Scotland County Board of Commissioners regular meeting June 5, 2017, A.B. Gibson Center, 322 South Main Street, Laurinburg, NC

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1 Commissioners in attendance: Chair Carol McCall, Vice Chair Whit Gibson and Commissioners John Alford, Bob Davis, Betty Blue Gholston, and Guy McCook. Not in attendance: Clarence McPhatter. Staff in attendance: County Manager Kevin Patterson, County Attorney Ed Johnston, Finance Officer Beth Hobbs and Assistant to the County Manager Travis Allen. At 7 p.m. Chair Carol McCall called the meeting to order. Chair McCall delivered the invocation. The Pledge of Allegiance was recited. Motion was made by Commissioner Davis and duly seconded by Commissioner McCook to approve the June 5, 2017, agenda as presented. Vote: Motion unanimously approved. Public Forum Chair McCall opened the public forum to anyone wishing to speak. Mr. Charles Parker asked to address the commissioners on the solar industries and how the City of Laurinburg had passed an ordinance on solar industries. Mr. Parker commented that there are certain locations in Scotland County where things belong and other locations where certain industries or buildings have no place being located. Mr. Parker commented that this is his third time coming to the commissioners regarding solar farms and asking the commissioners to look at the situation and pass some form of ordinance regulating these solar farms. Mr. Parker closed by commenting that he would like to know where the commissioners stand on the issue. Chair McCall responded by asking County Attorney Ed Johnston to address Mr. Parkers comments and concerns. Mr. Johnston commented that the planning and zoning board is scheduled to meet in this month (June) regarding solar farms. Mr. Johnston commented that he expects the planning and zoning board to have a recommendation for the commissioners sometime in the next month or two in regards to this topic. Mr. Johnston commented that it will be up to the commissioners as to whether to accept this recommendation. Chair McCall recognized Mayor Block and Dr. Hargraves who were in attendance. Public Hearing Mr. Ward commented that the purpose of this public hearing is to propose the incentive package for Project Eats, known now as Mountaire. Mr. Ward commented that the County Manager, EDC Board, and County Attorney have all reviewed and approve of the incentive package. Mr. Ward 1

2 commented that the Mountaire project is bringing 65 full-time jobs and investing over $44 million in the county. Chair McCall asked if there was anyone in attendance who wished to speak in favor or opposition of the incentive package. No one came forward. Chair McCall closed the public hearing. Mr. Ward also brought to the board The One North Carolina Fund grant that Mountaire will be receiving from the State of North Carolina. Mr. Ward commented that this fund will be delivered to the County and the County will then transfer these funds to Mountaire once certain thresholds are met. Scotland County School System Mr. Jay Toland, Finance Officer for Scotland County Schools, commented that he is here to discuss school consolidation and then ask for a vote from the commissioners. Mr. Toland commented that currently the first phase of school consolidation is complete, and that the second phase of school consolidation is currently in progress. Mr. Toland commented that the consolidation is a three phase process, with the third phase being building a new school and closing South and IAJ. Mr. Toland commented that he is here to ask the commissioners to vote to approve the school system moving forward with phase II of the plan and allow the school system to bid out the expansions to Laurel Hill and Sycamore Lane schools. Mr. Toland commented that the cost estimate for the two expansions would roughly $13.6 million for hard costs and $2.6 million for soft costs. Chair McCall commented that there was a meeting this morning and that the plan would be if the commissioners did approve the moving forward with bids then the plan would be for both the commissioners and school board to meet sometime in July and review the bids. Motion was made by Commissioner Alford and duly seconded by Vice Chair Gibson to authorize the school board to go out for bids on the two expansions. Vote: 5-1 in favor. Commissioners for: McCall, Gibson, Davis, McCook and Alford. Commissioners against: Gholston. Chair McCall asked for a motion to approve the consent agenda. 2

3 Motion was made by Commissioner Alford and duly seconded by Commissioner Gibson to approve the consent agenda. Vote: Motion unanimously approved. Appointments Vice Chair Gibson commented that there are several items on the agenda for tonight. Vice Chair Gibson commented that there are 12 positions on the historic properties commission, and currently there are 2 vacancies. Vice Chair Gibson commented at last month s regular board meeting the board approved Cecil Walker to one of those open positions. Vice Chair Gibson commented that there are 2 applicants for the other position on the board in Mr. Lewis Brett and Mr. Dewie Lamb. Motion was made by Commissioner McCook and duly seconded by Alford to appoint Lewis Brett to the other vacant position on the historic properties commission. Vote: Motion unanimously approved. Vice Chair Gibson commented that he has an application from an individual for appointment to the Planning and Zoning Board, but there are still members on this board whose terms have expired and are still serving on the board. Commissioner Gibson has asked Assistant to the County Manager Travis Allen to reach out to these members and find out if they wish to continue serving on the Vice Chair Gibson also commented that he has a request to appoint an alternate member to the Transportation Advisory Council. Vice Chair Gibson commented that he has a recommendation from the Council to appoint Mrs. Dee Hammond as an alternate for Mrs. Mary Joe Adams. Motion was made by Vice Chair Gibson and duly seconded by Commissioner McCook to appoint Mrs. Dee Hammond as an alternate for Mrs. Mary Joe Adams. Vote: Motion unanimously approved. Vice Chair Gibson also commented that the Transportation Advisory Council has requested the commissioner appoint an alternate for Commissioner McCook. Motion was made by Commissioner Alford and duly seconded by Commissioner McCook to appoint Vice Chair Gibson as an alternate for Commissioner McCook. Vote: Motion unanimously approved. 3

4 Richmond Community College Mr. Dale McInnis, president of Richmond Community College, commented that he was present on behalf of the faculty and students of Richmond Community College asking for the support of the County Commissioners in the form of a resolution to establish a full campus designation in Scotland County. Mr. McInnis commented that RCC has worked out an agreement with the county to share space at the Morgan Center Complex. Mr. McInnis commented that RCC is also looking to acquire the Covington Elementary school location and tie in the Morgan Center and Honeycutt Complex for a 3 site campus in Scotland County. Mr. McInnis commented that by adding these additional spaces RCC would be able to provide a library as well as courses and staff that would allow RCC to provide students with the full 2 year transfer degree, as well as many other certifications. Mr. McInnis commented that in costs the budget for the Honeycutt center is currently $290,088. Mr. McInnis commented the cost for RCC s portion of the Morgan Center would be $100,000. Mr. McInnis commented that there is a gain in funds from discontinuing the agreement with St. Andrews in the amount of $75,000, meaning that the county would be paying roughly an additional $25,000 a year to fund this campus. Mr. McInnis closed by commenting on the benefits of this campus in regards to the residents of Scotland County. Mr. McInnis commented there is no cost to the county for paying of staff for this campus as those funds come from the State. Mr. McInnis commented that there is no way to know the exact number of new hires that would come as a result of establishing this full campus. Motion was made by Vice Chair Gibson and duly seconded by Commissioner Davis to endorse and support Richmond Community College 's request for multi-campus status to be conferred upon the current location with the acquisition of new space from the current Morgan Center and new space from the current Covington St Elementary School, with the combined addition of these two facilities to the Honeycutt Center, the College will house SEARCH and offer expanded programs, courses, and services to the people of Scotland County, beginning in the fall of Scotland County will commit to providing the necessary financial support to the College for the maintenance, physical plant operation s, grounds and security of the new campus. Vote: Motion unanimously approved. 4

5 Update from County Manager Mr. Patterson commented that to highlight some of the points of the budgets currently the budget is sitting at $40,300,000. Mr. Patterson commented that the is a 1% COLA for all county of employees, as well as a 5% increase for all law enforcement officers. Mr. Patterson commented that there is also a progressive step plan for employees who have been with the county 3 years or more. Mr. Patterson commented that the hearing on the budget on June 12th at 7pm at the Emergency Operations Center. Mr. Patterson commented that one more item to bring to the commissioners attention is his recommendation to change the personnel policy. Mr. Patterson commented that currently the probationary period is between 3-9 months and he would recommend that this be a flat 12 months which matches the states policy. Mr. Patterson commented this is something that will be presented to the board on the June 12 th. Mr. Patterson commented that in regards to human services consolidation the DSS board will hold their regular meeting on June 14 th and the health board the following week. Mr. Patterson commented that in regards to DSS the state is taking over the daycare subsidy payments instead of the county having to maintain this program. No comments from the Commissioners Motion was made by Commissioner Alford and duly seconded by Commissioner Gholston to go in to Closed Session in accordance with N.C. General Statute (a)(4) to discuss matters relating to the location or expansion of business in the area served by this body. Vote: Motion unanimously approved. OPEN SESSION RESUMED Motion was made by Commissioner McCook and duly seconded by Commissioner Gholston to approve the Mountaire incentive package. Vote: Motion unanimously approved. Motion was made by Commissioner McCook and duly seconded by Commissioner Alford to approve The North Carolina One Fund grant for Mountaire. Vote: Motion unanimously approved. 5

6 Motion was made by Commissioner Davis and duly seconded by Vice Chair Gibson to recess until Monday, June 12 th, at 7pm at the Emergency Operations Center. Vote: Motion unanimously approved. Meeting recessed at 8:22 p.m. Kevin Patterson Carol McCall Interim Clerk to the Board Chair 6