2011 - 04-18-2011 Reg. Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

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Kc. z4 ' Aye: Hayes, Oldham, Parks, Paschal, Reives, Shook, and Womack Nay: None The Chairman ruled the motion had been adopted unanimously. Pursuant to N.C. General Statute 153A -52.1, Chairman Shook opened the floor for Public Comments. The following signed up to speak and were allowed 3 minutes for comments: Randy Todd, 919 Horner Blvd., Sanford Charles Staley, 3117 Hickory Hill Drive, Sanford Ms. Victoria Whitt, Executive Director of the Sandhills Center completed the required paperwork to appear before the Board and present quarterly program updates and their budget funding request for the upcoming year. Ms. Whitt stated that Sandhills would not increase their funding request this year and the request would remain at $240,000, the same as last year. No action was taken. At this time the Board took a five - minute recess. Upon returning from recess, with all members present, the meeting resumed. The Board considered a petition by residents and landowners in the Clearwater Drive area to transfer from the Cape Fear Fire District to coverage by the City of Sanford Fire Department. Deputy Attorney Dale Talbert presented a petition signed by owners in the Clearwater Drive area and discussed fire protection in said area. It was stated that residents and property owners in the Clearwater Drive area have submitted petitions to the Commissioners and the Sanford City Council seeking assistance from each governing board in transferring the responsibility of fire protection services to the area from the Cape Fear Rural Fire Protection District to the Sanford Fire Department. The Clearwater Drive area has a 10 (unprotected) fire insurance rating because it is located more than six miles from a fire station. The property owners' goal is to receive fire protection service from a closer station and thereby improve their properties' fire ratings. City officials have concluded the Sanford Fire Department could provide fire protection service to the area for approximately $36,000 per year which equals 16 cents per $100 valuation of property. Adding the Fire Marshal's 1.25 cents assessment to this cost produces an effective fire tax rate of 17.25 cents. Clearwater property owners now pay 8.6 cents per $100 valuation of property but, as evidenced by the overwhelming majority of Clearwater area residents that signed the petition, they are willing to pay a higher tax rate to obtain a better fire insurance rating. It was stated that there are two methods for transferring the responsibility to provide fire protection service in the Clearwater area from Cape Fear to the Sanford Fire Department. The first option is to abolish the Cape Fear Rural Fire Protection District and create two new RFP Districts, one for the Clearwater area and another for the remaining area of the current Cape Fear RFP District. This is a complex procedure which could not be accomplished by July 1, the date annual fire protection insurance ratings are established. The second option is to "overlay' two "County Fire Service Districts" onto the existing Cape Fear RFP District. This is a much more simple and expeditious process which likely could be accomplished by July 1, 2011. If Fire Service Districts are created, the Commissioners may cease levying the RFP District tax and rely only on the Service District tax to fund fire protection services in each of the service districts which would be provided through contracts with the City and the Cape Fear Volunteer Fire Department. Mr. Talbert also stated the Board would need to approve a resolution to begin the process and would require a public hearing, newspaper notice, and written notification to each household by mail.