011805jtl
HARNETT COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
Special Meeting (joint session with legislators)
January 18, 2005
The Harnett County Board of Commissioners met in special session on Tuesday,
January 18, 2005, at Front Street Café, Lillington, North Carolina.
Members present: Teddy J. Byrd, Chairman
Beatrice B. Hill, Vice Chairman
Dan B. Andrews
Walt Titchener
Staff present: Neil Emory, County Manager
Wm. A. (Tony) Wilder, Assistant County Manager
Dwight W. Snow, County Attorney
Kay S. Blanchard, Clerk to the Board
Guests: Senator Harris Blake
Representative David R. Lewis
Chairman Byrd called the meeting to order and offered the invocation.
Chairman Byrd called on Representative David Lewis for a legislative update. The
group discussed the following local legislative issues:
- House and Senate will convene on January 26, 2005.
- Rep. Lewis met with Harnett County Schools’ superintendent and staff members to
discuss Rep. Lewis’ idea to create a pilot program which would allow non-teaching
employees to perform some administrative tasks to relieve the burden on teachers.
- He will be working on requests for funds to renovate the McKay House in Dunn,
funds to broaden walkway in Angier, and staggered terms for the Town Board in
Erwin.
- Rep. Lewis will support a bill regarding a transportation issue in Carolina Lakes.
- He will support the bill that would eliminate counties’ match for Medicaid.
- Revenue options.
- North Carolina is one of 32 state participating in a streamline sales tax initiative
and is moving toward taxing internet sales.
Mr. Emory commented on the following concerns:
- The way vehicle taxes are collected now is confusing and asked if it could be an
option for the county to sell car license tags or have someone else collect the vehicle
tax.
- There should be more equity on the Community College Board of Directors. At
least half of Central Carolina Community College is now located in Harnett County,
yet there are still only three members from Harnett County out of seventeen total
members.
- There is a backlog at the State lab which leaves prisoners in our jail while waiting
for results. This is also a concern of Rep. Lewis.
Senator Blake provided an update and status on issues and discussed his vision for the
upcoming session. He is intent on supporting issues that affect Harnett County.
There being no further business, the special meeting of the Harnett County Board of
Commissioners, January 18, 2005, adjourned at 6:30 p.m.
_______________________________ ______________________________
Teddy J. Byrd, Chairman Kay S. Blanchard, Clerk to the Board