Scotland County Board of Commissioners regular meeting Commissioners in attendance: Chair Carol McCall, Vice Chair Whit Gibson and Commissioners John Alford, Bob Davis, Betty Blue Gholston, Guy McCook and 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 Alford and duly seconded by Commissioner McCook to approve the May 1, 2017, agenda as presented. Vote: Motion unanimously approved. Public Forum Chair McCall opened the public forum to anyone wishing to speak. Mr. Robert Macy came to speak to the board as a veteran, parent of a veteran, and father of a veteran, to discuss the location and condition of the Veteran Services office at County government building at 507 W Covington Street. Mr. Macy commented that his hope was that the commissioner s attitude and opinions did not reflect what the condition of the office is in regards to treatment of veterans in Scotland County. Mr. Macy commented that the Veteran Services office is comparable to a closet, and that in that confined space veterans who have served overseas in war and battle can sometimes feel as though they are in a prison cell with hardly any room to move or any space for any sort of device that veteran may require to assist in their mobility. Mr. Macy commented that he comes in front of the board tonight to encourage the board to take action and fix this situation and show that the county does care for its veterans. Chair McCall closed the public forum. Chair McCall took a moment to recognize Laurinburg City Mayor Block who was in attendance. Chair McCall asked for a motion to approve the consent agenda. Motion was made by Commissioner Davis and duly seconded by Vice Chair Gibson to approve the consent agenda. Vote: Motion unanimously approved. Juvenile Crime Prevention Council Ms. Rogena Deese opened by thanking the commissioners for allowing her to come and speak to the board. Ms. Deese commented that the commissioners have to approve Keith Bullard as a 1
designee for randy jones, even though the JCPC board had already approved Mr. Bullard. Ms. Deese also requested that the commissioners approve the board member list that was presented to them in their agenda packet. Ms. Deese provided a list of figures for the budget of the JCPC that is provided through state funding. Chair McCall asked if each item needed individual approval or would one approval cover everything. Ms. Deese confirmed that only one approval was needed. Motion was made by Commissioner Gholston and duly seconded by Vice Chair Gibson to approve the JCPC board. Vote: Motion unanimously approved. Re-entry Council Program Sheriff has requested to report at a later date due to unforeseen circumstances. Animal Control Ordinance Ms. Kristen Patterson and Ron Lowry came to the board to discuss the animal control ordinance and to have it approved by the board. County Attorney Ed Johnston commented that he wanted to address some of the changes he made. Mr. Johnston commented that one of the changes is on page 21 of the ordinance regarding inconsistence with state law. Mr. Johnston gave a small summary of the corrections and thanked Ms. Patterson for referring to these changes as corrections. Commissioner Davis had no comment as Chair of the Health Board other than to thank Ms. Patterson and Mr. Lowry for all of the effort and hard work they had put in to getting this ordinance passed. Motion was made by Commissioner McPhatter and duly seconded by Commissioner Alford to approve the modifications to the animal control ordinance. 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. 2
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 the board has received a letter from Richmond Community College asking for the board to reappoint Mr. Dean Nichols to the RCC board. Mr. Gibson commented that he has asked Mr. Nichols to fill out the necessary application before the board reappoints him to this position. Mr. Gibson also commented that he has an application from Mr. Jim Walters for the library board, and Mr. Gyles supports that nomination. Motion was made by Vice Chair Gibson and duly seconded by Commissioner Alford to approve Mr. Jim Walters to the library board. Vote: Motion unanimously approved. Remounting county ambulances Mr. Patterson commented that this is an item that is going to be in his budget request for the 2016-2017 fiscal year. Mr. Patterson commented that there are two county ambulances currently that sit out of service more than in service and cost the county money on a regular basis. Mr. Patterson commented that the county has the option to take those two diesel engine vehicles and remove the boxes and place those boxes on gasoline engine vehicles. Mr. Patterson commented that the reason he is going ahead and asking now for this is because it will take months to complete remounting these ambulances, and it would be the hope to have those ambulances completed and in services by Christmas. Mr. Patterson commented that the only thing that will not be new these ambulances will be the box as the boxes would be transferred off the current frames on to these new frames. Mr. Patterson commented the vehicle itself, wiring for the box, equipment and other necessities will be new; just the box would be kept. Mr. Patterson commented that remounting both ambulances would cost the county roughly $190,000, whereas buying just one brand new ambulance with a new box and all would cost around $150,000. Commissioner Davis commented that speaking on behalf of the capital committee that the capital committee would recommend to move forward with this project. Motion was made by Commissioner McPhatter and duly seconded by Commissioner Davis to approve the remounting of 2 county ambulances. Vote: Motion unanimously approved. Mansville Property Mr. Patterson commented that the Economic Development Commission (EDC) did purchase the John Mansville site as part of the certified site for the Mountaire Project. Mr. Patterson 3
commented that the price for the property is a deal, and the EDC has purchased the property and had to remediate some issues on the property in regards to a small landfill located on the property. Mr. Patterson commented the total price for the property and remediation was $68,102.44, and the EDC is asking for reimbursement for that total. Motion was made by Commissioner McCook and duly seconded by Commissioner Alford to approve refunding of money used to purchase the John Mansville property back to the EDC. Vote: Motion unanimously approved. County Manager Update Mr. Patterson commented that he has received some draft floorplans for the southern substation. Mr. Patterson commented that the only change between the northern and southern sites will be the paving and the addition of a helicopter pad at the north site. Mr. Patterson commented that the building structure itself will be the same for both sites. Mr. Patterson commented that Mr. Johnston is completing the deed for the northern site land. Mr. Patterson commented that he is going to send these site plans out to the fire commission, and the only thing he will need from the board in terms of action is approving the bid contracts. Mr. Patterson commented that on Friday (4/28) he received a letter regarding the water system and the need to change the system. Mr. Patterson commented that he has forwarded on a copy of that letter to the county engineer to get their response as well as a cost estimate for completing that project. Mr. Patterson commented that he looking at the end of May to hold a budget workshop and would like the Commissioners to take a look at. Mr. Patterson asked if the board would be willing to meet next Tuesday (5/9) at 5 pm at the Emergency Operations Center to discuss some items Mr. Patterson has for the board. Chair McCall commented that the Commissioner meeting would be recessed to Tuesday May 9th. Mr. Patterson commented that this meeting would be an open session. Mr. Patterson commented that he would have the clerk to the board to poll the commissioners as to a date for the budget workshop. Mr. Patterson commented that in the past the budget meeting has been in the morning/afternoon from 9-2 and didn t know if the board would want to continue that or meet in the evening. Mr. Patterson commented that the board has also received a letter from Richmond Community College regarding the board supporting the RCC campus in Scotland County. Mr. Patterson commented that he has spoken with Dale McInnis from RCC and Mr. McInnis has requested to come speak with the board at the next board meeting. 4
Mr. Patterson commented that the next topic is regarding the armory as a voting place and the issue with the state currently having the armory shut down for the time being until the lead has been removed. Mr. Patterson commented that Senator McInnis has asked the state on behalf of the county what the time table is for the armory being reopened to the public, and has asked that the commissioners send all questions to him to ask the state. The last item Mr. Patterson commented on was the county assembly day coming up on Wednesday (5/10). Mr. Patterson commented that if anyone wants to attend that day to let the clerk know after the meeting was adjourned. No comments from the Commissioners Motion was made by Commissioner Alford and duly seconded by Vice Chair Gibson to recess until Tuesday, May 9 th, at 5pm at the Emergency Operations Center. Vote: Motion unanimously approved. Meeting recessed at 7:46 p.m. Kevin Patterson Carol McCall Interim Clerk to the Board Chair 5