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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 09-18-2012 - 5f ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT Meeting Date: September 18, 2012 Action Agenda Item No. 5-f SUBJECT: Approval of Financing Arrangement for Efland Volunteer Fire Company, Inc. to Purchase a Fire Engine Truck DEPARTMENT: Finance and Administrative PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) No Services ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT: Attachment 1. Letter from Efland Clarence Grier, (919) 245-2453 Volunteers Fire Company, Inc. Board of Directors Chair Attachment 2. August 16, 2012 Public Hearing Notice Attachment 3. Notes from the August 16, 2012 Public Meeting Attachment 4. Fire Service Agreement Attachment 5. Certificate of Approval PURPOSE: To approve a request from Efland Volunteer Fire Company, Inc. to enter into a financing arrangement to purchase a fire truck and authorize the Board of County Commissioners' Chair to sign the appropriate documents related to the financing arrangement. BACKGROUND: In the attached letter (Attachment 1) addressed to the Orange County Budget Office, Ronnie McAdams, Chairman of the Efland Volunteer Fire Company, Inc. indicated the Company's intent to purchase a new fire truck. Mr. McAdams confirmed that the Company went through a competitive bid process and awarded the bid to Ferrara Fire Apparatus, Inc. in Holden, Louisiana. Projected delivery date of the truck is November 2012. According to Attachment 1, the purchase price of the truck totals $408,941. The Company's Board of Directors agreed to borrow $250,000 from Branch Banking and Trust Company (BB&T), and to pay the remaining $158,941 from the Company's capital reserves as well as $45,000 from its County-held fund balance. With this appropriation, approximately $5,000 remains in its County-held fund balance. 2 Section 147 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 outlines specific steps that must occur when a tax supported fire department enters into a financing arrangement. • Conduct a public hearing — On August 16, 2012, the department held a public hearing regarding the purchase. The Department advertised the hearing in the News of Orange (Attachment 2 of this abstract). Per the Attachment 3 of this abstract, no residents were present at the hearing and the Department did not receive any written comments from residents of the district. • Obtain approval of the "applicable elected representatives" — In accordance with Section 147, the Board of County Commissioners must approve the District's plan to enter into the debt arrangement. This approval does not create liability on the part of Orange County nor does it make the County responsible for the repayment of any debt assumed by the fire district. The approval provides a mechanism for the Commissioners to acknowledge that, through this financing arrangement, Efland Volunteer Fire Company, Inc. is pledging use of the District's tax dollars to repay the loan. In order to comply with this IRS requirement, the Chair of the Board of Commissioners must sign the Fire Service Agreement (Attachment 4) and Certificate of Approval (Attachment 5). FINANCIAL IMPACT: The interest rate for the 5-year note with BB&T is 2.33 percent with annual payments of $53,548.65. The total repayment, including principal and interest, equals $267,743.25. These figures may vary slightly depending upon the actual loan closing date. RECOMMENDATION (S): The Manager recommends that the Board: 1. Approve Efland Volunteer Fire Company, Inc.'s purchase of a fire truck; 2. Appropriate $45,000 from the Company's unassigned fund balance; and 3. Approve and authorize the Board of Commissioners' Chair to sign the appropriate documents related to the financing arrangement. 3 /4 +i July 19, 2012. Efiand Volunteer Fire Co., Inc PO Box 39 Efland, NC 27243 Orange County Budget Office PO Box 8181 Hillsborough, NC 27278 Re:Accumulated Fund Balance As Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Efland Volunteer Fire co, Inc. I am requesting that all of the June 30, 2012 fund balance be released to our fire department as soon as possible. This money will be used to offset the cost of a new rescue/pumper. which we are in the process of ordering. We expect to take delivery sometime,in October of 2012. This truck has a contract price of$408,941.00 which we plan to pay for with the fund balance, accumulated reserves and a loan for the balance of$250,000. This truck will supplement our truck inventory keeping it up to date and enhance our ability to perform vehicle rescue operations. Because the well being of the citizens of Efland fire district and the safety of the fire fighters are of the utmost importance to the Board of Directors, we respectfully request the fund balance for the purchase of the rescue/pumper. Be receiving the fund balance, the amount of the loan necessary to pay for the balance of the truck will be reduced. This will enable the department to continue to run on a solid financial base with their regular operating budget. Thank you in advance for your time in this matter. Sincerely, 7 (2 Ronnie L. McAdams, Sr Chairman, Board of Directors Efland volunteer Fire Co, Inc. 4 4 Attachment 2 PUELIIC IIVC)TIICE PUBLIC Nc TICE- IS 1-i�R Ir3Y IN/E_---N that the Efland 'Volunteer Fire Company, Inc. will meet on Thursday. August 16 2012 at the 'V'olunteer Fire r Department located at 3900 U.S. 70 West,- Efland, NC., 27243 at 7:00 p.m., in a public hearing" pursuant to the requirements of section 147(f) of the Internal !Revenue Code of 1986,. as amended, on a proposal that the Lessee enter into a Lease-Purchase agreement under the "Code" in order tco`finaricc the acquisition of equip- merit_ 1 he egLii er-1t to be financed consists of : Fare Fr-igine°,(the "Equip- ment") and will be located at" the firehouse in Efland, NC_ To finance costs of such equipment and to pay costs and expenses incidental to the financing, the Lessee proposes to enter into the Lease-Purchase agree- ment in the maximum aggregate principal amount of $250,000 00_ The Lessee will be required to pay all expenses of the operating, maintain- ing, and insuring the Project and to pay all taxes an the Equipment. The rental payments due pursuant to the Lease-purchase agreement will be payable and secured by a secu- rity interest lien on the Equipment above here mentioned. AU persons interested may appear and be at said time and place or may file written comments with the department prior to the hearing set forth herein above, 8/16/12. By order of the Efland 'Volunteer Fire Company, Inc July 19, 2012: 5 A4raCLAj- Aug 17, 2012 Efland Volunteer Fire Co., Inc. PO Box 39, Efland NC 27243 Public Notice Meeting August 16, 2012 Attending: Peter D. Hallenbeck,Assistant Chief Call to Order: P. Hallenbeck, 7:00 PM Public meeting to discuss the purchase of a new Engine. There were no other people present. Adjourned at 7:30 PM /e;<7777,4/;4-9-e---- Peter D. Hallenbeck Deputy Chief Efland Volunteer Fire Co, Inc. STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA COUNTY OF ORANGE (�I I, (AV s\,a. , Notary Public of the aforesaid County and Sate, do hereby certify that ')P-s- T). f ct � �n bc-k , personally appeared before me this day and acknowledge the due execution of the foregoing instrument. �Dla. Witness my hand and seal, this )'1 day of U�� , ffe %.% 1) -RYQ\Ox- NO RY PUBLIC PuB\-\o a� c° %, PRINT OR TYPE NAME OF NOTARY My commission expires: /b - - 7613 6 Attachment 4 Fire Service Agreement This agreement, dated this day of , 20 , by and between Efland Volunteer Fire Company, Inc., a body corporate organized under the Laws of the State of North Carolina, the ("Fire Department"), and Orange County, a body politic, the ("Political Subdivision"). WHEREAS, Fire Department is a not for profit organization duly authorized for the purpose of providing firefighting services in an area within the jurisdiction of the Political Subdivision; and, WHEREAS, the parties wish to enter into an agreement setting forth the area and duties of the Fire Department. NOW THEREFORE, the Fire Department and Political Subdivision do hereby agree as follow: 1. Political Subdivision recognizes that Fire Department provides firefighting services to the hereafter generally described area or areas: 2. The area in which Fire Department has primary firefighting responsibilities (area of responsibility) is Efland Fire District. 3. Political Subdivision shall not be liable or responsible for the conduct and activities of Fire Department. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have had this agreement executed by duly authorized representatives thereof. Efland Volunteer Fire Company, Inc. By Name Title Orange County By Name Title 7 Attachment 5 Certificate of rova Approval of Chief Elected Official of Orange County I, chair of the Board of County Commissioners of Orange County, pursuant to the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code") hereby approve, authorize the entering into by Efland Volunteer Fire Company, Inc. a commercial loan by Branch Banking and Trust Company (BB&T) for the amount of $250,000 to finance a fire engine truck to be located in Efland, NC 27243. Execution of this document in no way creates liability on the part of Orange County and Orange County is not responsible for the repayment of any loan pursuant hereto. By: Title Date