Scotland County Board of Commissioners Regular Meeting January 6, 2025 Emergency Operations Center, 1403 West Blvd, Laurinburg, NC 28352 Commissioners in attendance: Chair Tim Ivey, Commissioners Ed O'Neil, Jeff Shelley, Clarence McPhatter, Bo Frizzell, Darwin Williams and Tanya Edge. Staff in attendance: County Attorney Ed Johnston, April Snead and Clerk Elizabeth Anderson. Call to Order. Invocation. and Pledge of Allegiance Chairman Ivey called the meeting to order and asked Commissioner Darwin Williams to deliver the invocation. Chairman Ivey invited everyone to stand and share in the Pledge of Allegiance in unison. Approval of the Agenda Chair Ivey indicated the Sheriff requested to be added to the agenda. Comm. Frizzell Lmotioned to approve the revised agenda and Comm. Williams seconded. Approved unanimously. Public Input Session: None Consent Agenda Chairman Ivey asked for a motion to approve the consent agenda. Motion was made by Commissioner Williams to approve the agenda. Motion was duly seconded by Commissioner Shelley. Vote to approve the consent agenda: Unanimous. Recognition of Outgoing Commissioners Chair Ivey and the Board presented Mr. John Alford with a plaque in appreciation for 20 years serving as Commissioner on the Scotland County Board of Commissioners. Mr. Alford thanked everyone and stated that he loved all 20 years of serving Scotland County and the Board. Mr. Darrell Gibson was also scheduled to be presented a plaque of appreciation but was unable to be at the Board Meeting. Trillian Health Resources Ms. Cecelia Peers, Vice President Southeastern Region made a presentation providing an update of last year's Health Resources. *Trillium Health Resources is an LME/MCO responsible for management of serious mental health, substance use, and melectualdcvelopmenn. disability services in eastern North Carolina. It Covers 46 counties in eastern NC with: *Behavioral Health Services, such as Basic Services-outpatient treatment; Enhanced Service-Chldadulesent day treatment in-Home Multi-Systemic Therapy; and Residential Services; Psychiatric Residential Treatments, Group Homes, and Intermediate care Facilities. Tailored Care Management-Whole Person Care Management, Provided by Health Plan (Trillium), Care Management, , Develop Member centered Plan Care; Identify and connect with needed providers. And Care team includes behavioral health and Physical health. Tailored Plan Eligibility considers both an individual's diagnosis and use services such as: *Use of/need for a service covered exclusively by the Tailored Plain * Auto-enrollment determined by DHHS Algorithm *Trillium Medicaid Members in Scotland: As of July, there were 16,993 Medicaid Recipients in Scotland, and Trillium covers 28% of Medicaid in Scotland County. Vehicles Need for the Sheriff's Dept Ralph Kersey, Sheriff Sheriff Kersey is here tonight to ask for two vehicles. Last year the inmate trust fund provided $120,000, about $8,000 per month. Sheriff Kersey stated that he cannot get to calls being made unless they have vehicles to get there, which is a problem. The vehicles are serviced every 2,000 miles. He further stated that there is $300,000 in Inmates Trust Fund that we can use to buy two cars and part would be for transporting inmates to and from involuntary commitments. Manager Snead indicated those funds are typically used for jail improvements and there were major capital improvements scheduled. Commissioner O'Neal asked how much would the two cars cost? Sheriff Kersey answered $100,000, one @ $51,580 and the other @ $42,000. He stated that he could contact Danna Supply and have them within two weeks. Commissioner Frizzell asked how many cars were lost last year. Sheriff Kersey answered, seven to eight ofthem were surplused. Commissioner Frizzell motioned and Commissioner Williams seconded the purchase of two cars with funds from the Inmates Trust Fund. Sheriff Kersey stated that the order would not go through until October, 2025. Approved unanimously Scotland County Rescue Squad David Laviner, Rescue Chief Mr. Laviner stated their mission and purpose.. He stated that the SCRS is composed of 100% volunteers, they have been in operation since 1956, they are the only Technical Rescue Agency in Scotland County and contracted as the primary agency in our entire County. They are separate from EMS. Their task is with vehicle accidents requiring heavy rescue, floods, land search, wilderness rescue, medical emergencies, Support fire scenes and community events. He asked, why do we differ; we make 1300 calls a year and our volunteers do this without compensation. Mr. Laviner requested compensation for his volunteers. He also stated they do not have a base to operate from since 1956, their budget fund is 50% city and 50% county and they are Certified and Heavy Duty. His responsibility was to inform the Board that they need help with their responsibilities. Mr. Laviner stated that he applied for two grants and did not get them. Chair Ivey asked Mr. Laviner to give him some numbers. Mr. Laviner stated that numbers had been given before and thrust aside. He is asking for the same compensation that the Fire Department is getting. He also stated that he needs the equipment and wants the city to utilize the funds to do it. Mr. Leviner indicated there was $50,000 sitting and he needed approval to use it on equipment. Commissioner Clarence McPhatter motioned the requested money to get Mr. Laviner started and Commissioner Frizzell seconded. Approved: unanimously. Scotland County Departmental Strategic Plan Update April Snead, County Manager April Snead indicated the strategic plan was in the packet and could be reviewed by the Commissioners. THe plan has been updated since its introduction earlier in the year. Zoning: Public Hearing for Laurel Crest Solar, LLC Brooke McQueen, Zoning Official Before the discussion began, Chair Ivey asked to recuse himself from the discussion and the vote because of financial interest. Vice-Chair Frizzell motioned to accept the recusal request and commissioner O'Neal seconded. Approved unanimously. The Vice-Chairman presided over the discussion and invited Brook McQueen to introduce the items of discussion. Brooke McQueen presented that Laurel Crest Solar requesting to rezone from residential agriculture to conditional zone to construct solar arrays to produce clean renewable energy. The location off Old Wire Road on Gillis Road in Laurel Hill, NC. Attorney Tom Tarrell from Cypress Creek spoke regarding the project and that it had been previously approved and they were. just looking at expansion since some changes had been made regarding the area since the approval. Motion made by Vice Chair Frizzell and seconded by Commissioner O'Neal. Approved unanimously. Mr. Michael Forte and Mike Storch were also introduced to speak, both with Cypress Creek. Zoning: Special Use Permit Quasi-Judicial Hearing for Crest Solar.LLC Participants were sworn in for the Hearing including Chris Sandifer, Nick Kirkland, Mike Storch, Michael Forte, Tom Tarrell and Brooke McQueen. The Agenda Item was presented by Mrs. McQueen. Chair Ivey stated that a letter of acceptance had to be submitted from the school. Dr. Adell Baldwin, Superintendent of the Scotland Schools was there and witnessed the letter of acceptance. Motion made by Commissioner O'Neal for approval and seconded by Commissioner Shelley. The motion was unanimously approved Ms. Tanya Edge asked Mike Storch where he got his information from that Solar Panels would not bring down the value of property because she was a Real Estate Agent and she heard that it would. He stated that he was not 100% sure, but he had done research with towns and I land owners, even Scotland County Tax Dept. and was informed that Solar Panels had no impact on bringing down the property value in most communities. Zoning: Public Hearing for Ta'Randa Marshall Ms. McQueen stated that Ms. Ta'Randa Marshall requested rezoning from East Laurinburg (not been zoned ) to RA(Residential Agriculture) to place a single wide mobile home on her property at the corner of Pitt Street and 74. Commissioner Frizzell motioned to approve the rezone and Commissioner Tanya Edge seconded. Approved unanimously. Zoning: Public Hearing Church In the Pines Mrs. McQueen stated that Church in the Pines requested rezoning from RI (Residential Single Family District to RI-MHA (Mobile Home Class A Overlay), placing two mobile homes on separate parcels, on Ida Chapel Road, Laurel Hill, NC. It has been surveyed out to be three lots for Devin Drive to Ida Chapel Road. Commissioner O'Neal motioned to rezone and Commissioner McPhatter seconded and stated that the subdivided parcels be named by Ms. McQueen at a later date. Approved unanimously. Zoning Ordinance Discussion No current ordinance provision for age of manufactured homes allowed in Scotland County. Currently follow HUD requirements which reference June 15, 1976. Chair Ivey moved this discussion to the Zoning Board (Brooke McQueen). Commissioner Shelley asked all to feel free to contact him regarding the Zoning Ordinance. Legislative Request Goals Ms. Snead stated the need for the Board to think on goals to present and ask of the Legislators. Chair Ivey suggested three priority goals to ask for. a. The Jail/Courthouse b. The Fire Department in Wagram, NC Board Appointments Commissioner Frizell presented the recommendations: Planning and Zoning Board: Ms. Sandra Swann was appointed to fill Mr. Herman Tyson term, and Mr. John Cooley for full Term Ms. Snead will bring back recommendations for the TCC next month. Scotland County Historic Properties Commission: reappointed Ryan Locklear and Anthony Stewart. Commissioner Frizzell motioned to approve those appointed to the Planning Board and Commissioner Shelley seconded. Approved unanimously. County Manager's Report Ms. Snead provided updates on projects that are being worked on. She stated the owner ofthe property in East Laurinburg will sell three acres of property for $8,000 per acre for a total of $24,000. Attorney Johnson stated the Board needs to go into close session. Its purpose is for a Recycling Center in East Laurinburg (Landfill) The commissioners wanted to ask for a lower price opposed to $8,000. After discussion County Manager Snead was instructed to offer $5,00 per acre. Ms. Snead - A motion was made to surplus property authorizing to do a new upset bid. Commissioner O'Neil motioned to approve and Commissioner second. Approved unanimously. Snead stated that after applying for a Trillium Play Together Grant, she was notified that Scotland County will receive $250,000 to install a handicap accessible playground at IE Johnson Community Center. IEJ also has three HVAC machines down and three over warranty. Mr. McGirt recommended to the Board to replace all six units. Ms. Snead stated that we still have $300,000. Commissioner O'Neil motioned to take $115,000 out ofthe IEJ Budget and replace the HB units in all departments of IEJ and Commissioner McPhatter second. Approved unanimously. Commissioners News Chair Ivey stated that a fire truck was in a wreck Saturday night and it is a county truck driven by a city employee who is in the hospital. Chair Ivey had no details concerning the accident, but wanted to inform everyone before the news got out. Commissioner Darwin Williams sent prayers out to the family of Jim Rush who worked at the Post Office for years and passed and the wife and family need our prayers. Commissioner Ed O'Neil requested a snap shot of each Department to review their challenges, needs, and success. He thinks it's a good annual exercise. Commissioners Clarence McPhatter and Jeff Shelly None Adjournment: Next meeting on February 3, 2025 at 6:00 p.m. at the EOC Building. Eladleth Ondorp Submitted by Elizabeth Anderson Tim Ivey Clerk Chairman (Seal) 3 4