BC 2014 11 03 Work Session - Laserfiche WebLink

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November 3, 2034 (Work Session) Page 2195 Dennis Testerman, Senior Resource Conservation Specialist, presented a request for authorization to apply for state and federal farmland preservation grant funds to purchase development rights for permanent agricultural conservation easements. He advised the applications are due the third week of December and stated any contracts awarded will be presented to the Board for approval. Vice Chairman Burrage, Soil and Water Conservation District liaison, expressed support for the grants. Mr. Testerman urged anyone interested in the program to contact his office for more information. Ned Hudson, Soil and Water Conservation District Board Secretary /Treasurer, and Hannah Hursey, Resource Conservation Coordinator, were also in attendance. SOC - Consideration of Allocation of Funds to Mount Pleasant Middle School Commissioner Oesterreich requested the Board consider allocating between $6.5 million and $8.5 million (depending on the outcome of the RCCC bond) to the Mount Pleasant Middle School replacement project_ He said the Board has already allocated $13.5 million and $8.5 million would bring the total funding for the school to $22 million. Vice Chairman Burrage asked how much is left from last year's funds. Pam Dubois, Deputy County Manager, advised of a conflict with allocating the funds. She stated because of NC FAST and the Medicaid information, the County has not received the information for the County's single audit and financial statements. All 1CC counties in North Carolina are waiting to turn in their audits because the auditors have not been able to complete them. She further stated the auditors will have to come back in and do more compliance testing, after which, the audit goes to the Local Government Commission (LGC) for their approval. Once the LGC approves the audit, based on the Boards' policy, then the audit comes before the Board of Commissioners for approval. She advised the second area of conflict is based on the preliminary numbers and the restrictions required for debt service payments. She stated it is estimated there will be approximately $5 million leftover at the end of this fiscal year, after retaining the amount for the County's 15 percent policy and based on current actual numbers. Commissioner Oesterreich repeated his support for allocating funds for the Mount Pleasant Middle School now instead of postponing to a later date. Chairman Poole stated the numbers are not available yet. Commissioner Oesterreich stated the Board funded the RCCC Cosmetology program with surplus money. He stated, in his opinion, the Mount Pleasant Middle School replacement is far more important than the cosmetology program, citing the condition of the middle school. He suggested also using Contingency Funds, if needed, and stated the Mount Pleasant Middle School replacement project should be given top priority. Ms. Dubois advised the $1.5 million for the Cosmetology Center and the $1,319,000.00 for Kannapolis Middle School's design did not come out of the excess fund balance, but that it came from the increase in property tax revenues due to collections and the release of an assignment. She stated we have not violated our policy by using that money that comes out of the excess in advance. A discussion ensued. During discussion Ms. Dubois explained the funding process for the allocation of the funds and responded to questions from the Board. Chairman Poole expressed support for funding the Mount Pleasant Middle School replacement. She advised they are in the process of obtaining bids. She also stated she does not support spending money staff cannot identify. Vice Chairman Burrage advised a bid is needed in order to proceed with the school. Commissioner Measmer expressed his support for moving forward with funding the Mount Pleasant Middle School replacement. Susan Fearrington, Finance Director, advised she has been in contact with the state, attempting to obtain an estimate of time for when the numbers will be available. She stated the County's single audit cannot be completed