Rutherford County

Meeting Minutes - Draft - Outline

Board of Commissioners

Tuesday, September 3, 2024

6:00 PM

289 N. Main St. Rutherfordton NC 28139 Commission

Chambers

I. Call to Order

Chairman King called the September 3, 2024 meeting of the Rutherford County Board of

Commissioners to order.

5 -

Present:

Commissioner Bryan King, Commissioner Alan Toney, Commissioner

Michael Benfield, Commissioner Greg Lovelace and Commissioner

David Hunt

A. Pledge of Allegiance

Mr. Benjamin Roach led in the Pledge of Allegiance.

B. Agenda Approval

Commissioner Hunt moved to approve the agenda. Commissioner Benfield

seconded the motion. The vote on the motion was:

5 -

Aye:

Commissioner King, Commissioner Toney, Commissioner

Benfield, Commissioner Lovelace and Commissioner Hunt

Nay:

II. Public Comments

Mr. David Hurley who said he spoke on behalf of the people of Rutherford County through

the Justice, Accountability, and Transparency Initiative of Rutherford County presented

the results of a 24-hour poll which he had taken of citizens of Rutherford County to

collect their thoughts and feelings of the different aspects of the County. He received

almost 200 responses, and he shared some of those. Mr. Hurley presented four (4)

demands for action for which he expected an update at the October 7th County

Commissioners’ meeting.

Mr. Eric Gorney who lives in Henrietta asked that the Board begin looking at the budget

for next year as his taxes had increased. The biggest portion of the budget is salaries so

he asked that the number of employees be reduced in order to reduce taxes.

III. Consent Agenda

Commissioner Benfield moved to approve the Consent Agenda. Vice Chairman

Toney seconded the motion. The vote on the motion was:

5 -

Aye:

Commissioner King, Commissioner Toney, Commissioner Benfield,

Commissioner Lovelace and Commissioner Hunt

Nay:

ID 24-3887

Minutes of August 5, 2024 County Commissioners’ Meeting

Attachments:

20240805 Minutes.pdf

ID 24-3886

Tax Refunds and Releases - September, 2024

Attachments:

Tax Refunds Releases September 2024.pdf

IV. Commissioners/Appointments

ID 24-3889

Appointments to Airport Appeals Board

The term of office for Mr. Wiley Thomas on the Airport Appeals Board is due to expire on

September 30. This vacancy had been advertised, and applications had been accepted.

No additional applications were received. Mr. Thomas is willing to serve an additional

term.

Vice Chairman Toney moved to re-appoint Mr. Thomas to the Airport Appeals

Board to a term ending September 30, 2027. Commissioner Lovelace seconded

the motion. The vote on the motion was:

5 -

Aye:

Commissioner King, Commissioner Toney, Commissioner Benfield,

Commissioner Lovelace and Commissioner Hunt

Nay:

V. Commissioner Reports

ID 24-3893

North Carolina Association of County Commissioners Youth Voice 2024

Attachments:

NCACC Youth Voice 2024.pdf

Mr. Benjamin Roach appeared before the Board to report on Youth Voice 2024 activities

in which he participated during the week of August 9-10. Youth Voice 2024 which is

sponsored by the NCACC, 4-H Youth Development and Boys and Girls Clubs of North

Carolina was held in conjunction with the NCACC’s Annual Conference in Forsyth County.

ID 24-3892

Fund Balance Presentation

Attachments:

DEC Financial Planning and Policy Update.pdf

Mr. Doug Carter of DEC Associates, Rutherford County’s financial advisor provided a

presentation regarding the County’s fund balance. He explained that a healthy fund

balance is very important as it

•

Provides protection from future economic changes – recession as example.

Provides ability to potentially meet unforeseen one-time financial events.

Provides “cash liquidity” to meet expenses that are not in sync with revenue

collections.

•

Demonstrates a focus on sound financial management.

LGC focuses on fund balance levels and peer comparisons.

Essential to maintaining high credit rating – 30% of rating based on fund balance

levels and can be offset to other criteria – economy as an example.

The adoption of a fund balance policy is considered a credit and a positive by the Local

Government Commission. It could be adopted as part of an annual budget and could be

reviewed and confirmed annually. Most counties have a range of 45% to 55%. Mr. Carter

stressed that fund balance should only be used for one-time purposes – capital or

extraordinary other costs.

ID 24-3891

Farmland Preservation Plan

Attachments:

Farmland Protection Plan Presentation.pdf

Rutherford County Farmland Plan FINAL.pdf

Soil and Water Conservation Director Brandon Higgins told the Board that it had been

almost a year since the Board approved the Rutherford County Farmland Preservation

Plan. He provided some information regarding the farms in Rutherford County.

Only 69% have internet access

Only 8% sell directly to consumers

Only 17% hire farm labor

98% are family farms

Preserving farmland within Rutherford County is important as the number one threat to

this is growth. The Piedmont Atlantic is the fastest growing megaregion in the United

States. Director Higgins listed short term, near-term, and long-term timelines for

implementation of the Farm Land Preservation Plan. Education is an important part as it

will help farmers understand about trusts so that their farmland can be passed on to

future generations; however, these trusts and trust planning is expensive. Issues for

consideration are:

•

Education

Number of permanent easements

Cost associated with farm/family planning

Infrastructure/Coordination/Staffing

VI. Old Business

ID 24-3898

Cliffside Sanitary District Board

Attachments:

Resolution Cliffside Sanitary District.pdf

County Manager Steve Garrison advised that the operation of the Cliffside Sanitary sewer

service is to be managed by the Cliffside Sanitary District Board whose members are

elected; however, members who have served on the board have resigned and no one has

filed for election to the governing board. Due to deficiencies, the North Carolina Local

Government Commission assumed control of the financial affairs of the district. The

deficiencies have been addressed and corrected and the Commission staff has

recommended that the Commission return financial control to the District. Since there is

no active governing board, the County Commissioners must fill the district board

vacancies until the next election. The Board had taken action at the August 5, 2024

meeting to advertise vacancies on the Cliffside Sanitary District Board and request

applications for the Board. The request for applications is listed on the County’s website,

and individual letters with an application form attached were mailed to residents living in

the district. No applications have been received.

VII. New Business

ID 24-3896

Budget Amendments - September, 2024

Attachments:

Budget Amendments 9-3-24.pdf

Finance Director Paula Roach presented budget amendments for the Board’s

consideration.

Commissioner Benfield moved to approve the budget amendments.

Commissioner Hunt seconded the motion. The vote on the motion was:

5 -

Aye:

Commissioner King, Commissioner Toney, Commissioner Benfield,

Commissioner Lovelace and Commissioner Hunt

Nay:

ID 24-3897

GOVDEAL Auction for Rutherford County Property

Attachments:

Cedar St Property Summary 2024.pdf

Cedar St Lot 20 Street View.pdf

Cedar St Lot 20.pdf

Cedar St. Aerial 2024.pdf

Cedar St Deed Book 2076 PG 903 - 904.pdf

Cedar St Gov Deals Plat 7-24.pdf

Cedar St Property Record Card.pdf

Resolution Cedar St GOV Deals 2024.pdf

Public Works and Planning Director Danny Searcy presented a resolution for the Board’s

consideration that would authorize the electronic auction of Parcel Number 1204078, 0

Cedar Street, Rutherfordton, NC, as described more fully in Plat recorded in Plat Book 7,

Page 24, (“the Plat”), Rutherford County Registry and being the same and identical

property conveyed to Rutherford County by Commissioners’ Deed recorded in Deed Book

2076, Page 903-904 Rutherford County Registry.

Commissioner Benfield moved to approve the resolution. Commissioner Hunt

seconded the motion. The vote on the motion was:

5 -

Aye:

Commissioner King, Commissioner Toney, Commissioner Benfield,

Commissioner Lovelace and Commissioner Hunt

Nay:

Enactment No: RES 24-023

ID 24-3842

San Pure Maintenance Contract 3-Year Renewal

Information Technology Director Jai Doherty requested that the Board approve a

three-year hardware maintenance contract renewal with SHI for maintenance of the 911

San Pure storage.

Commissioner Hunt moved to authorize the County Manager and the County

Attorney to negotiate terms of contract with SHI and authorize the County

Manager, Finance Director, Clerk to the Board, and other County officials to sign

and execute all documents in support of this action. Commissioner Benfield

seconded the motion. The vote on the motion was:

5 -

Aye:

Commissioner King, Commissioner Toney, Commissioner Benfield,

Commissioner Lovelace and Commissioner Hunt

Nay:

ID 24-3890

Rutherford County Community Child Protection/Child Fatality Prevention

Team Annual Report to the Board of Commissioners

Attachments:

CHILD FATALITY PREVENTION TASKFORCE ANNUAL

REPORT.8.28.24.pdf

Social Services Director Delores Hunt said the Rutherford County Community Child

Protection Team/Child Fatality Prevention Team is required by NC GS 7B 1406(a)(2) to

report annually to the Board of County Commissioners on the activities of the team. She

presented a copy of the report. The composition of the Team is mandated by NC GS 7B

1407(b)(1)-(10) and (c)(1)-(5). In addition, section (d) of 1407 states the board of county

commissioners may appoint a maximum of five additional members to represent county

agencies or the community at large. A list of the current membership was included in the

report showing the organization or CCPT/CFPT position that each member represents

and those who have been appointed by the county commissioners. Historically, the

team has appointed members to these five positions as needed and then presented the

list to the Board annually for approval, or to make changes as the Board may deem

necessary. There is no term limit on the appointments. Director Hunt asked that the

Board accept the report and approve appointments to the Team.

Commissioner Hunt moved to accept the report and to appoint Dr. Paul Holden,

Ms. Heather Kennedy, Ms. Anitra McKinney, Ms. Kayla Fox, and Ms. Jamie Hill to

the Community Child Protection Team/ Community Fatality Protection Team.

Commissioner Benfield seconded the motion. The vote on the motion was:

5 -

Aye:

Commissioner King, Commissioner Toney, Commissioner Benfield,

Commissioner Lovelace and Commissioner Hunt

Nay:

VIII. Information

ID 24-3888

Tax Collector’s Report - September, 2024

Attachments:

Tax Collector Report September 2024.pdf

IX. Adjournment

At 7:19 P.M. Commissioner Lovelace made a motion to adjourn. Commissioner

Hunt seconded the motion. The vote on the motion was:

5 -

Aye:

Commissioner King, Commissioner Toney, Commissioner Benfield,

Commissioner Lovelace and Commissioner Hunt

Nay: