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January 7, 2003 Page 6 <br /> <br /> The Board of Commissioners for the County of Cabarrus met in recessed <br />session in the Multipurpose Room at the Cabarrus County Governmental Center <br />in Concord, North Carolina on Tuesday, January 7, 2003, at 6:00 p.m. <br /> <br />Present - Chairman: Robert M. Freeman <br /> Vice Chairman: Richard D. Suggs <br /> Commissioners: Carolyn B. Carpenter <br /> Robert W. Carruth <br /> Coy C. Privette <br /> <br /> Also present were Mr. John D. Day, Interim County Manager; Mr. Fletcher <br />L. Hartsell, Jr., County Attorney; Ms. Pam Dubois, Assistant Finance <br />Director; Ms. Cathie Straub, Budget Officer; and Mrs. Frankie F. Bonds, Clerk <br />to the Board. <br /> <br /> Chairman Freeman called the meeting to order at 6:12 p.m. and welcomed <br />those present to the work session. <br /> <br />Commissioner Privette gave the invocation. <br /> <br />HARRISBURG MUNICIPAL FIRE DEPARTMENT CREATION <br /> <br /> Mr. Mike Downs, Public Safety Services Director, reviewed the proposal <br />for the Town of Harrisburg to create a municipal department for the purpose <br />of providing fire protection services. He stated the Town and the Harrisburg <br />Volunteer and Fire Department have reached a preliminary agreement for the <br />fire department to become a municipal department. The Town has requested the <br />Board's endorsement of the proposal and approval for County staff to assist <br />with the process for creating a municipal fire department. <br /> <br /> Mr. Mark Martin, Harrisburg Town Councilman and Chairman of the Fire <br />Study Commission, stated the goal is to establish the municipal fire <br />department effective July 1, 2003. He reiterated the request for assistance <br />by County staff in working through the process to establish the department. <br /> <br /> Ms. Jean Bradley, Mayor Pro Tem of the Town of Harrisburg, spoke in <br />support of the creation of the municipal fire department. <br /> <br /> Chief Charles Greene of the Harrisburg Volunteer Fire Department <br />confirmed that the Fire Department is interested in moving forward with the <br />necessary research associated with the creation of the municipal department. <br /> <br /> UPON MOTION of Commissioner Privette, seconded by Commissioner <br />Carpenter and unanimously carried, the Board agreed for County staff to work <br />with the Town of Harrisburg officials to form a municipal fire department. <br /> <br />MISCELLANEOUS MEETINGS <br /> <br /> Mr. Day reported that representatives of Bullock Smith and Partners <br />would be in town on February 3 and 4 to develop information concerning <br />improvements to the Midway at the fairgrounds. The Board agreed to meet <br />with the consultants for dinner on February 3rd at the Expo to discuss the <br />improvements. <br /> <br /> Mr. Day advised that he would be meeting with Ann Sternal, Executive <br />Director of the Convention and Visitor's Bureau, on Thursday to discuss <br />options for marketing opportunities. <br /> <br /> Mr. Day stated the Cabarrus Regional Chamber of Commerce Annual Banquet <br />would be held at the Expo on January 24. Ail Board members indicated they <br />planned to attend and arrangements are to be made for corporate tables at the <br />event. <br /> <br />TAX MATTERS <br /> <br /> Mr. Day reported that Blair Bennett, Deputy County Manager for <br />Administration, had suggested that the County contract with an outside firm <br />to perform property tax audits on the larger businesses in Cabarrus County. <br /> <br /> Ms. Dawn McHale, Tax Administrator, presented information concerning <br />the tax audits currently being performed by County staff. She stated a large <br />portion of staff's work at this time involves audits of those companies that <br />have incentive grants. <br /> <br /> <br />