2015-11-12 Agenda Review
NEW HANOVER COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS BOOK 33
AGENDA REVIEW MEETING, NOVEMBER 12, 2015 PAGE 409
ASSEMBLY
The New Hanover County Board of Commissioners met for Agenda Review on Thursday, November 12,
2015, at 4:00 p.m. in the Harrell Conference Room at the New Hanover County Government Center, 230 Government
Center Drive, Wilmington, North Carolina.
Members present: Chairman Jonathan Barfield, Jr.; Vice-Chairman Beth Dawson; Commissioner Woody
White; and Commissioner Rob Zapple. Commissioner Skip Watkins was absent.
Staff present: County Manager Chris Coudriet; County Attorney Wanda Copley; and Clerk to the Board
Teresa Elmore.
Chairman Barfield called the Agenda Review meeting to order and announced that the purpose of the meeting
is to review and discuss the Board’s agenda items for the November 16, 2015 Regular Meeting with discussions as
noted:
Consent Item 4: Approval of Grant Submittal to the 2015 Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program
to Replace Personal Protective Gear.
Commissioner Zapple noted that the funding source for the grant is the Federal
government through Homeland Security/FEMA. If awarded the grant funds of $857,622 would purchase 104
respirators for Fire Services.
Regular Item 12. Subcommittee Report on Interlocal Agreement (ILA) for Cost Sharing Coastal
Storm Damage Reduction Projects (CSDR) and Consideration of Alternatives.
Shore Protection Coordinator
Layton Bedsole reported that the subcommittee of the Port, Waterway and Beach Commission has completed its
discussion of alternatives for the 17.5% local participation of Coastal Storm Damage Reduction Projects and funding
options will be presented to the Board at Monday’s meeting. Mayor-elect/Commissioner Emilie Swearingen and
Town Clerk Nancy Avery of Kure Beach and Carolina Beach Town Manager Michael Cramer were present.
Staff Updates:
Trillium Jail Diversion Concept
Chief Strategy and Budget Officer Beth Schrader reported that the County has been working with Trillium
to determine the number of inmates who have a substance abuse problem or mental health concern that may be diverted
from the jail population.
Inmate Analysis Study Period: July 1, 2013 – June 30, 2015
Unduplicated Inmate Population = 13,223:
Disqualifiers with the following charges:
Methamphetamine possession
Sex Crimes
Non-payment of child support
Not affiliated with a gang
Classified as non-violent or inmate worker
Inmates with known mental illness; and/or substance use disorder = 1,578
Qualified inmates booked five or more time during the study period = 149 (frequent flyers)
Qualified inmates incarcerated for less than one day during the study period = 203:
123 males and 80 females
May qualify for a wet alcohol shelter (arrested for DWI charge, revoked license, assault, etc.)
Recommendation to be presented to the Board in December to construct a potential peer supervisor
facility that would deal with drug treatment and alcoholism.
County Manager Coudriet said that building a treatment facility would be an option instead of adding to the
jail or building a new jail because of the increasing inmate population. The two-year study showed that 1,500 inmates
(7,000 bed nights) were in jail because of substance use disorder or mental illness and that another type facility may
be more affordable than a jail facility.
Vice-Chairman Dawson commented on the Trillium Regional Advisory Board discussing the potential of
bringing other treatment options to the County and Greenville, NC, such as the Healing Place/Healing Transitions,
and using community reinvestment funds for the facilities. The option is being considered as an opportunity to help
those in need of treatment and save money on jail construction.
Changes to Economic Development Rules
Chief Strategy and Budget Officer Beth Schrader reported on substantial changes made by the General
Assembly regarding local governments spending tax dollars on economic development programs. Henceforth, every
appropriation for economic development must have a 10 day notice given and a public hearing held prior to approving
any expenditure, including items already approved in the budget. The County is working with the School of
Government in determining the procedural changes that will be needed. In the future, when the County conducts a
public hearing for the budget, a public hearing will be called for economic development issues, such as funding for
Southeastern Economic Development, Wilmington Business Development, etc. A public hearing will be scheduled
in December for any economic development expenditures that will come up for the remaining budget year. Also, a
public hearing is required for each disbursement of an incentive payment, such as for General Electric.
NEW HANOVER COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS BOOK 33
AGENDA REVIEW MEETING, NOVEMBER 12, 2015 PAGE 410
Chairman Barfield left the meeting at 4:25 p.m. for an appointment and Commissioner White left the meeting
at 4:30 p.m. for a meeting of Cape Fear Community College.
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business, Vice-Chairman Dawson adjourned the meeting at 4:35 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Teresa P. Elmore
Clerk to the Board
Please note that the above minutes are not a verbatim record of the
New Hanover County Board of Commissioners meeting.