Briefs and shorts from the August 2010 CountyLines

Onslow lowers property tax rate; Union adopts budget

Two counties adopted 2010-11 property tax rates in July.

In a historic first for Onslow County, the Board of Commissioners on July 19 exercised statutory authority to lower the county property tax rate by one-half of one cent following the start of the fiscal year. Commissioners cited the passage of legislation (S1177) that enables the quarter-cent local option sales tax to take effect on a quarterly basis, so the county could implement the tax that voters approved May 4 on Oct. 1 instead of Jan. 1, 2011.

Onslow's revised property tax rate for 2010-11 is $0.5850, which represents a two-cent decrease from the revenue-neutral rate following the county's revaluation.

After operating under an interim budget for the first three weeks of the 2010-11 fiscal year, the Union County Board of Commissioners adopted a budget on July 22 that included a property tax rate of $0.665 – the same rate the county operated at in 2009-10. Union commissioners adopted the interim budget in June while awaiting final approval of the state's budget.

A listing of 2010-11 county property tax rates is online at www.ncacc.org/countylines/2010/07/taxrates.html.

Catawba's Worsley nets honor from management association

Catawba County Assistant Manager Lee Worsley was honored June 26 with the Outstanding Assistant Manager Award for 2010 from the N.C. City and County Management Association.

Henderson County Manager Steve Wyatt (right), who chairs NCCCMA's Membership Support Committee, presents Catawba County Assistant Manager Lee Worsley with the Outstanding Assistant Manager Award on June 26. (Photo courtesy Matt Lail/NCLM)

"Lee has had an outstanding career in local government in a very short period of time," said Catawba County Manager Tom Lundy, who nominated Worsley for the award. "He's been an excellent member of our management team and has championed professionalism, and improved service delivery and customer service, not only for Catawba County but statewide."

In his nomination, Lundy relayed the many improvements in the use of technology under Worsley's supervision.

These include a redesign of www.catawbacountync.gov; the use of social media to connect with citizens, an area in which Catawba County has been recognized as a national leader; a 2007 International City-County Management Association study of the county's citizen engagement practices, which led to new strategies being put in place; RSS feeds of county information and an e-mail newsletter for citizens that has won two major national awards; a comprehensive blog on state and federal legislation that impacts the county; and leadership in the creation of a citizen alert telephone notification system.

Worsley was an instrumental part of a team of county government officials that worked with the NCACC to help see through H1691, which made changes to the state 911 system to provide flexibility in the use of 911 funds for county governments, and to increase local government representation on the state 911 Board. Passage of H1691 accomplished a longtime NCACC legislative goal.

Association of County Attorneys honors Onslow's Moxley; welcomes Catawba's Bechtel as 2010-11 president

County attorneys and their families attending the annual summer conference were able to take advantage of a handful of group activities on the afternoon of July 17, including whitewater rafting on the French Broad River with Blue Heron Whitewater. (Photo courtesy Blue Heron Whitewater)

Onslow County Attorney Lesley Moxley was honored as Outstanding County Attorney on July 17 during the annual summer conference of the N.C. associations of County Attorneys and DSS Attorneys in Buncombe County.

The Association of County Attorneys, an affiliate member of the NCACC, elected new officers during the conference: President Debra Bechtel (Catawba County), First Vice President Jeff Taylor (Lincoln), Second Vice President Lowell Siler (Durham), and Immediate Past President Jimmie Hicks (Craven, Jones and Pamlico counties).

"Working with the Board of Commissioners, managers and county employees is very rewarding," said Bechtel, who joined the Catawba County staff in 1996. "One of my goals as president is to share my enthusiasm with my colleagues, and continue to promote the role of attorneys who work in the public sector."

A presentation on opposing views of prayer during boards of county commissioners meetings ignited a rousing debate during the conference. After Katherine Parker of the American Civil Liberties Union and Barbara Weller of the Alliance Defense Fund discussed the recent case Joyner et al. v. Forsyth County, county attorneys engaged in a lively discussion and debate.

Other presentations focused on employment law issues, ethics, cyber sweepstakes, inter-basin transfer issues, and rules for nutrient levels for bodies of water – an emerging issue for county governments.

In addition, Justice Robin Hudson of the N.C. Supreme Court and Judge Martha Geer of the N.C. Court of Appeals presented a highly practical presentation about filing successful appeals. Justice Hudson discussed the impact of the appellate rule changes, and Judge Geer gave numerous examples of what to include and what not to include in appellate briefs.

Hester, Pervier join NCRGEA Board

Two familiar faces have joined the Board of Directors for the N.C. Retired Governmental Employees' Association.

Longtime NCACC field representative Robert Hester, who also served as an Association officer during his time as a Bladen County commissioner from 1974-82, was elected June 22 to serve as one of two District 9 representatives.

Graham Pervier, a former county manager in Forsyth, Beaufort and Currituck counties, was elected as a District 3 representative. In 2006, Pervier was presented the Ayers-Hauser Award for Sustained Exemplary Service in County Government.

Counties consider bond referendums for new schools

One county board of commissioners has kicked off the process of placing a school bond referendum on the Nov. 2 ballot, while another has voted against the measure.

Northampton County commissioners on Aug. 2 took steps necessary to place a referendum on the sale of an estimated $24 million in general obligation bonds to fund construction of a new high school.

On July 14, Martin County commissioners decided against a $15 million bond referendum on construction of a new middle school in Williamston. The current school building is 100 years old.

'10% Campaign' aims to support local food economies

The Center for Environmental Farming Systems has launched a new statewide effort to build local food economies. The "10% Campaign" encourages consumers to spend 10 percent of their existing food dollars to support local food producers and related businesses. Doing so will create jobs, boost the viability of farms and fisheries and promote healthy communities statewide.

North Carolinians spend about $35 billion a year on food. If individuals spent 10 percent – roughly $1.05 per day – on foods produced locally about $3.5 billion would be available annually in the local economy.

A Web site, www.nc10percent.com, allows consumers and businesses to pledge to spend 10 percent of their food dollars locally.

Alamance moves to collect outstanding vehicle taxes

Alamance County Tax Administrator Gerald York is getting tough on collecting outstanding vehicle taxes. The Board of Commissioners authorized the tax administrator to work with the Sheriff's Office to give 72-hour notices to delinquent vehicle taxpayers to pay before their vehicles are towed and impounded. The resolution adopted by the board applies only to vehicle owners with outstanding tax bills of $250 or greater.

According to the Times-News of Burlington, York told commissioners the county has nearly $1.5 million in outstanding taxes on motor vehicles.

Renovation of Jackson County Historic Courthouse continues

Library staff, advocates and financial supporters were treated to a tour July 23 of Jackson County's historic courthouse, which is being renovated to house the county library as well as the county historical and genealogical societies and the Arts Council.

The Board of Commissioners budgeted $6.7 million for the project.

A two-story addition to the 1913-14 facility that will house primary library functions is under construction. The tentative schedule calls for the library to relocate to its new space prior to the end of this fiscal year.

SHORTS

Brunswick: Commissioners approved a three-year agreement July 19 with the United States Marshals Service to house as many as 50 federal inmates for $60 per day per inmate. … Caswell: Matthew Smith resigned as clerk to the board on July 20. … Cherokee: The Board of Commissioners gave its stamp of approval on Aug. 2 to the $1.35 million purchase of an existing building that will be converted into office space for the Department of Social Services. … Davidson: Dale Moorefield was named Department of Social Services director Aug. 5. Moorefield, who previously served as deputy director, had held the position on an interim basis since the death of Keith Johnson in May. … Durham: The county's Solid Waste Division wrapped up a successful recycling campaign Aug. 3. Since April 19, the Recycle and Win Program rewarded random residents for proper recycling practices at the curb. Winners were given tickets to a Durham Bulls baseball game at the beginning of August. … Pasquotank: The Board of Commissioners voted Aug. 2 to name its conference room in the courthouse after Hugh Cale, founder of Elizabeth City State University and a former county commissioner and state legislator. Cale died in 1910. … Pender: Jack Griffith has announced his retirement after 14 years as health director. … Rowan: The county is set to open a 48-bed pod on the third floor of its detention center. The pod will house serious felons and problem inmates.