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>> GOOD EVENING, I WOULD LIKE
TO CALL TO ORDER THE CABARRUS
COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
FOR OUR REGULAR MEETING MARCH
17, 2014. THOSE OF YOU IN THE
AUDIENCE, IF YOU HAVE A MOBILE
DEVICE IF YOU WILL PLEASE PUT
IT ON SILENT OR VIBRATE AT THIS
TIME WE WOULD APPRECIATE IT SO
IT DOESN'T GO OFFER DURING THE
MEETING.
AT THIS TIME WE ARE HAPPY TO
WELCOME CONCORD HIGH SCHOOL
FIRE ACADEMY TO PRESENT OUR
COLORS. PLEASE RISE.
.
>> PLEASE JOIN ME IN THE PLEDGE
OF ALLEGIANCE. I PLEDGE
ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND
TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT
STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD,
INDIVISIBLE WITH LIBERTY AND
JUSTICE FOR ALL.
>> AT THIS TIME I'D LIKE TO
CALL ON REVEREND KEVIN SEGER,
ASSOCIATE PASTOR AT PITTS
BAPTIST CHURCH.
>> GOD, WE DO THANK YOU FOR
THIS DAY. GOD, FOR THE RAIN
YOU HAVE GIVEN US, GOD, WE
THANK YOU FOR A BODY OF
COMMISSIONERS WHO STILL SEE
THAT IT IS IMPORTANT TO SEEK
YOUR FACE AT THE BEGINNING OF
THIS MEETING. GOD, WE ASK FOR
YOUR WISDOM. WE ASK FOR EACH
PERSON IN THIS ROOM THAT YOU
WOULD BRING YOUR WISDOM TO THEM
AS MATTERS COME TO THIS GROUP,
TO THIS BODY, THAT YOU WOULD
GIVE WISDOM TO OUR LEADERSHIP.
GOD, WE DO PRAY FOR CABARRUS
COUNTY, FOR THE STATE OF NORTH
CAROLINA, FOR THIS COUNTRY, THE
GREAT COUNTRY OF THE UNITED
STATES OF AMERICA. GOD THAT WE
WOULD SEEK YOUR FACE. GOD, WE
WOULD LOOK TO YOU FOR WISDOM.
GOD, WE DO THANK YOU FOR THE
BLESSINGS THAT YOU SEND OUR
WAY, MOST OF ALL THE BLESSING
OF JESUS CHRIST TO CAME TO THIS
EARTH TO LIVE AS AN EXAMPLE BUT
ALSO TO DIE ON THE CROSS FOR
EACH ONE IN THIS ROOM THAT IF
WE SUBMIT OURSELVES, IF WE
BELIEVE IN WHAT HE DID AND ROSE
AGAIN ON THE THIRD DAY THAT WE
CAN HAVE LIFE ETERNAL THROUGH
HIS SACRIFICE ON THE CROSS.
GOD, THANK YOU FOR THAT. THANK
YOU FOR ALLOWING US TO COME
BEFORE YOU TONIGHT TO EVEN PRAY
AND TALK TO YOU, GOD. WE ASK
ALL THESE THINGS IN JESUS'
NAME, AMEN.
>> THANK YOU. AT THIS TIME WE
WOULD LIKE TO THANK REVEREND
SEGER, APPRECIATE YOU BEING
HERE AND WE'D LIKE TO RECOGNIZE
THE FIRE ACADEMY HONOR GUARD.
SO IF YOU WILL PLEASE COME UP
TO THE MICROPHONE ONE BY ONE, I
DON'T KNOW WHICH ORDER YOU WANT
TO COME IN, TELL US YOUR NAME
APBLDS YOUR RANK AND WHAT YEAR
YOU ARE IN SCHOOL.
>> MY NAME IS KALEN WOOD, I'M A
HUEPBT IN THE FIRE ACADEMY AND
I'M A SENIOR HERE AT CONCORD
HIGH SCHOOL.
>> IF YOU WILL EXIT TO YOUR
LEFT, MY RIGHT, COMMISSIONER
BURRAGE HAS A PIN FOR YOU.
>> MY NAME IS JOSE GONZALES,
I'M IN THE 10TH GRADE.
>> MY NAME IS JONATHAN BALDWIN,
I AM THE COMPANY CAPTAIN.
>> GOOD EVENING, I'M CHIEF
BARLOW, I'M CHIEF OF THE FIRE
ACADEMY, WE STARTED THIS IN
2009, WE STARTED THIS WITH 250
MEMBERS, WE HAVE OUR OWN RESCUE
AND AMBULANCE, WE'VE ADDED THE
EMT PROGRAM AS WELL AND THERE
ARE NOW OTHER PROGRAMS SIMILAR
TO THIS STATEWIDE.
>> COMMISSIONERS, THE FIRST
THING ON THE AGENDA IS APPROVAL
OR CORRECTIONS OF THE MINUTES.
AT THIS TIME I WOULD ACCEPT A
MOTION TO APPROVE THE MINUTES
AS PRESENTED. DO I HAVE A
MOTION?
>> SO MOVED.
>> SECOND.
>> THERE IS A MOTION AND A
SECOND. ALL THOSE IN NAIFR SAY
AYE. ANY OPPOSED? THANK YOU.
NEXT WE HAVE THE AGENDA. THERE
ARE A COUPLE CHANGES THAT YOU
WILL NOTE ON PAGE 77. AT THIS
TIME I WOULD ACCEPT A MOTION TO
APPROVE THE MEETING AGENDA
INCLUDING THE CHANGES. DO I
HAVE A MOTION?
>> SO MOVED.
>> SECOND.
>> ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
ANY OPPOSED? THANK YOU.
OKAY, UNDER RECOGNITIONS AND
PRESENTATIONS, THIS IS A
PROCLAMATION THAT WE HAVE BEEN
DOING FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS
NOW. I DARE SAY MANY OF US
KNOW SOMEONE WHO HAS BEEN
TOUCHED AS A RESULT OF SOMEONE
GIVING OF THEMSELVES IN THIS
MANNER. I'D LIKE TO READ THE
PROCLAMATION, IT'S FOR NATIONAL
DONATE LIFE MONTH. WHEREAS
LIFE SHARE OF THE CAROLINAS IS
FOCUSED ON SAVING LIVES BY
INCREASING PARTICIPATION IN THE
NATIONAL DONOR EYE REGISTRY
WITH UNWAVERING SUPPORT FROM
THE NATION'S DONATION AND
TRANSPLANTATION COMMUNITY, AND
WHEREAS LIFE SHARE CAROLINA,
THE PROCUREMENT ORGANIZATION
THAT SERVES CABARRUS COUNTY IS
PART OF THAT COMMUNITY AND HAS
ITS OWN PROGRAMS TO HIGHLIGHT
THE IMPORTANCE OF DONATING TO
SAVE THE LIVES OF OTHERS AND
WHEREAS 121,021 PEOPLE
NATIONWIDE ARE IN NEED OF LIFE
SAVING TRANSPLANTS AND WHEREAS
RESOLUTION DEPBLTDS OF CABARRUS
COUNTY HAVE BEEN TOUCHED AS
RECIPIENTS OF LIFE SAVING
TRANSPLANTS BY OTHERS WHO HAVE
LITERALLY GIVEN OTHERS A SECOND
CHANCE OF OTHERS, WE DO HEREBY
PROCLAIM THE MONTH OF APRIL,
2014 TO BE NATIONAL DONATE LIFE
MONTH IN CABARRUS COUNTY AND WE
URGE OUR RESIDENTS TO GIVE
SERIOUS THOUGHT OF EYE, ORGAN
AND TISSUE DONATION AND IF SO
DESIRE JOIN THE NORTH CAROLINA
DONOR REGISTRY AND FURTHER TO
NOTIFY THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS
THAT THEY HAVE DONE SO. AT
THIS TIME I WOULD ACCEPT A
MOTION TO ADOPT THE
PROCLAMATION FOR NATIONAL
DONATE LIFE MONTH.
>> SO MOVED.
>> SECOND.
>> I HAVE A MOTION AND SECOND,
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
ANY OPPOSED? THANK YOU, THAT'S
A SPECIAL REQUEST THAT WAS MADE
OF ME A COUPLE YEARS AGO. AND
I APPRECIATE THAT OUR BOARD HAS
CONTINUED TO ADOPT THIS
PROCLAMATION.
DENNIS TESSERMAN IS HERE,
THERE'S DENNIS. NEXT UP WE
HAVE SOIL AND WATER
CONSERVATION DFRT RECOGNITION
OF STUDENT WINNERS IN THE NORTH
CAROLINA ASSOCIATION OF SOIL
AND WATER CONSERVATION
DISTRICTS ANNUAL CONSERVATION
EDUCATION CONTEST. DENNIS,
WE'RE HAPPY TO WELCOME YOU
TONIGHT.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, HAPPY TO
BE HERE.
THIS IS, AS MANY OF YOU KNOW
AND PROBABLY SOME THAT ARE
WATCHING ON CHANNEL 22 AS WELL
AS OUR 50TH ANNIVERSARY AS A
SINGLE COUNTY CONSERVATION
DISTRICT AND ACTUALLY THIS
MONTH MARKS 75 YEARS OF
ORGANIZED CONSERVATION IN
CABARRUS COUNTY. OVER MUCH OF
THOSE 50 YEARS WE HAVE HAD SOME
SORT OF AN EDUCATIONAL CONTEST
GOING ON. I THINK FROM MY
READING OF THE MINUTES, SOME OF
THOSE WE STARTED, INITIATED AT
THE LOCAL LEVEL. OVER TIME,
THE STATE ASSOCIATION OF
CONSERVATION DISTRICTS HAS
GOTTEN BEHIND A NUMBER OF THOSE
CONTESTS AND COME UP WITH
OTHERS ON THEIR OWN, SO WE HAVE
A NUMBER OF STUDENTS HERE
TONIGHT WHO HAVE PARTICIPATED
IN THESE ANNUAL CONTESTS AND
FIRST, SECOND AND THIRD PLACE
WINNERS, AND I AM GOING TO, I'D
LIKE THEM TO COME FORWARD IN
JUST A MINUTE.
THE THEME FOR THE 2013-2014
CONTEST WAS THE LIVING SOIL.
WE'VE GOT STUDENTS HERE TONIGHT
THAT PARTICIPATED IN OUR ESSAY,
POSTER, POWERPOINT AND PUBLIC
SPEAKING CONTEST. THE FIRST
PLACE WINNERS ADVANCE TO A
REGIONAL COMPETITION THAT JUST
HAPPENED TO HAVE BEEN HELD ON
SATURDAY AND WE HAD 3 FIRST
PLACE WINNERS THERE THAT ARE
ADVANCING ON TO THE STATE
CONTEST THAT WILL BE HELD IN
MAY IN RALEIGH.
SO STARTING WITH OUR ANNUAL
POSTER CONTEST, WHICH HAS BEEN
GOING ON FOR 23 YEARS NOW, AND
I WILL ASK IN ADVANCE
FORGIVENESS FOR NAMES THAT I
DON'T QUITE NAIL ON THE HEAD
CORRECTLY, THAT CONTEST BEGINS
IN THE THIRD GRADE AND FIRST
PLACE -- THESE CONTESTANTS WILL
JUST COME UP AS I CALL YOUR
NAMES OUT AND LINE UP HERE
BEHIND ME I'D APPRECIATE THAT.
FIRST PLACE IN THE THIRD GRADE
WAS LILY CAMPBELL, A STUDENT AT
JACKSON PARK ELEMENTARY.
SECOND PLACE IN THIRD GRADE IS
GENEVA HILL FROM JACKSON PARK
ELEMENTARY AND THIRD PLACE,
CHAMP LOWERY FROM CONCORD --
CFA, I'M TRYING TO GET WITH THE
NEW NAME CHANGE -- CFA ACADEMY.
IN FOURTH -- FIFTH GRADE,
CORY WINCHESTER FROM FIFTH
GRADE, CANNON SCHOOL, SHE WAS A
FIRST PLACE WINNER AT THE
REGIONAL CONTEST AND HER POSTER
WILL BE ADVANCING ON TO THE
STATE. THIRD PLACE WAS MOLLY
MORRISON ALSO FROM CANON
SCHOOL. FINALLY, 6TH GRADE
POSTER CONTEST, CEDRA WRIE FROM
HARRIS ROAD MIDDLE, SECOND
PLACE, VALENTINA MORALES AND
THIRD PLACE (INAUDIBLE) FROM
MAGNET SCHOOL.
AND THE 6TH GRADE THERE IS ALSO
AN ESSAY CONTEST GOING ON FOR
23 YEARS. FIRST PLACE WAS
JACKSON ROODS FROM LINCOLN
MIDDLE, SECOND PLACE WAS CALLIE
FREEZE FROM JM MAGNET MIDDLE
AND THIRD PLACE PASHONDRA WEBB.
SEVERAL YEARS AGO THE STATE
ASSOCIATIONS STARTED A COMPUTER
DESIGN SLIDE SHOW CONTEST, THIS
IS THE THIRD YEAR FOR THAT.
FIRST PLACE WENT TO SHANIA
MATTER MASTON, SECOND PLACE IS
JEANNA MOSS FROM HARRIS ROAD
MIDDLE AND THEN FINALLY IN OUR
ANNUAL PUBLIC SPEAKING CONTEST,
AND THAT IS ONE OF THE ONES I
THINK WE INITIATED INITIALLY,
THE STATE'S TAKEN THAT OVER, IT
IS A CONTEST FOR 7TH AND 8TH
GRADERS, SEPARATE CONTESTS FOR
EACH GRADE, IN THE 7TH GRADE
CONTEST IS MALEA EATON FROM JM
FREEZE MAG NETD MIDDLE SCHOOL,
SHE WON THAT CONTEST ON
SATURDAY AND IS ADVANCING TO
THE STATE EVENT. THIRD PLACE
JACK SAND FROM HICKORY RIDGE
MIDDLE AND THEN 8TH GRADE,
CHEYENNE CONNOR FROM C. C.
GRIFFIN MIDDLE, THIRD PLACE WAS
SIMONE NUNA FROM J. M. FREEZE
MAGNET MIDDLE SCHOOL.
SO ALONG WITH THESE STUDENTS
THERE IS SOME FOLKS THAT HELPED
THEM ALONG THE WAY. THERE ARE
OBVIOUSLY ADMINISTRATORS AND
TEACHERS AND I'M SURE SOME OF
THOSE ARE HERE TONIGHT. I'M
GOING TO ASK IF YOU WOULD STAND
IF YOU ARE FROM THE SCHOOL AND
WORK WITH SOME OF THESE, THANK
YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE.
THEN I THINK PROBABLY ALL THESE
ARE NOT ABLE TO DRIVE YET SO
THERE'S SOME FAMILIES THAT GOT
THEM HERE TONIGHT AND DID SOME
OTHER THINGS ALONG THE WAY TO
HELP THEM OUT, IF THE FAMILIES
WOULD STAND. GUARDIANS,
PARENTS, SIBLINGS,
GRANDPARENTS? AND I SEE DR.
SHEPHERD SITTING OVER HERE, WE
CERTAINLY THANK THE SCHOOL
SYSTEMS FOR THEIR SUPPORT ALONG
THE WAY. I THINK ALL, JUST
ABOUT EVERYBODY, WE MAY NOT
HAVE GOTTEN TO THE 10 YEAR
COMMISSIONERS YET BUT THOSE WHO
OF WHO HAVE BEEN AROUND FOR A
WHILE HAVE BEEN CALLED ON TO
JUDGE ONE THING OR ANOTHER, WE
CERTAINLY CALL ON COMMISSIONER
BURRAGE FOR THAT, STANDING AT
THE BACK OF THE ROOM IS
COMMISSIONER LEWISSTON, THE
BOARD IS VERY SUPPORTIVE OF
THESE CONTESTS. THIS IS ONE OF
THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS WE DO
IN THEIR EYES.
>> DR. CAIN IS HERE ALSO.
>> YOU CAN TELL FROM THE
STUDENTS, WE HAD A LOT OF
PARTICIPATION FROM BOTH OF OUR
PUBLIC SYSTEMS AND OUR PRIVATE
SCHOOLS AS WELL AND WE THANK
EVERYONE HERE THAT MADE THAT
POSSIBLE. AND FOR MOST OF
THESE STUDENTS THERE'S ANOTHER
OPPORTUNITY FOR A FUTURE
CONTEST IN FUTURE YEARS SO WE
LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH
YOU. THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH.
(APPLAUSE).
>> I HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF BEING
ONE OF THE JUDGES ON THEIR
POSTERS AND I WAS AMAZED AT
SOME OF THE POSTERS THAT THEY
PUT TOGETHER. I'M JUST GLAD
THAT I DIDN'T HAVE TO MAKE THE
FINAL DECISION.
>> NOT AN EASY JOB. THANK YOU
AGAIN.
>> THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH. WE
APPRECIATE ALL THE STUDENTS,
THE TEACHERS AND WE APPRECIATE
THE PARENTS AND FAMELIES FOR
THEIR SUPPORT IN THIS.
THE NEXT ITEM WE HAVE, BOB
BUSHE IS HERE AND STEVEN CUDE
IS HERE. STEVEN, YOU HAVE SOME
FAMILY MEMBERS.
>> I WANT TO THANK THE BOARD
FOR ALLOWING US TO COME TONIGHT
AND CELEBRATE, RECOGNIZE STEVE
CUDE ON HIS RETIREMENT FROM
CABARRUS COUNTY.
STEVE HAS BEEN SERVING OTHERS
HIS BIER LIFE. STEVE WENT TO
PFEIFFER UNIVERSITY ON A
BASEBALL SCHOLARSHIP AND HIS
EDUCATION WAS INTERRUPTED BY
THE DRAFT. AFTER FINISHING
WITH THE ARMY HE RETURNED AND
BEGAN A CAREER WITH THE U.S.
POST OFRS. AFTER HIS
RETIREMENT HE SERVED CABARRUS
COUNTY SERVING ONCE AGAIN. IN
THAT TIME HE WAS INSTRUMENTAL
IN SECURING CABARRUS LINKS
WHICH STARTED THE CBO
TRANSPORTATION. DURING THAT
TIME HE RAISED THAT PROGRAM
FROM 22 RIDERS A MONTH TO NOW
OVER 2,000 A MONTH. WE'RE VERY
EXCITED FOR STEVE AND HIS
RETIREMENT AND WHAT I
UNDERSTAND IS GOING TO BE A LOT
OF GOLF BUT AT THE SAME TIME
WE'RE SAD, TOO, BECAUSE WE'RE
GOING TO MISS YOU AND WE WILL
NOT BE ABLE TO REPLACE YOU.
WE HAVE A CLOCK HERE WE WANT TO
PRESENT TO YOU, I'M JUST GOING
TO READ THE INSCRIPTION. IT
SAYS STEVEN CUDE IN RECOGNITION
OF 10 YEARS OF SERVICE TO
CABARRUS COUNTY AND ITS
CITIZENS, 2004 TO 2014,
CABARRUS COUNTY BOARD OF
COMMISSIONERS.
(APPLAUSE).
.
>> I WILL BE BRIEF AND BE GOOD.
I WANT TO THANK BOB FOR WHAT
HE SAID, I ALMOST WONDERED WHO
HE WAS TALKING ABOUT THERE FOR
A MINUTE, BUT I'VE BEEN IN
CONCORD FOR 38 YEARS NOW. I
REMEMBER WHEN LIZ USED TO RUN
AROUND ON THE BALCONY OF THE
CHURCH THAT WE GO TO. SHE'S SO
MUCH YOUNGER THAN ME.
>> ACTUALLY I WANT TO SAY THANK
YOU FOR THAT BECAUSE THAT DOES
INDICATE I'M MUCH YOUNGER THAN
MOST PEOPLE THINK.
>> I'VE WORKED WITH SOME GOOD
PEOPLE, I'VE HAD A CHANCE TO
WORK WITH SOME REAL GOOD PEOPLE
WHERE WE WORK WITH
TRANSPORTATION, BOB MENTIONED
CABARRUS LINKS, THAT WAS A
SERVICE WE STARTED TO SERVE
SOME FOLKS TO GET TO WORK AND
IT MORPHED INTO THE CABARRUS
VOCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES. WE
HAVE 3 OF THOSE 7 DRIVERS THAT
REPORT EVERY DAY ABOUT 5.30 IN
THE MORNING AND WE'RE GOING ON
5 YEARS NOW AND I'VE HAD TO
ANSWER THE PHONE ONE TIME AT
5.30 IN THE MORNING THAT ONE OF
THEM COULDN'T BE HERE, SO WE'VE
HAD SOME GOOD LUCK, SOME GOOD
PEOPLE, AND I WANT TO THANK YOU
FOR PUTTING UP WITH ME FOR 10
YEARS. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
(APPLAUSE).
NEXT ON OUR AGENDA OUR INFORMAL
PUBLIC COMMENTS. I HAVE 3
YELLOW CARDS. IF YOU STILL
HAVE A YELLOW CARD AND YOU HAVE
NOT BROUGHT IT FORWARD, PLEASE
BRING IT UP AND HAND IT TO OUR
CLERK SO WE CAN GIVE YOU YOUR
OPPORTUNITY.
FIRST I'D LIKE TO CALL ON PRICE
CRUTCHFIELD.
>> A SERIOUS MATTER I WANT TO
BRING TO THE BOARD HERE TODAY,
A MATTER THAT CONCERNS
EVERYBODY, SOME CURRENT
ATROCITIES OVER THERE IN
CHARLOTTE. AS YOU ALL KNOW
I'VE TALKED ABOUT THE POLICE IN
THE PAST AND HOW WE'VE GOT TO
WATCH THEM. HERE WE GO AGAIN,
OVER HERE IN CHARLOTTE THERE'S
BEEN A POLICE OFFICER WITH THE
PROGRAM OVER THERE THAT GETS
PEOPLE ON THE POLICE FORCE,
SEEMS THAT THIS GUY WAS
ARRESTED AND CHARGED WITH
TAKING PICTURES OF UNDER AGE
GIRLS NAKED.
NOW, I DON'T WANT THIS TO TURN
OUT LIKE IT TURNED OUT HERE IN
CONCORD WHEN THAT CONCORD
POLICE OFFICER GOT ARRESTED AND
WAS ABLE TO MAKE A PLEA BARGAIN
AND NOT REGISTER AS A SECTION
OFFENDER. I HAD A MEETING WITH
THE CHIEF OF POLICE ON THAT
MATTER, I HAD OTHER MEMBERS
THERE TOO, HE DESCRIBED IN
DETAIL WHAT THE GUY DID YET HE
WAS ABLE TO MAKE A PLEA
BARGAIN. I DON'T WANT THE SAME
THING TO HAPPEN OVER IN
CHARLOTTE. WE HAVE THIS
EXPLORER PROGRAM OVER IN
CONCORD, THEY HAVE THE EXPLORER
PROGRAM OVER THERE WITH THE
POLICE AND I'VE BEEN TOLD BY
SEVERAL SOURCES THAT THE
POLICING AGENCIES INTERACT WITH
EACH OTHER TO TRY TO PREVENT
CRIME. MAYBE THEY INTERACT SO
THEY CAN PROMOTE CRIME, I DON'T
KNOW. EVERY TIME I TRY TO TALK
ABOUT IT SEEMS I GET ARRESTED
OR TOLD I'M OUT OF ORDER.
RIGHT OVER HERE IN KANNAPOLIS I
HAD A MEETING WITH THE CHIEF OF
POLICE THERE AND THAT GUY OVER
THERE, THEY HAVE THAT CHILD
*** MESS. THE CHIEF OF
POLICE TOLD ME HE WAS FACING 50
YEARS IN PRISON. NO, 3 YEARS.
THAT'S A LONG WAY FROM 50
YEARS. WE'VE GOT TO KEEP OUR
EYE ON THE POLICE. YOU
OBVIOUSLY HAVE A BUNCH OF
PERFECTS IN A STRUCTURE,
ATMOSPHERE THAT PROTECTS THEM,
THEY DON'T HAVE TO PAY FOR.
NOW, IF I CAN GET A CUT IN MY
TAXES YOU'LL NEVER HEAR A PEEP
OUT OF ME.
INCIDENTALLY I TRIED TO
COMMUNICATE WITH THE ASSISTANT
CITY MANAGER AT THE CITY
COUNCIL MEETING THE OTHER DAY
AND HIS WORDS WERE, I HAVE
NOTHING TO SAY TO YOU. THIS
GUY MAKES SIX FIGURES, MERLE
HAMILTON, FORMER CHIEF OF
POLICE, I GOT TO HELP PAY HIS
SALARY AND HIS COMMENTS ARE I
HAVE NOTHING TO SAY TO YOU.
BY THE WAY, MR. OESTERREICH,
DON'T PUT YOUR HANDS ON ME ANY
MORE. I WAS STANDING OVER
THERE IN THE CORNER, I DON'T
INVADE YOUR PERSONAL SPACE, MY
RELIGION TEACHES ME NOT TO LET
ANYBODY INVADE MINE. THAT'S
WHERE I'M AT ON THAT. IT'S
JUST A MATTER OF COMMON
COURTESY AND AN EDUCATED FELLOW
LIKE YOURSELF OUGHT TO KNOW
THAT. I'M JUST OLD TRAILER
TRASH BUT I DON'T GO UP TO THEM
AND SAY HOW YOU DOING, I LIKE
TO RESPECT THEIR PERSONAL
SPACE, THAT'S JUST THE WAY I
AM. KEEP SOBER AND TRY TO
RESPECT OTHERS LIKE I WANT TO
BE RESPECTED.
BY THE WAY, THE CON COURT
POLICE WERE DRINKING ALCOHOLIC
BEVERAGES OVER AT THE JM FREEZE
SCHOOL, IF THE POLICE CAN
CONSUME ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES
OVER IN CONCORD, WHY CAN'T WE
DO IT OVER HERE?
>> NEXT I HAVE IS GENE GRISWALD
>> THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR, I
MUST SAY TO ALL OF YOU HOW MUCH
WE REALLY DO APPRECIATE ALL
YOUR HARD WORK AND SOMETIMES
THERE'S SOME DIVISION, BUT WHEN
IT COMES DOWN TO IT, WE
APPRECIATE YOU AND WE KNOW HOW
HARD IT IS.
MY NAME IS JEAN GRISWALD, I
LIVE IN THE COUNTY JUST SOUTH
OF MT. PLEASANT. THE THREE
VOTERS IN OUR HOUSEHOLD ARE IN
UNANIMOUS AGREEMENT THAT
SOMETHING MUST BE DONE TO
CURTAIL SPIRALING DEBT IN THIS
COUNTY. WE ARE OPPOSED ANY
ACTION YOU MIGHT TAKE THAT
WOULD SUBSEQUENTLY LEAD TO A
TAX INCREASE IN THE 2017 BUDGET
YEAR. IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING
COMMISSIONER ALSO OS'S PLAN
WOULD SAVE THE COUNTY A MINIMUM
OF 21.5 MILLION IN INTEREST
ALONE, THE PROPOSED SHORT TERM
DEBT WOULD BE RETIRED IN 5
YEARS AND OUR TOTAL DEBT WOULD
BE RETIRED FROM APPROXIMATELY
169 MILLION TO 126 MILLION IN
THE SAME TIME FRAME. THE
VOTERS IN MY FAMILY ENCOURAGE
YOU TO CONSIDER ALL OPTIONS
OPEN TO YOU AND THEN APPROVE
COMMISSIONER OESTERREICH'S PLAN
SAVING THE COUNTY TENS OF
MILLIONS OF DOLLARS
DRAMATICALLY REDUCING OUR DEBT
LOAD AND AVOIDING THE TAX
INCREASE THAT WOULD BE REQUIRED
IF YOU IMPLEMENT ANY OF THE
OTHER PLANS THAT HAVE BEEN
PRESENTED THUS FAR DURING THE
WORK SESSIONS. THANK YOU SO
MUCH.
>> NEXT CARD I HAVE IS DAVID
HARRIS.
>> MADAM CHAIR, I WILL TAKE THE
TIME (INAUDIBLE) APPRECIATE IT.
>> DO YOU HAVE ANY OTHER YELLOW
CARDS? OKAY, THAT ENDS OUR
INFORMAL PUBLIC COMMENTS.
COMMISSIONERS, NEXT WE HAVE THE
CONSENT AGENDA. AT THIS TIME I
WOULD ACCEPT A MOTION TO
APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA.
>> I HAVE A MOTION AND CHRIS,
YOU SECONDED? MOTION AND
SECOND, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY
AYE. ANY OPPOSED? OKAY.
NEXT UP IS DISCUSSION OF THE
NOVEMBER BOND REFERENDUM FOR
CABARRUS COUNTY SCHOOLS AND
ROWAN COMMUNITY COLLEGE. YOU
HAVE A NUMBER OF DOCUMENTS IN
YOUR PACKAGE WHICH YOU ARE ALL
QUITE FAMILIAR WITH, THE
REQUEST FROM THE THREE SYSTEMS.
JUST AS A REMINDER, I KNOW
THIS HAS BEEN SAID OVER AND
OVER AGAIN, THERE'S A PHONE
CALL MEETING NEXT WEEK WITH THE
LOCAL GOVERNMENT AUTHORITY SO
TONIGHT WE NEED TO GIVE
DIRECTION TO STAFF AS FAR AS
THAT MEETING GOES. THAT DOES
NOT MEAN THAT THINGS CAN'T
CHANGE, THIS IS NOT THE VOTE TO
PUT EVERYTHING ON THE BOND OR
SET IT IN STONE OR ANYTHING OF
THAT NATURE, IT'S JUST TO GIVE
STAFF SOME DIRECTION. SO I
WOULD OPEN IT TO COMMENTS.
YOU DID GET SOME EXTRA
INFORMATION TODAY, I THINK YOU,
I HOPE YOU HAVE THEM AT YOUR
SEATS. I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'VE
HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO LOOK OVER
THOSE PRIOR TO THE MEETING.
>> MADAM CHAIR, WE'VE TALKED
ABOUT THIS A GOOD BIT. WE
SPENT HOURS ON IT, DISCUSSED A
FEW DIFFERENT PLANS, THINGS
LIKE THAT. I WOULD LIKE TO
MAKE A MOTION WHICH HAS A FEW
DIFFERENT SUBPARTS, BUT I AM
TRYING TO BE COGNIZANT OF
DIFFERENT CONCERNS THAT PEOPLE
HAVE EXPRESSED AT OUR DIFFERENT
MEETINGS SO I'LL JUST GO
THROUGH AND READ THE MOTION AND
WE CAN DISCUSS IT.
I MOVE TO PLACE THE FOLLOWING 3
PROJECTS AND AMOUNTS ON THE
PROPOSED BOND LIST: 9 MILLION
FOR THE RCC ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY
CENTER, 11 MILLION DOLLARS FOR
THE ROYAL OAKS ELEMENTARY
REPLACEMENT SCHOOL, 23 MILLION
DOLLARS FOR KANNAPOLIS CITY
SCHOOLS MIDDLE SCHOOL. MY
PROPOSAL, THE MOTION IS THAT
THE BOND LIST WILL BE DRAFTED
VERY SPECIFICALLY SUCH THAT IF
ALTERNATIVE FINANCING IS
PROVIDED FOR ANY OF THESE 3
PROJECTS FINANCING PURSUANT TO
THE BOND VOTE WILL NO LONGER BE
AVAILABLE. RCC WILL RECEIVE AN
ADDITIONAL 2 MILLION CASH FOR
THE TECHNOLOGY CENTER AT THE
TIME OF FINANCING, BRINGING
THEIR TOTAL TO 11 MILLION
DOLLARS.
AS PART OF THIS MOTION I MOVE
THAT WE AGREE TO PROVIDE SHORT
TERM FINANCING OF UP TO 23
MILLION DOLLARS OF KANNAPOLIS
CITY SCHOOLS FOR A TERM NOT TO
EXCEED 5 YEARS FOR ITS MIDDLE
SCHOOL, PROVIDED THAT
KANNAPOLIS CITY SCHOOLS
WITHDRAW ITS RESOLUTION IN
SUPPORT OF BOND REFERENDUM BY
MAY THE 31ST. IF KANNAPOLIS
CITY SCHOOLS DOES MAKE SUCH
WITHDRAWAL, NO OTHER PROJECT
WILL BE ADDED TO THE BOND
PROJECT LIST AND THE AMOUNT OF
THE BOND WILL BE REDUCED BY 23
MILLION.
IT IS IMPORTANT TO TELL OUR
CITIZENS HOW WE ARE GOING TO
FUND THIS FINANCING BUT I DO
NOT WANT TO BE DISRUPTIVE TO
THE REGULAR BOND PROCESS -- THE
REGULAR BUDGET PROCESS, I
APOLOGIZE. CONTRACT MANAGER
DOWNS SAID WE ARE IN THE MIDDLE
OF THAT AND WE ARE CONTINUING
TO PURSUE THOSE THINGS SO I
WOULD LIKE THE FOLLOWING
PARAMETERS INCLUDED WITHIN THIS
MOTION: AS PART OF THE MOTION
WE AGREE THAT OUR FISCAL YEAR
2015 BUDGET 5 YEAR PLAN WILL
HAVE THE FOLLOWING TERMS: A
REVENUE NEUTRAL TAX RATE FOR
ANY AND ALL RE-EVALUATION
YEARS, 1.5 MILLION DOLLARS CASH
FOR THE RCCC COSMETOLOGY
PROGRAM RELOCATION. I THINK IT
WOULD BE BENEFICIAL TO ALLOW
STAFF THE OPPORTUNITY TO REVISE
OR AMEND ANY OF ITS PLANS TO
MEET THE ABOVE STATED
REQUIREMENTS. WE WOULD LIKE
SUCH REVISED PLANS, I WOULD
LIKE TO SEE THOSE PLANS REVISED
OR AMENDED 5 YEAR PLANS BY OUR
APRIL BOARD MEETING AND IF WE
CANNOT -- IF SUCH A PLAN CANNOT
BE PRODUCED BY THE MEETING,
MEETING THESE REQUIREMENTS,
THEN I THINK WE SHOULD MOVE
FORWARD WITH PLAN C
THAT IS MY MOTION.
>> NOW YOU ARE SAYING BORROW 23
MILLION SHORT TERM. IS THAT
WHAT YOU ARE SAYING?
>> YES.
>> IS THAT 2 MILLION FOR RCC ON
THE SHORT TERM BONDS TOO?
>> THE 2 MILLION FOR RCCC WILL
COME OUT OF CASH AND THEN THE
11 MILLION AND THE 9 MILLION,
I'D LIKE TO COME BACK AND DO AS
SHORT TERM FINANCING.
>> THE 11 MILLION AND 9 MILLION
IS GOING TO STAY ON THE BOND --
WILL STAY ON THE BOND
REFERENDUM REGARDLESS OF THIS
SHORT TERM FINANCING.
>> THAT'S RIGHT.
>> IS THAT WHAT YOU ARE SAYING?
>> YES, COMMISSIONER BURRAGE.
>> IN OTHER WORDS WHAT YOU ARE
DOING IS ASKING STAFF, GIVING
THEM THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK ON
THIS IN THE BUDGET AND COME
BACK TO US WITH THEIR
RECOMMENDATIONS AT OUR NEXT
MONTHLY MEETING. RIGHT?
>> THEY HAVE ASKED US FOR
GUIDANCE IN TERMS OF WHAT WE
ARE LOOKING FOR AND I WOULD
LIKE TO GIVE THEM SOME GUIDANCE
AS THEY DEVELOP THE BUDGET
PROCESS. IT WILL TAKE THEM
SOME TIME SO I WOULD LIKE TO
GIVE THEM SOME GUIDANCE AND
ALLOW THEM THE FLEXIBILITY TO
COME UP WITH A PLAN THAT MAY BE
DIFFERENT THAN MINE.
>> THEN IF THEY CAN'T FIND ALL
THESE FUNDS OR THEY CAN'T FIND
THE FUNDS TO PAY BACK THIS
SHORT TERM DEBT WHICH WOULD
HAVE TO COME OUT OF A, SOME
KIND OF A BUDGET CUT, CORRECT?
OR -- I MEAN I DON'T KNOW WHERE
IT COME FROM.
>> PLAN C, AS I MENTIONED AT
OUR MEETING LAST WEEK, TAKES A
HISTORIC LOOK BACK AND COMPARES
THE BUDGET FROM 2013 TO 2014.
THE TOTAL EXPENDITURES FOR THE
COUNTY IN 2013 WERE 211
MILLION, TOTAL EXPENDITURES FOR
THE COUNTY THIS YEAR WERE 226
MILLION. THAT'S A 15 MILLION
DOLLAR INCREASE. I'M SAYING
LET'S ROLL BACK 7 MILLION OF
THAT 15 MILLION INCREASE AND
FUND IT WITH RESPECT TO PLAN C
WE DON'T HAVE TO DO PLAN C, I
WANT TO GIVE STAFF THE
OPPORTUNITY TO LOOK THROUGH AND
SEE IF THEY CAN COME UP WITH
ANOTHER WAY, BUT THAT'S WHAT
PLAN C IS AND I THINK THAT'S A
REASONABLE REQUEST TO ROLL BACK
40 PERCENT OF AN INCREASE.
>> IN OTHER WORDS WE'RE PUTTING
AS LITTLE AS POSSIBLE ON THE
BOND REFERENDUM. CORRECT?
>> WERBLTION I THINK --.
>> IN OTHER WORDS, IF WE CAN DO
THE SHORT TERM FINANCING WE
WILL SAVE QUITE A BIT OF
INTEREST VERSUS THESE BONDS
GOING OUT ON A 20 YEAR PAY BACK.
>> IF WE DO THE SHORT TERM
FINANCING ON THE SINGLE
PROJECT, KANNAPOLIS CITY
SCHOOLS, WE WILL SAVE 11 1/2
MILLION DOLLARS IN INTEREST
CHARGES ALONE. IF WE CAN COME
BACK AND WORK WITH CABARRUS
COUNTY SCHOOLS AND RCCC AND
FUND THOSE TWO PROJECTS ON
SHORT TERM FINANCING WE CAN
SAVE AN ADDITIONAL 10 MILLION.
SO IF WE CAN DO SHORT TERM
FINANCING ON THESE 3 PROJECTS
WE WILL SAVE 21 1/2 MILLION
DOLLARS IN INTEREST CHARGES
ALONE ON THESE 3 PROJECTS.
>> WELL, I LIKE TO SAVE THE
TAXPAYERS' MONEY AND I THINK I
WOULD BE WILLING TO ALLOW STAFF
TO LOOK AT THIS AND COME BACK
TO US WITH IT. ONLY OTHER
THING I WANT TO KNOW FIRST IS
WHAT DOES THE OTHER
COMMISSIONERS WANT TO PUT ON
THAT BOND? I DON'T WANT TO PUT
NO MORE ON THAT BOND REFERENDUM
THAN WE HAVE TO.
>> IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT
WHATEVER AMOUNT THAT WE WOULD
DECIDE ON TONIGHT TO SEND
FORWARD TO THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT
COMMISSION, I THINK THAT'S THE
CORRECT TERM, IS SIMPLY AN
AMOUNT FOR THEM TO APPROVE.
THAT DOES NOT IN ANY WAY
OBLIGATE US TO DECIDE THAT
THAT'S THE FINAL AMOUNT THAT WE
WANT TO PUT ON A BOND
REFERENDUM. IF WE SENT THE --
AND OF COURSE WE ALL HAVE A
CHART IN FRONT OF US AND IT'S
GOT SOME YESES AND NO'S ON
THERE THAT IT MIGHT BE HELPFUL
TO HEAR SOME EXPLANATION OF
THAT, BUT IF WE SENT THAT FULL
AMOUNT TO THEM AND THEY SAID
YES, YOU ARE OKAY TO GO AHEAD
WITH THAT AMOUNT, THEN WE HAVE
THE OPPORTUNITY TO COME BACK
AND LOOK AT, PICK AND CHOOSE
THE PROJECTS WE THINK SHOULD BE
ON THAT AND REDUCE THAT IF WE
THINK THAT IS THE WISE THING TO
DO.
ALSO AT THE SAME TIME IF WE PUT
THIS AMOUNT ON A BOND
REFERENDUM AND SEND IT OUT TO
THE VOTERS, MADE THE CASE TO
THEM, LET THEM UNDERSTAND WHAT
THE BONDS WERE FOR AND LET THEM
DECIDE IF THEY THINK THAT THEY
ARE VALUABLE OR NOT, AND THEY
APPROVE THEM THEN WE STILL ARE
UNDER NO OBLIGATION TO ISSUE
THOSE BONDS. IF WE COME BACK
AND FIND A MORE ECONOMICAL WAY
OF FINANCING THOSE CONSTRUCTION
PROJECTS, WHETHER IT WOULD BE
FROM CASH THAT WE CAN PULL OUT
OF THE BUDGET OR SOME OTHER
FORM OF FINANCING, WE STILL
HAVE THE FLEXIBILITY TO DO THAT.
SO I AM IN FAVOR OF THE PLAN
THAT GIVES US THE GREATEST
FLEXIBILITY AND THE GREATEST
OPPORTUNITY TO LOOK AT ALL OF
OUR OPTIONS.
I THINK ON THE LIST THAT WE
HAVE HERE, THE PROJECTS THAT
ARE DESIGNATED YES TOTAL ABOUT
99 -- JUST SHORT OF 99 MILLION
DOLLARS. INCLUDED IN THAT IS
THE SEVERAL CABARRUS COUNTY
SCHOOL PROJECTS, THE CULTURE
AND WEBB ELEMENTARY, CENTRAL
HIGH SCHOOL IS INCLUDED IN THAT
AMOUNT IN ADDITION TO THE
COMMUNITY COLLEGE. IF WE PUT A
BOND REFERENDUM OUT FOR THE
VOTERS TO DECIDE ON AND WE
LIMIT IT TO A VERY SMALL
PORTION OF THE COUNTY I THINK
WE HAVE VERY LITTLE SUCCESS OF
PASSING IT. I THINK THAT WE
NEED TO LOOK AT GEOGRAPHICALLY,
THE FOLKS OUT AT CENTRAL
CABARRUS HAVE BEEN AND TALKED
TO US BEFORE, HAVE EMAILED US
ABOUT THE CONDITIONS OF THAT
SCHOOL, AND SOME DOLLARS HAVE
BEEN SENT THERE TRYING TO MAKE
SOME IMPROVEMENTS BUT THEY
STILL HAVE A WAYS TO GO. SO IF
WE CAN OFFER A PACKAGE THAT
DELIVERS SOMETHING TO THE FOLKS
IN CENTRAL CABARRUS AREA, WEBB
AND THE CITY OF CONCORD, THE
MIDDLE SCHOOL IN THE CITY OF
KANNAPOLIS, THE OTHER THING
THAT WAS NOT ADDRESSED IN
JASON'S MOTION WAS THE BALANCE
OF THE FUNDS NEEDED FOR THE MT.
PLEASANT MIDDLE SCHOOL
REPLACEMENT.
YES, SIR, GO AHEAD.
>> IT WAS ADDRESSED, IT WAS ONE
OF THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE 5
YEAR PLAN THAT I TALKED ABOUT
AT THE END THAT WE WOULD HAVE
TO ALLOCATE AN ADDITIONAL $2
MILLION FOR MT. PLEASANT MIDDLE
SCHOOL. THAT WOULD BE THE SAME
DEAL THAT WE'VE ALWAYS TALKED
ABOUT, WHICH IS IF THE SCHOOL
BOARD COMES BACK TO US AND
SHOWS US THAT THEY NEED MORE
THAN $2 MILLION, I AM PERFECTLY
WILLING TO LOOK AT THAT. THEY
HAVE NOT GIVEN US A VERY GOOD
ESTIMATE OF HOW THEY COME UP
WITH THEIR NUMBERS SO I FEEL
COMFORTABLE GUARANTEING AN
ADDITIONAL $2 MILLION TO BRING
THAT NUMBER UP TO 15.5 MILLION
AND IF THEY COME BACK AND SHOW
US THEY NEED MORE THAN THAT, I
AM HAPPY TO LOOK AT THAT ALSO.
>> THAT LEEFRPBS AN ADDITIONAL
$6 MILLION BASED ON THEIR
ESTIMATES THAT WE STILL HAVE TO
FIGURE OUT WHERE IT WILL COME
FROM.
YOU KNOW, I'VE HEARD, I'VE
TALKED TO QUITE A FEW PEOPLE
ABOUT THE CASH FOR SCHOOLS
PLAN. I AGREE WITH THEM THAT I
THINK THAT IS A WONDERFUL WAY
TO GO. IF WE CAN PAY CASH FOR
OUR NEEDS WITHOUT INCURRING ANY
ADDITIONAL DEBT, I AM VERY MUCH
IN FAVOR OF THAT.
THE PROBLEM IS, I STILL CANNOT
ANSWER THEM AS TO WHERE THE
FUNDS ARE GOING TO COME FROM TO
PAY CASH FOR THESE SCHOOLS.
YOU KNOW, SOME OF THE
DISCUSSIONS THAT WE HAVE HAD
OVER THE MONTHS BACK IN
SEPTEMBER, COMMENTS WERE MADE
ABOUT THE PARADE OF HORRIBLES
THAT THE FORMER COMMISSIONERS
HAD BROUGHT OUT THAT THEY HAD
DECEIVED THE TAXPAYERS AND LIED
TO THEM THAT IF THEY DID NOT
ADOPT A REVENUE NEUTRAL TAX
RATE, WHICH IS WHAT THEY DID,
THAT WE WOULD HAVE ALL THESE
CUTS AND THAT THAT WASN'T TRUE.
AND WE CAME BACK IN OCTOBER AND
SAW A PLAN THAT CUT $25 MILLION
OUT OF THE BUDGET AND REDUCED
THE TAX RATE BY 7 CENTS.
THEN WE CAME BACK -- THEN IN
DECEMBER WE SAW ANOTHER PLAN
THAT SAID THE BUDGET WILL BE
REDUCED BY 13.3 MILLION AND
WOULD REDUCE THE TAX RATE BY 3
1/2 CENTS. THE EMAIL THAT I
RECEIVED YESTERDAY SHOWED
ANOTHER SCENARIO THAT CALLED
FOR A 1 1/2 CENT CUT IN THE TAX
RATE. SO IF WE GO BACK TO
SEPTEMBER AND TAKE A LOOK AT
THE THINGS THAT WERE TALKED
ABOUT THEN IT WOULD SEEM THAT
IF THOSE THINGS WERE NOT TRUE
THAT IT WOULD BE EASY TO GO
BACK AND CUT THAT 7 CENTS OFF
THE TAX RATE. SO FAR WE
HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO DO THAT.
THE QUESTION THAT I ASK
REPEATEDLY IS, YOU KNOW, IF WE
CUT THESE AMOUNTS OUT OF THE
BUDGET HOW IS IT GOING TO
AFFECT THE SERVICES THAT WE
DELIVER TO THE CITIZENS? THE
LIST THAT YOU HANDED ME LAST
WEEK, JASON, I THINK WAS 4
MILLION-SOME AND I THINK THE
INFORMATION, THE ANALYSIS OF
THAT LIST THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT
NOW, HERE ARE THE TOTALS, YEAH,
THAT WAS 4,154,000. OF THAT
AMOUNT, 1,033,000 HAS ALREADY
BEEN CUT, 1.5 MILLION ARE
THINGS ON THE LIST THAT CANNOT
BE CUT FOR VARIOUS REASONS AND
JUST ONE EXAMPLE IS THE FOSTER
CARE AMOUNTS, THERE ARE SEVERAL
AMOUNTS IN THERE THAT ARE
INCLUDED, BUT SOME OTHER THINGS
THAT FOR VARIOUS REASONS CANNOT
BE CUT OUT OF THE BUDGET. SO
THE BOTTOM LINE, THAT LIST THAT
STARTED OUT AT 4.1 MILLION IS
NOW 1.5 MILLION AND THE MOST
RECENT PLAN SAYS WE HAVE TO CUT
7 MILLION. SO I NEED TO KNOW
WHERE THAT 7 MILLION'S COMING
FROM. IT KIND OF REMINDS ME OF
A PHONE CALL THAT I RECEIVED
FROM THE INSURANCE COMPANY AND
IT SAID, YOU KNOW, WOULD YOU
LIKE TO SAVE HUNDREDS OF
DOLLARS ON YOUR CAR INSURANCE
NEXT YEAR? MY RESPONSE WAS,
WELL, YOU KNOW, I'VE GOT AN
INSURANCE AGENT THAT I'VE USED
FOR MANY YEARS AND I TRUST HIM
AND I DON'T THINK I'D WANT TO
MAKE A CHANGE RIGHT NOW. AND
THEY SAID, WELL, ARE YOU
TELLING ME THAT YOU DO NOT WANT
TO SAVE SEVERAL HUNDRED DOLLARS
ON YOUR INSURANCE? I SAID,
WELL, NO, I WOULD LOVE TO SAVE
SEVERAL HUNDRED DOLLARS ON MY
INSURANCE. WE CONTINUED TO
TALK AND THEY SAID, SO I SAID,
WELL, YOU KNOW, I REALLY LIKE
MY CURRENT PLAN BUT I'M GOING
TO GO AHEAD WITH IT BECAUSE,
YOU KNOW, A COUPLE HUNDRED
DOLLARS IS A COUPLE HUNDRED
DOLLARS AND WE CAN ALL USE AN
ADDITIONAL COUPLE HUNDRED
DOLLARS.
SO IN MY EXCITEMENT ABOUT
SAVING THIS MONEY I DIDN'T DIG
DOWN INTO THE DETAILS AS
CAREFULLY AS I SHOULD HAVE BUT
I WENT AHEAD AND SWITCHED
COMPANIES. A FEW WEEKS LATER A
I'M DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND
MY CAR STOPS ON ME AND SO I
HAVE TO CALL A TOW TRUCK TO
COME PICK ME UP AND THEY
KHAFRPBLGD ME $100 TO TOW MY
CAR IN AND I GET THE BILL, PAY
IT, THEN I SAID, WELL, I HAVE
TOWING COVERAGE ON MY INSURANCE
AND I REALIZED, WELL, I CAN'T
CALL MY AGENT ANY MORE, I'VE
GOT TO CALL THE SERVICE CENTER,
THE NUMBER, THEY TOLD ME THEY
HAD A 24 HOUR HOTLINE SO I CALL
THEM UP AND THEY SAID, WELL,
WE'RE SORRY, I SAID I NEED TO
GET THIS BILL REIMBURSED FOR MY
TOWING COVERAGE AND THEY SAID,
SORRY, BUT THIS POLICY DOESN'T
HAVE THAT ON THERE. WELL, I
THOUGHT I HAD EVERYTHING I HAD
BEFORE. NO, YOU DIDN'T GET
THAT. SO THERE'S $100 OF MY
SAVINGS GONE.
I HAVE ANOTHER INSTANCE LATER
ON, YOU KNOW, I'M MAKING ALL
THIS UP AND YOU KNOW THAT, I'M
USING IT AS AN EXAMPLE. YOU
KNOW, SOMEBODY BREAKS OUT MY
CAR WINDOW WHILE I WAS PARKED
IN FRONT OF THE HOUSE AND I
CALL THEM UP, WELL, THAT WOULD
BE COVERED BY YOUR COMP
PREHENCE -- COMPREHENSIVE AND
YOU DON'T HAVE THAT ON YOUR
POLICY. ALL OF A SUDDEN MY
INSURANCE POLICY THAT I WAS
GOING TO SAVE SEVERAL HUNDRED
DOLLARS ON, NOW I'VE SPENT MORE
THAN WHAT I WOULD HAVE SPENT ON
MY OLD POLICY WITH SOMEBODY
THAT I TRUSTED.
SO MY POINT IS THAT THE CASH
FOR SCHOOLS PLAN SOUNDS GREAT.
IT APPEALS TO ME. I THINK IT
APPEALS TO A LOT OF FOLKS. THE
IMPORTANT PART IS WORKING OUT
THE DETAILS AND FIGURING OUT
HOW WE DO THAT, HOW DOES IT
AFFECT OUR CITIZENS, YOU KNOW,
IF WE CAN CUT THESE ANYWHERE
FROM 7 MILLION TO 25 MILLION
DOLLARS OUT OF OUR BUDGET AND
STILL PROVIDE OUR CITIZENS, OUR
TAXPAYERS, THE SERVICES THAT
THEY APPRECIATE THEN I'M ON
BOARD. BUT I DON'T THINK WE'VE
REACHED THE POINT WHERE WE KNOW
EXACTLY WHAT THAT'S GOING TO
MEAN TO US AND SO FOR THAT
REASON I THINK THAT WE SHOULD
HAVE THAT WORD ON THE BOND AS A
TOOL THAT WE CAN USE IF WE NEED
TO, IF WE DON'T NEED TO, WE
DON'T HAVE TO. BUT IT ALLOWS
US TO ENGAGE IN A CLEAR AND
HONEST CONVERSATION WITH THE
TAXPAYERS AND TO GIVE THEM THE
FACTS AND, YOU KNOW, I THINK
THE BEST GOVERNMENT THAT WE CAN
HAVE IS THE GOVERNMENT WHERE
PEOPLE ARE INVOLVED, THEY HAVE
AN OPPORTUNITY TO EXPRESS THEIR
OPINIONS AND VOTE AND TELL US
WHAT THEY THINK.
SO FOR THAT REASON, AND I WOULD
LIKE, I WOULD PROBABLY
RECOMMEND THE 98.944 AMOUNT TO
GET AN OPINION FROM THE LOCAL
GOVERNMENT COMMISSION, BUT I
WOULD LIKE A LITTLE BIT OF
EXPLANATION ABOUT THESE
PROJECTS THAT ARE DOWN THE
RIGHT SIDE OF OUR PAGE THAT
HAVE NO BOND -- WHO IS THE --
CAN SOMEBODY DO THAT?
>> I CAN TALK A LITTLE BIT
HERE. WE DO HAVE JOE NAGLE,
OUR UNDERWRITER HERE, OUR BOND
ATTORNEY AND DOUG CARTER, OUR
FINANCIAL ADVISOR AS WELL THAT
MAYBE CAN COME UP AND SPEAK.
THEY HAD A GENERAL CONVERSATION
LAST WEEK ON EVERY SINGLE
PROJECT THAT CAME THROUGH AND
EVERY SINGLE PROJECT IS A VERY
GOOD PROJECT, IT'S A MATTER OF
CAN SOME OF THESE BE HANDLED BY
CASH, WOULD THEY BE MORE
APPROPRIATELY HANDLED BY CASH,
CAN THEY BE BROKEN DOWN INTO
SMALLER PROJECTS AND THEREFORE
WOULD NOT BE SUGGESTED OR
RECOMMENDED TO BE CONSIDERED
FOR THE BOND ITSELF. AND AGAIN
ALL OF THEM ARE GOOD PROJECTS
AND NEED TO BE DONE BUT AS FAR
AS THE BOND WAS CONCERNED, THE
GROUP DECIDED THAT FOR THIS
THAT THEY WOULD LEAN TOWARDS
THE BOARD CONSIDERING THE
PROJECTS THAT ARE NOTED IN THAT
COLUMN AND THAT IS THE
KANNAPOLIS MIDDLE SCHOOL, THE
JACKSON PARK GYM ADDITION,
ROYAL OAKS REPLACEMENT
ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, MT. PLEASANT
MIDDLE SCHOOL, WHETHER IT'S THE
ENTIRE AMOUNT OR THE PORTION
THAT THE CASH HAS ALREADY BEEN
-- IT'S NOTED TO THE LIST THERE
THAT THE CASH HAS ALREADY BEEN
MOVED OVER FOR A BIG PORTION OF
THAT SCHOOL, THE COLTON WEBB
SCHOOL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
RENOVATION AND THEN THE CENTRAL
CABARRUS HIGH SCHOOL AUDITORIUM
CLASSROOM AND CAFETERIA
BUILDING. THAT WOULD BE FOR
THE SCHOOL, PUBLIC SCHOOL BOND
AND THEN THE COMMUNITY COLLEGE
BOND WOULD BE BUILDING 4,000
AND THE SOUTHWEST CAMPUS
EXPANSION AND PROPERTY
EXPANSION AS WELL.
AGAIN, IF YOU WANT SOME
PARTICULARS AS TO WHY
FINANCIALLY IT MAKES SENSE TO
DO THAT, MR. CARTER IS HERE TO
SPEAK TO THAT AND AGAIN WE HAVE
MR. NAGLE AS WELL AND THOSE 3
GENTLEMEN DO THESE BONDS FOR,
THEY PARTICIPATE AND ASSIST
COMMUNITIES THROUGHOUT THE
STATE IN THIS PROCESS AND MAKE
THESE RECOMMENDATIONS QUITE
OFTEN. IN FACT I THINK MR.
CARTER AND MR. NAGLE, I THINK
ALL THREE OF YOU ARE WORKING
WITH OTHER COMMUNITIES AT THIS
TIME. SO THEY ARE HERE IF YOU
WOULD WANT THEM TO COME UP, BUT
THAT'S, AGAIN, THAT IS THE
LIST, UP TO 98,944,000. THAT
IS BY NO MEANS A LIST THAT
ANYBODY IS RECOMMENDING THAT
YOU PUT THE ENTIRE LIST UP
THERE BUT THOSE PROJECTS ARE
VERY MUCH WORTHY OF
CONSIDERATION.
>> I GUESS MY OTHER QUESTION
WOULD BE, AND I KNOW THAT STAFF
CAN'T BE DEFINITIVE, BUT HAVE
YOU ARRIVED AT A FIGURE THAT
YOU THINK THAT WE COULD HANDLE
WITHOUT CAUSING A TAX INCREASE?
>> WE HAVE NOT COME UP -- IN
FACT, WORKING ON A BUDGET WE
ARE WORKING, IN FACT TODAY WE
ARE JUST STARTING TO MEET WITH
OUR DEPARTMENT HEADS THE FIRST
TIME TODAY. SO WE'RE NOT SURE
WHAT THE DEPARTMENT HEADS ARE
PRESENTING TO US. WE ARE
THOUSAND AND WE HAVE BEEN
REQUESTING DIRECTION FROM THE
BOARD AS TO WHAT WOULD BE THAT
RECOMMENDED OR SUGGESTED TAX
RATE SO THAT WE COULD WORK IN
THAT DIRECTION.
ARE THERE SMALLER NUMBERS, I
DON'T HAVE THAT NUMBER RIGHT
NOW. IT WOULD TAKE SOME WHILE
TO SIT DOWN AND TALK AND
REARRANGE THESE IN A PARTICULAR
WAY TO SEE WHICH ONE WOULD WORK
OUT WITHOUT A TAX INCREASE OR
WITHOUT THE NEED FOR ADDITIONAL
MONEY OR WITHOUT THE NEED FOR
CUTS TO EXISTING SERVICES OR
PROGRAMS.
>> IF WE PASS THIS BOND
REFERENDUM WE WOULD HAVE THE
FLEXIBILITY TO DETERMINE THE
ONE, TWO OR THREE PROJECTS THAT
WE WANTED TO START IMMEDIATELY
AND SELL THE BONDS FOR ONLY
THOSE PROJECTS AND THEN WAIT
UNTIL THE FOLLOWING YEAR? I
MEAN WE WOULD HAVE, WE WOULD
NOT HAVE TO DO THAT ALL AT ONE
TIME IF WE DIDN'T WANT TO. IS
THAT CORRECT?
>> THAT'S CORRECT, AND IF I
MISSPEAK PLEASE -- THAT'S
CORRECT. IF THE BOND, IF THE
REFERENDUM IS PASSED YOU HAVE 7
YEARS TO SELL THOSE BONDS IF
YOU SO CHOOSE. HOWEVER, YOU
DON'T HAVE TO SELL ANY OF THEM.
IF YOU WANT TO PAY CASH OR
FIND ANOTHER OPTION TO FUND ANY
OF THE PROJECTS OR ALL OF THE
PROJECTS, THEN YOU CAN DO SO.
>> OR IF WE FOUND A FORM OF
FINANCING THAT WAS LESS
EXPENSIVE THAN THE BOND,
WHETHER IT BE SHORT TERM OR
LONG-TERM, WE WOULD STILL HAVE
THE FLEXIBILITY TO UTILIZE THAT
AS WELL. IS THAT RIGHT?
>> THAT IS CORRECT.
>> SO THIS REALLY DOESN'T BIND
US TO ANYTHING EXCEPT GIVING
THE VOTERS AN OPPORTUNITY TO
SPEAK.
>> LET ME ASK YOU TO CLARIFY
YOUR QUESTION. WHEN IT SAYS IT
DOESN'T BIND YOU TO ANYTHING,
IF THEY GO THROUGH, IF WE GO
THROUGH THE REFERENDUM AND OUR
CITIZENS APPROVE THOSE PROJECTS
AS PART OF THAT REFERENDUM,
THEN YOU WOULD NEED TO DO, YOU
WOULD NEED TO -- THAT GIVES YOU
THE ABILITY TO MOVE FORWARD.
>> EXACTLY. WE WOULD --.
>> IN THAT AMOUNT.
>> WE WOULD USE THE FUNDS TO
THOSE PROJECTS, WE WOULD BE
BOUND TO THAT, OBVIOUSLY.
>> THAT IS CORRECT. HOWEVER,
IF SOME PROJECTS COME TO THE
POINT AND AGAIN, MR. CORDELL,
FEEL FREE TO COME UP AND HELP
ME OUT. IF WE GET TO THE POINT
AND THE NUMBER ON THE BOND
REFERENDUM IS EXHAUSTED FOR
SOME REASON THAT ALL OF THE
PROJECTS ARE NOT COMPLETED YOU
ARE NOT BOUND TO HAVE TO DO THE
REST OF THE PROJECTS BUT YOU
HAVE TO DO THOSE UP TO THAT
POINT.
>> GOOD EVENING, IT'S GOOD TO
BE WITH YOU AGAIN.
I WANT TO CIRCLE BACK AND HIT A
COUPLE THINGS I HEARD.
ONE, COMMISSIONER MORRIS, JUST
FOR CLARIFICATION, WHEN YOU DO
THE BOND REFERENDUM, IT GIVES
YOU THE AUTHORITY TO ISSUE
GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDS TO PAY
FOR SCHOOL PROJECTS OR
COMMUNITY COLLEGE PROJECTS.
YOU HAVE A 7 YEAR PERIOD. THE
BOARD WOULD HAVE TO MEET AGAIN
TO TAKE SPECIFIC ACTION TO
ACTUALLY ISSUE THE BONDS AND
WHICH PROJECTS AT WHICH TIME
WOULD BE FUNDED.
ONE THING I HEARD, YOU COULD DO
THE BONDS AS A SHORT TERM
FINANCING AS WELL. YOU
WOULDN'T HAVE TO, YOU DON'T
HAVE TO DO THEM AS 20 YEARS.
THAT'S PRETTY COMMON FOR THESE
TYPES OF PROJECTS BECAUSE THEY
HAVE SUCH LONG LIVES BUT YOU
CAN CERTAINLY DO A, YOU CAN DO
A SHORTER MATURITY OF THE BONDS
AND USE YOUR GENERAL OBLIGATION
BONDS WHICH ARE GOING TO HAVE
YOUR HIGHEST CREDIT RATING AND
LOWEST INTEREST COST.
COMMISSIONER OESTERREICH, I'M
NOT FAMILIAR WITH THE SHORT
TERM FINANCING PLAN.
>> DEPUTY COUNTY MANAGER PAM
DUBOIS GOT ALL THAT INFORMATION
FOR ME LAST WEEK AND IT CAME
FROM OUR FINANCE GUY SO THAT IS
FROM THEM, NOT FROM ME. THAT
WAS GOING TO BE SOMETHING THAT
I SAID TO COMMISSIONER MORRIS.
I APPRECIATE BEING COMPARED TO
A CAR SALESMAN OR AUTO
SALESMAN, BUT THAT DIDN'T COME
FROM ME, THAT CAME FROM PAM
DUBOIS. SHE KNOWS HER NUMBERS,
OUR FINANCE GUYS KNOW THEIR
NUMBERS AND THE NUMBERS CAME
FROM THEM, NOT FROM ME.
>> THE ONLY THING I WAS GOING
TO GET BACK TO, AS A COUNTY YOU
HAVE LIMITED ABILITY TO BORROW
MONEY. GO BONDS, THERE'S OTHER
TYPES OF FINANCING, IT'S
INSTALLMENT FIE NABSING THAT
DOES NOT REQUIRE REFERENDUM BUT
I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE
BECAUSE THERE ARE LIMITED
TYPES, THERE'S LIMITED
AUTHORITY FOR THE COUNTY TO
JUST, TO BORROW MONEY. THERE'S
A PROCESS OF APPROVAL THAT YOU
HAVE TO GO THROUGH.
>> SHE DID LOOK THROUGH THOSE
AND --.
>> (INAUDIBLE).
>> SHORT TERM GO BONDS, YOU
DON'T HAVE TO DO 20 YEAR
MATURITY. THAT'S JUST MORE
TYPICAL.
>> (INAUDIBLE).
>> RIGHT, OKAY. BUT YOU STILL
HAVE TO DO THE REFERENDUM FIRST
TO HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO DO THE
GO BONDS, WHATEVER THE MATURITY
IS, YOU STILL HAVE TO GO
THROUGH THE REFERENDUM.
>> I DON'T THINK THAT'S WHAT WE
HAD TALKED ABOUT. I'M NOT SURE
EXACTLY WHICH FINANCIAL PRODUCT
THAT PAM GAVE TO ME. I SAID TO
HER WHAT MY GOAL WAS IN TERMS
OF THE FINANCING AND THAT'S
WHAT SHE GAVE TO ME, BUT I LEFT
MY MOTION FLEXIBLE IN TERMS OF
HOW WE WOULD DO THAT SHORT TERM
FINANCING BUT WE WOULD DO IT
FOR NO MORE THAN THE TERM OF
FIE YEARS SO WE COULD GET IT
PAID BACK AND GET THE INTEREST
BENEFITS THAT MISS DUBOIS HAD
INFORMED ME ABOUT.
>> OKAY, JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY
THAT POINT. ANYTHING ELSE?
>> I DON'T HAVE A QUESTION FOR
YOU.
>> I WAS JUST GOING TO SAY THAT
I'M NOT WILLING TO SIT HERE AND
PUT $100 MILLION WORTH OF DEBT
ON THE BACKS OF THE TAXPAYERS
OF THIS COUNTY. IF WE PUT A
$100 MILLION BOND OUT THERE AND
IT PASSES, I CAN ALMOST PROMISE
YOU THAT EVERY DIME OF IT WILL
BE SPENT. I WANT TO DO AS
SMALL A BOND AS WE CAN DO, I
WANT TO SAVE AS FRP MONEY AS WE
CAN SAVE. I WANT TO GIVE STAFF
AN OPPORTUNITY TO WORK ON THIS
PLAN. IF IT WILL WORK, COME
BACK AND TELL US. IF IT WON'T,
COME BACK AND TELL US. THAT'S
ALL I WANT TO KNOW.
NOW, I'M GOING TO SECOND MR.
OESTERREICH'S MOTION BECAUSE I
WANT STAFF TO DO IT. I DON'T
WANT US TO DO IT. IF IT WON'T
WORK AND THEY COME BACK TO US
AND WANT TO MAKE THE CUTS THEN
THAT'S UP TO THIS BOARD AND WE
CAN BE BLAMED FOR IT AND NOT
OUR STAFF IS WHAT I'M WORKING
TOWARD.
>> AND I DID JUST HAVE A
RESPONSE TO A COUPLE OF YOUR
POINTS, COMMISSIONER MORRIS.
THERE HAVE BEEN DIFFERENT
COMPROMISES ALONG THE WAY TO
ADDRESS SOME OF YOUR CONCERNS,
TO ADDRESS SOME OF OUR SCHOOL
BOARD'S CONCERNS, TO ADDRESS
SOME OF THE OTHER
COMMISSIONERS' AND STAFF'S
CONCERNS. WHEN WE FIRST GOT
STARTED I WAS GOING TO DO ONLY
CUTS AND THEN I LOOKED AT OUR
LONG-TERM DEBT AND REALIZED HOW
MUCH LONG-TERM DEBT WAS
EXPIRING AND IF WE COULD TAKE
ADVANTAGE OF THE FACT IT WAS
EXPIRING AND NOT ADD ON TO IT,
THEN WE COULD USE THE PAYMENTS
WE WERE MAKING ON LONG-TERM
DEBT AND FUND THIS AND NOT MAKE
ANY ADDITIONAL CUTS.
BUT THAT'S BEEN THE PLAN SINCE
DECEMBER. YOU TALKED ABOUT IT
THE OTHER NIGHT. AS I
MENTIONED TO MR. CORDELL, PAM
DUBOIS GAVE ME THE NUMBERS, THE
21.5 MILLION, THOSE ARE REAL
NUMBERS. THE THING THAT I
WOULD SAY IS COMMISSIONER
BURRAGE I THINK MADE A GOOD
POINT. HAVING A HUNDRED
MILLION DOLLAR CREDIT CARD IS
NOT A GOOD THING FOR THE
COUNTY, THAT'S A 10 MILLION
DOLLAR CREDIT CARD AND WE DON'T
CONTROL WHERE THAT GOES SO I
DON'T THINK WE SHOULD GO OUT
AND BASICALLY GIVE A HUNDRED
MILLION DOLLAR CREDIT CARD.
BUT I WANT TO KNOW HOW YOU WANT
TO PAY FOR THAT HUNDRED MILLION
DOLLARS BECAUSE IT SEEMS TO ME
THAT YOU WANT ME TO GET DOWN
FOR YOU EVERY PENNY HOW I'M
GOING TO PAY FOR THIS AND THE
ONLY WAY YOU CAN PAY FOR $100
MILLION IS AN ENORMOUS TAX
INCREASE. IN FACT IT SAYS
RIGHT HERE, 2017, 6.7 MILLION
COMING IN, THAT'S WHAT THEY ARE
GOING TO HAVE TO PAY IN
ADDITION TO WHAT THEY ARE
PAYING FOR NOW IN ORDER TO FUND
YOUR PLAN AND I FIND IT IRONIC
THAT YOU WANT ME TO GET DOWN TO
THE PENNY OF WHERE WE ARE GOING
TO MAKE EXPENDITURE REDUCTIONS
FOR THE COUNTY AND YET YOU ARE
SO WILLING TO PUT A TAX
INCREASE ON THE PEOPLE OF
CABARRUS COUNTY. AND WHEN YOU
PUT A TAX INCREASE ON THE
PEOPLE OF CABARRUS COUNTY, YOU
FORCE THEM TO CUT THEIR BUDGET
AND IT DOESN'T SEEM LIKE YOU
HAVE VERY MUCH CONCERN FOR THE
FACT THAT THEY HAVE TO GO AND
CUT THEIR BUDGET WHEN YOU ARE
TOTALLY UNWILLING TO LOOK AT
ANY IN OURS. THOSE ARE ALL MY
COMMENTS.
>> LET ME JUMP IN. I WILL SAY
THAT I ABSOLUTELY DO NOT
SUPPORT THE HUNDRED MILLION
DOLLAR BOND. I THINK LOOKING
OVER IT AND THE EXTENSIVE
DISCUSSIONS WE HAVE HAD FOR
MONTHS NOW, I'LL TELL YOU, I
REALLY DON'T THINK THAT THE
COUNTY CAN AFFORD THE HUNDRED
MILLION DOLLAR BOND, I DON'T
THINK THAT IT SHOULD BE PUT ON
THE BALLOT FOR $100 MILLION.
THE CURRENT MOTION THAT'S ON
THE TABLE I THINK GUARANTEES
THE THREE MOST IMPORTANT
PROJECTS FOR EACH SCHOOL SYSTEM
AS IT WAS PRESENTED TO US. I
THINK THAT IT GIVES US THE
FLEXIBILITY TO HAVE THE ITEMS
ON THE BOND BUT IF WE DO COME
UP WITH ALTERNATIVE FINANCING
VIA THE SHORT TERM FINANCING
PLAN THAT CAN BE PAID BACK IN A
REDUCED AMOUNT OF TIME WITH A
LOT LESS INTEREST, I THINK IT
GIVES US THE FLEXIBILITY TO DO
THAT AND, YOU KNOW, IF WE
BORROW, IF WE GO OUT AND DECIDE
THAT WE'RE GOING TO PUT THE
HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS ON THE
BOND AND WE HAVE 7 YEARS TO
ISSUE THAT DEBT WE'LL PROBABLY
ALL FIVE OF US ARE NOT GOING TO
BE HERE IN 7 YEARS,
POTENTIALLY. SO WE'RE
COMMITTING A FUTURE BOARD TO
DEBT THAT I THINK IS COMPLETELY
INAPPROPRIATE. I DON'T THINK
THAT THE COUNTY CAN AFFORD A
HUNDRED MILLION DOLLAR DEBT.
IF THE HUNDRED MILLION DOLLAR
BOND IS PUT ON THE BALLOT IN
NOVEMBER I THINK THAT IT IS
ULTIMATELY GOOING TO BE A TAX
INCREASE AND WE CAN SEE IT.
AS JASON HAD MENTIONED IN THE
PLANS WE CAN SEE IT IN 2017
THERE WILL BE A TAX INCREASE
FOR THE CITIZENS OF CABARRUS
COUNTY AND I THINK IT'S OUR JOB
AND RESPONSIBILITY RIGHT NOW TO
LOOK THROUGH THESE PROPOSED
PROJECTS, WHICH WE HAVE, AND
NARROW DOWN THE FIELD OF WHAT'S
IMPORTANT. OF COURSE THEY'RE
ALL IMPORTANT, BUT WHAT CAN WE
ACTUALLY AFFORD? AND I THINK
WITH THE CURRENT MOTION ON THE
TABLE ATZ I SAID I THINK THAT
THAT'S A GOOD STARTING POINT
FOR US AND I THINK THAT THAT'S
THE DIRECTION WE SHOULD MOVE.
>> I THINK IT'S INTERESTING
THAT AS FAR AS I KNOW, THE
NUMBERS THAT ARE BEING THROWN
OUT, NO ONE ON THIS BOARD HAS
BUILT SCHOOLS AND YET A
DECISION HAS BEEN MADE THAT
ROYAL OAKS CAN BE BUILT FOR 11
MILLION, NOT 17 AS REQUESTED.
SAME FOR ROWAN COMMUNITY
COLLEGE, THEIR BUILDING,000 CAN
BE BUILT FOR 9 PLUS TWO MORE IN
CASH WHEN THEY ARE REQUESTING
11.3. KANNAPOLIS 23, AND THEY
REQUESTED 23 1/2 SO GIVING
KANNAPOLIS MIDDLE SCHOOL ALMOST
ALL OF THE MONEY THEY ARE
REQUESTING AND YET SEVERELY
LIMITING ON THE OTHER REQUEST.
I ALSO DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW YOU
CAN TIE THE HANDS OF FUTURE
BOARDS BY STATING THAT IN THE
NEXT 5 YEARS ALL THESE THINGS
THAT HAVE TO HAPPEN OR THAT ARE
LIMITED AT THIS POINT IN TIME
THAT WAS PART OF YOUR MOTION.
THE DEPARTMENTS HAVEN'T EVEN
GOTTEN TO STAFF YET, THE
SHERIFF HASN'T COME FORWARD, WE
HAVEN'T GOT THE COURTS REQUEST,
WE HAVE NO IDEA WHAT THE SCHOOL
SYSTEMS WANT AND YET YOU ARE
ALREADY PROPOSING THAT YOUR
BUDGET BE APPROVED AND NONE OF
THAT'S GONE THROUGH YET. I
THINK THAT THE WAY THAT YOUR
MOTION IS PHRASED IS A WAY OF
TRYING TO GET THE BUDGET
INCLUDED IN THIS SAME MOTION.
I THINK THAT CENTRAL CABARRUS
NEEDS TO BE CONSIDERED IN A
BOND. WE'VE TALKED A LOT WITH
THOSE PEOPLE AND WE HAVE MADE
ASSURANCES TO THEM THAT
SOMETHING WOULD HAPPEN TO THAT
SCHOOL AND YET THERE'S NOTHING
BEING CONSIDERED FOR CENTRAL
CABARRUS AND I THINK THAT
SHOULD BE ADDED TO THE LIST.
I'M ALSO CONCERNED WITH THE
AMOUNT OF CASH THAT APPARENTLY
IS AVAILABLE TO FINISH MT.
PLEASANT MIDDLE SCHOOL AND YET,
AS COMMISSIONER BURRAGE HAS
POINTED OUT NUMEROUS TIMES,
THERE ARE LOTS OF ROOF AND
MAINTENANCE PROJECTS THAT NEED
TO BE DONE AND IF ALL THE CASH
THAT'S GOING TO FINISH ALL
THESE PROJECTS THEN MAINTENANCE
WILL STILL NOT BE ADDRESSED ANY
TIME IN THE NEAR FUTURE.
SO I THINK THAT ALL THE ADD-ONS
THAT YOU DID IN YOUR MOTION
MAKE THAT MOTION OBJECTIONABLE
BECAUSE YOU ARE TRYING TO
HAMPER STAFF AND THIS BOARD IN
THE BUDGET PROCESS. WE HAVEN'T
HAD A PUBLIC HEARING, STAFF
HASN'T GATHERED ANY INFORMATION
AND YET THAT'S PART OF YOUR
PLAN IS TO MOVE FORWARD WITH
THAT SO I THINK THAT PART OF
YOUR MOTION MAKES THAT AN
INAPPROPRIATE PART OF THE
MOTION.
>> WHAT I WAS ASKING FOR WAS TO
GIVE STAFF A CHANCE TO LOOK AT
IT AND COME BACK TO US. NOW, I
DON'T WANT TO PUT THIS COUNTY
IN ANY MORE DEBT THAN WE HAVE
TO. THE PREVIOUS BOARD LEFT US
A $500 MILLION DEBT AND I DON'T
THINK THE COUNTY -- I DON'T
THINK THE TAXPAYERS WANT A BIG
INCREASE IN THEIR TAXES. WE
GOT A LOT OF PEOPLE OUT THERE
CAN'T HARDLY PAY THEIR TAXES
NOW AND ALL I'M ASKING FOR IS
TO GIVE STAFF A CHANCE TO LOOK
AT THIS AND COME BACK AND TELL
US, WILL IT WORK OR WON'T IT
WORK AND IF IT WON'T, THEN THIS
BOARD IS GOING TO HAVE TO DO
SOMETHING ABOUT IT.
I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH
LIMITING THE AMOUNT OF MONEY
THAT WE'RE WILLING TO GO OUT
HERE AND BORROW. BECAUSE FROM
WHAT I HEARD, THESE 3 SCHOOLS
IS THE ONLY THING THEY REALLY
FELT LIKE THERE WAS A RUSH TO
DO. TO GO OUT HERE AND DO A
GYM ADDITION, TO DO TRACKS,
PARKING LOTS AND THINGS LIKE
THAT, SYSTEM-WIDE PARKING LOT
REPAIR, WE SHOULDN'T BORROW
MONEY, I DON'T THINK WE SHOULD
BORROW MONEY TO DO THAT KIND OF
STUFF.
>> I UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU SAID.
I DON'T THINK THAT'S WHAT THE
MOTION WAS, THOUGH.
>> THE MOTION WAS.
>> THE MOTION WAS TO DO
CABARRUS, ROYAL OAKS,
KANNAPOLIS MIDDLE SCHOOL AND A
FEW CASH PROJECTS BUT THERE
WERE ADDITIONAL COMMENTS MADE
ON THE BUDGET THAT IMPACTS THE
BUDGET PROCESS THAT WERE ADDED
IN THE MOTION AND THOSE WERE
THE ONES THAT I WOULD TAKE
EXCEPTION WITH.
>> YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT THE
(INAUDIBLE).
>> NO, I'M TALKING ABOUT THE
GENERAL COMMENTS ABOUT MOVING
FORWARD WITH THE BUDGET, PLAN C
ON THE BUDGET, AND TIEG --
TYING THE HANDS WHEN WE HAVE
NOT HAD A PUBLIC HEARING, WE
HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY
INFORMATION FROM THE
DEPARTMENTS OR ANY OF THE
ENTITIES THAT WE FUND AND I
WOULD HAVE TROUBLE GOING
FORWARD WITH THOSE LIMITATIONS,
WHAT WAS PART OF HIS MOTION.
>> WHAT I'M SAYING IS TO LOOK
AT PLAN C AND IF IT WON'T WORK,
COME BACK AND TELL US IT WON'T
WORK IS ALL I'M ASKING FOR.
>> ARE YOU AMENDING THIS
MOTION? YOU SECONDED HIS
MOTION WHICH HAD THOSE
LIMITATIONS.
>> IF IT --.
>> I WAS TRYING TO WRITE
EVERYTHING DOWN.
>> THE ONLY LIMITATIONS IN THIS
MOTION ARE THREE: A REVENUE
NEUTRAL TAX RATE FOR ANY AND
ALL RE-EVALUATION YEARS.
THAT'S NOT A NEXT YEAR BUDGET
ISSUE, THAT'S PUTTING IT IN THE
5 YEAR PLAN.
>> YOU CAN'T GUARANTEE THAT.
>> I'M NOT GUARANTEING IT FOR
2017, I'M ASKING FOR A 5 YEAR
PLAN THAT SHOWS US A MEANS OF
ACCOMPLISHING THESE THINGS
WITHOUT RAISING THE TAXES.
THAT PLAN HAS NOT BEEN PUT
FORWARD. WE HAVE 4 PLANS IN
FRONT OF US. ONE EVER THEM HAS
NO TAX INCREASE IN 2017, THE
OTHER 3 HAVE A TAX INCREASE IN
2017. I WOULD LIKE A PLAN THAT
DOES NOT HAVE A TAX INCREASE
THAT'S FOR 2017.
THE OTHER WAS AN ADDITIONAL 2
MILLION FOR MT. PLEASANT MIDDLE
SCHOOL AND AN ADDITIONAL 1.5
MILLION FOR THE KAUTZ MET TOLG
PROCESS. I AM NOT BINDING THE
PROCESS, THOSE ARE THE THINGS
THAT WE HAVE TO DO AND I'M NOT
GOING TO VOTE FOR A BOND THAT
REQUIRES US TO RAISE TAXES AND
THAT'S WHY I PUT THAT REVENUE
NEUTRAL FOR ALL TAX YEARS IN
THERE.
>> THE MOTION TONIGHT IS NOT TO
VOTE FOR THE BOND, IT IS TO GET
FEEDBACK FROM THE LOCAL
GOVERNMENT COMMISSION. IF YOU
WANT TO MAKE A MOTION THAT JUST
ADDRESSES THE BOND, THE ITEMS
ON THE BOND, I THINK THAT IS
APPROPRIATE AND THEN GIVE STAFF
GUIDANCE OUTSIDE OF THE MOTION,
THOSE ARE THINGS YOU WANT THEM
TO BRING BACK TO YOU.
WE HAVEN'T GOTTEN A BUDGET
PRESENTED TO US FROM THE STAFF
YET. I MEAN, THEY'RE STILL
WORKING ON IT. SO I DON'T HAVE
A PROBLEM IF YOU WANT TO PUT
THAT OUTSIDE OF THE MOTION, BUT
TO BE A PART OF THE MOTION
DOESN'T WORK.
>> I'M GOING TO LEAVE IT AS
PART OF THE MOTION AND THE
REASON I'M GOING TO LEAVE THEM
AS PART OF THE MOTION IS
GOVERNMENT HAS A HABIT OF GOING
OUT AND TELLING PEOPLE, WE CAN
BORROW THIS MUCH MONEY OR WE'RE
ASKING FOR APPROVAL TO BORROW
THIS MUCH MONEY WITHOUT TELLING
THE PEOPLE HOW WE ARE GOING TO
PAY THAT BACK AND I WILL NOT
VOTE TO EVEN APPROVE THESE
PROJECTS TO GO ON THE BOND IF
IT REQUIRES US TO HAVE A TAX
INCREASE. SO WHAT I'M SAYING
HERE IS I AM WILLING TO APPROVE
THESE PROJECTS TO GO ON THE
BOND UNDER THESE CONDITIONS,
THAT IT HAVE A REVENUE NEUTRAL
TAX RATE FOR ALL RE-EVALUATION
YEARS SO I'M GOING TO LEAVE
THAT AS PART OF THE MOTION
BECAUSE I THINK THE TAXPAYERS
OF CABARRUS COUNTY HAVE HAD A
BAD PART OF THE DEAL FOR A FEW
YEARS, THEIR TAX RATE IS UP 25
PERCENT OVER THE LAST 10 YEARS
AND I DON'T WANT TO RAISE THEIR
TAXES ANY MORE. I THINK IT'S
TIME WE COME UP WITH SOME
DIFFERENT RESOURCES FOR THEM SO
WE DON'T CONSTANTLY PUT OUR
DECISIONS ON THEIR BACKS.
>> AND I RESPECTFULLY COMMENT
AGAIN THAT IT SHOULD NOT BE
PART OF THE SAME MOTION. SO
ARE THERE ANY OTHER COMMENTS
THAT ANYONE WOULD LIKE TO MAKE
AT THIS TIME?
>> WHAT WOULD BE THE -- WE'RE
NOT JUST SAYING THIS IS PART OF
THE BUDGET. I'M NOT. I'M
SAYING --.
>> I ASK THAT IT BE MADE
SEPARATE.
>> WELL, I DON'T HAVE NO
PROBLEM SEPARATING IT. I THINK
IT WILL COME OUT TO THE SAME
THING FROM STAFF WHEN THEY GET
THROUGH GOING THROUGH IT AND
SEEING IF IT WILL WORK. ALL
I'M ASKING IS TO COME BACK AND
SELL ME YES OR NO AND IT'S ONLY
FAIR TO SIT HERE AND SAVE THE
TAXPAYERS OF THIS COUNTY AS
MUCH MONEY AS WE CAN AND THAT'S
ALL I'M THINKING ABOUT IS THE
PEOPLE OUT THERE. AND I KNOW
MY GREAT GRANDCHILDREN ARE
GOING TO HAVE TO PAY THIS DEBT
OFF.
>> MADAM CHAIRMAN, I'D LIKE TO
CALL THE QUESTION. WE HAVE A
MOTION AND A SECOND.
>> MADAM CHAIR, I WOULD ASK
THAT YOU --.
>> ASK FOR FURTHER COMMENTS
JUST TO MAKE SURE EVERYBODY HAD
A CHANCE.
>> I WOULD REQUEST THAT YOU
PLEASE READ THE MOTION IN FULL
BEFORE WE VOTE ON IT.
>> I DON'T THINK I CAN, BUT I'M
SURE COMMISSIONER OESTERREICH
HAS IT WRITTEN OUT OR I PRESUME
YOU DO.
>> I DO.
>> I WOULD APPRECIATE IT IF WE
CAN ALL GET A COPY TF AT SOME
POINT SO THE CLERK KNOWS WHAT
THE MOTION IS.
>> THE MOTION IS I MOVE TO
PLACE THE FOLLOWING 3 PROJECTS
AND AMOUNTS ON THE PROPOSED
BOND LIST: 9 MILLION FOR THE
RCCC ADVANCE TECHNOLOGY CENTER,
11 MILLION DOLLARS FOR OIL OAKS
ELEMENTARY SCHOOL REPLACEMENT,
23 MILLION FOR KCS MIDDLE
SCHOOL. IF ALTERNATIVE
FINANCING IS PROVIDED FOR ANY
OF THESE PROJECTS FINANCING
PURSUANT TO THE BOND WILL NO
LONGER BE AVAILABLE. RCCC WILL
RECEIVE AN ADDITIONAL 2 MILLION
CASH FOR THE ADVANCE TECHNOLOGY
CENTER AT TIME OF FINANCING.
AS PART OF THIS MOTION WE ARE
AGREEING TO PROVIDE SHORT TERM
FINANCING OF UP TO 23 MILLION
TO KANNAPOLIS MIDDLE SCHOOL IN
2015 FOR A TERM NOT TO EXCEED 5
YEARS FOR ITS MIDDLE SCHOOL
PROVIDED THAT KANNAPOLIS COUNTY
SCHOOL WITHDRAW ITS MOTION.
THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF THE BOND
WOULD BE REDUCED BY 23 MILLION.
IT IS IMPORTANT TO TELL OUR
CITIZENS HOW WE ARE GOING TO
PAY FOR THIS FINANCING BUT I DO
NOT WANT TO BE DISRUPTIVE TO
THE REGULAR BUDGET PROCESS. AS
PART OF THE MOTION WE AGREE OUR
2015 BUDGET 5 YEAR PLAN WILL
VAT FOLLOWING: A REVENUE
NEUTRAL TAX RATE FOR ANY AND
ALL RE-EVALUATION YEARS, AN
ADDITIONAL $2 MILLION FOR MT.
PLEASANT MIDDLE SCHOOL AND 1.5
MILLION CASH FOR THE RCCC
COSMETOLOGY SCHOOL RELOCATION.
WE WOULD LIKE STAFF TO COME UP
WITH A REVISED OR AMENDED 5
YEAR PLAN THAT MEETS THOSE
REQUIREMENTS OF THE 5 YEAR PLAN
FOR OUR APRIL MEETING AND THAT
SUCH PLAN CANNOT BE REDUCED WE
WILL LOOK AT PLAN C
>> THERE IS A MOTION AND A
SECOND. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY
AYE. ALL THOSE OPPOSED?
MOTION CARRIES 3-2.
AT THIS TIME WE HAVE
APPOINTMENTS TO THE BOARD. LET
ME GET TO THAT PAGE.
I'M SORRY, DO WE HAVE ANY
APPOINTMENTS? NO, SORRY, WE
DON'T HAVE ANY APPOINTMENTS.
WE HAVE A NUMBER OF REPORTS *.
AT THIS TIME ARE THERE ANY
GENERAL COMMENTS BY BOARD
MEMBERS? HEARING NONE, DO WE
NEED A CLOSED SESSION?
>> MAY I MAKE ONE? I WAS AT
SENIOR WELLNESS DAY AND I RAN
INTO A LADY AND SHE WAS
PROMOTING AUTISM AWARENESS DAY
ON MARCH 26, IT'S WEAR PURPLE
DAY. I WANTED TO MAKE THE
CITIZENS KNOW IT'S EPILEPSY
AWARENESS DAY ON MARCH 26.
>> WE DO NOT NEED A CLOSED
SESSION, CORRECT? MAY I HAVE A
MOTION TO RECESS IN MEETING TO
MARCH THE 21ST, WHICH IS FRIDAY
AT 9:00 IN THE MULTI PURPOSE
ROOM TO MEET WITH OUR
LEGISLATIVE DELEGATE.
>> SO MOVED.
>> I HAVE A MOTION, IS THERE A
SECOND? MOTION AND SECOND, ALL