CAMDEN COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
Regular Meeting
7:00 PM
January 21, 2003
Senior Center
Conference Room, Courthouse Complex
MINUTES
The regular meeting of the Camden County Board of Commissioners was held Tuesday, January 21, 2003 in the Senior Center Conference Room, Courthouse Complex. The following members were present:
Chairman Jeff Jennings
Vice Chairman Sam Shaw
Commissioners Melvin Jeralds, and J.C. Rountree
County Manager/Clerk to the Board Carl Classen
Deputy Clerk to the Board Ava Murgia
Commissioner Riggs was absent due to military commitments.
Chairman Jennings called the meeting to order. Invocation was given by Commissioner Rountree.
Commissioners Shaw and Rountree presented Forrest Pugh with a plaque in appreciation of his years of service to Camden County as Commissioner from 1994-2002.
Bud Tardiff, 108 Windy Heights Drive, inquired regarding the policy and procedure of a natural gas hookup permit required from the meter to the appliance.
Chairman Jennings stated one state inspection is required for the natural gas to be hooked up from the gas meter, to the first appliance, point A, to point B. Any other appliances would Tee off point B.
Dick Browner, Princess Anne Land Company, LLC, P.O. Box 6363, Virginia Beach, VA stated Barnhill was awarded the contract on the Highway 17 Project. Barnhill contacted Mr. Williams regarding constructing a 40’ haul road across the Virginia line for hauling 1.2M to 1.6M yards of material (160,000 truck loads). Mr. Browner requested to be put on the Planning Board agenda at the next Planning Board meeting.
Commissioner Shaw made a motion to approve the minutes of the January 6, 2003 meeting as presented. The motion passed unanimously.
Carl Classen requested Item X. F. Bid Selling and Removal Of House and Building From Former Huddle Property, Item X. G. Pay Study Update be added to the agenda.
Commissioner Rountree made a motion to approve the agenda as amended. The motion passed unanimously.
PUBLIC HEARING – ORDINANCE NO. 2003-01-02 AMENDING THE CAMDEN CODE RELATING TO SETBACK REQUIREMENTS AND PRIVATE ACCESS SUBDIVISIONS
Commissioner Jeralds made a motion to open public hearing to receive comments from the public regarding Ordinance No. 2003-01-02 Amending The Camden Code Relating To Setback Requirements and Private Access Subdivisions. The motion passed unanimously.
Chairman Jennings called for comments from the public.
Hearing no comments from the public, Commissioner Shaw made a motion to close the public hearing to receive comments from regarding Ordinance No. 2003-01-02 Amending The Camden Code Relating To Setback Requirements and Private Access Subdivisions. The motion passed unanimously.
PUBLIC HEARING -
REZONING APPLICATION – UDO 2002-10-08 – TARK & ASSOCIATES – MAGNOLIA
DRIVE, SHILOH TOWNSHIP
Commissioner Jeralds made a motion to open public hearing to receive comments from the public regarding Rezoning Application – UDO 2002-10-08 – Tark & Associates – Magnolia Drive, Shiloh Township. The motion passed unanimously.
Chairman Jennings called for comments from the public.
Rusty Jacobs, 117 Sunset Avenue, spoke in opposition of the rezoning application.
Mark Gregory, 318 N. 34, spoke in favor of the rezoning application.
Wayne Walston, 839 South NC 343, stated his land borders the proposed rezoned property and was never informed that the property was being rezoned. Mr. Walston spoke in opposition of the rezoning application.
Hearing no further comments from the public, Commissioner Shaw made a motion to close the public hearing to receive comments regarding Rezoning Application – UDO 2002-10-08 – Tark & Associates – Magnolia Drive, Shiloh Township. The motion passed unanimously.
PUBLIC HEARING - SPECIAL USE PERMIT APPLICATION –
UDO 2002-10-22 – HARRIS – HOME BASED BUSINESS, LOCATED AT 115 ONE MILL ROAD,
SHILOH TOWNSHIP
Commissioner Jeralds made a motion to open public hearing to receive comments from the public regarding Special Use Permit Application – UDO 2002-10-22 – Harris – Home Based Business, Located at 115 One Mill Road, Shiloh Township. The motion passed unanimously.
Chairman Jennings called for comments from the public.
Dwayne Harris, 113 One Mill Road, stated he is a contractor for fabrication of cabinets and countertops, works primarily at the Outer Banks and feels no extra burdens will be imposed on the area.
Hearing no further comments, Commissioner Rountree made a motion to close the public hearing to receive comments regarding Special Use Permit Application – UDO 2002-10-22 – Harris – Home Based Business, Located at 115 One Mill Road, Shiloh Township. The motion passed unanimously.
PUBLIC HEARING – REZONING APPLICATION – UDO
2002-10-33 – E.W. OLD, JR. – BASS LAKE ROAD, SOUTH MILLS TOWNSHIP
Commissioner Jeralds made a motion to open public hearing to receive comments from the public regarding Rezoning Application – UDO 2002-10-33 – E.W. Old, Jr. – Bass Lake Road, South Mills Township. The motion passed unanimously.
Chairman Jennings called for comments from the public.
E.W. Old, Jr., 176 Chamberlain Road, was present and spoke in support of the rezoning application and submitted material for the record.
Hearing no objections, Chairman Jennings so ordered materials received from Mr. Old to be entered into the record.
Rusty Jacobs, 117 Sunset Drive, spoke in opposition of the rezoning application.
Robin Forehand, 164 Bass Lake Road, spoke in opposition of the rezoning due to safety issue; the road is not state maintained, narrow and cannot handle over fifty (50) cars. Mr. Forehand thinks the entrance or egress should be to Chamberlain Road. Mr. Forehand asked that pictures of Bass Lake Road is entered into the record.
Hearing no objections, Chairman Jennings so ordered material received from Mr. Forehand be entered into the record.
Small Old, 158 Bass Lake Road, spoke of the integrity of Bass Lake Road.
Ed Hyman, 113 Sunset Avenue, on behalf of Mr. E.W. Old, spoke in favor of the rezoning.
Lynn Weeks, 59 Dry Ridge Road, Elizabeth City, asked the Board for favorable consideration of Mr. E. W. Old’s request due to being a life long resident of Camden County.
E.W. Old, 176 Chamberlain Road, stated at this time he is only requesting the property be rezoned. Mr. Old stated he has spoken with NCDOT and NCDOT stated Mr. Old needs the property owners to give Right of Way consent before NCDOT could improve the road.
Rusty Jacobs, 117 Sunset Avenue, spoke in opposition of the rezoning.
Hearing no further comments, Commissioner Rountree made a motion to close the public hearing to receive comments regarding Rezoning Application – UDO 2002-10-33 – E.W. Old, Jr. – Bass Lake Road, South Mills Township. The motion passed unanimously.
PUBLIC HEARING – SPECIAL USE PERMIT APPLICATION –
UDO 2002-11-13 – SWINDELL – CLASS A MOBILE HOME LOCATED AT 440 WICKHAM ROAD,
SHILOH TOWNSHIP
Commissioner Rountree made a motion to open public hearing to receive comments from the public regarding Special Use Permit Application – UDO 2002-11-13 – Swindell – Class A Mobile Home Located at 440 Wickham Road, Shiloh Township. The motion passed unanimously.
Chairman Jennings called for comments from the public.
Otis E. Swindell, 106 Parker’s Lane, Aydlett, was present and spoke in support of the special use permit application.
Hearing no further comments from the public, Commissioner Jeralds made a motion to close the public hearing regarding Special Use Permit Application – UDO 2002-11-13 – Swindell – Class A Mobile Home. The motion passed unanimously.
PUBLIC HEARING – SPECIAL USE PERMIT APPLICATION –
UDO 2002-11-29 – HUGHES/TRUEBLOOD – CLASS A MOBILE HOME LOCATED AT 370 TROTMAN
ROAD, SHILOH TOWNSHIP
Commissioner Shaw made a motion to open public hearing to receive comments from the public regarding Special Use Permit Application – UDO 2002-11-29 – Hughes/Trueblood – Class A Mobile Home Located at 370 Trotman Road, Shiloh Township. The motion passed unanimously.
Chairman Jennings called for comments from the public.
Joann Trueblood, Power of Attorney for Lillie S. Hughes, 350 Trotman Road, was present and spoke in favor of the rezoning.
Hearing no further comments from the public, Commissioner Shaw made a motion to close the public hearing regarding Special Use Permit Application – UDO 2002-11-29 – Hughes/Trueblood – Class A Mobile Home Located at 370 Trotman Road, Shiloh Township. The motion passed unanimously.
SHERIFF TONY PERRY – TRAFFIC GRANT FUNDING AND OTHER
GRANTS
Sheriff Perry stated he has been working with Pasquotank County Sheriff
Randy Cartwright and Currituck County Sheriff Susan Johnson on a multi‑county
joint traffic grant from the Governor’s Highway Safety Program. The County Commissioners approved
participation in this grant application on March 18, 2002.
Recently, the grant was awarded in the amount of $79,400 to Camden
County, of which there is a $12,975 local match. Not knowing the total match at the time of last year’s budget (or
whether the County would receive the grant), a “placeholder” line item of $1,200
was included in the FY2002‑03 budget.
Sheriff Perry plans to submit three (3) Governor’s Crime Commission
Grants before the January 31 deadline and he orally outline these grant
applications.
Commissioner Jeralds made a motion to grant Sheriff Perry the authority
to apply for the three (3) Governor’s Crime Commission Grants. The motion passed unanimously.
Commissioner Rountree made a motion to authorize the Sheriff, Chairman,
County Manager, Clerk and other appropriate county officials to sign and
execute all documents in support of the Governor’s Highway Safety Program Grant
and prepare a budget amendment for this program. The motion passed unanimously.
Carl Classen reviewed an email from Ronnie Sawyer, NCDOT, for the
estimated cost under a Reimbursable Agreement to grade and rock a 20‑foot
wide rock/gravel driveway extending from the end of the pavement on Milltown
Road (SR1113) to the Pasquotank River.
The cost would include proper drainage along the end of the Milltown
Road pavement and along the County’s 60‑foot right‑of‑way.
As Mr. Sawyer’s email states, a CAMA permit would be required prior to
any work being done.
Commissioner Rountree made a motion to authorize staff to apply for and
obtain a CAMA permit to grade, rock and install drainage improvements at Shiloh
Landing, to approve up to $4,500 to cover the cost of a CAMA permit (estimate
$500 for preparation and fees) and an NCDOT Reciprocal Agreement ($4,000) for
gravel and drainage improvements at Shiloh Landing, funds for the project shall
come from Shiloh Landing Trust Fund and, if necessary, Land Transfer Tax
Account and authorize the Chairman, County Manager, Clerk and other necessary
staff to sign and execute all documents necessary in support of the CAMA permit
and the reimbursable agreement. The
motion passed unanimously.
Carl Classen
stated during the 1996 South Camden Water System construction, a water line was
constructed along a private right‑of‑way called Shady Lane (off
Upton Road, Courthouse Township). After
the water line was installed, the contractor assumed that the road was a State
Road and constructed the standard drainage ditch along the presumed right‑of‑way. The property owner advised that a ditch did
not exist previously and that it was understood that the ground would be
returned to its previous state. The
previous County Manager concurred and the ground was leveled and a drainage
pipe and accessories were installed.
This drainage
piping has now settled and is not working properly. The property owner has
obtained a cost of estimate $150.00 to correct the problem.
Commissioner Rountree made a motion to approve $150.00 repair following the property owner signing a release of any further claims on the matter. The motion passed unanimously.
Commissioner Shaw made a motion to approve the budget amendments as submitted from Camden County Schools. The motion passed unanimously.
Budget Amendment
Camden County Schools Administrative Unit
The
Camden County Board of Education at a meeting on the 9th day of January 2003,
passed the following resolution.
Be
it resolved that the following amendments be made to the Budget Resolution for
the fiscal year ending June 30, 2003.
Code
Number Description of Code Amount
Increase Decrease
9111.077.529 Roof/Gutter Repair &
Replace. 21,000.00
9114.077.529 Ticket Booth/Visitor
Concession 25,000.00
9122.077.529 Expansion of Parking
Lot-CCHS 25,000.00
9211.077.542 Purchase of AS400 Comp.
Sys. 61,000.00
9215.077.541 Portable Staging 10,400.00
______________________________________________________________________________Explanation: Funding for increase is $10,400.00 from fund
balance and $40,000.00 additional
appropriation from County Commissioners.
Total Appropriation in Current Budget $ 7,832,465.56
Amount of Increase/(Decrease) of
Above Amendment 50,400.00 Total
Appropriation in Current Amended
Budget .... 7,882,865.56
Passed by majority vote of the Board of We the Board of County
Commissioners of
Education of
Camden County Schools on the
Camden County hereby approve the changes
9th day of January 2003. in the County School Funds Budget as
indicated above, and have made entry of these
changes in the minutes of said Board,
this
21st day of January, 2003.
______________________________ ________________________________
Chairman, Board of Education Chairman, Board of County Commissioners
______________________________ __________________________________
Secretary, Board of Education Clerk to the Board of County Commissioners
Carl Classen stated in a “FREE
PRESS” issue on the Camden Village Core Sewer Project noting that the
County has received a Clean Water Management Trust Fund Grant with an initial
amount of $438,000 for engineering and permitting and then the balance of the
grant ($2,162,000) will be made available when the permitting is completed.
This grant is in addition to the $3 million Unsewered Communities Grant
awarded to the County by the Rural Center last summer and paperwork from the
State will be forthcoming.
Commissioner Rountree made a motion to authorize the Chairman, County
Manager, Clerk and other appropriate county officials to sign and execute all
documents in support of the Clean Water Trust Fund Grant Award, direct that
Hobbs Upchurch be appointed the engineer for the project and direct them to
proceed with haste in implementation of the engineering and permitting
requirements of the project within the scope and finding levels of the Rural
Center and Clean Water Management Trust Fund grant awards and authorize the
Chairman, County Manager, Clerk and other appropriate county officials to sign
and execute all documents in support of any permits required for the
implementation of the Camden Village Core Sewer Project. The motion passed unanimously.
Carl Classen
stated the Board of Directors of the South Camden Water and Sewer District
(SCWSD), which is the Board of County Commissioners, has not officially met
since February, 2001.
Special Counsel Ike McRee, who works with the County on special district
matters, has advised the County Manager that the SCWSD Board should meet and
act on a regular basis when there is business regarding the District requiring
Board action. What has been done in
recent years is that the Board of Commissioners (the same people) have been
meeting and acting on behalf of the SCWSD Board.
To clarify matters, Mr. McRee recommends that the SCWSD Board meet, elect
officers, and adopt a resolution ratifying all actions adopted by the Board of
Commissioners on behalf of the SCWSD.
Commissioner Rountree made a motion to recess the Board of Commissioners
meeting and convene as the South Camden Water and Sewer District Board of
Directors. The motion passed
unanimously.
Following completion of the SCWSD Board meeting, Commissioner Jeralds
made a motion to reconvene as the Board of Commissioners. The motion passed unanimously.
Carl Classen stated the following tax matters are submitted from the Tax Administrator for approval.
Sang T. Trinh Pick Up $211.86 Discovery – Personal Property
Crystal Ward Pick Up $258.48 Discovery – Personal Property
Commissioner Rountree made a motion to approve all refunds, pick‑ups and releases in a net amount in excess of $100.00 as submitted from the Tax Administrator. The motion passed unanimously.
Carl Classen stated one principal goal for the County during the current
fiscal year has been to aggressively collect delinquent real estate and
personal property taxes. Last spring, a
staff person attended the in rem foreclosure training and the tax department
has been culling filings, re‑negotiating existing payment agreements, and
filing garnishments against delinquent taxpayers. Staff seeks authority to retain special counsel to assist with
collecting delinquent real estate and personal property taxes. Staff recommends
Mr. Ike McRee of Hornthal Riley Ellis & Maland, former county attorney of
Pasquotank County and current municipal attorney for towns in Dare and
Perquimans counties. Mr. McRee
currently serves as special counsel to the county for eCamden and special
districts.
Commissioner Shaw made a motion to approve retaining Mr. Ike McRee as
special counsel to assist with the collection of delinquent taxes. In the event Mr. McRee has a conflict of
interest or otherwise cannot assist the county on a specific case, the staff is
authorize to retain other experienced counsel to assist the county on those
accounts. The motion passed
unanimously.
Carl Classen stated the following forecast was received from Walker
Rayburn of Albemarle Regional Health Services (district health department) for
mosquito abatement in the coming year.
From Walker’s forecast, the County should plan to budget the same amount
as in the past, plus an amount for increased insecticide costs and labor costs
(sprayer driver). Additional costs may
be incurred if the County wishes to have a sentinel chicken flock placed in the
County.
Predictions of mosquito activity for the 2003 season are
no better than the weather forecasts. Mosquito production during the summer
will depend on rainfall. The start of spraying will depend on spring
temperatures and rainfall. There should be plenty of eggs. The late
October/early November hatch seems to have had adequate time to feed and lay
eggs. Being prepared to spray from late May through November will be a good
plan.
There have been eight West Nile Virus positive horses in
the area (3 from Pasquotank and 5 from Currituck). Horses were presenting with
symptoms into late November. Based on reporting, no additional horses are being
tested to date. It is wise to believe that the virus is established in
Albemarle area. The species of mosquitoes
that are involved in the transmission is unknown. Therefore mosquito pooling
and sentinel flocks will be important in developing timelines and interrupting
adult mosquito monitoring data. There were two human cases in North Carolina in
2002. It is forecasted that more human cases will be diagnosed in 2003.
Eastern
Equine Encephalitis activity shifted into the fall of 2002. Seroconversion
peaked in October this year at 37% of cases. Long-term average is 28% in
October with a peak in September. Twenty-five percent of the cases occurred in
November. November normally has approximately 5% of cases. Adjusting for the
low number of birds exposed this year, November saw 9% of exposed birds
seroconverting with a normal rate of 33%. Three chickens in the Currituck flock
were EEE positive. This November was colder than normal, as well.
With plenty of water in the swamps, Cs. melanura
populations should be high early next summer, providing good arbovirus
amplification.
Plans are to expand the number of chicken flocks
to one per county if funding and labor can be found to support the effort. Each
additional flock to be added will cost about $1900 to set up and operate.
The state is estimating new testing technology. If the
technology is approved it will allow us to screen birds and mosquito pools
locally and only send “presumptive positives” to the state lab. This would give
the Albemarle region an additional week to treat for mosquitoes. Again, any
information to the public, press, or media will only be released when the state
laboratory confirms the screening results.
Based on the expectation of increased virus threat in 2003, habitat control stays high on the priority list. The mosquitoes that are known to spread the virus, and those which are suspected, breed in containers or polluted ditches. Any assistance that the county and city government officials can give in establishing more volunteer larviciding programs will greatly help reduce the threat.
The County may also want to consider creation of a mosquito prevention
team, a group of citizens to work with the county staff in encouraging
preventive mosquito control through nuisance abatement, prompting tipping and
tossing stagnant water, and promoting use of larvicide (i.e., “dunks).
The Commissioners will consider funding during the FY2003‑04 budget
deliberation in late spring.
No action taken.
Carl Classen stated a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Currituck
County regarding the purchase and sale of water and a similar MOU exists with
South Mills Water Association. The MOU calls for a process of discussion when
one party indicates a need for water above their current allocation or in the
case of a need for additional water plant capacity.
The County
Managers and the engineers for Camden and Currituck counties are meeting
January 24 and feel it would be wise for the Camden and Currituck Boards of
Commissioners to receive an update on current water plant usage and revised
water needs in Camden and Currituck counties.
The County Managers are seeking policy guidance on future directions.
Hearing no objections, Chairman Jennings so ordered to hold a joint
Camden County – Currituck dinner workshop at the Coinjock Marina starting at
5:00 p.m. on Monday, February 17, 2003 as a recessed portion of the Regular
Meeting beginning on February 17, 2003.
Carl Classen
stated the total cost of the Martin Luther King Unity Walk was approximately
$500.00 including the food, preparations and posters.
Carl Classen
deferred from comment at this time.
BID SELLING AND
REMOVAL OF HOUSE AND BUILDING FROM FORMER HUDDLE PROPERTY
Carl Classen stated only one (1) bid was received for $5,000.00 from Mr.
Robert Bruce Lee and Mr. Jonathon Sawyer.
Commissioner Rountree made a motion to approve the bid from Mr. Robert
Bruce Lee and Mr. Jonathon Sawyer for $5,000.00 and authorize the Chairman,
Manager and Clerk to sign and execute all necessary documents in support of the
sale and removal of the house and buildings from the former Huddle
property. The motion passed
unanimously.
Carl Classen stated a proposed contract was received from MAPS Group
(Becky Veazey) to review approximately one‑third (20) of the County’s job
classifications and perform a pay study update. The goal is not to fall behind the market on any jobs and to do
all positions once every three (3) years.
For the first year, the Pay Study Update would include law enforcement,
water department and several other positions requiring State
certification. The cost is $3,800 and
this cost will likely be recurring annually so long as the County tries to stay
up to date on its pay plan.
Recommendations for any changes in the pay plan would be brought back to
the Commissioners for consideration. No
approval of any changes is implied by approval of the Pay Study Update
contract.
Hearing no
objections, Chairman Jennings so ordered the County Manager to contact Becky Veazey
to speak to the Board at the February 3 Board of Commissioners Meeting.
Carl Classen reviewed several handouts with the Board.
No action taken.
Commissioner Jeralds made a motion to go into closed session pursuant
to G.S. 143-318.11(a)(4) for the purpose of discussing industrial recruitment,
pursuant to G.S. 143-318.11(a)(5) for the purpose of discussing property
acquisition and pursuant to G.S. 143-318.11(a)(6) for the purpose of discussing
personnel. The motion passed
unanimously.
Commissioner Rountree made a motion to come
out of closed session and back into regular session. The motion passed unanimously.
Commissioner Rountree made a motion to
appoint Commissioner Jeralds as alternate on the AEDC Board in the absence of
Commissioner Riggs. The motion passed
unanimously.
Commissioner Shaw made a motion to adjourn the meeting. The motion passed unanimously.
The meeting adjourned at 9:30 PM.
_________________________________
Jeff
Jennings, Chairman
Camden
County Board of Commissioners
ATTEST:
______________________________
Carl Classen
Clerk to the Board of Commissioners