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LEE COUNTY <br /> Committed Today for a Better Tomorrow <br /> ANNUAL PLANNING RETREAT <br /> OF THE <br /> LEE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS <br /> GORDON WICKER CONFERENCE ROOM <br /> 106 HILLCREST DRIVE <br /> SANFORD, NORTH CAROLINA 27330 <br /> JANUARY 31-FEBRUARY 1, 2019 <br /> The annual Board Retreat of the Board of Commissioners for the County of Lee, State of <br /> North Carolina, convened at 5:30 p.m., Thursday January 31, 2019, in the Gordon Wicker <br /> Conference Room at the Lee County Government Center, 106 Hillcrest Drive, Sanford, North <br /> Carolina. Commissioners attending included Amy M. Dalrymple, Arianna M. Del Palazzo, Kevin C. <br /> Dodson, Dr. Andre Knecht, Robert T. Reives, Cameron W. Sharpe, and Kirk D. Smith. Staff <br /> members in attendance were County Manager John Crumpton, County Attorney Whitney Parrish, <br /> Assistant County Manager/Finance Director Lisa Minter, Community and Governmental Relations <br /> Manager Jamie Brown, and Deputy County Attorney/Clerk to the Board Jennifer Gamble. <br /> Chair Dalrymple called the Retreat to order. <br /> I. Presentation from Spencer Smith, CEO of Central Carolina Hospital/Duke LifePoint— <br /> Central Carolina Hospital CEO Spencer Smith provided the Board with information regarding the <br /> hospital's specialties, leadership, operational updates and employee numbers. The hospital <br /> currently employs 769 people, 194 contractors, 10 employed physicians, and 58 volunteers. The <br /> hospital was acquired by Duke Lifepoint in 2016. The hospital delivered 994 babies in 2018. EMS <br /> switched from hospital billing to EMS Management Consultants. They have established a market <br /> adjustment for paramedic salaries. Mr. Thomas shared a quality and patient safety scorecard <br /> reflecting statistics from October 2018. There has been significant investment in employee <br /> satisfaction and employee incentives. Mr. Thomas reported on the community benefit of charity <br /> and uncompensated care. The County Manager thanked Mr. Thomas for the work his staff has <br /> accomplished at the wellness center and with Wendy O'Quinn with the wellness program. <br /> II. Discussion with Representative John Sauls and Senator Jim Burgin regarding local <br /> legislative goals. —Senator Burgin requested that if there was something the Board was interested <br /> in pursuing as a local bill that it would need to be submitted by February 15th. Pay has been <br /> increased to recruit state troopers from $33,000 to $44,000. Increased pay for correctional officers <br /> along with increased death benefits have also been achieved. There is an interest to expand <br /> broadband across the county, addressing school safety, and medical care. Commissioner <br /> Dalrymple noted the legislative goal list established by the North Carolina Association of County <br /> Commissioners at the recent NCACC Legislative Goals Conference would be a list of priorities the <br /> NCACC would like to see accomplished at the Legislature. The County's goal for a while has been <br /> the State School Bond. The Association's goals focused on paying debt service, new construction, <br /> and renovation of schools. Lee County is a tier 2 county with a lot of the need in renovation and <br /> expansion. Representative Sauls and Senator Burgin identified Community College salaries as an <br /> Page 115 <br />