September 26, 2002 Minutes of Board of County Commissioners

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MINUTES OF BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
OF GUILFORD COUNTY
* SPECIAL MEETING*
Greensboro, North Carolina
September 26, 2002
The Board of County Commissioners met in a duly noticed Special Meeting in the
Commissioners’ Meeting Room on the Second Floor of the Old County Courthouse,
Greensboro, North Carolina.
PRESENT:
Chairman Mike Barber presiding; Vice Chairman Billy Yow;
Commissioners Mary Rakestraw, Bob Landreth, Bruce Davis,
Warren Dorsett, Melvin “Skip” Alston, Steve Arnold, Trudy Wade
and Jeff Thigpen.
ABSENT:
Commissioner Linda Shaw.
ALSO PRESENT:
Roger C. Cotten, County Manager; Jonathan V. Maxwell, County
Attorney; J. D. Rowland, Budget Officer; Effie Varitimidis, Clerk
to Board; Robin Reeves, Assistant to County Commissioners.

WELCOME
Chairman Barber welcomed everyone to the special meeting allowing for public
comment on the proposed County land exchange with Downtown Greensboro
Renaissance, LLC to discuss fees for building inspections and planning, and any other
necessary business.

INVOCATION AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

Commissioner Thigpen gave the invocation and led everyone in the Pledge of Allegiance.
RESOLUTION WELCOMING AND HONORING MRS. CORETTA SCOTT
KING

Commissioner Alston read a resolution welcoming and honoring Mrs. Coretta Scott
King. (Copy in file.) He said Commission Thigpen will be presenting the resolution to
Mrs. King at Bennett College tomorrow.

LAND EXCHANGE
Ken Mayer, 328 E. Market Street, Greensboro, architect hired to design the new social
services building discussed a walk through of the schematic design drawings of the
proposed office building. He said an outline of specifications and a set of drawings were
delivered to the County and they are currently under review by the County staff. He noted
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the building would be a standard building for this purpose and local contractors would be
used.
Commissioner Alston asked who would pay for the environmental costs associated with
the project and expressed concern for the communications equipment and wiring costs.
The County Attorney advised County staff would review the environmental reports and
potential costs in detail.

Chairman Barber asked what percentage of the building will be offices and Mr. Mayer
responded that 35% of the floor area would be offices. Chairman Barber expressed
concern for confidentiality in offices that will accommodate clients. He also asked for
written information to be made available to the Board prior to a scheduled meeting.
Commissioner Rakestraw expressed concern about citizen aspects of the proposed
contract.

Commissioner Thigpen made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Wade, the Board
have written information available to them on Tuesday night, October 1, 2002, in the
Blue Room and meet with the architect and appraiser for a special meeting in the Blue
Room on Wednesday, October 2, 2002 at 6:30 P.M. The motion carried 9 to 1 on the
following roll call vote: AYES: Thigpen, Wade, Arnold, Alston, Dorsett, Barber, Yow,
Davis, Rakestraw. NOES: Landreth. ABSENT: Shaw.

Questions from Commissioners regarding site plan landscaping and concrete pads for
dumpsters for the proposed new building were addressed by Mr. Mayer.
John Shore, Guilford County DSS Director, informed the Commissioners the DSS Board
had passed a resolution in support of adequate facilities for the department.
Dr. Harold Gabel, Guilford County Public Health Director, said the Board of Public
Health, adopted a resolution in support of the exchange. He also said the main priority for
the Public Health Department is that they get a better facility.
Commissioner Rakestraw brought up the centralization of clinical services.
Commissioner Thigpen brought up transportation questions.

PROPONENTS
The Board then heard from the following proponents of the land exchange: Priscilla
Taylor, Executive Director of the Cemela Foundation; Brad Chavin Vice Chair of the
Master Plan Implementation Committee; Shirley Frye, Chair, Center City Master
Planning Committee; Margaret Arbuckle, Chester Brown, III, Chris Dooley, Doug
Vansant, Lawrence Cox, Randy Harris, Skip Moore, and Mark Brazil.
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The proponents addressed the following issues: economic development, DGR, center city
master plan, need for privacy for clients and modern facilities in the public health
department and social services building in support of the proposed new Human Services
building. The proponents agreed the time is right for a change and urged the Board to
support the land exchange.

Proponent Randy Harris said the Board of Directors for the
Greensboro Jaycees and the Executive Committee of the PGA Chrysler Classic of
Greensboro are in support of the baseball stadium.

OPPONENTS
Robert Lauver, Anne Stringfield, and David Hoggard, Aycock Neighborhood Association
spoke in opposition to the land exchange. They expressed concern about community
needs, the mutual promises of the land exchange agreement, and the county appraisal.
Commissioner Shaw entered the meeting at 8:20 P.M.
The following citizens also spoke in opposition to the land exchange: Mike Stiles,
Delanda Farmer, John Lindt, Blair Barton,T. K. Miller, and Bob Barton. They expressed
concern for the historic value of the present DSS building.
BOARD DISCUSSION
Commissioner Landreth asked the County Manager questions regarding tax valuation and
if staff had considered other County buildings to be included in the land exchange.
Roger Cotten, County Manager, discussed tax valuation and said the County was not
considering other buildings at this time.
Commissioner Thigpen expressed concern about cost estimates and the closing of
Lindsay Street.
Commissioner Wade said she would like more information on the appraisal and also on
the surrounding County properties.
Commissioner Davis requested an appraisal on the new building.
Commissioner Alston asked the Manager to provide the Board with a copy of the
appraisal and for a copy of the letter noted by Mr. David Hoggard in his comments.
The Manager advised the Board that the final written appraisal and other documents are
being prepared and will forwarded and made public in the near future.
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APPROVED PLANNING AND INSPECTION FEES
Chairman Barber made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Arnold the Board adopt the
planning and inspection fee schedule in place prior to July first with the following
exceptions:
1.
Change the cost of the zoning appeal to $200.
2.
Change the 3
rd
inspection fee to $75. (Billed upon the 2
nd
failed inspection.)
3.
Eliminate commercial and industrial permitting fees in an effort to stimulate
commercial and industrial development in Guilford County.
Commissioner Arnold suggested adding to the motion the Boards’ appreciation to the
inspectors and assure them that the Board is not encouraging the inspectors to be revenue
enhancers for Guilford County.
Chairman Barber said he accepts a friendly amendment that emphasizes the role of the
inspectors.
Commissioner Dorsett expressed concern about equitable planning and inspections fees
in the surrounding areas.
Commissioner Thigpen suggested periodic fee reviews. Commissioner Thigpen made an
amendment to his motion, that the Board not entertain changes to the planning and
inspection fees for three years and let the industry and the Planning Department notify the
public 120 days prior to the review.
There being no further discussion, the Board unanimously adopted Commissioner
Arnold’s motion, seconded by Chairman Barber regarding the planning and inspection
fees as stated above including the following two amendments:
The Board appreciates the work the inspectors do and the Board is not
encouraging them to be revenue enhancers for the County.
The Board will not entertain changes to the planning and inspection fees for three
years and let the industry and public know 120 days prior to the
review.
MONTHLY REPORT FILED
J. D. Rowland, Budget Director, filed a budget amendment report for budget transfers
under $30,000.
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business, Commissioner Thigpen made a motion to adjourn at
10:30 P.M., to meet again at 6:30 P.M. on Wednesday, October 2, 2002, in the
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Commissioners’ Meeting Room on the second floor of the Old County Courthouse,
Greensboro, North Carolina. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Shaw, and it
carried unanimously.
___________________________________
Chairman, Board of County Commissioners
_______________________________
Clerk to Board