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Macon County Commissioners 04-09-2013 Agenda
Macon County Commissioners 04-09-2013 Agenda
Moment of Silence 4. Pledge of Allegiance 5. Public Hearing(s) -- None 6. Public Comment Period 7. Adjustments to and approval of the agenda 8. Reports/Presentations A. Update on New Hope Cemetery project Andrew Baldwin B. Presentation of findings regarding archaeological study at proposed Parker Meadows Recreational Park Paul Webb/TRC 9. Old Business A. Consideration of the Classification and Compensation Study 10.New Business A. Change Order No. 3 on the Swiss Colony Area Water System Improvements Project County Manager B. Consideration of A Resolution to Maintain and Support the Current Integrity and Funding for the Parks and Recreation Trust Fund (PARTF) Commissioner Tate C. Change Order No. 1 on the Macon County Dental Clinic Finance Director D. New Fees at Macon Public Health Center Public Health Center Director Jim Bruckner
All items below are considered routine and will be enacted by one motion. No separate discussion will be held except on request of a member of the Board of Commissioners.
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Minutes of the March 12, 2013 meeting Budget Amendments #148-#149 Tax Refund Tax Releases Monthly Ad Valorem Tax Report
12.Appointments A. Board of Adjustment (3 seats) B. Community Funding Pool (3 seats) 13.Closed session (if necessary) 14.Recess until Thursday, April 18, 2013 at 6 p.m. at the Macon Bank Corporate Office at 220 One Center Court, Franklin, NC 28734 for a joint meeting with the Macon County Board of Education. NOTE: Tentative plans call for a continuation meeting to be held on Tuesday, April 23, 2013 at 6 p.m. at a location to be determined to hold a joint meeting with the towns of Franklin and Highlands and to conduct other business as needed.
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Macon County Board of Commissioners Jack Horton, County Manager Mike Decker, Human Resources Director Lori Hall, Finance Director Chester Jones, County Attorney April 4, 2013 Classification and Compensation Study
As we continue our discussion regarding implementing one of the options found in the classification and compensation study performed by Springsted, please consider the following points. In the study, there are two numbers or percentages that stand out 21 percent and 55 percent. The study found, Based on the market data, we (Sprinsted) found that the current pay plan in place for Macon County reflects minimum, maximum and midpoints that are, on average, 21% lower than the market surveyed minimums, maximums and midpoints. The second number (55%) reflects the percentage of county employees who are currently making less than the minimum of the studys survey results. Given that the county has gone more than a decade without a pay study, it should come as no real surprise that we have fallen below the market in a number of positions. For a 10-year history of across-the-board pay increases, see below: 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 -- 2.5% -- 5% -- 3% -- 4% -- 5% 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 -----4% 0 0 3% 0 (*24 hours annual leave)
The last county pay study that was actually implemented dates back to 1996. In June of 2011, the board called for a countywide pay study after giving county employees a 3 percent cost of living increase while providing a 5 percent cost of living increase for officers in the sheriffs department. Sheriff Holland told the board that neighboring counties were paying deputy sheriffs $6,000 to $8,000 more per year than Macon. This is only a reminder of what triggered the discussion we are having today. The County Manager and Finance Director have determined that the annual cost of Option 2 found in the study ($754,192, which includes fringe) can be sustained without raising taxes or taking money from fund balance. In a nutshell, Option 2 calls for bringing those employees who are under the minimum salary for their pay grade up to the minimum, and would give those who are in range a 2 percent adjustment. To see how the overall cost breaks down, see below: $533,127 the cost to raise employees to the minimum. $113,088 the cost to give a 2 percent raise to all others. $49,435 the county cost for additional FICA and Medicare at 7.65 percent. $43,620 the county cost for additional retirement contribution at 6.75 percent. (Each employee also has 6 percent deducted from their check for retirement.) $14,922 the county cost of 401(k) contribution. $754,192 total cost to implement the plan. The majority of the dollars ($533,127) in Option 2, approximately 82.5 percent of the actual salary increase, would go toward employees whose current salary falls below the minimum for their position in the new pay scale. For those employees who would fall within range of their new salary grade, the proposed 2 percent pay increase ($113,088 in actual salary) would essentially bring them back to what they made as of December 31, 2012 (prior to the increase in the FICA tax). Implementation of the new pay plan will send a strong, positive message to the countys workforce, boost morale, improve productivity, and assist in recruitment efforts.
Some may question the studys results, distrust the methodology used to arrive at those results, and cast doubt about the benchmarks used in the survey. Some will question the qualifications of Springsted, or at least ask why we didnt use someone else. As John Anzivino noted in his presentation on February 18th, his company performs about 275 of these studies a year and is an endorsed provider of services for the North Carolina Association of County Commissioners. I honestly do not see the need to spend another $33,000+ for a second opinion. Realizing that benefits, particularly medical insurance, are hot button topics, please remember that the survey found that nearly all of the countys fringe benefits were found to be consistent with those entities that were surveyed. The biggest discrepancy was that Macon County was above the average on the percentages of local government contribution for coverage over and above employee only. While that is certainly an excellent perk for our employees who need those levels of coverage, (the county pays for 72 percent of family coverage, 81 percent of employee/spouse and 89 percent of employee/child) please remember that it can be changed at the boards discretion on an annual basis and involves a variety of factors outside the countys control. Meanwhile, the countys current contribution for employee-only coverage at $500 per month per employee is well below the levels set in previous years, some of which were as high at $850. One final note: in Springsteds survey the average monthly cost provided by the respondents for employee-only medical coverage was $530.99. While serving as your deputy clerk, I have a ringside seat to all of the financial demands and pressures that fall on your shoulders. However, as your HR Director, I would strongly urge you to consider implementation of the pay study, both from a market perspective based on the survey results, and from a morale standpoint on behalf of the countys employees. As you have recently considered the needs of the school system, new recreation facilities and economic development initiatives, I would simply ask that you give a loyal and dedicated staff of county employees that same consideration. Going forward, I would also suggest that we follow the studys recommendation that the County will need to develop administrative procedures that provide for annual salary adjustments based on market and economic conditions and adjustments that recognize individual employee performance.
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ARESOLUTIONTOMAINTAINANDSUPPORTTHECURRENTINTEGRETIYANDFUNDING FORTHEPARKSANDRECREATIONTRUSTFUND(PARTF) WHEREAS,NorthCarolinaisknownforitsuniqueandscenicnaturalresourcesand opportunitiesforrecreationwithalongtraditionofitscitizensandvisitorsenjoyingparks,mountains, rivers,greenways,beachesandmore.Generationsofresidentsandvisitorshavedelightedinthese landscapesandparkfacilities;and WHEREAS,TheParksandRecreationTrustFund(PARTF)wasestablishedwithbipartisan supportonJuly16,1994tofundimprovementsinthestate'sparksystem,tofundgrantsforlocal governmentsandtoincreasethepublic'saccesstothestate'sbeachesandcoastalwaterways;and WHEREAS,sinceitsinceptionTheParksandRecreationTrustFundhasprovided$161millionvia 722grantsto370localgovernmentsin99countiesandhasbeenmatchedwith$312millionoflocaland privatedollarsforthepurchaseoflocalparkland,buildingandrenovationoffacilitiesanddevelopment ofgreenwaysandtrails;and WHEREAS,NorthCarolinaspopulationhasgrowntomakeitthe10thmostpopulousstateinthe nationwithprojectionsforthesignificantgrowthtocontinueinthecomingdecades,andmorestate andlocalparksareneededtomeettheincreaseddemands;and WHEREAS,parksareidentifiedaskeycontributorstoNorthCarolinastourismindustrythat generatesnearly$20billioninannualeconomicimpact;and WHEREAS,parksinNorthCarolinaareexperiencingrecordvisitationlevelsincludingover14.25 milliontostateparksinboth2011and2012;and WHEREAS,TheParks&RecreationTrustFundhasleveragedfundsthatallowedourStateto acquirelandforstateparksandstatenaturalareasandprotectednearly83,000acresandmademajor additionstotheMountainstoSeaStateTrail;and WHEREAS,TheParks&RecreationTrustFundhasfundedcapitalimprovementprojectsinthe stateparkssuchasvisitorcentersandexhibithallswhichprovidetremendousopportunitiestoeducate studentsandallcitizensaboutNorthCarolinasoutstandingnaturalresources,andothercapitalprojects includingcampgrounds,picnicareas,boatingfacilities,trailsandswimmingbeaches;andlocalcapital projectsincludingconstructionofcommunitycenters,athleticfieldsandgreenways;and WHEREAS,theannualeconomicimpacttolocaleconomiesofalltouristsvisitingthestateparks systemwasestimatedatmorethan$400millioninsalesandincome,aswellasnearly5,000jobs accordingtoa2008study. WHEREAS,aportionofTheParks&RecreationTrustFundisdesignatedforthePublicBeach andCoastalWaterfrontAccessProgramtoimproveaccesstobeachesandcoastalwaterwaysbyfunding publicboatrampsandpublicbeachesaccesses;and
WHEREAS,accesstoparks,recreationfacilitiesandopenspaceprovidescosteffective opportunitiesforcitizensofallagestoparticipateinhealthandwellnessactivitiestherebyreducing costsassociatedwithobesity,heartdisease,diabetesandhighbloodpressure;and WHEREAS,researchhasdocumentedthatstructuredparkandrecreationalopportunitiesin localcommunitiescanpreventcrimeandprovidepositiveactivitiesanddirectionsforyoungpeople;and WHEREAS,dedicated,recurringfundingoftheParks&RecreationTrustFundallowsfor structuredandobjectiveplanningandefficientmanagementofthesystematboththestateandlocal levelsfortodayandfuturegenerations;and WHEREAS,thesuccessofTheParksandRecreationTrustFundisduetothededicatedfunding sourceprovidedbyaportionofthedeedstamptax,andisrecognizednationallyasamodelfor efficiencyandaccountability;and NOW,THEREFORE,BEITRESOLVED,thatthe(city/town/county)doescallonthemembersof theGeneralAssemblytomaintaindedicatedrevenuesgeneratedbyseventyfivecentsofthedeed stamptaxforTheParksandRecreationTrustFund. TheClerkisdirectedtosendacopyofthisresolutiontoeachofthemembersoftheGeneral Assemblyrepresentingthepeopleof(city/town/county)andtheNorthCarolinaRecreationandPark Association. Thisthe______dayof______,2013 _____________________________________ Mayor/Chair Attest: ____________________________________ Clerk
DEPARTMENT HEAD COMMENTS/RECOMMENDATION: A copy of the change order is attached for your information. Changes to seven items resulted in an overall increase of $3,153, but no additional contract days. The Finance Director can offer further details at the meeting.
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MACON COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS MARCH 12, 2013 MINUTES Chairman Corbin convened the meeting at 6:03 p.m. All Board Members with the exception of Commissioner Higdon, the County Manager, Deputy Clerk, Finance Director, County Attorney, members of the news media and interested citizens were present. ANNOUNCEMENTS: The County Manager reported that the recent trip to the National Association of Counties (NACo) Legislative Conference in Washington, D.C. was a success. He pointed out that Commissioner Higdon was out of town on business. Chairman Corbin said that two students at Macon Early College (MEC) had invited the board members to attend a Civil War Expo to be held at MEC on Thursday, March 14th. The County Manager also noted that Andrew Baldwin would have an update on the New Hope cemetery project for the board at its April meeting. MOMENT OF SILENCE: Chairman Corbin asked those in attendance to observe a moment of silence. PLEDGE TO THE FLAG: Led by Commissioner Tate, the pledge to the flag was recited. PUBLIC COMMENT: Christy Raby told the board of her plans to build a child daycare facility that could accommodate up to 120 children and would employ 55 people. She added that she is applying for a rural economic development grant, but needed a letter of support from the board. Commissioner Beale recommended that she meet with the County Manager to go over the specifics, and Chairman Corbin asked the County Manager to make a recommendation to the commission.
ADJUSTMENTS TO AND APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA: Upon a motion by Commissioner Tate, seconded by Commissioner Haven, the board voted unanimously to approve the agenda as adjusted, as follows: To hold a closed session for the purpose of preserving the attorneyclient privilege under Item 13, per the County Manager. To add items regarding a revised interlocal agreement as well as a financing agreement regarding Highlands School, to be addressed under New Business immediately prior to Item 10B, per the County Attorney, To add Budget Amendments #134 through #137 to the Consent Agenda under Item 11B, per the Finance Director. To add consideration of the initial appointments to the board for the Macon County Heritage Center at the historic Cowee School under New Business as Item 10E, per Commissioner Beale.
UPDATE ON COOPERATIVE EXTENSION PROGRAMS: County Extension Director Alan Durden provided the board with a program impact report for Macon County Cooperative Extension for 2012. (A copy of the report is on file in the Deputy Clerks office.) Mr. Durden outlined a number of the programs initiatives, and introduced the new 4-H agent, Tammara Talley, to the board. BID FOR CONCRETE POOL DECK: Parks and Recreation Director Seth Adams told the board that the renovation of the swimming pool was going great, and that it was time for the concrete deck work to be done. He explained that the county had received four bids for this work, all of them local, but that the lowest of the four did not include gravel in the materials cost and therefore had to be rejected. Mr. Adams recommended that the next lowest bid, from Bates Septic Tank & Concrete Products at $52,022, be accepted. The County Manager noted that a budget amendment would be necessary to cover that amount. Upon a motion by Commissioner Haven, seconded by Commissioner Beale, the board voted unanimously to accept the lowest responsible bid, $52,022 from Bates Septic Tank & Concrete Products, and to approve a budget amendment in that amount, with the money to come from the countys undesignated fund balance. A copy of the bid tabulation, entitled Pour & Finish Concrete Pool Deck, is attached (Attachment 1) and is hereby made a part of these minutes. REVISED INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT: The County Attorney explained the need to approve a revised interlocal agreement between the county and the Macon County Board of Education as it relates to Highlands School, as it contains new language added at the request of bond Minutes 03.12.13 Page 2 of 6
counsel. Commissioner Beale asked if the school board would also have to approve the revised document, and the County Attorney confirmed that it would need to do so. Upon a motion by Commissioner Tate, seconded by Commissioner Haven, the board voted unanimously to approve the interlocal agreement as presented (Attachment 2), a copy of which is attached and is hereby made a part of these minutes. QZAB FUNDING PROPOSALS: The Finance Director explained that she had obtained two proposals for financing for the $1.5-million Qualified Zone Academy Bonds (QZAB) project at Highlands School. One was from PNC at 3.26 percent and the other was from BB&T at 3.51 percent, with either for a term of 10 years. However, the cost of issuance of the debt by PNC was $6,500 compared to $1,200 by BB&T, and PNC had a prepayment penalty while BB&T did not. She also noted that the interest is subsidized by the federal government at a rate of 4.58 percent, which will ultimately result in an effective net interest rate of 0 percent for the county. She recommended awarding the bid to BB&T, and suggested that this matter could be handled as part of the next agenda item, which was consideration of the approving resolution for the Highlands School QZAB project. The County Attorney, however, recommended that it be voted upon separate from the resolution so as to set the record. Upon a motion by Commissioner Tate, seconded by Commissioner Haven, the board voted unanimously to award the financing to BB&T as presented by the Finance Director. APPROVING RESOLUTION REGARDING HIGHLANDS SCHOOL QZAB PROJECT: The County Attorney presented a proposed resolution for the boards approval regarding the Highlands School renovation project, and he pointed out that by approving the resolution, the board was approving the form of an installment financing contract as well as a deed of trust and lease related to the project, and would be authorizing the Chairman, County Manager and Finance Director to execute the necessary documents. He went on to explain that a survey of the property was in progress and that the description would be included in the agreements once it was completed. The County Manager noted that four different parcels were actually involved in the survey work, and that the board would need to authorize the payment of $7,500 for that work, to be repaid to the county from the proceeds of the financing. Upon a motion by Commissioner Tate, seconded by Commissioner Haven, the board voted unanimously to approve a Resolution of the County of Macon, North Carolina Approving an Installment Financing Contract to Provide for Certain Improvements to Highlands School and Related Matters, (Attachment 3), a copy of which is attached and is hereby made a part of these minutes. Upon a motion by Commissioner Tate, seconded by Minutes 03.12.13 Page 3 of 6
Commissioner Beale, the board voted unanimously to authorize the payment of $7,500 for survey work related to the project and for the county to be repaid from the proceeds of the financing. DESIGNATION OF HOME AND COMMUNITY CARE BLOCK GRANT LEAD AGENCY AND APPOINTMENT OF BLOCK GRANT ADVISORY COMMITTEE: The County Manager explained that each county must have a lead agency appointed that coordinates the preparation of the county funding plan for the Home and Community Care Block Grant, that a committee must be appointed to assure community input, and that the county must specifically address this funding in its annual budget. He referred to a memo from Sara Melton, the Administrator for the Area Agency on Aging with the Southwestern Commission, who noted that Macon County Senior Services has served for several years as the lead agency, and that the Senior Services Advisory Council currently serves as the Block Grant Committee. The County Manager recommended that the current structure remain in place, and upon a motion by Commissioner Tate, seconded by Commissioner Beale, the board voted unanimously to designate Macon County Senior Services as the lead agency and to appoint the Senior Services Advisory Council as the Block Grant Advisory Committee. CHANGES TO PUBLIC HEALTH FEE SCHEDULE: Health Center Director Jim Bruckner outlined 14 proposed changes to fees for services at the Health Department, the majority of which involved increases for dental procedures. It was noted that the Board of Health approved the changes at its meeting on February 26th. Upon a motion by Commissioner Tate, seconded by Commissioner Beale, the board voted unanimously to approve the fee changes as presented, a list of which is attached (Attachment 4) and is hereby made a part of these minutes. INITIAL BOARD APPOINTMENTS FOR THE MACON COUNTY HERITAGE CENTER: Commissioner Beale, who serves as the liaison to the Macon County Heritage Center at the historic Cowee School, said that a board is needed at the center in order to set fees for its use and to process grant opportunities. He then went over a list of proposed appointments (Attachment 5), a copy of which is attached and is hereby made a part of these minutes. Upon a motion by Commissioner Beale, seconded by Commissioner Tate, the board voted unanimously to appoint Eric Moberg, Harvey Fouts, Betty Waldroop, Bill Dyar, Margaret Ramsey, Bobby Kuppers, Robert Shook and Sherri Peeler to the board for three-year terms that will expire March 12, 2016.
CONSENT AGENDA: Upon a motion by Commissioner Beale, seconded by Commissioner Tate, the following items on the consent agenda were unanimously approved: Minutes Approved the minutes from the February 12th, February 18th, February 21st, February 26th and February 28th meetings. Budget amendments Approved the following budget amendments: #104 (revised) for the Parks and Recreation Department to reverse the budget amendment approved on January 14, 2013 which took $47,285 from contingency for Change Order No. 1 for Augusta Aquatics, fencing and pool slide, to be replaced with an appropriation of $47,285 from the general fund balance to the departments budget for Change Order No. 1 for Augusta Aquatics, fencing and pool slide; #125 for Capital Projects-Schools to appropriate $1,500,000 in debt proceeds for the purchase of computers and related equipment for Macon County Schools; #126 for Emergency Management Services to appropriate $374,000 in debt proceeds for the purchase of 12 defibrillators and accessories; #127 for the Health Department to allocate $500 in new Worksite Wellness grant funding; #128 for Soil Conservation to appropriate a grant received from Duke Energys Nantahala Area Soil and Water Conservation Grant Program in the amount of $4,200; #129 for the Parks and Recreation Department to allocate $3,502 from an insurance settlement; #130 for the Health Department to allocate an additional $10,000 in operating costs and fee revenue due to the addition of denture services to the adult dental clinic; #134 for Social Services to allocate additional Home and Community Care Block Grant funds in the amount of $15,639; #136 for Economic Development to approve transferring $9,212 from the Economic Development Reserve Fund to the General Fund for legal assistance on the economic incentive agreement; and #137 for the Health Department to allocate $12,185 in additional money awarded from the state for health promotion. (Revisions with corresponding numbers attached.) Tax releases Approved tax releases in the amount of $713.82. (A computer printout of releases is on file in the Tax Department and the County Managers office.) Monthly ad valorem tax collection report No action necessary. At the request of Commissioner Haven, Budget Amendment #135 was removed from the Consent Agenda for separate discussion. The budget amendment allocated an additional $300,000 in funding from the state for the Community Transformation Grant, which is administered by Macon County Public Health on behalf of a seven-county area. Commissioner Haven questioned the need for the additional money, which must be spent during April and May of 2013. Following an explanation by the County Manager, and upon a motion by Commissioner Haven, seconded by Commissioner Tate, the board voted Minutes 03.12.13 Page 5 of 6
unanimously to approve Budget Amendment #135 as presented, a copy of which is attached and is hereby made a part of these minutes. APPOINTMENTS: (A) Tax Administrator Upon a motion by Commissioner Beale, seconded by Commissioner Haven, the board voted unanimously to reappoint Richard Lightner as Tax Administrator for a four-year term that will expire July 1, 2017. (B) 2013 Board of Equalization and Review Following discussion regarding the need to have a representative from the Highlands area, and upon a motion by Commissioner Beale, seconded by Commissioner Haven, the board voted unanimously to reappoint Rich Bankston, Bill Martin, Dwight Vinson and Kevin Spivey to the Board of Equalization and Review for terms of one year each. Economic Development Commission (EDC) Upon a motion by Commissioner Beale, seconded by Commissioner Haven, the board voted unanimously to reappoint David Hubbs and Johnny MiraKnipple to the EDC for three-year terms, to accept the resignation of Constance (Connie) Haire from the EDC, and to appoint Kenyon (Ken) Murphy to EDC for a term of three years. Commissioner Beale read Mrs. Haires letter into the record and thanked her for her service to the county. The board also expressed its appreciation to Economic Development Director Tommy Jenkins for his efforts regarding Franklin Tubular Products. CLOSED SESSION: At 7:21 p.m., and upon a motion by Commissioner Beale, seconded by Commissioner Haven, the board voted unanimously to go into closed session for the purpose of consulting with the attorney under G.S. 143-318-11(a)(3) and to discuss property acquisition under G.S. 143-318-11(a)(5). At 8:36 p.m., and upon a motion by Commissioner Tate, seconded by Commissioner Haven, the board voted unanimously to come out of closed session. No action was taken. ADJOURN: With no other business, and upon a motion by Commissioner Beale, seconded by Commissioner Haven, the board voted unanimously to adjourn at 8:37 p.m.