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103 The Board of Commissioners for the County of Cabarrus met at the County Courthouse in Concord, North Carolina, on Monday, May 11, 1987, at 7:00 P.M. to begin review of the proposed 1987-88 Cabarrus County budget. Present - Chairman: James W. Lentz Commissioners: Kenneth F. Payne William G. Hamby, Jr. Martha H. Melvin R. Giles Moss Vice-Chairman Payne called the meeting to order and presided until the arrival of Chairman Lentz. Mr. B. H. Mabrey, Sr., Emergency Services Director, presented the pro- posed First Responders Program to be operated through the volunteer fire departments in the county and dispatched on the fire frequency. He reported that the fire chiefs had approved the First Responder Program using the fire frequency but a number of the fire chiefs were now advocating the use of the ambulance frequency for dispatching calls. According to Mr. Mabrey, it would cost from $50,000.00 to $60,000.00 to purchase the additional equipment that would be required if the ambulance frequency were used for the program. He stated that the current equipment could be used for the fire frequency and with the addition of a $100.00 crystal in the current radios the first responders would have the capability of communicating with the ambulance service personnel. In conclusion, he stated that the following fire depart- ments had expressed interest in the First Responder Program: Allen, Midland, Jackson Park, Poplar Tent, Pitts, Odell, Mt. Pleasant, Mt. Mitchell, North East, and Royal Oaks. Mr. Charles D. McGinnis, County Manager, advised the Board that there would be a liability to the County if County tax money were contributed to the fire departments for the First Responder Program. He further stated that the fire departments would need to have liability insurance coverage for the First Responder Program. Mr. Ed Phillips, Chief of Allen Fire Department, stated that the advisory committee had met and had asked that Mr. Mabrey bring a recommendation to the Board that the County purchase two radios and ten pagers for each fire depart- ment for the First Responder Program. He also stated in his opinion the ambulance frequency would be more effective than the fire frequency for dispatching First Responder calls. He stated concerns that there would be two working fires at one time on the fire frequency and also that the information would have to be given twice if the fire frequency were used. He estimated that it would cost $4,300.00 per department to purchase the additional equip- ment. Mr. Allen Burnette, Chief of the Midland Volunteer Fire Department, spoke in support of the First Responder Program, stating that it was a needed program in that area of the county. He also supported the use of the fire frequency for the First Responder Program. The Board instructed Mr. Mabrey to address the problem of liability coverage for the fire departments in the proposed First Responder Program ordinance and to include a provision in the proposed ordinance that would prohibit the use of County tax money for the Fire Responder Program. The Board further instructed Mr. Mabrey to resolve the question of which frequency will be used and to bring the proposal back to the Board for consideration as soon as possible. Chairman Lentz presided over the remainder of the meeting. Commissioner Melvin reviewed a written report of her findings and recom- mendations regarding a salvage yard operation on Charlie Walker Road and the operation of a paint shop in the vicinity. The recommendations as outlined by Commissioner Melvin were as follows: That action be taken promptly against Mr. Smith's salvage yard operation. That the Planning and Zoning Departments study the feasibility of using the usual lot depth as a boundary on the side of the street now zoned for mobile homes instead of the center of Charlie Walker Road in order to maintain the residential values of those who own homes in the neighborhood. That an abandoned vehicle in the back of a house (Charlie Walker Road and Powerline Drive) contiguous to side yard of salvage operation be removed. The vehicle bears no license. That zoning status be checked for paint shop and prompt action be taken if found to be in violation.