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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - 19740620~jSS MINUTES OF THE. ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS June 20, 1974 The Board of Commissioners of Orange County met on Thursday, June 20, 1974, at 8 p.m. in the Commissioners Room at the Courthouse in Hillsborough, North Carolina. Members Fresent: Chairman C. Norman Walker, and Commissioners Henry 5. Walker, Flora Garrett, Richard Whitted and Melvin Whitfield. Members Absent: None. 5. M. Gattis, County Administrator, and Betty June Hayes, Clerk to the Board, were also present. Chairman Walker recognized Bobby Efland, Chairman of the Efland Volunteer Fire Company, Inc. Mr. Efland had previously filed a budget request with S. M. Gattis, County Administrator. (For copy of the budget request see Commissioners Minute Docket #8 at page ~?i Mr. Efland reviewed the budget request and stated that the Trustees of hiss fire district were requesting a five cent (St) tax value in order to defray the operations of that department. Discussion ensued concerning the presented budget. Chairman Walker recognized Eddie Mann, Jr., one of the Trustees for the Orange Grove Fire District. Mr. Mann had previously filed a budget request for the Orange Grove Fire District. (For copy see Commissioners Minute Docket #8 at page Mr. Mann reviewed the budget with the Commissioners and stated that he felt it would require a twelve cent (12G) tax value in order to meet the districts budget. Mr. Mann requested permissicn to allow Edward Johnson, Chairman of the Orange Grove Fire District, an-opportunity to speak. Mr. Johnson advised the Board that the Orange Grove Fire District had filed a petition with the Triangle J Council of Governments for their approval to enter into a loan agreement with the Farmers Home Administration. He stated that if the petition was approved then the Orange Grove Fire District would request the County of Orange to consider joining with the fire district in the execution of a contract with Farmers Home Administration, in that, the Farmers Home Administra- tion would foot allow fire districts to borrow money until the County agreed to assure the indebtedness. Mr. Johnson presented a copy of the Farmers Home Administration contract to the County Administrator. It was agreed that the County Administrator would have the County Attorney review the contract and give his opinion. Lindsay Efland of the Efland Fire District advised the Board that his district had petitioned the Triangle J Council of Governments to enter into a Farmers Home Administration loan and that the approval for their petition had been verified by letter from the Triangle J Council of Governments and that the Efland District was interested in securing the same type of agreement that had been prepared by the Orange Grove Fire District. Mr. Johnson stated that there had been an agreement between the Efland Fire District and the Orange Grove Fire District to swap territories in order to place each area in a better position of rendering protection for their district, however, the territory swaps could not be done unless each district maintains the same tax rate. It was pointed out the Efland District was requesting five cents (Sq) and that the twelve cents (120) rate that was being presented by the Orange Grove Fire District was not equal. Discussion ensued as to how the two districts could equalize their proposed tax rate and the territory swap be arranged this year. Commissioner Richard Whitted questioned Mr. Mann and Mr .. Johnson as to the date the Orange Grove Fire District would become operational. It was estimated that it would be after the first of the year before the needed equipment could be Qelivered and the.proger facilities for housllzg•_the equipment could be built. Commissioner Whitted then suggested that the tWo groups consider making the teritorial swap next year as he felt the difference between the two tax rates could not be properly equlized at this time. Discussion ensued. It was further pointed out that the Efland District would lose some of its valuable property and that Orange Grove would be gaining this property if the switch was made. Discussion ensued between representatives of the two districts and the Board of Commissioners. Bobby Efland of the Efland Fire District spoke in favor of the land swap and in favor of an eight cent (SC) tax value in order to equalize the two district's tax and thus allow the two districts to establish their boundary area. He assured the Board that the extra money from the additional three cents (3t) could be used to reduce the proposed amount of the loan the group planned to secure. Eddie Mann and Edward Johnson conferred on the matter of lowering theiz twelve cent (12C) tax rate to eight cents (8C). The County Administrator pointed out that the eight cent (8C) tax rate would mean a collection of 516,000. The County Administrator advised that this was the best time to equalize the rate and to perform the land swap. ~~~9 Mr. Mann and Mr. Johnson stated they perferred to go with the eight cents (BC) tax rate and swap the territories this year. The Efland Aistrict stated that for the necessity of swapping the land they would go with the eight cents (B~) tax rate and that the additional revenue would allow them to pay off some of their indebtedness. Upon motion of Commissioner Melvin Whitfield, seconded by Commissioner Henry 5. Walker, it was moved, that the Ccunty set a tax rate that would allow the two fire districts to make the land swap and that this tax rate be established at eight cents (BC) for each district. Chairman walker called for a vote on the motion. Commissioners Flora Garrett, ~ Henry 5. Walker, and Melvin Whitfield, and Chairman Norman Walker voted aye, Commissioner Richard E. Whitted voted nay. Bobby Efland reminded the Board that the terms of the Trustees for the Efland Fire District would expire tomorrow (June 21, 1974). Discussion ensued. The Board learned that the terms of the Trustees of each fire district would expire on the same date, The Board instructed that each fire district submit names to the Board as soap as possible. The county Administrator advised the Beard that the South Orange Fire District had a contract with the Town of Chapel Hill and that the fire district tax for that area was esta2~lished at ten cents (lOQ). Chairman Walker recognized Babe D. Coley, Chairman of the Budget Committee of the Eno Fire District. Mr, Coley had previously filed a budget request with the County Administrator. Mr, Coley presented a budget that totaled $49,320. (For copy of budget see Commissioners Minute Docket #8 page :~~~ N.r. Gattis advised that there was a statutory limit as to the amount that could be charged for afire district tax, therefore, the budget, as presented by Mr. Coley, could not be considered, however, in order to maintain a budget that would support the operations of the area equal to last years allocation it would take a seven cent (7C) tax rate. It was determined that the seven cents (7t) rate would amount to 518,000. Mr. Coley stated that he would accept the proposed seven cent (7C) tax rate, Mrs. T. 5. Coily from the Eno Fire District voiced opposition to the suggested rate. She stated that she felt the rate should be eight cent (8~) as the additional one cent (10) could be utilized for items that were needed such as purchase of equipment and improvements to the current building facilities. J. G. Flowers of the Eno Fire District spoke in favor of the eight cent (8t) tax rate. The Board inquired of Mr, Coley as to which rate he would prefer. ' i Mr. Coley stated that it appeared he had been out voted by 'the two other Trustees -~ and that he would go along with the request for an fight cent (8G) tax rate. Upon motion of Commissioner Flora Garrett, seconded by Commissioner xenry Walker, it was loved and adopted, that the Eno Fire District tax rate be established at eight cents (8~) and that the presented budgeti be amended to the amount of 518,000. Chairman Walker recognized John L. Cline, one of the Trustees for the New Hope Fire Protection District. Mr. Cline stated that the Trustees of his department recommends that the County maintain the ten cent (lOt) tax rate in the district as all assesses would be used to reduce the current indebtedness. (For copy of budget request see Commissioners Minute Docket #8 page ?~ Upon motion of Commissioner Melvin Whitfield, seconded by Commissioner Henry 5. Walker, it was moved, that the Board approve the ten cent (lOC) tax rate as previously requested from the New Hope Fire Protection District. Mr. Cline then informed the Board that the New Hope Fire District Trustees were trying to secure an out station in order to provide quicker service to a portion of the district as it was felt the current fire facility was not center- ally located in the area, Discussion ensued. Chairman Walker recognized Tysod Clayton and Madison Cates from the Orange Rural Fire District. Mr. Clayton stated that in order to maintain the level of service the Orange Rural Fire District was requesting that the four cent (4q) tax rate be maintained. Discussion ensued. (For copy of budget request see Commissioners Minute Docket #8 page ?"i'I Upon motion of Commissioner Henry 5. Walker, seconded by Commissioner ' Richard E. Whitted, it was moved and adopted, that the Board approve the four cent (4C) tax rate for the Orange Rural Fire District. ~ The county Administrator advised the Board that he had requested John Forrest, the Fire Inspector for the County, to attend this meeting. Mr. Forrest explained his duties and the time that was involved in exercising them. He stated that there was a difference between regulations of the 1lcenseing depart- ~ ment and the state fire laws and that, currently, he had nothing to lend authority for enforcement of the fire laws. Mr. Forrest stated that he felt the r~r Lj• Board should set the fees for the inspections and that said fees should be collected by the the County as it was a county service. Chairman Walker explained that Mr. Forrest had talked with him tancerning the matter of the lack of enforcement policies and that he and Mr. Gattis had requested ~ Mr. Forrest to bring this information to the Board. Aiscussion ensued. Commissioner Richard Whitted made a status report from the Consumers Utility corporation. He reviewed the problem that had been encountered by the corpora- tion and stated that litigations had cost a tremendous amount of money and that the corporation now found itself in a position of having to request the County for $SO,000 and that this money would be used to defray the expenses of legal fees and engineering consultants. The County Administrator stated that the cast in responding to the inquiries -' made by the Attorney General's office have been fantastic. He stated that the county must now decide whether it was going to get in or get out of the corporation. Commissioner Melvin Whitfield stated that he felt the County had too much invested to get out of the corporation. Further discussion ensued. No action was taken on the matter. The Board reviewed some of the budget requests. There being no further business to come before the Saard the meeting was adjourned to meet again on Monday, June 24, 1974, at B p.m, for the Public Hearing cn the proposed 1974-1975 County Budget. ~ ,. C. Norman Walker, Chairman Betty June Hayes, Clerk ----,, ~ _ ~i ~~ l • ~ ~ I I t ti7 . ~ ~ r- ~ I I I I ..I~ _ _ ii I I; ~~ i ~.-.-- _~- I I ' I j l ~ ~ I - I ~ ' ~= ~ _ ~ ~- I ~ i ' , I y I ~• I ~i ~I I I ' i I. j I I I. ~ .I I _ _ .I.. ~ , .I ~ - ~~~ 1 ~. --"-~ I*--- ' I~ `` _ ---j1 w -_ i ~ II ~ I ~~ -~ ._ ~,. I I ~ I I ~ i ~ ' I I I ~ _ ~ ~ _T i ..~~ - I II I I I ~ I I .I I ;II _ j.r !C'G.L/'_!~_.?~G'IG~Py -r-- ~--- I - f ~ - - lI r I ~--`-~ -- I II ~~ .0 ~:.. ff _1-~- I--_ ~'~~ --'I{ _ t ~~• - - -r- -- -"-~- l ~ I i I i~ ~ ~ I I f ~ ~ I I i I _.. I ' i I 1 ~ I i - T~ ----I ~I I I ~ II I ~ _ , _ q ~-` II ~ i I ~ _ ._,. _a -- 1__I.. . ~ ~ ~. ~ .. -~ ., _.. -.-_ _ .---.. _-___.____~___----~- T. _ , f,-... ~, ~ 'Y- _ ~ -.~ ~, I ~ - j I ~ r _ ,. 1 -awl 1 ~ II .. . l . I,.. ._ .. . ~ ti ~ -..... ~-.. j i I I 3 i ~. -; „s ~ ( i BOCK C~ PACCE 3'1:~ ---- .._~-___- -_-_ -- ___~~__~ Z ~~~--, ~_.____ ~ ~ __ - -~-_ BOOK CJ P~~CE 3~~ ~ Efland~ H. C. June 1p~ ].97k Mr. 3. M, Gatti,a • Orange Cossnwy Adso~isilytrator Hillsborough 23. C/ Dear Mr. Gattiss I'mc~.omad you wi.7.7. find otm budget covering the period Ju]y ]y19'!k thru Jane 30, 197$. The total ssmourit is $7.9~73p•b3• very trs~]y r~-~b . ~~A ! f~ ~` . F ,. .`~ ~ .. i j • ' i r-...- ..........:.... .. ,. • • • - eoDK ; d rncE 373 NE',~ 40PE FIRE PRDTECTION TRUSTEES PINEY MOUNTAIN ROAD, ROUTE 2 C~!APEL HILL, NORTH CAROLINA 27514 June 14, 1974 ~ , ' County Commissioners Orange County Hillsborough. N. C. 27278 Attention: Mr. Sam Gattis Dear Sam: The 1974-75 budget for the .New Hope Volunteer Fire Department is attached. The proposed budget has been approved by the Fire De- partment and the Board of pi rectors. In view of the total amount requested, the New Hope Fire Pro- tection Trustees recommend that the ten cent tax base.be continued for 1974-75. The trustees or a representative will be present at the County Conmissianers meeting on June ZD, 1974. 5i ncerely, John L. -Kline Trustee JLK/sk • Attachment cc: R. B., hlidgette Louis Freeland, Jr.. Colonel George Jenkins ". --. -- C/-~ ~~~T BOO~c C~ PI.GE 37~ ~-974-75 Proposed Budget J~ for the v New Ho?e Volunteer Fir6 Department Anticipated Revenues Fire District tax $26,OOp.00 Fund Raising Activities 1,500.00 27,500.00 , Cash Expected to be on hand 6/30/74 8,500.00* 36,000.0 Anticipated Expenditures Smake Ejector Generator 400.00 , Tanker truck down payment 4,500.00 Pumper annual payment 6,000.00 Operating expense 4,000.00 Brush fire fighting truck 2,500.00 Insurance 750.00 Rent 2,866.92 Telephone 450.00 Lights 400.00 Heat 400.00 Radio & communications 1,500.00 Light equipment & maintenance 750.00 •' Air packs 750.00 Principal reduction on indebtedness 10,233.08 Miscellaneous 500.00 536,000.00 * Anticipated cash an hand at the year end is due to {1) non- delivery during FY 1973-74 of tanker truck and (2) larger tax revenues than expected. _- t. r,- .r ~._ . • 80011 d PRGE J ~S • Jisn@ 10, 1974 I .. ;- • I. _. I ' I+ir. Sam Cgttis Orange Caunty Administrator 11i Ftillebornsgh, 2torth Carolina ' I iios Urassge (:rove volunteer sire ,Company ~ iludget YrO~ootions Apar Pir. Cattias ~~tp I`irs Coapasl,Y I^ag ands application with the I}armera home Administration far along,-term, lOw inter@at-xate loan with which to finance the needed fire station building and equipment. If. such financing is made available, the following ie a Iiro~@cted budget for the next fiscal year: Operating Ibrpenae w, x,00.) • ~ Equipm@nt ({r0o0 ~ Iluildiss,; seed Land 2.000 TOtal 511,000 • I IT, houevor the FRIA financing does not Dome throws, then tie piro~act-, ed budget would be: ' ' 1 Opaics,tissst ~coense $ 5r~0 i .dailurant rDU'.I ~ ]l+sildinn and l~csiui ,~,pn() . ' Total $20x000 , 4!e have placed the order for the fir@ trunk and aquipment»dalivery . abpLt Thar_so :iag tip -and plans :a Ilia bu=1c'Ln6 era uadOrxaf. titaut " 30 persons hav@ signed uo to be volunteer fiz¢:a~t1. "rir. Sam Caaia Yaks 2 0£ 2 Orang9 Cosnty Adninsa.:ator •, . I Iiillabo-rouxs, Noma Carolina I June 10, 197b i Please advise if ilsrther in:ostration is desired. "fnuYg, - rldward N. i•~snar Jr. Trsstee • Oxanga Grove VoluntBer 17i~+e Company. . - ~^t:op • . with approval Ofs - ~ ;[. L. Harbour, Trustee R. L. Kirk. Trustea- s 1 • DUDGET PROPOSED • ENO FIRS PRDTECTIUN ASSOCIATION JAPIUARY 7, ]975-DECEMBER 31, 1975: UTILITIES AND GENERAL OPERATING E%PENSES Electricity 5250.00 420.00 Telephone 200.00 Gas for Heat Repairs to Building and Grounds - 850.00 Insurance 1 000.00 Contingency • , $3,220.00 $3,220.00 TRUCKS AND EQUIPMENT Gas and Oil Repairs and Maintenance to Truc 5250.00 ks 600,D0 - .Protective Clothing 650.00 600.00 New Hose Radio Repairs 500.00 ~----~ $2,600.00 $2,600.00 New Egu4 ment • flew Comb-Pumper Tanker ~ 525,000.00'r 000.00 5 ' New Woods Truck ~ , 000.00 1 Radio Equipment - , .~ §31,000.00 $31,ODD.00'. Land and Building Ac uisitians land ~ 52,500'.00. ' Additiod to Station ,000.00 10 512,500.0 0 12 500.00 • TOTAL $49.320.00 i ~: l.i`, BOOK ~ Pl.GE .~7~! Drem~e Rura7~ Pine Lept. F+xoposed Hadget 1974-75 . I„. ,,anae 665.00 1 L5.00 ~~ heat & phone) xater iitilitiee (light 600.60 a a rani-P~r 18.4oD.00. 757.00 Radio Ptmaer Poax 20 Gal. 120.60 OperatJ.oa & Reserve 5,ooo.GO - Total 25 ,687.00. ... ltinl. Per could be purchased aver t'ao year period. .. Collected by Coanty 73^74• 20.400.00 Budget receipts b9 Orange Haul Fire pept. • 78.300.00 Hal. in Coeaty i'ande 2.100.00 Xt colleeted !ar 74-75 Yr. ~ 20,400.00 . Hal. 73-74 .2.100.00 z2.5op.oo Budget 74-75 2y.687.00 • Ha1.73 + 74-75 Eati~a~ed 22.500.E abort 74-75 3.187.00 . .