The Catawba County Board of Commissioners met at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, January 19, 2010, at the 1924 Courthouse at 30 North College Avenue in Newton.

Board of Commissioners Chair Kitty Barnes amended the order in which agenda items would be heard to accommodate guests who needed to travel back to Charlotte after the meeting.

DEPARTMENTAL REPORT

UTILITIES AND ENGINEERING
The Board executed a Memorandum of Understanding with the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, through which UNC-Charlotte will perform research at the Catawba County EcoComplex on alternative technologies and business practices to reduce landfill operating costs and waste volume, and improve waste processing. Chair Barnes and UNCC Chancellor Phillip DuBois ceremoniously signed the Memorandum of Understanding after the Board voted to enter into this agreement. The County’s EcoComplex will become an off-campus component of the UNCC Energy Production and Infrastructure Center (EPIC), and supplement the university’s Infrastructure, Design, Environment, and Sustainability (IDEAS) Center, and North Carolina Motorsports and Automotive Research Center (NCMARC). The EcoComplex will provide UNCC research faculty and students with the space and physical resources needed to demonstrate and test sustainable alternative technologies for energy generation, waste processing, and waste reduction.

EPIC is a planned research endeavor between the University and private partners. Its goal is to expand energy engineering and energy research in the region based on industry needs. Private partners in this effort include Duke Energy, Shaw Group, AREVA, the Electric Power Research Institute, URS Washington Group, Westinghouse, Siemens, and Metso Power. UNCC’s IDEAS Center is a research center focused on accelerating change. It seeks to hasten the move from unsustainable infrastructure, housing, and technology design to ideals and practices more in tune with the challenges of today’s changing world and environment. Faculty includes representatives of civil, mechanical, electrical and systems engineering, architecture, biology, business, chemistry, geography and earth science, psychology, public health and sociology.

As an off campus component of EPIC, the IDEAS Center, and NCMARC, the EcoComplex will play an integral role in improving energy efficiency and society’s interaction with the man-made and natural environments. UNCC will focus its research on several areas including syngas (a mixture of carbon monoxide and hydrogen), algae and wood ethanol. In the future, the University’s research would expand to include using various types of animal waste as a renewable energy source. The MOU will allow the University and County to expand their relationship through future research components.

The initial research components included with the Board’s approval of the MOU will be wood ethanol, wood waste gasification, syngas, algae, soil amendment, and animal waste to energy. Wood ethanol research will be done in a small 12 foot by 12 foot structure using wood waste supplied by Catawba County, including waste from EcoComplex- based Pallet One and Gregory Wood Products, and land clearing debris, furthering the use of wood as a renewable energy source in making ethanol as well as the diversion of certain types of woody waste from the landfill. Gasification, a method of extracting energy from different types of organic materials, converts carbon-based materials into syngas, which can be used to produce green electricity. This research project will include partnering with General Electric and Nexterra. The technology employed will remove tar from syngas so it can be used to power an electricity-producing internal combustion engine, similar to those found at the County’s landfill gas-to-energy facility.

Algae have high oil content and are therefore a possible source of renewable energy. UNCC will grow algae in a small greenhouse (less than or equal to 1 acre in size) utilizing carbon dioxide from the landfill gas-to-energy generators to speed the plant growth process. This research will help determine the best way to harness the energy from the algae. In addition, UNCC is currently doing research to ascertain whether sheetrock, like algae, can add value to soil during crop growth. Test plots of biodiesel feedstock crops are being grown at the Blackburn Landfill in a soil mixture containing crushed sheetrock. If the sheetrock adds positive nutrient value back to the soil, this could provide an avenue for recycling sheetrock and diverting it from the County’s Construction and Demolition Landfill.

Research on the use of various types of animal waste as an energy source will be the focus of future research at the EcoComplex. UNCC has already started preliminary research, using bovine waste collected from a farm in Catawba County. Researchers are using various types of fungi to help break down the waste and possibly control odor. County staff is exploring a possible bartering arrangement through which farmers would provide waste to the County and the County, in turn, would provide an animal feed using the feedstock meal by-product created during the crushing of seeds for biodiesel production.

PUBLIC COMMENTS FOR ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA
Mr. Justin Hartman of Conover came forward to bring up the issue of licensing of animals and concern of over- population of animals in the County. He suggested differential licensing and felt the cost of the license, which would be renewed on an annual basis, would cover the cost of staffing required to enforce the license requirement. Board members indicated most differential licensing programs exist in cities, and not in counties with large rural areas. Mr. Hartman indicated Buncombe County has a differential licensing program. The Board directed the Animal Services Manager to research Buncombe County’s program as well as others that may exist in North Carolina counties and report to the Board on his findings.

APPOINTMENTS
on the recommendation of Commissioner Barbara Beatty, the Board reappointed Clyde Robinson for a third term and Rick Young for a second term on the Town of Catawba Planning Board. These terms will expire on December 1, 2012. Also upon Commissioner Beatty’s recommendation, the Board appointed Bruce Godfrey for an unexpired term on the Volunteer Fire Department Board of Trustee’s Fireman’s Relief Fund. Mr. Godfrey will represent the St. Stephens Fire Department and replace Wes Starnes who resigned from this Board. Mr. Godfrey’s term will expire on December 31, 2011. On the recommendation of Vice-Chair Lynn Lail, the Board reappointed Jean Bush, William Knox, Elenor Pender and Reverend Frederick Pender for second terms on the Nursing & Rest Home Advisory Board. These terms will expire on March 16, 2013.

CONSENT AGENDA
A. The Board approved the transfer of $20,000 to the Kids In Need (KIN) Fund from funds given in prior years to Catawba County Public Health to be used when needed by the KIN program for medical, dental and other authorized needs of eligible children. The KIN Fund was set up by the School Health Team at Public Health to help meet medical, dental, vision, medication and other needs of low-income children who otherwise may not have access to this care. The fund is used for school-aged children who fit eligibility guidelines set by the Team, as follows: children must reside in Catawba County; be enrolled in grades K-12; receive free or reduced lunch at school; and not be covered by health insurance, Medicaid or N.C. Health Choice. The KIN program receives private donations, small grants, funds from teacher assistants and other school staff, and several fundraisers throughout the year. In the current fiscal year, all funds donated or raised have been used for care to eligible children. Approximately $16,000 is needed to meet the need for the remainder of the fiscal year. This need was projected in 2008 and, with current economic conditions, it is expected the amount needed will increase further before year end. The $20,000 transfer will leave an approximate balance of $21,000 in the restricted fund balance for future use.

B. The Board accepted $197,550 in new Preparedness/Bioterrorism funds from federal “stimulus” funds to provide financing for a mass vaccination campaign, if needed, to respond to an H1N1 flu pandemic outbreak and planning to enable Public Health to rapidly detect and respond to an H1N1 outbreak. On April 26, 2009, the Acting U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services declared a public health emergency as a result of the detection of 20 known cases of swine-origin influenza A virus in the United States, now known as pandemic (H1N1) 2009 virus. Between April 24 and May 15, 2009, North Carolina’s public health system responded to the identification of the virus. Since the spring of 2009, Catawba County Public Health has worked to assist in educating the public and providing information to assist in reducing the spread of the virus. Public Health continues to respond by providing the most current information to citizens and partnering with other providers to meet the vaccination needs and other needs of the community.

In light of the threat the pandemic poses to the nation’s public health and security, Congress appropriated funding, though the 2009 Supplemental Appropriations Act, to prepare for and respond to an influenza pandemic. The State of North Carolina has appropriated $197,550 to Catawba County Public Health to provide financial resources for implementing a mass vaccination campaign and related H1N1/pandemic-outbreak response activities; and support revised and expanded plans for activities that will enable Public Health to rapidly detect and respond to an H1N1 outbreak. No County funds are included in this budget revision.

C. The Board approved a tax refund request totaling $48,647.16. Records have been checked and these refunds verified; therefore, the Tax Collector is asking for approval of the refund request. Under North Carolina General Statute 105-381, a taxpayer who has paid taxes may request a refund in writing for an amount paid through error.

DEPARTMENTAL REPORT

SOCIAL SERVICES
The Board received the 2008-2009 Annual Report of the Catawba County Community Child Protection Team. The Team was established in February 1992 as the result of an order from the North Carolina Governor’s Office. The State later mandated the creation of a Child Fatality Review Team, and the County elected to combine the two in 1995. The combined teams have met quarterly since their inception, except for specially called meetings. The Child Protection Team has the legal responsibility for reviewing cases of child fatalities when the family is known to the Department of Social Services and identification of areas in Protective Services needing improvement in order to maximize the safety of the community’s children. The Child Fatality Team’s purpose is to provide a multi-agency, multi-disciplinary approach to study cases of childhood death in Catawba County in order to attempt to reduce child fatalities.

The Community Child Protection/Child Fatality Team has proven to be an effective one, utilizing the systemic approach. The Team was active in FY 2008-2009 and discussed the following items:

1) The State Coordinator for the local Child Fatality Prevention Team (CFPT) gave an update to team members on North Carolina’s Child Fatality Prevention System and some of the actionable recommendations that had come about as a result of the CFPT teams, such as the all-terrain vehicle safety law in 2005, requiring carbon monoxide detectors in rental property homes, and the Safe Surrender Law.

2) The Team addressed issues that affect its capacity to accurately assess risk and address the safety issues of children. It has been involved in recruiting and retaining resource families (foster and adoptive), conducting child and family team meetings, improving educational outcomes for children in foster care, strengthening kinship connections, and improving safety and risk assessments. Catawba County is one of 24 sites across the U.S. participating in a project to determine when a child should be returned to his or her family after being in foster care or with relatives. A result of this initiative is that Catawba County has placed 33% of children with relatives, as compared to the overall statewide rate of 18%.

3) The Team discussed opportunities to provide outreach and education regarding the “Period of Purple Crying”, an outreach program that explains the appropriate care for infants and newborns to community service providers and the general public. There are three key elements that may be related to crying, such as shaking a baby. The goal is to reduce the incidence of shaken baby syndrome by 50% and educate the public that crying is normal and OK. It is a structured outreach to medical providers, to help instruct new parents on the normal, natural crying stints that infants go through at certain times. The program was implemented in both hospitals in Catawba County in April and May of 2008 and Catawba is one of the first counties in the state to have this program underway. The next phases will get information out to prenatal and postnatal community partners and include a media campaign which will include billboards, etc. across the state.

4) The team discussed substance abuse counseling for Public Health’s prenatal patients. Prenatal patients who test positive on drug screening and consent to substance abuse counseling may receive counseling from Social Services’ Family NET program. Also, the group discussed a medication treatment called “17 P”. Women who have had an issue in the past with a pre-term pregnancy are offered this drug in Public Health’s prenatal clinic. Catawba County Public Health has experienced a 64% success rate (patients who received the treatment and made it to full term and delivered a baby). The infant mortality rate for North Carolina had dropped from 8.5% to 8.2%. The rate in Catawba County dropped from 8.1% in 2007 to 6.4% in 2008. The minority rate is still higher than the Team would like to see, but that rate has also continued to drop.

5) The Team participated in a State Fatality Review with the North Carolina Division of Social Services. This intensive review came about as a legislative process and its focus was to look at child fatalities in the State and see how the State would respond to those fatalities. State law requires that, if a death occurred and there had been DSS involvement within 12 months preceding the fatality, an intensive review is conducted. The purpose is to look at all systems involved in order to see what could have possibly been done differently.

6) The Team discussed the Catawba County Substance Abuse Coalition, a part of the Catawba County Health Partners program, and the Coalition’s use since 2001 of the “Keys to Life Program” through the Governor’s Highway Safety Program. The concept of this program is to show high school students the impact of alcohol abuse. National statistics show that, every 15 minutes, someone is killed or injured in an alcohol related automobile crash. In a school where the program is being presented, a bell will toll every 15 minutes throughout the day and the PA system will announce that a student has passed away. The “grim reaper” will show up at the student’s classroom and take them out of the class. Their face will be painted and they will put on a black tee shirt and by sent back to the classroom. An obituary will be read for that student and they can no longer talk to anyone for the rest of that day. An accident scene will be set up and the students will go outside to see what an alcohol related accident may look like. This program is very impactful and takes a lot of manpower and planning, but the Team hopes to eventually be able to offer this to all three school systems.

7) The Team discussed issues surrounding the downturn in the economy and the impact on Child Protective Services. Increases in alcohol and substance abuse were noted, in addition to there being more families struggling to afford medications.

8) The Team discussed mental health changes that may affect child protection and prevention. The North Carolina General Assembly recently passed legislation that will phase elimination of mental health community support services. Community support services provide case management services to children who need higher levels of care, residential treatment and placement services, and/or have multiple needs that need to be tracked and navigated through the mental health system. The local impact is expected to be reflected in higher demands in the criminal justice system and in emergency rooms, as people seek care there as opposed to other places.

9) The Team looked at domestic violence issues and the overlap among domestic violence and child protective services. About 13% of cases reported in 2009 involved domestic violence. Three women in Catawba County died in 2009 as a result of domestic violence. Some significant changes in legislation have had an impact on the effectiveness of interventions in domestic violence situations. A State task force is now working to provide better assessment tools. One of the challenges in domestic violence situations is accurately capturing domestic violence charges. There are several different kinds of criminal charges that can be brought in association with domestic violence that are not limited to assault on a female, including communicating a threat, interfering with emergency communication, strangulation and assault in the presence of a minor. In domestic violence situations, caution is taken not to blame the victim so as not to re-victimize them. Those responding recognize that children may experience a different impact if they actually witness the violence or are exposed to the aftermath. There is a specific court in Catawba County that handles domestic violence cases.

10) The group also discussed the Children’s Agenda Planning Committee, a core group appointed by the Board of Commissioners to develop a comprehensive strategic agenda or plan around children’s issues, aimed at improving the lives of children in Catawba County. This group provided a child data snapshot on factors related to well-being seen in Catawba County that could be benchmarked against state and federal data. The group surveyed children and families about what they feel was the best thing about living in Catawba County and focused on some of the things that need improvement. From this survey, the committee chose five focus areas: safety and security (fear from gangs and crime, desire for a safe place to play); basic needs (jobs, housing, transportation, interpreters); education and preparation for work (focus on drop-out prevention, career preparation, job training and financial education); quality of life (focus on issues of interconnected neighborhoods, social networking, places to meet, technology and the diversity issues in the community) and healthcare (includes dental, preventative care, mental health, medical access, insurance coverage and health services in schools)

ATTORNEYS REPORT
The Board joined with other local governments across the region in approving an agreement with the cities of Concord and Kannapolis to resolve the appeal of the Interbasin Transfer (IBT) granted Concord and Kannapolis by the State of North Carolina. The agreement established significant reductions in the amount of water that could be transferred out of the Catawba River during drought conditions. The main points of the agreement hinged on Concord and Kannapolis modifying their ability, contained in their IBT certificate, to withdraw 10 million gallons of water per day (MGD) from the Catawba River at all times by significantly limiting withdrawals during times of drought. The agreement limits withdrawals to 6 MGD during times of most severe drought, or “exceptional” drought; 7 MGD during “extreme” drought; 8.5 MGD during “severe” drought; and 9 MGD during “moderate” drought. Further, the agreement restricts Concord and Kannapolis from withdrawing more than 3 MGD from the Catawba until July 1, 2015, and after they first are withdrawing 5 MGD from the Yadkin River.

CLOSED SESSION
At the request of County Manager J. Thomas Lundy, the Board went into closed session pursuant to General Statute 143-318.11(3) to consult with an attorney employed or retained by the public body in order to preserve the attorney-client privilege; 143-318.11(4) to discuss matters related to the location or expansion of industries or other businesses in the area served by the public body and 143-318.11(6) to consider the qualifications, competence, performance, character, fitness, conditions of appointment, or conditions of initial employment of an individual public officer or employee. No action was taken by the Board upon return to Open Session and the meeting was then adjourned.

CALENDAR
The February 2010 Board of Commissioners Meetings will take place on Monday, February 1, 2010 at 9:30 a.m. and on Monday, February 15, 2010 at 7:00 p.m.