BC 2005 10 28 RECESSED - Laserfiche WebLink

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October 28, 2005 - Recessed Meeting Page 380 The Board of Commissioners for the County of Cabarrus met in recessed session in the Multipurpose Room at the Cabarrus County Governmental Center in Concord, North Carolina, on Friday, October 28, 2005, at 3:00 p.m. Present - Chairman: Carolyn B. Carpenter Vice Chairman: Robert W. Carruth Robert M. Freeman Joni D. Juba Coy C. Privette Also present were John D. Day, County Managerj Fletcher L. Hartsell, Jr., County Attorney; and Frankie F. Bonds, Clerk to the Board. After the conclusion of Open p. m. concerning the Jai 1 proj ect I order at 3:38 p.m. House and Community Meeting held at 1: 00 Chairman Carpenter called the meeting to Commissioner Freeman gave the invocation. An Agenda was distributed that listed items related to the following: Construction Schedule; Exterior Treatment for the Union Street Fa9acte of the Jail AnneXi Exterior Treatment for the Jail Housing Uniti Demolition of Existing Jail and Construction of Parking Loti Structural Engineering Report for the former Funeral Home/Newspaper Building ("Tribune Building"); and Future Use of Property at the Corner of Union Street and Corban Avenue. vice Chairman Carruth made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Juba, to add discussion about the housing units, including their location and possible alternativesJ to the Agenda. Commissioner Privette moved to amend the motion to provide an opportunity for public comments concerning any item listed on the Agenda or any of the discussion that was held in the Rotunda during the Open House, which he stated Chairman Carpenter had been unable to attend. Commissioner Freeman seconded the motion. There was discussion regarding the proposed period for public comment. Issues addressed by the Board included the following: (1) Report to be made on the information received at the Open Housej (2) Emails that had been received by Board membersi (3) Limiting the period for public comments to 15 minutesi and (4) Persons at the Open House had been advised there would not be a period for public comment and many had not stayed for the meeting. After discussion, the motion was approved with Commissioners Privette and Freeman and Chairman Carpenter voting for and vice Chairman Carruth and Commissioner Juba voting against. Public Conunents Chairman Carpenter opened the meeting for Public Comments at 3:45 p.m. She stated comments would be received for 15 minutes and each speaker would be limited to three minutes. Robert Fulghum, resident of 156 Union Street, North, stated persons attending the Open House felt the Annex and Sheriff's Building were needed and approved of those structures. However, he stated most were not aware of the two planned housing complexes and objected to the six-story buildings. He suggested that two extra stories be added to the Annex to house 192 prisoners in that structure along with the 142 in the existing Jail. Carl Tyson, resident of ConcordJ complained that the residents had not been told how big the planned housing structures would be and had not been given all the facts. He stated the Annex and the Sheriff's Office were needed, but the two housing structures were not needed in the historic district and should be located elsewhere. He suggested that the size of the Annex be increased and that closed circuit television could be utilized for ini tial court appearances. Finally, he asked the Board to listen to the community and "do the right thing." Heather Timbs Fulghum, resident of 55 Louise Drive SE, stated there had been a lack of communications between the County and the residents regarding the planned Jail housing units. She compared the Concord revitalization to the Dilworth area of Charlotte and stated the Jail housing units should be located in an industrial area. Ms. Fulghum supported the construction of a 192-bed Jail Annex and administration building and asked the Board to reconsider the location of the housing units.