06202002871
MINUTES
CITY OF DUNN
DUNN, NORTH CAROLINA
THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF DUNN HELD A SPECIAL CALL MEETING ON
THURSDAY, JUNE 20, 2002, AT 7:00 P.M. IN THE DUNN MUNICIPAL BUILDING. PRESENT
WAS MAYOR ABRAHAM OUDEH, MAYOR PRO -TEM MIKE WOMBLE,
COUNCILMEMBERS TOBY SUMNER, GEORGE ROBINSON, JOEY TART, DONNIE OLDS
AND PAUL BASS. ALSO PRESENT WAS CITY MANAGER MICHAEL USKIEWICZ, PUBLIC
WORKS DIRECTOR RONNIE AUTRY, PUBLIC WORKS SUPERINTENDENT THOMAS
JERNIGAN, CAPTAIN MORRY DENNING, CAPTAIN RONNIE RADCLIFFE, FINANCE
DIRECTOR RENEE' DAUGHTRY, RECREATION DIRECTOR PERRY HUDSON, CHIEF
BUILDING INSPECTOR SHANE HUDSON, INTERIM HUMAN RESOURCES OFFICER
MOSES GALLION, LIBRARIAN DEBORAH MELVIN, CITY ACCOUNTANT DEBBIE
WILLIAMS, UTILITY SERVICES SPECIALIST PATTY PAGE, DEPUTY CLERK DEBRA
WEST, CITY ATTORNEY P. TILGHMAN POPE AND DAILY RECORD REPORTER LISA
FARMER.
INVOCATION
MAYOR OUDEH OPENED THE MEETING AT 7:00 P.M. AND ASKED CAPTAIN MORRY
DENNING TO GIVE THE INVOCATION. AFTERWARDS, THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE WAS
REPEATED.
MAYOR OUDEH CLOSED THE REGULAR MEETING AND OPENED PUBLIC HEARING AT 7:01
P.M.
PUBLIC HEARING
BUDGET FY 2002 -2003
THE PUBLIC HAS BEEN NOTIFIED THAT THE CITY OF DUNN WILL HOLD A PUBLIC
HEARING FOR THE PURPOSE OF RECEIVING PUBLIC COMMENT CONCERNING APPROVAL
OF THE FY 2002 -2003 BUDGET.
THE PUBLIC HEARING WAS DULY ADVERTISED ON JUNE 11, 2002 AND ALL PERTINENT
DATA IS ATTACHED UNDER ITEM VI -l.
MAYOR OUDEH ASKED IF THERE WAS ANYONE PRESENT TO SPEAK FOR OR AGAINST THIS
REQUEST. HEARING NONE, MAYOR OUDEH CLOSED THE PUBLIC HEARING AND
RECONVENED THE REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING AT 7:02 P.M.
CONSENT ITEMS
CONTRACT - COUNCIL CONSIDERED APPROVAL OF THE AVERASBORO FIRE DISTRICT
CONTRACT. (ATTACHMENT #1)
BUDGET AMENDMENTS - COUNCIL CONSIDERED APPROVAL OF BUDGET AMENDMENTS
#105- #111. (ATTACHMENT #2)
A MOTION WAS RECEIVED BY COUNCILMEMBER TART, SECONDED BY COUNCILMEMBER
BASS TO APPROVE ALL CONSENT ITEMS. MOTION UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED.
ITEMS FOR DECISION
BUDGET FY 2002 -2003
CITY MANAGER MICHAEL USKIEWICZ STATED THAT BEFORE THE COUNCIL WAS THE
BUDGET FOR FY 2002 -2003.
ATTACHED ARE THE BUDGET ORDINANCE AND THE BUDGET DOCUMENT FOR FY 2002-
2003.
MAYOR OUDEH ASKED IF THERE WAS ANYMORE DISCUSSION.
MAYOR PRO -TEM WOMBLE STATED THAT HE OPPOSES THE BUDGET IN ITS CURRENT ^" \
FORM AND THERE ARE SEVERAL ITEMS HE HAS EXPRESSED CONCERN WITH OVER THE
LAST SEVERAL MEETINGS. HE ADDED THAT DURING PREVIOUS BUDGET YEARS, WATER
AND SEWER RATE INCREASES WERE DISCUSSED. HE FURTHER STATED THAT WHEN THIS
COUNCIL TOOK OFFICE, IT HAD BEEN SEVERAL YEARS SINCE THE WATER AND SEWER
RATES WERE INCREASED FORCING THIS COUNCIL TO PASS STEEP INCREASES IN
COMMERCIAL, BULK AND RESIDENTIAL RATES.
MR. WOMBLE STATED IT WAS A GOOD PRACTICE TO INCREASE THE WATER AND SEWER
RATES IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE COST OF LIVING AS OPPOSED TO STEEP INCREASES AT
ONCE. HE ADDED THIS BUDGET DOES NOT INCLUDE ANY INCREASE IN WATER AND
SEWER RATES DESPITE THE CITY'S CONTINUED INCREASE IN COST. HE FURTHER STATED
THE CITY ALSO HAD AN INCREASE IN DEBT SERVICE AS A RESULT OF NEW PURCHASES.
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MR. WOMBLE STATED THAT HE REALIZES THERE WILL BE A STUDY TO EVALUATE THE
WATER AND SEWER RATES AND FEELS CERTAIN THIS STUDY WILL SUGGEST THAT THE
RATES ARE LOWER THAN THEY SHOULD BE. HE ADDED THAT HE DID NOT WANT TO SEE
THE COUNCIL INSTITUTE LARGE INCREASES AT ONE TIME WHEN THEY CAN
INCREMENTALLY KEEP THESE RATES CONCURRENT WITH THEIR COST.
MR. WOMBLE STATED THAT ANOTHER ITEM HE EXPRESSED OPPOSITION TO IN THE PRIOR
YEAR BUDGET WAS THE LONGEVITY SUPPLEMENT. HE ADDED THIS COUNCIL HAS BEEN
GENEROUS TO THE EMPLOYEES OF DUNN AND TWO PAY RAISES WERE GIVEN DURING
THEIR FIRST TWO BUDGET YEARS. HE ADDED THAT THE LAST PAY RAISE THIS COUNCIL
INSTITUTED HAD A 10% INCREASE FOR EMPLOYEES WITH THE MOST LONGEVITY.
HE FURTHER STATED HE SUPPORTED THIS RAISE WHICH NARROWLY PASSED AND HAD
THIS COUNCIL KNOWN AT THE TIME THAT IN THE SUBSEQUENT YEAR A LONGEVITY
SUPPLEMENT WOULD BE IMPLEMENTED, THEN THIS RAISE PROBABLY WOULD NOT HAVE HAD THE SUPPORT TO PASS.
MR. WOMBLE STATED THAT THE CURRENT BUDGET HAS NO ROOM FOR ERROR OR
CONTINGENCIES AND ALL CAPITAL EXPENDITURES HAVE BEEN ELIMINATED. HE ADDED
THEY ARE NOT PROVIDING FOR ANY MAINTENANCE, INFRASTRUCTURE, OR VEHICLE
REPLACEMENT. HE FURTHER STATED THIS COUNCIL IS FAILING TO TAKE ADVANTAGE
OF COST THEY CAN TRIM WITHOUT REDUCING SERVICES TO THE CITIZENS.
HE STATED THAT EVERYONE KNOWS THAT HE SUPPORTS THE CONSOLIDATION OF THE
CITY'S DISPATCH WITH HARNETT COUNTY AND THIS IS A HUGE AREA THAT THE
CITIZENS CANNOT AFFORD TO PAY TWICE FOR. HE ADDED THEY DO NOT HAVE A VISION
OR PLAN TO GET THEM BACK ON TRACK AND THIS BUDGET GOES INTO THE FUND
BALANCE BY APPROXIMATELY $900,000.00. HE FURTHER STATED AT THE END OF THIS
BUDGET YEAR THAT THIS COUNCIL IS MAKING A DECISION ON, THEY WILL HAVE USED
ALMOST 2 MILLION OF THEIR FUND BALANCE AND IN HIS OPINION, THIS IS TOO MUCH
WITHOUT A PLAN TO GET THEM BACK ON TRACK.
MR. WOMBLE STATED THAT IT WOULD TAKE NEARLY 2 MILLION DOLLARS OF NEW
REVENUES JUST TO BALANCE THIS BUDGET AND PROVIDE FOR CAPITAL EXPENDITURES
AND MAINTENANCE OF THEIR INFRASTRUCTURE. HE ADDED THIS COUNCIL HAS MADE IT
CLEAR THEY WILL NOT INCREASE TAXES AND IF TAXES ARE NOT INCREASED, THEN THE
ONLY THING THEY CAN DO IS TO REDUCE COST. HE FURTHER STATED HE WAS
CONCERNED THAT THIS COUNCIL WAS PUSHING THEIR RESPONSIBILITY TO THE NEXT
COUNCIL.
MR. WOMBLE STATED BECAUSE A PRIOR COUNCIL CHOSE NOT TO REPLACE POLICE CARS
/ IN THE PAST, THIS COUNCIL HAS HAD TO REPLACE SEVERAL OF THEM AND THIS IS AN
EXAMPLE OF CLEARLY WHAT WILL HAPPEN AS A RESULT OF THIS COUNCIL'S DECISION
BECAUSE THE FY 03 -04 BUDGET WILL NOT BE IN A POSITION TO HAVE SUBSTANTIAL
CAPITAL EXPENDITURES EITHER. HE ADDED THAT HE HAD TALKED WITH HARNETT
COUNTY TODAY TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THE %: CENT SALES TAX WOULD BRING IF
IMPLEMENTED AND HE ALSO TALKED WITH THE LEAGUE OF MUNICIPALITIES TO BE
SURE HE HAD A GOOD UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT THE CURRENT BUDGET SITUATION IS
AND HOW IT AFFECTS LOCAL GOVERNMENTS. HE FURTHER STATED THE CITY WILL NOT
BE ABLE TO WEATHER BUDGET YEAR 03 -04 LIKE THE PROPOSED BUDGET 02 -03 UNLESS
THEY SPEND MORE TIME TO UNDERSTAND HOW TO RETURN TO A BALANCED BUDGET
AND MOVE FORWARD.
MAYOR OUDEH ASKED IF THERE WAS ANYMORE DISCUSSION.
COUNCILMEMBER TART STATED THAT HE COULD NOT SUPPORT THE BUDGET AND
TAKING $877,000.00 FROM THE FUND BALANCE WAS TOO MUCH MONEY TO TRY TO MAKE
UP NEXT YEAR. HE ADDED THEY HAVE BEEN TOLD BY NC LEGISLATURES THAT THEIR
DEFICIT WILL POSSIBLY BE THE SAME NEXT YEAR SO THE CHANCES OF RECEIVING
MONEY NEXT YEAR ARE SLIM. HE FURTHER STATED IF THE BUDGET IS KEPT AS IT IS,
THEN IT DOES NOT ALLOW FOR INSURANCE INCREASES, PAY RAISES, INFRASTRUCTURE,
CAPITAL EXPENDITURES OR PROJECTS.
MR. TART STATED THAT EVEN IF THEY RECEIVE THE %z CENT SALES TAX, WITH
REVALUATION IN YEAR 2003, THEY SHOULD RECEIVE AN ESTIMATED $300,000.00
BETWEEN SEPTEMBER AND DECEMBER, 2003. HE ADDED THAT IF YOU ADD THOSE
FIGURES TOGETHER, THE BEST THEY WILL DO IS BREAK EVEN. HE FURTHER STATED
�✓ THIS DOES NOT ALLOW FOR ANY EXPENDITURES AND HE DOESN'T SEE HOW THE CITY
CAN AFFORD TO SPEND $877,000.00 THIS YEAR OUT OF FUND BALANCE AND HE WILL
HAVE TO OPPOSE THIS YEAR'S BUDGET.
MAYOR OUDEH ASKED IF ANYMORE DISCUSSION.
COUNCILMEMBER SUMNER STATED THAT NONE OF THEM ARE HAPPY WITH THIS
BUDGET BUT THE ENTIRE STATE AND MUNICIPALITIES ARE HAVING PROBLEMS WITH
THEIR BUDGET AND HE UNDERSTOOD WHAT MR. WOMBLE AND MR. TART WERE SAYING
BUT FELT THEY NEEDED TO BE CONCERNED WITH THIS YEAR AND WILL HAVE TO WORK
ON THIIDIGS TO DO NEXT YEAR. HE ADDED THEY ARE IN A FINANCIAL PINCH AND THE NC
LEGISLATURE MUST HELP THEM AND THEY MUST DO WHAT THEY HAVE TO DO TO KEEP
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THE CITY RUNNING. HE FURTHER STATED THAT NEXT YEAR THEY WILL HAVE SOME
SERIOUS QUESTIONS ABOUT RAISING TAXES AND WILL HAVE TO CONSIDER THIS LATER.
MAYOR OUDEH STATED THAT HE WOULD LIKE TO REMIND EVERYONE THAT AN ARTICLE
WAS IN THE DAILY RECORD STATING THAT HARNETT COUNTY'S UNEMPLOYMENT RATE
WAS 8.9 %. HE ADDED THEY COULD NOT ASK PEOPLE TO PAY MORE MONEY WHEN THEY
DON'T HAVE IT.
COUNCILMEMBER OLDS ASKED IF THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THE COUNCIL HAS SEEN THIS
BUDGET.
MAYOR OUDEH RESPONDED NO.
COUNCILMEMBER OLDS ASKED IF THE ITEMS BEING ADDRESSED TONIGHT WERE
DISCUSSED IN PREVIOUS MEETINGS. THE COUNCIL RESPONDED YES.
COUNCILMEMBER BASS STATED THAT HE WAS NOT HAPPY WITH THIS BUDGET BUT HE
FEELS THIS IS THE BEST THEY CAN DO THIS YEAR.
COUNCILMEMBER ROBINSON STATED HE AGREED WITH MR. BASS. HE ADDED THAT IF
THEY CONSIDER ELIMINATING THE CITY'S DISPATCH AT THIS TIME, THEY WILL HAVE A
PROBLEM. HE ADDED WHEN THE ECONOMY GOES DOWN, CRIME WILL GO UP AND THIS IS
THE LAST PLACE THEY SHOULD CUT. HE FURTHER STATED THE DISPATCH
CONSOLIDATION WOULD BE A BAD DECISION AND WILL EVENTUALLY LEAD TO
CONTRACTING OTHER CITY SERVICES OUT AND THEY CAN'T FIND $877,000.00 FROM
CONSOLIDATING THE DISPATCH.
COUNCILMEMBER OLDS STATED HE WAS GOING TO GIVE CREDIT TO MEMBERS OF THE
COUNCIL AND ASSUME THAT IN PRIOR MEETINGS THEY DIGESTED THIS BUDGET AND DID
AS MUCH AS THEY COULD DO WITH WHAT THEY HAD TO WORK WITH AND FOR THAT
REASON HE WOULD SUPPORT THIS BUDGET. HE ADDED THAT EVEN THOUGH HE WAS
NOT A PART OF THIS GROUP DURING BUDGET MEETINGS, HE GIVES THESE GENTLEMEN
CREDIT FOR HAVING ENOUGH INTELLIGENCE TO LOOK AT IT AND TO MAKE THE BEST
DECISION THEY COULD POSSIBLY MAKE FOR THE CITY OF DUNN.
MOTION BY COUNCILMEMBER BASS, SECONDED
APPROVE THE FY 2002 -2003 BUDGET AS PRESENTED
(ATTACHMENT #3)
AYES NOES
BASS WOMBLE
ROBINSON TART
SUMNER
OLDS
DAVID HODGES
TAX RELEASE
BY COUNCILMEMBER ROBINSON TO
. MOTION CARRIED 4 -2.
CITY MANAGER USKIEWICZ STATED THAT MR. DAVID HODGES WAS PRESENT TO ASK
THE COUNCIL FOR A TAX RELEASE. HE ADDED THAT THE COUNCIL WILL NOTE IN THEIR
PACKET THAT MR. HODGES IS ABOUT TO RECEIVE A TAX BILL OF APPROXIMATELY
$3770.00. HE FURTHER STATED THIS IS THE RESULT OF MR. HODGES SELLING THIS
PROPERTY.
MR. USKIEWICZ STATED THAT THE COUNTY DID NOT CODE THIS PROPERTY PROPERLY
WHEN MR. HODGES BOUGHT IT 3 %2 YEARS AGO AND MR. HODGES HAS BEEN RECEIVING
WATER AND SEWER. HE ADDED THAT ONLY THE COUNCIL CAN RELEASE THIS TAX BILL.
MR. DAVID HODGES STEPPED FORWARD AND STATED THAT 3 %z YEARS AGO, HE BUILT A
COMMERCIAL PROPERTY ON INTERSTATE 95 TO HOUSE HIS ANTIQUE MALL AND THE JC
PENNY CATALOG. HE ADDED AT THAT TIME HE ASSUMED THE PROPERTY WAS IN THE
CITY LIMITS. HE FURTHER STATED HE HAD A SECURITY ALARM SYSTEM INSTALLED
AND ADVISED THE SECURITY COMPANY TO CALL THE DUNN POLICE DEPARTMENT IF
THE ALARM WENT OFF.
MR. HODGES STATED THE SECURITY COMPANY NOTIFIED THE DUNN POLICE
DEPARTMENT WHEN THE ALARM WENT OFF AND THE DUNN POLICE DEPARTMENT
ADVISED THEM THIS PROPERTY WAS NOT IN THE CITY LIMITS. HE ADDED FROM THAT
POINT, THE COUNTY RESPONDED TO ANY ALARMS THAT WENT OFF. HE FURTHER
STATED THAT AFTERWARDS, HE CHECKED WITH THE CITY OF DUNN TAX COLLECTOR
PAM HODGES TO FIND OUT IF HE WAS IN THE CITY LIMITS.
MR. HODGES STATED THAT DUNN TAX COLLECTOR PAM HODGES ADVISED HIM THAT HE
WAS NOT IN THE CITY LIMITS. HE ADDED THAT SEVERAL MONTHS LATER, J.E. WILSON
WAS AT HIS BUSINESS AND THE SUBJECT CAME UP AND MR. WILSON ADVISED HIM THAT
HE THOUGHT THE BUSINESS WAS IN THE CITY LIMITS UNLESS CHANGES HAD SINCE BEEN
MADE. FIE FURTHER STATED THAT HE CAME BACK TO THE CITY OF DUNN AND TOLD
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MRS. HODGES TO CHECK AGAIN TO BE SURE IF HE WAS IN THE CITY LIMITS OR NOT
BECAUSE HE WAS LEASING THE PROPERTY AND THIS WOULD AFFECT HIS LEASE PRICES.
MR. HODGES STATED THAT AGAIN MRS. HODGES TOLD HIM HE WAS NOT IN THE CITY
LIMITS. HE ADDED THAT RECENTLY HE SOLD THIS PROPERTY AND ATTORNEY BO JONES
WAS HANDLING THE CLOSING AND IT CAME UP THAT HE OWED APPROXIMATELY
$3800.00 IN TAXES TO THE CITY OF DUNN. HE FURTHER STATED THAT HE DID RECEIVE
WATER AND SEWER SERVICES BUT DID NOT RECEIVE THE POLICE SERVICES.
MR. HODGES STATED HE LOST THE AVAILABILITY TO COLLECT THIS IN LEASING THIS
PROPERTY. HE ADDED THAT HE WAS ASKING THAT THESE TAXES BE RELIEVED OR
FORGIVEN AND GIVEN THE SITUATION THAT HE CHECKED TWICE AND WAS UNABLE TO
INCLUDE THAT IN HIS LEASE FIGURES. HE FURTHER STATED THAT 3 %, YEARS LATER
WAS TOO LONG FOR THIS KIND OF THING TO GO ON.
MR. HODGES STATED THAT $3800.00 MEANS A LOT TO HIM SINCE HE HAS HAD TO SHUT
DOWN THREE BUSINESSES IN THE LAST TWENTY -FOUR MONTHS DUE TO THE CURRENT
ECONOMY. HE ADDED THAT HE WAS HERE TO APPEAL TO THE COUNCIL'S GOOD
JUDGEMENT.
MAYOR OUDEH ASKED IF THE COUNCIL HAD ANY QUESTIONS FOR MR. HODGES.
COUNCILMEMBER ROBINSON STATED HE DID NOT THINK MR. HODGES SHOULD BE HELD
RESPONSIBLE FOR A MISTAKE MADE BY SOMEONE ELSE.
COUNCILMEMBER BASS ASKED MR. HODGES IF HE WAS BILLED FOR CITY TAXES DURING
THE THREE YEARS. MR. HODGES RESPONDED NO, ONLY COUNTY TAXES. MR. HODGES
STATED THAT THE CITY OF DUNN TAX COLLECTOR PAM HODGES TOLD HIM IT WAS JUST
AN ERROR WITH THE COUNTY NOT ENCODING THE TAX BILL PROPERLY.
COUNCILMEMBER BASS STATED THAT HE AGREED WITH MR. ROBINSON. HE ADDED THIS
WAS NOT MR. HODGES FAULT BECAUSE HE CAME TO THE CITY TO CHECK ON THIS AND
IT JUST FELL THROUGH THE CRACKS.
MAYOR PRO -TEM WOMBLE STATED THAT THE DECISIONS THE COUNCIL MAKES HAVE TO
APPLY TO EVERYONE AND BE CONSISTENT WITH PAST AND FUTURE DECISIONS. HE
ADDED THAT IT IS UNFORTUNATE THAT A MISTAKE WAS MADE AT THE COUNTY OFFICE
AND THE CITY DUPLICATED THIS ERROR. HE FURTHER STATED AS A MATTER OF PUBLIC
POLICY, IT WOULD BE WRONG FOR THE COUNCIL TO WAIVE TAXES ON A PARCEL THAT IS
CLEARLY IN THE CITY LIMITS.
MR. WOMBLE STATED THAT IF THE COUNCIL WAIVES THE TAXES, IT WILL PUT THEM IN A
POSITION THAT ANYBODY WITH A MISUNDERSTANDING WOULD HAVE TO BE TREATED
THE SAME WHETHER JUSTIFIED OR NOT.
MR. HODGES STATED IT WAS NOT A MISUNDERSTANDING AND NO ONE INTERPRETED
ANYTHING DIFFERENT BUT HE WAS TOLD BY THE CITY THAT HE WAS NOT IN THE CITY
LIMITS. HE ADDED THAT EACH INDIVIDUAL CASE IS DIFFERENT AND ANYTIME THIS
TYPE OF SITUATION COMES UP IN THE FUTURE, HE WOULD HOPE THE COUNCIL WOULD
FORGIVE THE TAXES AGAIN.
CITY MANAGER USKIEWICZ ASKED MR. HODGES WHERE DID HE PAY HIS WATER AND
SEWER BILL. MR. HODGES RESPONDED IN DUNN.
CITY MANAGER USKIEWICZ ASKED MR. HODGES DID HE APPLY FOR HIS BUSINESS
LICENSE WITHIN THE CITY OF DUNN. MR. HODGES DID NOT RESPOND.
MR. USKIEWICZ STATED THAT MR. HODGES HAD MENTIONED EARLIER THAT HE CAME
BEFORE THE CITY FOR HIS BUSINESS LICENSE. HE ADDED THAT WOULD INDICATE TO
HIM THAT MR. HODGES KNEW THAT HE WAS A PART OF THE CITY AND THAT AN ERROR
WAS MADE. HE ADDED THAT MR. HODGES COULD COME TO THE CITY OF DUNN AND
THE CITY OF DUNN DID NOT NECESSARILY KNOW BECAUSE THEIR INFORMATION COMES
FROM THE COUNTY. HE FURTHER STATED THAT AS A TAX PAYER, WE ARE OBLIGATED
TO POINT TO THE FACT THAT IF WE ARE JUMPING THROUGH THE HOOPS OF THE CITY
AND NOT PAYING CITY TAXES, THEN SOMETHING MUST BE WRONG.
I
`✓
MR. USKIEWICZ TOLD MR. HODGES IF HE WAS PAYING THE CITY FOR WATER AND SEWER
AND IF HE CAME TO THE CITY FOR A BUSINESS LICENSE, THEN HE WAS A RESIDENT OF
THE CITY OF DUNN.
MR. HODGES TOLD MR. USKIEWICZ THAT HE NEEDS TO UNDERSTAND THAT HE HAS
NEVER BEEN IN GOVERNMENT AND DOESN'T UNDERSTAND IT. HE ADDED ALL HE
KNOWS IS HE CAME TO THE CITY EARLY ON AND HE WAS TOLD THAT HE WAS NOT IN
THE CITY LIMITS.
COUNCILMEMBER BASS STATED IF HE CAME TO THE TAX COLLECTOR TWICE, WHY
DIDN'T THE CITY LOOK AT THE MAP.
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MR. HODGES STATED HE DIDN'T THINK IT WAS UNUSUAL TO PAY DUNN FOR WATER AND
SEWER BECAUSE HE KNEW THE WATER HAD TO BE PROVIDED BY SOMEBODY.
COUNCILMEMBER ROBINSON STATED IF THE CITY OF DUNN WAS SENDING HIM A WATER
AND SEWER BILL,. THEN WHY WEREN'T THEY SENDING HIM A TAX BILL. HE ADDED IT
WAS JUST AS MUCH THE CITY'S FAULT AS MR. HODGES.
MAYOR PRO -TEM WOMBLE STATED THAT THE COUNTY MAINTAINS THOSE RECORDS
AND JUST SENDS THE CITY A COPY AND THE CITY SENDS BILLS OUT BASED ON WHAT
THE COUNTY GIVES THEM.
COUNCILMEMBER ROBINSON STATED MR. HODGES WAS JUST WAITING TO RECEIVE
WHATEVER BELONGS TO HIM.
COUNCILMEMBER OLDS STATED THAT MR. HODGES MADE SOME EFFORTS TO CORRECT
THIS SITUATION AND WHETHER HE MADE ENOUGH IS YET TO BE DETERMINED. HE
ADDED THAT IF YOU ARE GETTING SERVICES, YOU KNOW THAT YOU HAVE TO PAY
SOMEBODY. HE FURTHER STATED THE QUESTION WAS WHETHER MR. HODGES WAS
TOTALLY ACCOUNTABLE.
MR. OLDS STATED THE CITY WAS AT FAULT AND SO WAS MR. HODGES. HE SUGGESTED
THIS SITUATION BE COMPROMISED BY NOT HOLDING MR. HODGES ACCOUNTABLE FOR
THE ENTIRE $3800.00. HE FURTHER STATED MR. HODGES DID PUT FORTH SOME EFFORT
BUT BY THAT SAME TOKEN HE HAD ANOTHER AREA OF RESPONSIBILITY'HE SHOULD
HAVE EXPLORED.
CITY MANAGER USKIEWICZ STATED IT IS NOT PROPER TO HOLD THE CITY AT FAULT FOR
SOMETHING THEY HAVE NO CONTROL OVER. HE ADDED THE MAP HE LOOKED AT TODAY
CLEARLY SHOWS THIS IS IN THE CITY LIMITS.
COUNCILMEMBER ROBINSON ASKED WHY THE CITY DIDN'T CHECK WITH THE COUNTY
TO FIND OUT WHY MR. HODGES HAD NOT RECEIVED A TAX BILL AFTER MR. HODGES
INQUIRED ABOUT IT.
MAYOR PRO -TEM WOMBLE RESPONDED THAT MR. HODGES WAS NOT INQUIRING ABOUT
PAYMENT OF HIS PROPERTY TAXES BUT WAS INQUIRING ABOUT OTHER ITEMS.
MR. HODGES STATED HE WAS INQUIRING IF HE WAS IN THE CITY LIMITS AND ANYTHING
THAT WENT ALONG WITH THAT IS WHAT HE WAS ASKING ABOUT. ,
COUNCILMEMBER SUMNER STATED HE DOESN'T KNOW IF MR. HODGES IS ACCOUNTABLE
FOR THIS BILL SINCE HE CAME TO THE CITY ON TWO DIFFERENT OCCASIONS. HE ASKED
CITY ATTORNEY P. TILGHMAN POPE FOR HIS LEGAL POINT OF VIEW.
CITY ATTORNEY POPE STATED FROM A LEGAL POINT OF VIEW, THE CITY COUNCIL HAS
THE AUTHORITY TO GRANT TAX RELEASES OR NOT TO GRANT IT. HE ADDED IF THE
COUNCIL CHOOSES NOT TO GRANT THE TAX RELEASE, THEN THE PROPERTY TAXES WILL
BE DUE AND PAYABLE. HE FURTHER STATED THAT WHETHER OR NOT THE CITY WAS AT
FAULT, THE CITY WAS RELYING ON INFORMATION PROVIDED BY THE COUNTY AND
WHETHER OR NOT MR. HODGES EFFORTS WERE ADEQUATE IN DETERMINING WHETHER
OR NOT HE WAS IN THE CITY LIMITS WILL BE UP TO THE COUNCIL.
COUNCILMEMBER ROBINSON STATED HE WOULD FEEL THE SAME ABOUT ANOTHER
CITIZEN WITH THIS SAME PROBLEM.
MAYOR OUDEH ASKED MR. HODGES WHEN DID HE FIND OUT HE OWED THESE TAXES.
MR. HODGES RESPONDED A FEW DAYS BEFORE THEY CLOSED THE LOAN. HE ADDED
THAT APPROXIMATELY FOUR WEEKS AGO, ATTORNEY BO JONES CALLED HIM AND
INFORMED HIM THE TAXES WERE DUE.
MAYOR PRO -TEM WOMBLE ASKED MR. HODGES WHY WEREN'T THESE TAXES PAID AT
THE TIME THE PROPERTY CLOSED.
MR. HODGES RESPONDED BECAUSE HE WANTED A CHANCE TO APPEAL TO THE COUNCIL.
HE ADDED THIS MONEY IS IN TRUST AND WILL REMAIN THERE UNTIL THE COUNCIL / ^
MAKES THEIR DECISION. HE FURTHER STATED HE OWES INCOME TAX TO THE IRS AND
RECENTLY WROTE THEM A LETTER ADVISING THEM HE SOLD THE BUILDING AND HAS
ALLOCATED THE MONEY IN TRUST FOR THE IRS.
CITY MANAGER USKIEWICZ STATED THE TAX PAYERS OF DUNN REALIZE WHERE THEY
PAY THEIR WATER BILL AND TO GIVE A TOTAL EXEMPTION WOULD NOT GIVE A PROPER
PRECEDENCE FOR THIS COUNCIL TO SET. HE ADDED THAT IF THE COUNCIL WAS
LOOKING AT SOME PARTIAL RELIEF, HE IS NOT SURE WHEN MR. HODGES CAME TO ASK
IF HE WAS IN THE CITY. HE FURTHER STATED IF MR. HODGES INQUIRED ABOUT THIS A
COUPLE OF YEARS AGO, THEN HE IS NOT SURE THE EFFORTS OF MR. HODGES WERE ALL
THATSTRONG.
MAYOR OUDEH ASKED COUNCILMEMBER OLDS WHAT HE MEANT BY PARTIAL PAYMENT.
:.,
COUNCILMEMBER OLDS STATED IT WOULD BE FAIR TO MR. HODGES IF THE CITY WOULD
BE RESPONSIBLE FOR HALF THE AMOUNT AND MR. HODGES BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE
OTHER HALF. HE ADDED THIS COULD HAPPEN TO ANYBODY AND MR. HODGES DID PUT
FORTH SOME EFFORT TO FIND OUT, HE FURTHER STATED THAT SINCE MR. HODGES DID
PUT FORTH AN EFFORT, IT IS WORTH SOME CONSIDERATION THEREFORE HE WOULD BE
IN FAVOR OF THE CITY ASSUMING HALF OF THE AMOUNT LISTED.
COUNCILMEMBER BASS SUGGESTED TABLING THIS ISSUE AND WOULD LIKE TO TALK TO
THE DUNN TAX COLLECTOR PAM HODGES.
COUNCILMEMBER TART STATED THE MISTAKE HERE WAS THAT MR. HODGES WASN'T
BILLED BUT IF YOU'RE DOING BUSINESS WITH SOMEONE AND THEY DON'T BILL YOU
THEN YOU STILL OWE IT. HE ADDED IT IS YOUR DUTY TO PAY IT WHEN BILLED.
MOTION BY COUNCILMEMBER BASS, SECONDED BY COUNCILMEMBER ROBINSON TO
TABLE THIS ISSUE.
COUNCILMEMBER SUMNER STATED THIS WAS A COUNTY ERROR AND THEY WERE ALL
GUILTY.
CITY MANAGER USKIEWICZ STATED YOU CAN QUESTION CITY TAX COLLECTOR PAM
HODGES BUT SHE IS WORKING FROM INFORMATION GIVEN BY THE COUNTY. HE ADDED
THIS PROPERTY WAS NOT CODED CORRECTLY UNTIL THE PROPERTY WAS SOLD AND HE
DOESN'T SEE WHERE MRS. HODGES MADE AN ERROR.
COUNCILMEMBER BASS STATED HE DOES NOT THINK MRS. HODGES MADE AN ERROR
BUT JUST HAD SOME QUESTIONS TO ASK HER,
COUNCILMEMBER OLDS REMINDED THE MAYOR THAT ONCE A MOTION HAS BEEN MADE
TO TABLE, AN ITEM OF BUSINESS CANNOT BE DISCUSSED OR DEBATABLE AND MUST
COME TO VOTE AT ONCE AND SINCE THIS MOTION WAS MADE TO TABLE THIS ITEM,
THEY ARE TO VOTE ON IT AND THE DISCUSSION IS OVER FROM A PARLIAMENTARY
POINT OF VIEW.
MAYOR OUDEH STATED THAT COUNCILMEMBER OLDS WAS RIGHT.
MOTION BY COUNCILMEMBER BASS, SECONDED BY COUNCILMEMBER ROBINSON TO
TABLE THIS ISSUE UNTIL THE NEXT REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING ON JULY 11, 2002.
MOTION CARRIED 4 -2.
AYES NOES
BASS WOMBLE
ROBINSON BASS
SUMNER
OLDS
BOARD APPOINTMENTS
CITY MANAGER USKIEWICZ STATED THAT DEPUTY CLERK, DEBRA WEST WOULD GIVE
THE INFORMATION ABOUT THE BOARD APPOINTMENTS.
MOTION BY COUNCILMEMBER SUMNER, SECONDED BY COUNCILMEMBER OLDS TO
MAKE THE FOLLOWING RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE COUNTY FOR ETJ APPOINTMENTS
TO THE PLANNING BOARD. MOTION UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED.
TERM BEGINS TERM ENDS
KENNETH LEE -239 GIBSON LN.- DUNN JUNE 30, 2002 JUNE 30, 2005
JANET JOHNSON -1430 LANE RD. -.DUNN JUNE 30, 2002 JUNE 30, 2005
THOMAS JERNIGAN -685 BUD HAWKINS RD.-DUNN JUNE 30, 2002 JUNE 30, 2005
MAYOR OUDEH APPOINTED COUNCILMEMBER DONNIE OLDS TO SERVE AS EX- OFFICIO
MEMBER ON THE PLANNING BOARD.
MOTION BY COUNCILMEMBER SUMNER, SECONDED BY COUNCILMEMBER OLDS TO
APPOINT RALPH RAMOS AS CHAIRMAN OF THE PLANNING BOARD. MOTION
UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED.
MOTION BY COUNCILMEMBER OLDS, SECONDED BY COUNCILMEMBER TART TO MAKE
THE FOLLOWING RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE COUNTY FOR ETJ APPOINTMENTS TO THE
BOARD OF ADJUSTMENTS. MOTION UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED.
TERM BEGINS TERM ENDS
BRIAN JOHNSON -2490 HOBSON RD. -DUNN JUNE 30, 2002 JUNE 30, 2005
GARY BEASLEY -567 AMMONS RD.-DUNN JUNE 30. 2002 JUNE 30, 2005
MAYOR OUDEH APPOINTED CHARLES MCNEILL (TENANT APPOINTMENT YEAR BY YEAR)
TO THE DUNN HOUSING AUTHORITY WITH TERM ENDING JUNE 30, 2003.
877
MOTION BY COUNCILMEMBER TART, SECONDED BY COUNCILMEMBER ROBINSON TO
MAKE THE FOLLOWING APPOINTMENTS TO THE RECREATION COMMISSION. MOTION
UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED.
EDDY LANGSTON -1103 W. VANCE ST: DUNN
SHIRLEY WHITE-100 FOUNTAIN CIRCLE -DUNN
DWAYNE HOLMES -304 N. ASHE AVE: DUNN
DENISE WHITMAN -110 BYRD DR. -DUNK
TERM BEGINS
TERM ENDS
JUNE 30, 2002
JUNE 30, 2005
JUNE 30. 2002
JUNE 30, 2005
JUNE 30, 2002
JUNE 30, 2005
JUNE 30, 2002
JUNE 30, 2005
MOTION BY COUNCILMEMBER TART, SECONDED BY COUNCILMEMBER OLDS TO MAKE
THE FOLLOWING APPOINTMENTS TO THE LIBRARY BOARD. MOTION UNANIMOUSLY
APPROVED.
TERM BEGINS
FRANCES OPPERMAN -201 PARLIAMENT PL: DUNN JUNE 30, 2002
TERM ENDS
JUNE 30, 2005
JACKIE TEW -202 N. ASHE AVE. —DUNN JUNE 30, 2002
JUNE 30, 2003
DEBBIE WILLIAMS -70 WEEKS RD: DUNN JUNE 30, 2002
JUNE 30, 2005
BUILDING PERMIT RATE ADJUSTMENTS
CITY MANAGER USKIEWICZ STATED TO THE COUNCIL THAT THIS AGENDA ITEM WAS
NOT ON THE OFFICIAL POSTING AND IF THE COUNCIL WISHES TO DISCUSS THIS ISSUE,
THE AGENDA WILL NEED TO BE AMENDED OR IT CAN BE DISCUSSED AT THE JULY
COUNCIL MEETING.
MOTION BY MAYOR PRO -TEM WOMBLE, SECONDED BY COUNCILMEMBER TART TO
TABLE THIS ITEM UNTIL THE JULY COUNCIL MEETING. MOTION UNANIMOUSLY
APPROVED.
WITH NO FURTHER BUSINESS TO DISCUSS, THE MEETING WAS ADJOURNED AT 7:45 P.M.
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r .l IO UDEH
MAYOR
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ATTEST: r s
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DEBRA G. WEST
DEPUTY CLERK