE 2001 -2002 BUDGET REPRESENTS A LEVEL OF FUNDING, WHICH WILL ALLOW THE CITY
TO CONTINUE TO MAINTAIN CURRENT SERVICE LEVELS. THIS IS A VERY CONSERVATIVE
ESTIMATE OF OUR REVENUES AND EXPENDITURES FOR NEXT YEAR. THE DEPARTMENTS
WILL HAVE TO OPERATE VERY EFFICIENTLY DURING FY 2001 -2002.
PUBLIC HEARING
BUDGET FY 2001 -2002
MAYOR OUDEH OPENED THE PUBLIC HEARING AT 7:10 P.M. AND YIELDED TO INTERIM
CITY MANAGER AUTRY WHO STATED THAT THE PUBLIC HAS BEEN NOTIFIED THAT THE
CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF DUNN WOULD HOLD A PUBLIC HEARING FOR THE
PURPOSE OF RECEIVING PUBLIC COMMENT CONCERNING APPROVAL OF THE FY 2001 -2002
BUDGET.
HE ADDED THAT THE PUBLIC HEARING WAS DULY ADVERTISED ON JUNE 15 2001.
MAYOR OUDEH ASKED IF ANYONE WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK.
MR. DAL SNIPES, A LOCAL BUSINESS OWNER, AN EMPLOYER, AND A CONCERNED CITIZEN
STATED THAT HE WAS PRESENT ON BEHALF OF BEING THE CURRENT PRESIDENT OF THE
DUNN AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE. HE ADDED THAT HE WAS PRESENT TONIGHT TO
EXPRESS HIS CONCERN OF A SEEMINGLY UNIMPORTANT PIECE OF THE BUDGET THAT HE
JUST HEARD. AND THEY HEARD TWO WEEKS AGO, AND THAT IS ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT. HE FURTHER STATED THAT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT WAS A PLEDGE
OR A THEME TFIAT MOST ALL OF THEM RAN ON AS PART OF THEIR PLATFORM WHEN
THEY SOUGHT THE OFFICE THAT THEY NOW HOLD.
FIE STATED THAT THERE APPEARS TO BE NO PLAN, NO VISION AND NO FUNDING FOR
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN THE BUDGET; HOWEVER, AFTER ALL THE ECONOMIC NEWS
TFIAT THIS CITY HAS HAD OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS, HE CAN NOT BELIEVE
THAT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND A PLAN AND FUNDING FOR IT IS NOT A MAJOR
DISCUSSION AND A TOP PRIORITY. HE ADDED THAT THEY WERE CONCERNED ABOUT
THE DIRECTION THAT THIS CITY SEEMS TO BE TAKING AND THEY WANT TO REITERATE
THEIR DESIRE AS CHAMBER MEMBERS TO WORK POSITIVELY TOGETHER TO MOVE
FORWARD. HE FURTHER STATED THAT WAS THE REASON THEY INVITED EVERYONE TO
SIT DOWN TO DINNER BACK IN JANUARY WITH THE CHAMBER MEMBERS TO DISCUSS AN
OUTLINE FOR THE PLANS THAT THEY THOUGHT WERE IMPORTANT FOR THE CITY TO
MOVE FORWARD AND HOW THEY NEEDED THE HELP AND SUPPORT OF THE CITIZENS TO
MAKE THIS WORK.
MR. SNIPES STATED THAT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT WAS DISCUSSED THAT NIGHT IN A
LOT OF DETAIL AND WAS A MAJOR EMPHASIS FOR THEM AND STILL IS. HE ADDED THAT
THEY ARE IN THE PROCESS OF SOLICITING AN INDEPENDENT STUDY TO HELP THEM
EVALUATE THE DOWNTOWN REVITALIZATION NEEDS AND WILL BE COMING BACK
BEFORE COUNCIL BECAUSE THEY WILL NEED HELP FUNDING THIS EXPENSIVE PROCESS.
HE FURTHER STATED THAT THE IMAGE AND BEAUTIFICATION COMMITTEE CAME
BEFORE COUNCIL AND DEVISED A PLAN FOR THE HWY 421 CORRIDOR THAT WILL
IMPROVE THE ENTRANCE AND IMAGE OF THE CITY, AND HE APPRECIATED COUNCIL AND
THE CITY MANAGER RECOGNIZING THAT AND INCLUDING IT IN THE BUDGET BECAUSE
IMAGE IS A PART OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
HE STATED THAT THERE IS SOME PERCEPTION THAT THE CHAMBER DOES NOT SPEAK
FOR THE BUSINESSES OF THIS CITY. HE ADDED THAT OF THE $2,000,000 AD VALOREM
TAX BASE THAT THE CITY HAS, THE CHAMBER MEMBERS PROVIDE 50% OR $1,000,000 OF
THAT TAX BASE WHICH HE THINKS REPRESENTS A STRONG VOICE WHICH SHOULD BE
HEARD FOR BUSINESS AND CITIZENS OF DUNN. HE FURTHER STATED THAT THE CITY
HAS AN OBLIGATION TO TAKE THE NECESSARY STEPS TO IMPROVE THE CITY AND
BUSINESS COMMUNITY IN ORDER TO ATTRACT NEW BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY BUT MUST
NOT FORGET THE EXISTING BUSINESSES AND INDUSTRY WITH THEIR NEEDS.
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HE ADDED THAT OVER TIME, THE TAX RATE WILL REMAIN REASONABLE AND WILL
PROVIDE JOBS AND ENHANCE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR ALL CITIZENS. HE ADDED THAT
THEY ALL UNDERSTAND THE BUDGET DILEMMA THAT COUNCIL HAS GONE THROUGH
THIS YEAR. HE FURTHER STATED THAT AN INVESTMENT IN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IS
NOT A QUICK FIX THAT WILL HAPPEN TOMORROW, BUT RATHER AN INVESTMENT IN THE
FUTURE.
HE STATED THAT THE CITY HAS A FUND BALANCE OF $3.3 MILLION DOLLARS, WHICH IS A
SAVINGS ACCOUNT. HE ADDED THAT SAVINGS ACCOUNTS ARE FOR EMERGENCIES AND
RAINY DAYS AND THE CITY OF DUNN IS AT THAT POINT. HE FURTHER STATED THAT TO
USE SOME OF THAT RAINY DAY MONEY OR FUND BALANCE TO MAKE AN INVESTMENT IN
TOMORROW CAN RETURN THE JOBS THAT HAVE BEEN LOST IN DUNN. ,
MR. SNIPES STATED THAT BY TAKING JUST $25,000 (.007 %) FROM THAT SAVINGS
ACCOUNT REPRESENTS LESS THAN 1% OF THE FUND BALANCE. HE ADDED THAT AS AN
ELEMENT OF THE $10,000,000 BUDGET, IT IS EVEN LESS THAN THAT, IT IS .002% WHICH IS
LESS THAN %z OF 1% OF THE BUDGET. HE FURTHER STATED THAT HE IS ASKING COUNCIL
TO RECONSIDER THE LINE ITEM FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
MR. TILGHMAN POPE, CURRENT VICE - PRESIDENT OF GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS FOR THE
DUNN AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, A LOCAL BUSINESS OWNER WITH SEVERAL
EMPLOYEES AND ALSO A CONCERNED CITIZEN STATED THAT FIE WOULD LIKE TO THANK
COUNCIL ON BEHALF OF HIMSELF AND THE BEAUTIFICATION AND IMAGE COMMITTEE
FOR ADOPTING IN THE CURRENT PROPOSED BUDGET THE BEAUTIFICATION PROJECT ON
HWY. 421. HE ADDED THAT THIS WAS A VERY IMPORTANT PROJECT WHICH WOULD NOT
ONLY IMPROVE THE IMAGE OF TFIE CITY, BUT ALSO HELP BRING ABOUT ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT AND IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR OUR CITIZENS.
HE STATED THAT HE WOULD FOCUS HIS COMMENTS ON THE LEE- GOFORTH REPORT. HE
ADDED THAT HARNETT COUNTY PAID THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS TO HAVE A REPORT
DONE TO TELL US WHAT WE CAN DO TO HELP OUR DIRE ECONOMIC CIRCUMSTANCES
AND BRING ABOUT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TO OUR COUNTY. HE FURTHER STATED
THAT HARNETT COUNTY HIRED ECONOMIC PROFESSIONALS WHICH HAVE DONE SIMILAR
REPORTS FOR OTHER COUNTIES AND HAVE PRODUCED POSITIVE RESULTS WHEN PEOPLE
ADOPT THE PROPOSALS THAT THEY PUT FORTH AND THIS REPORT CAME FORTH
SEVERAL MONTHS AGO IN AN ECONOMIC SUMMIT WHICH ALL CITIZENS IN HARNETT
COUNTY WERE INVITED TO ATTEND.
MR. POPE STATED THAT TFIE FIRST THING THAT WAS DONE IN THE REPORT WAS AN
ASSESSMENT OF DUNN'S WEAKNESSES AND STRENGTHS AND AT THE VERY TOP OF THE
LIST OF WEAKNESSES WAS INTERLOCAL DIVISIVENESS WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY AND
HARNETT COUNTY. HE ADDED THAT LEE, JOHNSTON, AND CUMBERLAND COUNTIES ARE
ALL GROWING AND PROSPERING WITH LOTS OF NEW BUSINESS, LOTS OF NEW CITIZENS
AND INDUSTRIES BECAUSE THEY ARE WORKING TOGETHER AS A UNIT AND RECRUITING
INDUSTRY AS A COUNTY AND IT BENEFITS ALL OF THEIR CITIZENS.
HE STATED THAT WE MUST UNITE AS ONE COMMUNITY OF HARNETT COUNTY IN ORDER
TO BE COMPETITIVE IN THE MARKET PLACE. HE ADDED THAT THIS WAS OUR NUMBER
ONE WEAKNESS ACCORDING TO THE LEE - GOFORTH REPORT AND DUNN MUST
PARTICIPATE WITH ALL THE OTHER COMMUNITIES WITHIN OUR COUNTY AS ONE VOICE
IN ORDER FOR US TO COMPETE WITH OUR SURROUNDING COUNTIES.
HE FURTHER STATED THAT LEE - GOFORTH PUT TOGETHER A PLAN AND SAID THAT IF WE
ADOPT THEIR PLAN THEY BELIEVE THAT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT WILL COME TO OUR
COMMUNITY. HE ADDED THAT THERE MUST BE A PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN THE HARNETT
FORWARD TOGETHER COMMITTEE, HARNETT COUNTY AND LOCAL PROPERTY OWNERS.
HE FURTHER STATED THAT A PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION WILL BE FORMED
WHICH ALL THREE ENTITIES WILL PARTICIPATE; A LAND OWNER WHO WANTS TO
DEVELOP HIS PROPERTY WILL PUT HIS PROPERTY INTO THE CORPORATION, HARNETT
COUNTY WILL PROVIDE WATER AND SEWER AND TFIE NECESSARY INFRASTRUCTURE TO
MAKE THAT LAND DEVELOPABLE AND THE HARNETT FORWARD TOGETHER COMMITTEE
WILL PROVIDE SOIL TESTS AND ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES TO MAKE THIS SITE "SHOVEL
READY" WHICH MEANS THAT AN INDUSTRY THAT WANTS TO COME AND LOCATE CAN
COME IN AND WITHIN 30 -60 DAYS GET THEIR PERMITS AND START BUILDING.
MR. POPE STATED THAT THE NORTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE BRINGS
INDUSTRIES TO DIFFERENT COUNTIES LOOKING FOR THESE SIGHTS BECAUSE THEY ARE
READY TO BE MOVED ON. HE ADDED THAT THE HARNETT FORWARD TOGETHER
COMMITTEE IS THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ARM FOR HARNETT COUNTY WHICH IS
MADE UP OF A GROUP OF PRIVATE CITIZENS, BUSINESS OWNERS, PROGRESSIVE MEN AND
WOMEN WHO VOLUNTEER THEIR TIME AND PAY MONEY ANNUALLY TO TRY TO BRING
BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY TO OUR TOWN AND COUNTY. HE FURTHER STATED THAT
THEY DO NOT GET PAID SALARIES AND THEY DO NOT BENEFIT IN ANY WAY OTHER THAN
THE SAME AS THE REST OF THE CITIZENS OF THIS COUNTY.
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HE STATED THAT IT IS NOT MONEY GOING TO LILLINGTON, IT IS NOT GOING TO A
GOVERNMENT BUREAUCRACY, IT IS MONEY GOING TO A PRIVATE GROUP WHICH WORKS
WITH OUR COUNTY GOVERNMENT AND PRIVATE LAND OWNERS TO BRING ABOUT
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. HE ADDED THAT THIS IS WHAT THE HARNETT FORWARD
TOGETHER COMMITTEE IS, AND HOW THEY ARE TO BE RELATED IN THE ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT AS PROPOSED BY THE LEE- GOFORTH COMMISSION. HE ASKED COUNCIL
TO ADOPT THE PROPOSAL BY LEE - GOFORTH BECAUSE THERE IS NO OTHER PLAN; THIS
PLAN HAS BEEN PUT TOGETHER BY THE EXPERTS AND HAS BEEN PROVEN EFFECTIVE IN
OTHER COUNTIES AND CITIES AND WE MUST ADOPT AND MOVE FORWARD WITH IT.
MR. POPE STATED THAT OUR FAILURE TO ADOPT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT NOW IS
NOTHING BUT A PRESERVATION OF A STATUS QUO. HE ADDED THAT WITH LEE,
JOHNSTON AND CUMBERLAND COUNTIES ALL MOVING FORWARD IT IS THREE STEPS
BACK FOR THE CITY AND COUNTY AND OUR LOCAL ECONOMY CANNOT SUSTAIN THIS
STATUS QUO ANY LONGER. HE ADDED THAT HE RESPECTFULLY REQUESTS THAT
COUNCIL RECONSIDER THE PROPOSAL PUT FORTH BY LEE - GOFORTH AND FUND THE
MONEY FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT NOW.
MR. JOHN SHAW, VICE - PRESIDENT OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, PRESIDENT OF NEW
CENTURY BANK AND ALSO A CONCERNED CITIZEN STATED THAT HE HAS BEEN
INVOLVED IN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT SINCE 1975 AND HAS SEEN A LOT OF CHANGES
IN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT; BUT THERE IS ONE AREA THAT HE HAS NEVER SEEN
CHANGE AND THAT IS WORKING TOGETHER. HE ADDED THAT THOSE COMMUNITIES
THAT ARE SUCCESSFUL TODAY ARE THOSE THAT WORK TOGETHER AS A COMMUNITY
AND IT IS IMPORTANT FOR US TO BE INVOLVED IN WORKING TOGETHER. HE FURTHER
STATED THAT HE IS CONCERNED ABOUT THE PICTURE WE ARE PAINTING AND THE
MESSAGE THAT WE ARE SENDING TO NEW INDUSTRIES LOOKING AT HARNETT COUNTY
OR DUNN.
HE STATED THAT IF HE WERE A NEW BUSINESS, HE WOULD WONDER WHAT IS GOING ON
WHEN THERE APPEARS TO BE NO INTEREST IN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT; AND IF HE
WERE A CITIZEN UNABLE TO FIND A JOB, HE WOULD BE CONCERNED ABOUT THE
MESSAGE WE ARE SENDING NOT WANTING TO FUND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT,
ESPECIALLY IN TOUGH TIMES BECAUSE IT IS THOSE TOUGH TIMES THAT WE HAVE TO
MAKE DECISIONS TO DO WHAT IS RIGHT FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
MR. SHAW STATED THAT HE WOULD WONDER WHAT KIND OF MESSAGE WE ARE
SENDING TO THOSE 8,000 OR SO CITIZENS WHO DRIVE OUT OF THE COUNTY EACH DAY TO
WORK BECAUSE THEY CAN NOT FIND A GOOD PAYING JOB OR CAN NOT FIND A JOB HERE.
HE ADDED THAT THEY ARE GIVING UP FAMILY TIME BY SPENDING IT IN AN AUTOMOBILE
RIDING UP AND DOWN THE ROAD AND THOSE FOLKS WOULD PROBABLY LIKE TO BE
WORKING AT HOME IF WE HAD GOOD JOBS. HE FURTHER STATED THAT THEY COULD BE
WORKING AT HOME $2000 43,000 A YEAR LESS THAN THEY CAN DRIVING BACK AND
FORTH UP AND DOWN THE'ROAD.
HE STATED THAT WE MUST PULL OUR INTEREST TOGETHER HERE IN HARNETT COUNTY
TO BE ABLE TO COMPETE WITH THE SURROUNDING COUNTIES AND WE NEED A UNIFIED
SOURCE. HE ADDED THAT BASED ON WHAT COUNCIL HAS HEARD TONIGHT FROM
CITIZENS THAT COUNCIL RECONSIDER FUNDING THE $25,000 FOR ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT AND TO SPECIFICALLY FUND A GRANT TO THE HARNETT FORWARD
TOGETHER COMMITTEE TO BE USED TO BENEFIT THE CITY OF DUNN.
CARNELL ROBINSON STATED THAT HE WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE CHAMBER FOR
SHARING THE FACTS WITH COUNCIL AND ADDED THAT HE DID NOT INTEND TO SPEAK
TONIGHT BUT NEXT WEEK HE WOULD BE IN ELIZABETHTOWN REPRESENTING HARNETT
COUNTY ON THE SOUTHEASTERN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION. HE ADDED
THAT THIS COMMISSION FUNNELS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT MONEY TO ELEVEN
DIFFERENT COUNTIES AND IN IT'S HISTORY HAS TOTALED CLOSE TO $200,000,000.00. HE
FURTHER STATED THAT WHAT THE CHAMBER IS SAYING ABOUT OTHER COMMUNITIES,
ABOUT THE COOPERATIVE EFFORT, ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT IS ABSOLUTELY TRUE AND IT IS VERY COMPETITIVE.
HE STATED THAT OTHER COUNTIES ARE LOOKING FOR WAYS TO ATTRACT BUSINESSES
BY PAINTING AN IMAGE THAT IS ATTRACTIVE TO PEOPLE WHO ARE TRYING TO LOCATE.
HE ADDED THAT WHEN THIS COUNCIL VOTED AGAINST THE $25,000.00 FOR ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT, HE THOUGHT IT WAS A JOKE. HE ADDED THAT FIE COULD NOT BELIEVE
THAT WITH THE 7% UNEMPLOYMENT RATE AND WITH THE AFRICAN AMERICAN FIGURES
RUNNING 1 %: TIMES THE REPORTED NUMBER, WE CANNOT AFFORD TO NOT BRING JOBS
TO OUR COMMUNITY.
/ZS
MR. ROBINSON STATED THAT THE $25,000 IS REALLY AN INVESTMENT, AND IT DOES NOT
MATTER WHAT YOU CAMPAIGNED ON, AND IT DOES NOT MATTER WHAT YOU SAY AT
THESE TABLES. HE ADDED THAT ANYONE WHO WANTS TO KNOW WHAT THIS COUNCIL
VALUES WILL FOLLOW THE MONEY, AND IF COUNCIL WON'T SPEND $25,000 TO SECURE
THE WELL BEING OF OUR CITIZENS AND OUR FAMILIES IT DOES NOT SPEAK WELL FOR
OUR CITY OR FOR THEM.
MAYOR OUDEH ASKED IF ANYONE ELSE WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK. HEARING NONE, HE
CLOSED THE PUBLIC HEARING AND RECONVENED THE REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING AT
7:32 P.M.
COUNCILMEMBER BASS ASKED HOW MANY OTHER MUNICIPALITIES IN HARNETT
COUNTY HAVE HAD REQUESTS FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
MAYOR PRO -TEM WOMBLE STATED THAT COUNCIL HAS NOT BEEN ASKED FROM THE
HARNETT FORWARD TOGETHER COMMITTEE TO MAKE THIS GRANT. HE ADDED THAT
THERE ARE TWO PROGRAMS THAT ARE CIRCULATING THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY AT
THIS TIME. HE FURTHER STATED THAT THE LEE- GOFORTH REPORT STARTED THE
INCENTIVE PROGRAM WHICH HARNETT COUNTY HAS ADOPTED AND IT STATES THAT
AFTER AN INDUSTRY LOCATES IN THE COMMUNITY, SOME OF THE PROPERTY TAX
REVENUES WILL BE RETURNED TO THAT INDUSTRY AS A GRANT OVER A PERIOD OF
YEARS.
HE STATED THAT WHAT THE CHAMBER, HE, AND OTHER ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
PEOPLE ARE SUGGESTING IS THAT THEY NEED FUNDS TO ENTICE BUSINESS TO LOOK
AND LOCATE HERE BY DEVELOPING SUITABLE SITES AND DOING WHATEVER IS
NECESSARY TO ATTRACT NEW BUSINESS. HE ADDED THAT THE $25,000 GRANT TO THE
HARNETT FORWARD TOGETHER COMMITTEE FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS
TO BENEFIT THE CITY OF DUNN IS IN ADDITION TO THE INCENTIVE PACKAGE. HE
FURTHER STATED THAT DUNN HAS SO MUCH TO GAIN FROM THIS AND IT ALLOWS US TO
TAKE ADVANTAGE OF A $450,000.00 BUDGET THAT HARNETT COUNTY HAS PUT
TOGETHER TO SUPPORT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
MR. DAL SNIPES STATED THAT THEY WOULD PARTNERSHIP WITH THE COUNTY BUT THEY
HAVE AN OBLIGATION TO CHARTER THEIR OWN FUTURE AS WELL, AND THEY DO NOT
NEED TO SIT ON THE SIDE LINES WAITING TO SEE WHAT OTHER CITIES WILL DO. HE
ADDED THAT THEY NEED TO TAKE THE LEAD AND LET EVERYBODY ELSE FOLLOW.
MAYOR OUDEH ASKED WHO WOULD BE IN CHARGE OF THE MONEY IN LILLINGTON.
MR. DAL SNIPES RESPONDED THAT THE COMMITTEE BOARD OF DIRECTORS HAVE
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND ALL THE CONTROLS IN PLACE AND IT WOULD BE AT
THEIR DIRECTION TO SPEND IT. HE ADDED THAT IF COUNCIL DEEMS IT APPROPRIATE, A
NEW INDUSTRY OUTSIDE THE CITY OF DUNN COULD TAP INTO SOME OF THAT MONEY,
AND BY BRINGING INDUSTRY TO HARNETT COUNTY WOULD BE TAX DOLLARS FOR OUR
COUNTY THAT THE CITIZENS OF DUNN WOULD NOT HAVE TO RAISE. HE FURTHER
STATED THAT THIS IS NOT A POT OF MONEY JUST SITTING THERE IN LILLINGTON THAT
ANYONE CAN USE AT THEIR DISCRETION.
MR. BILLY BARFIELD STATED THAT HIS REQUEST IS VERY SIMPLE. HE ADDED THAT
SEVERAL MONTHS AGO THIS COUNCIL HEARD AT A PUBLIC HEARING THAT THEY
WANTED FRIENDLY ROAD FIXED. HE ADDED AT THAT TIME IT WAS DECIDED THAT THE
POWELL BILL WOULD BE USED. HE FURTHER STATED THAT HE KNOWS THEY HAVE
WORKED HARD ON THIS BUDGET AND HE COMMENDS THEM FOR THAT BUT ONCE AGAIN
THEY HAVE LEFT FRIENDLY ROAD OUT OF THE BUDGET. HE STATED THAT THE ONLY
THING GOOD ABOUT THE ROAD IS THAT IT IS TORN UP AND CAUSES PEOPLE TO SLOW
DOWN. THE SECOND THING HE STATED THAT HE WOULD LIKE TO DO IS MAKE AN
APOLOGY TO ONE OF THE COUNCILMEMBERS PUBLICLY. HE ADDED THAT HE CALLED
MR. JOEY TART THIS MORNING AT 7:40 AND WAS TOLD TO NEVER CALL HIS HOUSE
AGAIN. HE ADDED THAT HE THOUGHT MR. TART CARED ABOUT WHAT WENT ON IN
DUNN AND HE APOLOGIZED FOR BEING WRONG.
MAYOR OUDEH STATED THAT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT ISSUE
IN DUNN AND IN HARNETT COUNTY AND HE THANKED MR. DAL SNIPES, THE CHAMBER
OF COMMERCE AND ALL THE LEADERS PRESENT FOR TAKING THE TIME TO SPEAK. HE
ADDED THAT ALL OF THEM ARE RIGHT AND COUNCIL KNOWS THEY ARE RIGHT AND
THEY WOULD DO EVERYTHING THEY CAN TO WORK WITH THEM. HE FURTHER STATED
THAT NOBODY SEES THE NEED TO BRING NEW INDUSTRIES TO DUNN MORE THAN THE
CITY COUNCIL AND THE LEADERS.
HE STATED THAT HE WOULD LIKE TO PROPOSE, IF COUNCIL AGREES, TO PUT ASIDE
$50,000.00 AND TO BE READY FOR ANY KIND OF INDUSTRY COMING TO DUNN AND LET
THE CITY COUNCIL WORK WITH YOU AND ALSO WITH HARNETT COUNTY.
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COUNCILMEMBER MCDOUGAL STATED THAT SHE WANTED TO MAKE SURE SHE
UNDERSTOOD WHAT THE MAYOR WAS SUGGESTING. SHE ASKED IF HE WAS SAYING
THAT COUNCIL SHOULD SET ASIDE $50,000.00 FOR THE CITY OF DUNN AND WORK WITH
HARNETT COUNTY.
MAYOR OUDEH RESPONDED YES.
COUNCILMEMBER ROBINSON STATED THAT HE WAS LATE AT THE LAST MEETING AND
THE ONLY THING THAT HE HEARD WAS ABOUT GIVING AWAY $25,000.00. HE ADDED
THAT SINCE HE HEARD THE CHAMBER AND THE OTHERS SPEAK TONIGHT HE THINKS
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IS A GOOD THING AND HE THINKS THE CITY AND THE
COUNTY NEED TO WORK TOGETHER TO DO SOMETHING POSITIVE.
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COUNCILMEMBER SUMNER STATED THAT ONE OF THE CONCERNS OF COUNCIL IS IF THE
MONEY WOULD BE UTILIZED IN DUNN. HE ADDED THEY ARE ALL CONCERNED ABOUT
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT BECAUSE IT BENEFITS EVERYBODY BUT THE PROBLEM IS
HOW TO SEND THE MONEY.
COUNCILMEMBER TART ASKED MAYOR OUDEH IS HE WAS SUGGESTING PUTTING THE
$50,000.00 ASIDE TOWARDS THE HARNETT FORWARD TOGETHER COMMITTEE.
MAYOR OUDEH RESPONDED THAT THE MONEY SHOULD BE PUT ASIDE HERE IN DUNN
AND HAVE IT AVAILABLE WHEN NEEDED.
COUNCILMEMBER TART STATED THAT THE HARNETT FORWARD TOGETHER COMMITTEE
WOULD BE WORKING FOR THE CITY OF DUNN AND PARAMETERS CAN BE SET ON HOW
THAT MONEY CAN BE USED,
COUNCILMEMBER BASS STATED THAT HE WAS ALL FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT BUT
COUNCIL COULD NOT PUT ENOUGH MONEY IN THE BUDGET TO BUY A DECENT POLICE
CAR OR GIVE THE VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTERS MONEY, SO HOW CAN THEY GIVE $25,000.00
AWAY. HE ADDED THAT IF HIS FIGURES WERE CORRECT, HARNETT COUNTY GOT
$161,000 FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND IF THEY GET WHAT THEY WANT THIS YEAR
IT WOULD BE $450,000.00 AND ASKED HOW MUCH IS ENOUGH.
COUNCILMEMBER ROBINSON STATED THAT IF THE CITY OF DUNN DOES NOT DO SOME
INVESTING THERE IS NOT GOING TO BE ANYTHING TO PAY TAXES WITH. HE ADDED
THAT IF WE DO NOT HAVE JOBS WE CANNOT PAY TAXES IN THE CITY OR COUNTY.
COUNCILMEMBER BASS STATED THAT IF THE CITY IS GOING TO DO THAT THEN THEY
NEED TO GO BACK AND BUY SOME DECENT POLICE CARS FOR THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
COUNCILMEMBER ROBINSON STATED THAT HE AGREED THAT DUNN NEEDS NEW POLICE
CARS.
MAYOR PRO -TEM WOMBLE STATED THAT HE WOULD LIKE TO DRAW A DISTINCTION
BETWEEN THE PROPOSAL THAT THE MAYOR HAS SUGGESTED AND THE PROPOSAL THAT
THE CHAMBER IS SUPPORTING. HE ADDED THAT THE PROPOSAL THAT THE MAYOR
SUGGESTED BASICALLY MOVES MONEY FROM ONE BANK ACCOUNT TO ANOTHER AND
HOLDS IT FOR THE SAME PURPOSE THAT IT HAS BEEN HELD FOREVER, AND WOULD BE
AVAILABLE AFTER AN INDUSTRY HAS AGREED TO LOCATE HERE.
HE STATED THAT THE GRANT FOR HARNETT FORWARD TOGETHER COMMITTEE IS A
CHECK THAT WOULD BE MADE TO THE HARNETT FORWARD TOGETHER COMMITTEE
WITH RESTRICTIONS THAT IT COULD ONLY BE USED FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
PROJECTS THAT BENEFIT THE CITY OF DUNN. HE ADDED THAT COUNCIL CAN ALSO ADD
AS A RESTRICTION THAT THE HARNETT FORWARD TOGETHER COMMITTEE WOULD
CONSULT THE CITY IN ADVANCE FOR USING THESE FUNDS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.
HE FURTHER STATED THAT THE HARNETT FORWARD TOGETHER COMMITTEE NEEDS THE
FLEXIBILITY OF THIS MONEY READILY AVAILABLE SO HE THINKS IT WOULD BE MORE
EFFECTIVE TO MAKE IT IN A RESTRICTIVE GRANT TO THE HARNETT FORWARD
TOGETHER COMMITTEE SIMPLY BECAUSE OF THE FLEXIBILITY IT WOULD AFFORD THEM
TO HAVE.
v MR. DAL SNIPES STATED THAT STATISTICALLY, IF 100 NEW JOBS CAME TO DUNN IT
WOULD BRING 156 MORE PEOPLE, 130 MORE REGISTERED PASSENGER CARS, 52 NEW
HOUSEHOLDS, 44 MORE SCHOOL CHILDREN, 75 MORE RESIDENTIAL TELEPHONES, 2.3
MILLION IN RETAIL SALES THAT WOULD GENERATE SALES TAX AND 3.8 MILLION IN
PERSONAL INCOME TO SPENT IN THIS AREA.
726
COUNCILMEMBER ROBINSON STATED THAT MR. SNIPES HAD REPORTED THAT IT WOULD
BE LESS THAN 1% OF THE SAVINGS THAT THE CITY HAS AND IF THAT IS CORRECT IT
WOULD BE A SMALL PRICE TO PAY. HE ADDED THAT DUNN WANTS TO BE A LEADER AND
SET AN EXAMPLE FOR THE OTHER CITIES TO FOLLOW.
727
DR. JACK BRITT STATED THAT HE WAS PRESENT WITH HIS COLLEAGUES MR. HOOVER
ADAMS AND MR. JESSIE ALPHIN. HE ADDED THAT A LETTER WAS RECENTLY SENT FROM
MR. ADAMS TO THE COUNCIL REQUESTING A DONATION TO THE MUSEUM IN
FAYETTEVILLE. HE FURTHER STATED THAT THEY ARE LOOKING TO FORM A
PARTNERSHIP WITH THE MUSEUM IN FAYETTEVILLE SO THAT WHEN PEOPLE VISIT THE
FAYETTEVILLE MUSEUM THEY WILL COME TO THE DUNN MUSEUM AS WELL.
HE STATED THAT THE MUSEUM RECEIVES 600 VISITORS A DAY AND 1,000 ON SATURDAYS
AND SUNDAYS. HE ADDED THAT THE ARMY HAS BUILT THE RUNWAY AT THE AIRPORT
AND ARE GOING TO ADD ANOTHER PORTION AND THEY HAVE GIVEN MILLIONS OF
DOLLARS TO HARNETT COUNTY. HE FURTHER STATED THAT IT WOULD BE A SHAME IF
THEY DON'T HAVE HARNETT COUNTY, THE CITY OF DUNN, CAMPBELL UNIVERSITY,
GENERAL LEE, AND DUNN TOURISM REPRESENTED AT THE FAYETTEVILLE MUSEUM.
HE STATED THAT THEY ARE ASKING COUNCIL TO CONSIDER A PLEDGE OF $3,000 A YEAR
FOR 5 YEARS FOR A TOTAL OF $15,000 SO THAT THE CITY OF DUNN CAN BE REPRESENTED
IN THE MUSEUM IN FAYETTEVILLE. ON JULY 26, 2001 GENERAL LINDSAY IS COMING TO
CAMPBELL FOR A GENERAL LEE DINNER AND THE 82 AIRBORNE CHORUS WILL
PERFORM AND THEY WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A PRESENTATION TO THE GENERAL WITH
THE CASH AND PLEDGES THAT THEY HAVE COLLECTED FROM THE CITIZENS OF
HARNETT COUNTY.
CONSENT ITEMS
MAYOR OUDEH ASKED COUNCIL IF THERE WERE ANY CONSENT ITEMS THEY WISHED TO
DELETE FOR FURTHER DISCUSSION. HEARING NONE, THE FOLLOWING CONSENT ITEMS
WERE CONSIDERED BY COUNCIL:
BUDGET AMENDMENTS - COUNCIL CONSIDERED APPROVAL OF BUDGET AMENDMENTS
#1504161. (ATTACHMENT #1)
MOTION BY COUNCILMEMBER TART, SECONDED BY COUNCILMEMBER SUMNER TO
APPROVE THE ABOVE CONSENT ITEM. MOTION UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED.
BUDGET -FY 2001 -2002
INTERIM CITY MANAGER AUTRY STATED THAT A BUDGET ORDINANCE AND THE BUDGET
DOCUMENT FOR FY 2001 -2002 IS ATTACHED FOR COUNCIL CONSIDERATION FOR
ADOPTION.
MOTION BY COUNCILMEMBER SUMNER, SECONDED BY COUNCILMEMBER ROBINSON TO
PUT $50,000.00 IN A BANK ACCOUNT FOR THE HARNETT FORWARD TOGETHER
COMMITTEE FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND THE MONEY TO BE RELEASED AT THE
DISCRETION OF THE CITY OF DUNN.
MAYOR OUDEH ASKED IF THERE WAS ANY MORE DISCUSSION.
COUNCILMEMBER TART STATED THAT HE WAS UNSURE OF HOW THIS MONEY CAN BE
OBTAINED AND SPENT IF IT IS NOT IN A GRANT TO THE HARNETT FORWARD TOGETHER
COMMITTEE. HE ASKED IF THERE WAS ANY REASON THAT COUNCIL THOUGHT THE
MONEY NEEDS TO BE IN A CHECKING ACCOUNT IN DUNN. HE ADDED THAT HE THOUGHT
IT SHOWS THAT DUNN IS BACKING THE COUNTY MORE IF THEY GIVE IT TO THE HARNETT
FORWARD TOGETHER COMMITTEE RATHER THAN LETTING IT SIT HERE IN DUNN.
CITY ATTORNEY GODWIN ASKED IF HIS IDEA WAS TO PUT IT IN AN ESCROW ACCOUNT
AND AS THEY NEED IT THEY WOULD REQUEST CITY COUNCIL FOR PARTICULAR
PROJECTS AND THEN COUNCIL WOULD VOTE WHETHER OR NOT TO RELEASE THE
MONEY.
INTERIM CITY MANAGER AUTRY ASKED HOW DO THEY DO THAT FROM THE
EXPENDITURE AND ASKED WHERE IS THE $50,000 COMING FROM.
MAYOR PRO -TEM WOMBLE STATED THAT IF THE GRANT WOULD BE MADE TO THE
HARNETT FORWARD TOGETHER COMMITTEE WE WOULD DEBIT THE EXPENDITURE LINE
AND THE SOURCE OF THE FUNDS WOULD BE FUND BALANCE.
COUNCILMEMBER BASS STATED HE DID NOT SEE WHY IT SHOULD BE SET UP IN AN
ESCROW ACCOUNT IF COUNCIL COMMITS TO THE $50,000.00.
COUNCILMEMBER ROBINSON STATED THAT IF THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
COMMITTEE HAS THEIR OWN BOARD MEMBERS WHY SHOULD THEY NEED TO GET
COUNCIL'S PERMISSION BEFORE THEY CAN USE THE MONEY.
728
MAYOR PRO -TEM WOMBLE STATED THAT IF COUNCIL WANTS TO MAKE A LASTING
IMPRESSION, TIIEN THEY NEED THE RIGHT TO BE ABLE TO CHECK BECAUSE A FUTURE
COUNCIL CAN SAY THEY ARE NOT GOING TO DO THAT ANYMORE.
COUNCILMEMBER SUMNER STATED THAT HIS CONCERN WAS THE TAXPAYERS OF DUNN
BECAUSE THIS IS THEIR MONEY AND THAT IS WHY HE WANTED IT DONE AT THE
DISCRETION OF THE CITY OF DUNN.
MAYOR PRO -TEM WOMBLE STATED THAT IN THE RESTRICTIONS THEY CAN SPECIFY
THAT IN SOME FORM OR FASHION THAT THE CITY BE CONSULTED ON THE USE OF THE
MONEY. HE ADDED THAT HE WOULD URGE COUNCIL NOT TO REQUIRE THAT IT COME
BACK BEFORE THEM FOR APPROVAL BECAUSE OF THE TIME FACTORS INVOLVED AND TO
ALLOW FLEXIBILITY OF PEOPLE OUT IN THE FIELD TRYING TO MAKE THINGS HAPPEN.
HE ADDED THAT THEY WOULD NOT BE CHANGING THE FINANCIAL CONTROLS BECAUSE
THERE ARE PEOPLE WITH THE UTMOST INTEGRITY THAT ARE LOOKING AFTER THIS
MONEY AND HONORING THESE RESTRICTIONS AND WILL BE LOOKING AT THE
RESTRICTIONS EVERY YEAR TO MAKE SURE IT IS BEING SPENT CORRECTLY. HE
FURTHER STATED THAT COUNCIL WOULD NOT BE LOSING ANY CONTROL BUT WOULD BE
GAINING THE FLEXIBILITY OF THE MONEY BEING IN THE HANDS OF PEOPLE THAT KNOW
HOW TO USE IT.
MAYOR OUDEH SUGGESTED THAT COUNCIL APPOINT TWO OR THREE COUNCILMEMBERS
TO MAKE THE DECISIONS AND THEN INFORM CITY COUNCIL SO THAT IT DOES NOT HAVE
TO COME BEFORE COUNCIL EVERY TIME THEY WANT TO SPEND SOME OF THE MONEY.
COUNCILMEMBER BASS STATED THAT HE THOUGHT IT SHOULD COME BEFORE COUNCIL
EVERY TIME BECAUSE THE CITIZENS OF DUNN NEED TO KNOW WHAT THE MONEY IS
BEING USED FOR.
COUNCILMEMBER SUMNER WITH CONSENT OF COUNCILMEMBER ROBINSON AMENDED
HIS ORIGINAL MOTION TO AWARD A RESTRICTED GRANT IN THE AMOUNT OF $50,000.00
TO THE HARNETT FORWARD TOGETHER COMMITTEE FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
PROJECTS BENEFITING THE CITY OF DUNN WITH THE CONDITION THAT EXPENDITURES
UTILIZING THOSE FUNDS BE REPORTED BACK TO THE CITY ON A REGULAR BASIS.
MOTION CARRIED 5 -1
AYES: ROBINSON NOES: BASS
MCDOUGAL
SUMNER
WOMBLE
TART
COUNCILMEMBER ROBINSON ASKED WHERE WOULD THE MONEY BE COMING FROM.
MAYOR PRO -TEM WOMBLE STATED THAT IN HIS ANALYSIS OF THE BUDGET PRIOR TO
THE MAY 29, 2001 MEETING THE CITY OF DUNN IS IN EXCELLENT FINANCIAL SHAPE. HE
ADDED THAT LAST YEAR IT WAS BUDGETED TO ALLOW US TO GO INTO OUR FUND
BALANCE OF $400,000 AND THIS BUDGET TONIGHT PARTICIPATES US GOING INTO OUR
FUND BALANCE OF $415,000. HE FURTHER STATED THAT OBVIOUSLY THAT IS NOT
HEALTHY OR GOOD BUT HIS PHILOSOPHY IS IF THEY CAN KEEP THE USAGE OF THE FUND
BALANCE WITHIN THE $200,000 RANGE FOR THE NEXT TWO YEARS, IN THE THIRD YEAR
THERE WOULD BE A REVALUATION AND BY DROPPING OUR TAX RATE BACK A LITTLE
WE COULD PICK OUR REVENUES BACK UP AND START HAVING A SURPLUS FOR A FEW
YEARS.
HE STATED THAT IT IS IMPORTANT THAT THEY MAINTAIN THIS FUND BALANCE BUT IS
ALSO IMPORTANT THAT COUNCIL UNDERSTANDS THAT THERE IS A PLAN AND WHAT
THAT PLAN IS SO THAT EVERY YEAR THE CITY OF DUNN IS NOT CONTINUALLY GOING IN
THE HOLE.
INTERIM CITY MANAGER AUTRY STATED THAT HE NEEDED TO AMEND THE BUDGET
ORDINANCE BY DECREASING $45,000.00 OUT OF SURPLUS AND INCREASING THE
COMMUNITY SERVICE FUND BY $45,000.00.
MOTION BY COUNCILMEMBER ROBINSON, SECONDED BY COUNCILMEMBER SUMNER TO
APPROVE THE BUDGET AS AMENDED BY TAKING $45,000 OUT OF SURPLUS AND ADDING
IT TO COMMUNITY SERVICE. MOTION UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED.
MAYOR PRO -TEM WOMBLE STATED THAT AT THE MAY 29, 2001 MEETING HE HAD SOME
CONCERNS ABOUT THE BUDGET AND THOSE CONCERNS HAVE NOT GONE AWAY. HE
ADDED THAT HE WOULD NOT OPPOSE THE BUDGET BECAUSE HE WANTED TO HAVE THE
OPPORTUNITY TO CONTINUE TO WORK WITH THE COUNCIL, THE FINANCE DIRECTOR
AND ALSO THE INTERIM CITY MANAGER; HOWEVER, THERE ARE SOME REVENUE ITEMS
THAT THEY NEED TO BE ESPECIALLY CAUTIOUS ABOUT AS TIIE YEAR PROGRESSES.
729
DEDICATION OF STREETS AND SIDEWALKS -DUNN HOUSING AUTHORITY
INTERIM CITY MANAGER AUTRY STATED THAT THE DUNN HOUSING AUTHORITY HAS
REQUESTED THAT THE CITY OF DUNN ACCEPT DEDICATION OF ALL TH E STREETS AND
SIDEWALKS WITHIN SEVERAL OF ITS PROJECTS INCLUDING POWELL VILLAGE, MCKAY
COURTS, WASHINGTON IIEIGI -ITS, AND HARNETT TERRACE. HE ADDS ^D THAT A
RESOLUTION IS ATTACHED THAT NEEDS COUNCIL CONSIDERATION AND IT IS HIS
RECOMMENDATION THAT THE CITY OF DUNN ACCEPT THE STREETS AND SIDEWALKS
INTO THE CITY OF DUNN ROAD SYSTEM.
MOTION BY COUNCILMEMBER MCDOUGAL, SECONDED BY COUNCILMEMBER TART TO
ACCEPT THE STREETS AND SIDEWALKS WITHIN IT'S PROJECTS INCLUDING POWELL
VILLAGE, MCKAY COURTS, WASHINGTON 14EIGHTS AND HARNETT TERRACE INTO THE
CITY OF DUNN ROAD SYSTEM. MOTION UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED. (ATTACHMENT
#2)
KURT INSTITUTE OF GOVERNMENT
INTERIM CITY MANAGER AUTRY STATED THAT MR. KURT JENNE, ASSISTANT DIRECTOR
FOR THE INSTITUTE OF GOVERNMENT 1S PRESENT TO REVIEW WITH COUNCIL THE
PROCEDURES FOR HIRING A CITY MANAGER.
MR. KURT JENNE STATED THAT COUNCIL NEEDS TO FIRST DETERMINE WHAT THE NEEDS
ARE FOR THE CITY OF DUNN. HE ADDED THAT ONCE THE NEEDS ARE DETERMINED THE
APPLICATIONS CAN BE SCREENED BY COUNCILMEMBERS WHO WILL INDIVIDUALLY
REVIEW THE APPLICATIONS, TAKE SOME NOTES, AND THEN COMPARE THEIR CHOICES TO
THE OTHER COUNCILMEMBERS. HE FURTHER STATED THAT NORMAL TIME TO HIRE A
CITY MANAGER IS ABOUT FOUR MONTHS EVEN THOUGH SOMETIMES IT COULD TAKE
LONGER.
PIE SUGGESTED THAT ONE PERSON, PREFERABLY THE-CLERK OR THE ATTORNEY KEEP
THE APPLICATIONS IN THEIR OFFICE^ AND LET THE- COUNCILMEMBERS AT THEIR
CONVENIENCE COME TO THE OFFICE AND SIT DOWN AND REVIEW THE APPLICATIONS
THERE IN THE OFFICE. HE ADDED THAT THE APPLICATIONS SHOULD NOT BE COPIED OR
TAKEN OUT OF THE OFFICE AND HE ADVISED COUNCIL NOT TO WAIT TOO LONG BEFORE
INTERVIEWING BECAUSE THE APPLICANTS COULD HAVE ALREADY ACCEPTED A
POSITION SOMEWI -IERC ELSE.
CITY ATTORNEY GODWIN STATED THAT COUNCIL CAN GO INTO CLOSED SESSION AT A
REGULAR OR SPECIAL CALL MEETING TO DISCUSS THE HIRING PROCESS.
MR. JENNE STATED THAT 1S CORRECT.
MAYOR PRO -TEM WOMBLE ASKED MR. JENNE IF HE WOULD SUGGEST THAT COUNCIL
DESCRIBE IN DETAIL IN ADVANCE THE PROCESS THEY WANT TO USE.
MR. JENNE RESPONDED YES.
MAYOR PRO -TEM WOMBLE ASKED IF IT WOULD BE APPROPRIATE TO HAVE THE PUBLIC
MAKE SUGGESTIONS AT A PUBLIC HEARING OR PUBLIC COMMENT SESSION TO LET THEM
VOICE THEIR OPINIONS ABOUT THE QUALIFICATIONS AND CREDENTIALS THEY WOULD
LIKE TO SEE IN A CITY MANAGER.
MR. JENNE RESPONDED THAT IT WOULD BE UNUSUAL BUT MAY HOLD VERY USEFUL TO
THEM IN HELPING TO MAKE A DECISION. HE ADDED THAT AT SOME POINT ALL COUNCIL
WILL NEED TO COME TOGETHER TO INTERVIEW THE INDIVIDUALS BECAUSE ALL
COUNCIL SHOULD BE SATISFIED THAT THEY HAVE VOICED THEIR OPINIONS AND HIRED
THE BEST PERSON FOR THE POSITION.
HE STATED THAT A TENTATIVE OUTLINE COULD BE DRAWN FOR COUNCIL TO FOLLOW IN
THEIR SEARCH FOR A CITY MANAGER. I-IE ADDED THAT INCLUDED IN THE INTERVIEW
PROCESS SHOULD BE ISSUES THAT THEY FEEL THE TOWN WILL FACE IN THE NEXT TEN
YEARS SUCH AS ANNEXATION, INFRASTRUCTURE, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, ETC. HE
FURTHER STATED THAT THE SKILLS AND ABILITIES NEEDED INCLUDED EDUCATION IN
PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION, PUBLIC RELATIONS, BEING ABLE TO HANDLE DIVERSITY,
SOLID FINANCIAL SKILLS, BE A LEADER IN THE COMMUNITY AND STAFF AND
PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT SKILLS.
MAYOR OUDE11 STATED THAT INTERIM CITY MANAGER AUTRY SHOULD KELP ALL
APPLICATIONS IN HIS OFFICE AND THAT COUNCILMEMBERS SHOULD GO BY THERE TO
REVIEW THE APPLICATIONS.
COUNCILMEMBER TART SUGGESTED THAT COUNCILMEMBERS PICK THEIR TOP TEN
CHOICES AND THEN WHEN COUNCIL MEETS AGAIN THEY CAN COMPARE THEIR
FINDINGS.
730
CITY ATTORNEY GODWIN ASKED MR. JENNE HOW COMMON IS IT FOR MUNICIPALITIES OF
DUNN'S SIZE TO HIRE SOMEONE FROM OUT OF STATE.
MR. JENNE RESPONDED THAT WAS NOT UNCOMMON.
MR. JENNE ASKED COUNCIL IF THEY WOULD LIKE FOR HIM TO BE INVOLVED MORE IN
THE HIRING PROCESS.
MAYOR PRO -TEM WOMBLE STATED YES AND EVERYONE AGREED.
INTERIM CITY MANAGER AUTRY ASKED IF EVERYONE WOULD BE AVAILABLE TO
REVIEW THE APPLICATIONS THIS WEEK.
CITY ATTORNEY GODWIN STATED THAT AT THE NEXT MEETING THAT THIS WOULD BE
DISCUSSED WE WOULD NARROW THE SCOPE EVEN MORE WITH MR. JENNE'S
FACILITATION.
MAYOR PRO -TEM WOMBLE STATED THAT INTERIM CITY MANAGER AUTRY WOULD BE
THE PERFECT PERSON TO FACILITATE THIS PROCESS AS LONG AS COUNCIL HAS HIS
ASSURANCES THAT HE IS NOT A CANDIDATE.
INTERIM CITY MANAGER AUTRY STATED THAT HE WAS NOT A CANDIDATE.
IT WAS THE CONSENSUS OF COUNCIL AND MR. JENNE AGREED THAT HE WOULD RETURN
AT THE NEXT REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING ON JULY 5, 2001 TO CONFER FURTHER WITH
COUNCIL ABOUT THE HIRING PROCESS.
MAYOR OUDEH ADJOURNED THE MEETING AT 9:57 P.M.
P OF
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TINA M. SILLS
DEPUTY CLERK