Board Minutes

October 17, 2005

A regular meeting of the Bladen County Board of Commissioners was held in the Commissioners’ Meeting Room of the Courthouse at 6:30 p.m. with the following members present:

Retainer for October

Approve Tax Refunds and Releases: Docket # 087

Approve Comprehensive Fee Schedule:

WHEREAS, S.L. 1997-309(S875) makes a number of significant changes in the procedures for recording maps and plats; and,

WHEREAS, the main purpose of the law is to transfer the responsibility for reviewing plats to determine whether they meet recording requirements from the Register of Deeds to a Review Officer; and,

WHEREAS, the new G.S. 47-30.2 requires the Board of County Commissioners in each County, by resolution, to appoint a person to serve as Review Officer to review each plat before it is recorded and certify that it meets the statutory requirements for recording; and

WHEREAS, it is the desire of the Bladen County Board of Commissioners to insure an expeditious review of all maps and plats as required by G.S. 47-30.2 before they are presented to the Register of Deeds for recording.

NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, effective October 17, 2005 that Marguerite Coble, Renee' Davis, and Carol Cain in the Bladen County Revenue and Mapping Departments are hereby appointed to perform all responsibilities as required for Review Officers under the appropriate North Carolina General Statutes.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that a copy of this Resolution designating the Review Officers be recorded in the Bladen County Register of Deeds Office and indexed in the name of the Review Officer.

WHEREAS, the following persons were appointed as Review Officers in the Bladen County Mapping Department: Sybil Britt – October 1, 1997, Walter J. Beard – January 5, 1998, and Maria Perez – May 2, 2005; and,

NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, effective October 17, 2005 Ms. Britt, Mr. Beard, and Ms. Perez are being removed from the records as Review Officers.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that a copy of this Resolution will be recorded in the Bladen County Register of Deeds Office.

T oshiba Business Solutions A CMGroup Program Copy Mana>zement Aitreement

CUSTOMER INFORMATION

TERM SCHEDULE

Program Beginning Date Program Completion Date

October 1, 2005 ~ June 30 2011

COSTPER COPYSCHEDULE

Toshiba CPC: $0.0269 Toshiba Color CPC: $0.1,5

The Toshiba CPC includes equipment, accessories, service and supplies The Toshiba Color CPC includes equipment, accessories, service and supplies

excludes paper, sorter staples, fax supplies and NC sales tax). excludes paper, sorter staples and NC sales tax).

INVOICE SCHEDULE

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

1. COPY MANAGEMENT PROGRAM: TBS shall provide to customer the equipment and accessories described on Attachment "A" (the "Equipment"). The copy charges and program copy charges set by this agreement include payment for the use of the equipment, maintenance (during normal business hours), routine inspection, adjustment, parts replacement, drums and cleaning materials required for the proper operation. Paper, sorter staples and fax supplies may not be included in the cost per copy as specified within the cost per copy schedule above.

2. COPY MANAGEMENT PROGRAM BILLING: For each invoice period during which customer participates in the copy management program, TBS shall invoice customer for copy charges, determined by multiplying the actual number of copies made by Customer during such invoice period using the equipment by the applicable cost per copy described in the cost per copy schedule above. The program copy charges for an annual period shall be the dollar amount determined by the number of invoice periods within a 12-month period multiplied by the applicable cost per copy. The annual period shall be the period that begins on the program beginning date (or the day following the preceding annual period, as applicable) and ends on the next anniversary of the program beginning date (or, if earlier, on the program completion date or other date of termination of this agreement). Customer shall pay, no later than the due date shown in the invoice schedule above, the monthly invoices submitted to customer by TBS. Any payment not made within 10 days after such due date may be assessed a late fee charge of 5% of the delinquent amount.

WHEREAS, Dewey Henry Dove was born in 1934 in the Bladenboro community where he has lived the vast majority of his seventy years; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Dove and his wife, Rosa Lee Dove, have been married forty-eight years and reared four children; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Dove is a man of great character, dedicated to his family, church, and community; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Dove has been a long time charter member of Northside Baptist Church where he has served on several committees and is a trustee; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Dove served in the United States Army 4 th Infantry Division in Frankfurt, Germany for two and one-half years where he was a driver for a Colonel at Division Headquarters. While serving, he received a Safe Driver’s Award and was honorably discharged; and

WHEREAS, in 1998, Mr. Dove received a plaque for his diligence in helping save the jobs of forty-five men in the North Carolina National Guard; and

WHEREAS, on August 22, 1999, Mr. Dove received the North Carolina Governor’s Highway Safety Outstanding Citizens Activist Award from Mr. Joe Parker, Director of Highway Safety, for exemplifying an extraordinary commitment to all facets of North Carolina Highway Safety; and

WHEREAS, on July 13, 2000, Mr. Dove received a Congressional Recognition Award by Congressman Mike McIntyre for outstanding and invaluable service to the community; and

NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Bladen County Board of Commissioners gives special recognition and thanks to Mr. Dewey Henry Dove for his dedicated service promoting highway safety to the citizens of Bladen County.

WHEREAS, Robert G. Hester was born in 1938 in Bladen County and has lived the vast majority of his sixty-six years; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Hester and his wife, Sarah Clark Hester, have been married forty-five years and reared two children; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Hester is a man of great character, dedicated to his family, church, and community; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Hester has been a long-time member of Wesley’s Chapel United Methodist Church where he has served as Chairman of the Administrative Board, Chairman of the Staff Parrish Relations Committee, and Sunday School Teacher; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Hester is a devoted public servant serving the County of Bladen in various capacities; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Hester was elected to the Bladen County Board of Commissioners in 1974 and elected Chairman of the Board in 1978; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Hester was presented the North Carolina Association of County Commissioners’ (NCACC) Outstanding County Commissioners’ Award in 1979 and elected Second Vice President in 1981. He resigned from that office and became the Field Administrator for NCACC where he served the citizens of the State of North Carolina for 23 years; and

NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Bladen County Board of Commissioners gives special recognition to Mr. Robert G. Hester for his dedicated service to the County of Bladen and thanks him for the many years that he has worked to improve the lives of its citizens.

WHEREAS, Jack Wendell McDuffie, son of the late Wendell and Stella McDuffie, was born in the Carvers Creek Community and attended the public schools of Bladen County. Mr. McDuffie graduated from Elizabethtown High School in 1962; and

WHEREAS, Mr. McDuffie married Doris Ann Brown thirty-two years ago; and

WHEREAS, Mr. McDuffie is a man of great character, dedicated to his family, church, and community; and

WHEREAS, Mr. McDuffie attended Council Baptist Church as a child and since 1993 has been a member of Wesley’s Chapel United Methodist Church. Mr. McDuffie serves his church in various capacities as Sunday School Teacher, member of the Nominations Committee, and Choir member. Mr. McDuffie also serves his community as a member of the Advisory Board of the American Cancer Society; and

WHEREAS, Mr. McDuffie served his country for thirty years in the United States Air Force. Mr. McDuffie retired from the United States Air Force on November 1, 1992 and at that time, was the National Superintendent of Operations for Air Force Recruiting; and

WHEREAS, Mr. McDuffie, after retiring, worked in sales and returned to Bladen County in June of 1993. He continued his life long learning vision by obtaining an Associate’s Degree from Bladen Community College. Mr. McDuffie graduated in 1997 from the University of North Carolina at Pembroke as Summa Cum Laude with a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Management; and

WHEREAS, Mr. McDuffie began a new career on September 11, 1997 as a Staff Writer with the Bladen Journal. He covered a vast majority of county board meetings and county activities during his tenure with the Bladen Journal and until his last day of employment on October 1, 2005.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Bladen County Board of Commissioners gives special recognition to Mr. Jack Wendell McDuffie for his dedicated service while covering the Board of Commissioners’ meetings and thanks him for his exemplary work.

Chairman Taylor called on Mr. Dewey Dove to receive the resolution adopted in his honor. The Board expressed appreciation to Mr. Dove for his assistance regarding highway safety matters. Mr. Dove expressed appreciation to the Board for establishment of the Highway Safety Committee and indicated that he would continue to work on highway safety issues.

Chairman Taylor called on Mr. Robert Hester to receive the resolution adopted in his honor. The Board expressed appreciation to Mr. Hester for his work with the North Carolina Association of County Commissioners and encouraged his assistance in the future.

Chairman Taylor called on Mr. Jack McDuffie to receive the resolution adopted in his honor. The Board expressed appreciation to Mr. McDuffie for his work while covering County Board meetings.

Commissioner Peterson advised that some counties and towns issue parade permits. He wondered about union permits and advised that it would be a way to give notice to industry.

Commissioner Peterson also asked questions regarding incentives for exempt employees who open shelters during inclement weather conditions.

Commissioner Peterson advised that he felt the Board should be proactive and move forward with scheduling a joint committee meeting with the Board of Education.

Revenue Director Marguerite Coble and Tim Cain of Assessment Solutions, Inc. addressed the Board regarding Revaluation. Ms. Coble indicated that the revaluation process is on schedule and expressed appreciation to Mr. Cain for his work on the revaluation project.

Consider Method of Payment for Capital Projects – Finance Director Lisa Coleman addressed the Board regarding the preferred method of payment for capital projects. County Manager Greg Martin had included in the agenda packet information regarding capital projects. The memorandum advised that the FY 06 budget includes several capital items originally slated to be financed. Items include the infrastructure grant match with the Town of Elizabethtown, a telephone system, as well as activity buses and computers for Bladen County Schools. Mr. Martin indicated that an additional amount of $610,727 is needed to fund or purchase these projects outright. A motion was made by Charles Ray Peterson, seconded by James G. Smith and approved to buy outright.

Discussion was held and concerns expressed regarding Courthouse security and the increased cost of fuel.

County Manager Greg Martin advised that on August 1, 2005, Bladen Community College presented a priority list of capital needs to the County. He also indicated that on September 28, 2005, representatives from Bladen Community College met with representatives from the Board of Commissioners to discuss these needs. Items that are particularly important to the college total $278,350 and an additional $5,000 for engineering design work would bring the total to $283,350.

A motion was made by Delilah B. Blanks, seconded by Charles Ray Peterson to approve Bladen Community College’s request in the amount of $283,350.00.

Chairman Taylor advised that the County has gone years without spending capital money at the college and it shows. He further advised that this is a reasonable step to assist in badly needed repairs at the college.

Commissioner Pait asked about the effects on fund balance if the $283,350.00 was approved. Finance Director Lisa Coleman indicated that fund balance projection would decrease to approximately 14.8% after the college’s request.

Commissioner Tatum indicated that he understood the needs of the college, but also felt there were other departments that were in need of additional funding as well. He made the following substitute motion: A substitute motion was made by Lewis Tatum, seconded by Billy Ray Pait to appropriate an additional $100,000 to Bladen Community College. Chairman Taylor called for a vote on the substitute motion:

4 AYES (Lewis Tatum, Margaret Lewis-Moore, W. D. Neill, Jr., Billy Ray Pait) to 5 NOES (James G. Smith, Charles Ray Peterson, Larry Smith, Delilah B. Blanks, Greg Taylor) Substitute Motion failed.

Commissioner Moore advised that she was not against spending funds on the college, but felt further study should be made regarding other needs of County departments, such as courthouse security.

Calendar Update – The County Manager reminded the Board of the Lumber River Council of Government’s annual dinner scheduled for Thursday, October 20 at 6:00 p.m. He also reminded the Board of the Agriculture Appreciation Lunch at the Powell-Melvin Building on October 27 at 12:00 p.m.

A motion was made by Delilah B. Blanks, seconded by Billy Ray Pait and approved to schedule a Courthouse Security Workshop at 5:00 p.m. on November 7, 2005.