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County approves panhandling ban
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Published: October 7, 2009
After three months of debate, Iredell County commissioners passed an ordinance Tuesday night banning panhandling within the county.
Assistant County Manager Tracy Jackson said the ordinance was similar to the one adopted by the City of Statesville last year. He said the ordinance, which carries a $50 fine or imprisonment for up to seven days, would give law enforcement more authority to remove panhandlers.
"Right now in the county, there is very little law enforcement can do," Jackson said.
The ordinance was tabled last month after County Attorney Bill Pope requested time to look over the matter.
Under the ordinance, people are not allowed to:
+ Beg or solicit contributions in a public place in a manner that could be perceived as intimidating;
+ Solicit contributions within 100 feet of an entrance or exit of a bank or ATM;
+ Stand, sit or loiter in or on the street, including the shoulder, median or right of way to solicit employment, business or contributions; or
+ Panhandle in a public place by vocal or written appeal at night.
School financing
Commissioners are looking into alternative forms of financing the third round of Iredell-Statesville Schools construction projects.
Commissioners were taken aback when Finance Director Susan Blumenstein said the interest-free Qualified School Construction Bonds from the federal government carried a 2.10 percent interest rate from Guggenheim Partners LLC and would have an issuance cost up to twice that of conventional financing methods.
Blumenstein said the county could consider Build America Bonds or Direct Placement Installment purchasing.
"I-SS wants to move forward with the Union Grove project," Blumenstein told commissioners.
She plans to run different financial models between Tuesday night and the Oct. 20 meeting before presenting her findings.
Commissioners called for a public hearing Nov. 4 to discuss different methods of financing for the expansion of Union Grove Elementary.
The Union Grove expansion will include new classrooms, a computer room, an art room, resource rooms and teacher centers, demolition of existing structures and sewer upgrades.
I-SS Executive Director for Facilities & Planning Kenny Miller requested that the school district be allowed to request more than $1 million in public school capital building funds and access N.C. Lottery funds to reimburse itself for ongoing construction projects.
About $119,899 was spent for architectural designs for Union Grove Elementary School and $539,504 for Cool Springs Elementary.
The school district also spent $345,111 on renovations to Northview and Mt. Mourne schools for the International Baccalaureate Program.
Economic development
Commissioner Scott Keadle voiced his opposition to economic development incentives proposed for companies interested in doing business in Iredell County.
In response to the motion to approve an $89,000 incentive for the owners of Stamey Farm and a foreign investor to revitalize Homer's Truck Stop on Stamey Farm Road, Keadle asked that an amendment to the motion that the tax rate be applied to all businesses in the county.
"I commend and support the two companies," Keadle said.
Keadle's amendment was defeated 4-1, and the incentive passed 4-1 with Keadle as the dissenting vote in both.
The owners of Stamey Farm are in negotiations to purchase Homer's Truck stop for the purpose of making a yogurt and ice cream manufacturing plant, which will include a dairy bar and a retail outlet for farm fresh products. The sale of the property has not been completed.
The current economic development incentives formula is inequitable, Keadle said. He asked County Manager Joel Mashburn if the county had determined an alternative formula to use.
Mashburn said staff members were still looking into it.
Keadle also opposed the economic development tax incentives for Liburdi Dimetrics, which is moving from Davidson to the Transolid building on Charlotte Highway.
Mooresville-South Iredell Economic Development Executive Director Russ Rogerson said the $71,200 economic development incentive is based upon the purchase of the building, $500,000 in improvements to the building and relocating $3.5 million in equipment.
Liburdi employs 80 people with average hourly wage of $22. Liburdi manufactures orbital welding tips and refurbishes turbine blades.
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