Among the items on last week’s county commissioner agenda, two resulted in split votes over committing funding to current and future projects.
During their work session, commissioners received information on the N.C. DOT’s Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) for the Montgomery County Airport. Chad Vernon, the engineer who does consulting work on the airport, called the 2011-2015 TIP a “wish list” of airport projects. Among the proposals are improvements to the runway and apron, a new terminal building, upgraded navigational aids, a parallel taxiway, land acquisition and mowing equipment.
Typically, such projects are paid for through a local 10-percent match of state and federal grants, and a statement on the form for the county to approve the TIP certifies that the county will be responsible for funding the match.
When the TIP came up for a vote during the regular session, Commissioners Dolon Corbett and Edgar Morris voted in the negative, with the approval passing on the three to two vote.
In the current budget year, the board had already budgeted $16,667 to match a $150,000 airport grant. In addition, the state has notified the county it’s eligible for nearly another $1 million in grants, requiring local funds of $107,000 for fiscal years 2009 and 2010 for runway work.
Commissioner Jim Matheny, who is on the airport committee and appears to favor the expenditures, noted that the airport is at the point where commissioners need to decide whether to keep the airport a small general aviation facility or upgrade it to handle corporate jets as part of the county’s economic development efforts.
“I realize these things are needed, but I don’t see how we can afford it right now,” said Corbett. Although he made no specific references to a recent letter from the N.C. Local Government Commission (LGC) regarding the county’s extremely low fund balance and other financial issues, Corbett has been vocal outside of formal meetings regarding the need to cut spending.
The second split vote came on a motion to approve up to $20,000 for Hobbs Upchurch engineering and survey work related to clean up of illegal sludge discharges at the water plant. Without comment, Corbett made the lone negative vote and the expenditure from the water fund was approved.
Hobbs Upchurch engineer Wes Carter presented a new draft agreement for water sales to the town of Robbins. The proposal reduces the current maximum daily amount of water to be sold, in light of the fact that Robbins has purchased significantly less water than expected since loss of a poultry plant several years ago. The changes would leave the county with additional capacity for interbasin transfer needed for future industry, including Fibrowatt, to locate in the Cape Fear and Lumber River basins east of U.S. 220.
After discussion, the board agreed to extend the current contract, which expires in December, until a current water use and rate study is completed early next year.
Matheny presented an update from the county informational technology (IT) committee. At a previous meeting, the board reviewed and discussed the purchase of additional software to improve financial tracking and record keeping, but agreed not to make any purchases due to cost.
Since then, Matheny said he has involved two of his neighbors who have IT expertise to work with the county on a possible workflow analysis involving all county departments, noting that such a study and implementation of changes based on the analysis could result in significant savings. According to Matheny, such a study would best be done by outside agencies and the committee has contacted several to see how they might assist.
“I’m firm that we not purchase any software or hardware until we have an analysis done,” Matheny stated. Corbett asked what the study would cost. “We’ve committed to nothing at this point,” Matheny answered, noting that the N.C. LGC is sending consultants to the county next month to look at county financial operations.
In other business, the board:
• Held a public hearing on Voluntary Agriculture Districts and unanimously approved the ordinance establishing the districts.
• Approved a variance request for property at 118 Island View Drive in Pinehaven.
• Approved Montgomery County Schools’ application to use Public School Capital Building Funds for new boilers at West Montgomery High School and upgrade technology at 10 schools. In a related matter, Finance Officer Lisa Rolan reported that the N.C. LGC has denied the county’s request for financing roof repairs at the two middle schools due to the county’s low fund balance.
• Approved a new contract with Don Bennett of Funtime Aviation to operate the Montgomery County Airport. The contract is contingent on clarification of a legal question regarding the need to bid the contract.
• Reappointed Corbett to the health board and appointed Edgar Morris to replace Chairman Jackie Morris on the social services board.
• Learned that the new jail has received final inspection approvals from the state.
• Received an update on recycling, including information that the county is working with Mobile Oil to place two containers to recycle oil filters and antifreeze and that trash collected from all towns is no longer going through the dirty MRF, due to high levels of recycling.
• Received a report on state pressure to bring the county animal pound up to standard and information on the animal control committee’s efforts to create an animal control ordinance. Corbett stated he would not vote for any ordinance that contained a leash law.
• Approved action that will allow the county attorney to intervene on the county’s behalf in N.C. Public Utilities Commission discussions on reducing the amount of energy required to be generated from poultry litter.
