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May 27, 2003 Page 137 Chairman Freeman arrived at 7:36 p.m. and presided over the remainder of the meeting. Mr. David Hampton, EMS Director, reported that the average emergency response time in Cabarrus County is six (6) to six and one-half (6~) minutes as compared to the national average of eight (8) minutes. Mr. Downs reviewed communication issues in the county, including complaints by volunteers about "dead" calls in certain areas of the county, the need for additional towers, upgrade to digital radios and the lack of ~man down" buttons on some radios. Stating the City of Concord currently provides service for all radios, he cited the need for a government or oversight committee for the communications system so that all agencies would be treated equally. Mr. Downs also discussed the merits of a unified dispatch center and issues that would have to be addressed as to personnel, protocols to be followed, etc. In conclusion, Mr. Downs asked the Board to formalize a committee (as agreed to at the May 19tn meeting) to proceed with getting specific information regarding the feasibility of consolidating the three EPll centers. Mr. Downs reported that he and Mr. Hampton are looking at ambulance software programs to provide billing and incident reporting for County EMS services. They are also comparing the in-house and outsourcing of the billing and collections of ambulance charges. Plannin~ Services Mr. Jonathan Marshall, Planning Services Director, reviewed the proposed budgets for Planning and Zoning, including Planning, Transportation, Community Development, Erosion Control and Zoning. He stated that changes should be made to the proposed FY 2004 budget to increase revenue by $6,000.00 and expenditures by $5,000.00. There was brief discussion about abandoned cemeteries and the County's responsibility for those cemeteries. Mr. Marshall reported that the Planning staff is cataloging and mapping abandoned cemeteries and that information is being recorded in the Register of Deeds office. Camp Spencer Park Grant Mr. Day reported that the County had been selected by the North Carolina Parks and Recreation Authority to receive a grant from the Parks and Recreation Trust Fund for Camp Spencer Park. The grant is in the amount of $250,000.00 with a County match of $250,000.00. UPON MOTION of Commissioner Carruth, seconded by Commissioner Carpenter with Commissioners Carruth, Carpenter and Privette and Chairman Freeman voting for, the Board authorized the Chairman to sign the North Carolina Parks and Recreation Project Trust Fund Agreement for grant funds in the amount of $250,000.00 for Camp Spencer Park. General Discussion The Board briefly discussed the following issues: (1) Proposed creation of a Harrisburg municipal fire department; (2) In-house cleaning services for the Arena; (3) Proposed increase in the occupancy tax from five percent to six percent; and (4) Proposed use of occupancy tax revenue for the Arena and the proposed convention center to be operated by John Q. Hammons and owned by the City of Concord. No action was taken concerning these issues. Chairman Freeman reported that he had been in Washington, D.C. this day (May 27) to witness the signing of HR 1298 (US Leadership Against HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria Act of 2003) by President George W. Bush. He stated the United States is providing $15 billion to help wipe out HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. Recess of Meetin~ There being no furth.er business to come before the Board, Chairman Freeman recessed the meeting at 8:58 p.m. until 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, May 29, 2003, in the Multipurpose Room at the Governmental Center. Clerk to the Board