2023-09-14 Agenda Review
NEW HANOVER COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS BOOK 36
SEPTEMBER 14, 2023 AGENDA REVIEW MEETING PAGE 1
ASSEMBLY
The New Hanover County Board of Commissioners met on September 14, 2023 at 4:00 p.m. for Agenda
Review in Conference Rooms 138-139 at the New Hanover County Government Center, 230 Government Center
Drive, Wilmington, North Carolina.
Members present: Chair Bill Rivenbark; Commissioner Jonathan Barfield, Jr.; Commissioner Dane Scalise;
and Commissioner Rob Zapple. Members absent: Vice-Chair LeAnn Pierce.
Staff present: County Manager Chris Coudriet; County Attorney K. Jordan Smith; and Clerk to the Board
Kymberleigh G. Crowell.
Chair Rivenbark called the Agenda Review meeting to order and announced that the purpose of the meeting
is to review and discuss the agenda items for the September 18, 2023 Regular Meeting with discussions as noted:
Consent Agenda Item #5: Adoption of Budget Amendments. Staff provided the following information in
response to questions regarding budget amendments (B/A) 24-005, 24-006, 24-007, 24-008, 24-012, and 24-018:
24-005: Social Services Director Tonya Jackson stated that the state is not offering any more direction
on Medicaid expansion without an adopted state budget. The B/A is for gap funding that was sent from
the state in June to prepare for Medicaid expansion. At this time, the state has not requested the
funding to be returned because eventually, Medicaid expansion will come to fruition. Some counties
have already spent the funds, and if the monies have already been used to prepare, social services
directors can request more funding from the state. Budget Officer Michelle Daniels confirmed that
revenue for Medicaid expansion was included in the adopted budget.
24-006: Ms. Jackson and Health and Human Services (HHS) Business Officer Karen Graham stated that
the Healthy Opportunities Program (HOP) agreement ended on August 1, 2023. Only 12 residents were
served in the two years that the County facilitated the program. The program was provided for those
who receive Medicaid. Ending it through the County does not cause a gap in service as there are several
organizations in the community that provide similar programs and serve the same population.
24-007: Ms. Jackson stated that the Cape Fear Public Utility Authority (CFPUA) Assistance Program is
100% funded by community partner contributions for assistance with water bills for CFPUA customers.
The memorandum of understanding with WATERway NC was terminated effective July 1, 2023, at their
request, due to multiple other sources of assistance being available. There will be no impact to
residents as assistance needs are being addressed through the water assistance programs for all water
providers operating in New Hanover County.
24-008: Public Health Director Jonathan Campbell explained the $592,000 is a new award from the
state for Public Health workforce development and covers from now until October 2027, so unused
funds will roll year to year. HHS Business Officer Kelley Davis stated that the $2,700 is to help supply
the family planning clinic and the $2,436 is to help fund an anti-smoking campaign targeted advertising
towards the LGBTQ+ community.
24-012: Library Director Dana Connors stated that the program shelter for the Northeast Library is
already in the process of being built and is in the grass area between the backside of the building and
the fire station. It has a roof and electrical outlets to allow for a shaded area for outdoor programming.
24-018: Deputy Chief Ken Sarvis stated that the explanation is in reference to the team working in the
community and not tied to a specific program in the schools.
Regular Agenda Item #10: Update on North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) Projects.
Clerk Crowell stated that NCDOT Division 3 Engineer Chad Kimes, P.E. will be present on Monday to provide the
update.
ADDITIONAL ITEMS
Commissioners Barfield and Zapple reported on CFPUA potentially starting a pilot program to target the
Rock Hill community for connection to water and sewer service. The County has committed $500,000 to start the
work to help fund water and sewer service countywide via CFPUA and the process for applicants is on a first come
first served basis. The ask of the Board is whether it is supportive of using the $500,000 funding to target the Rock
Hill community as a pilot program. A household must be adjacent to an existing line and get the water from that line
to a meter on their property. The funding will also help tie the service to the existing plumbing in the house. Residents
are aware they will become CFPUA customers, and the expectation is that they will pay their own service bills. The
CFPUA Board is in favor with no opposition to the pilot program. The County supplies the funds, and CFPUA supplies
the manpower. After a brief Board discussion, the consensus was to proceed with the pilot program.
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business, Chair Rivenbark adjourned the meeting at 4:25 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Kymberleigh G. Crowell
Clerk to the Board
Please note that the above minutes are not a verbatim record of the New Hanover County Board of Commissioners meeting. The
entire proceedings are available online at www.nhcgov.com.