Greene County commissioners select school financing, approve revaluation firm
Greene County commissioners selected an 18-year financing option for approximately $14 million in school project funding and approved a firm for the county's 2029 property revaluation during their Oct. 5 meeting.
The revaluation decision came after an initial delay over concerns about vendor-paid meals at a conference. Commissioners also advanced supplemental funding for the Maury Wastewater Treatment Plant, accepted emergency preparedness grants and heard opposition to a possible data center on Burnett Road.
The board met at 10 a.m. at the Greene County Operations Center in Snow Hill.
Commissioners selected J.P. Morgan Chase's second financing option, presented at an interest rate of 4.86%, to supplement grant funding for a new elementary school, renovation of Snow Hill Primary School into centralized school administrative offices and a new school bus garage.
The option allows the county to repay or refinance the debt without a penalty beginning in September 2031. The board considered alternatives from Webster Bank and a lower-rate J.P. Morgan option that would not allow early repayment.
Ted Cole of Davenport & Co., the county's financial adviser, said retaining the ability to refinance was important given the size of the borrowing and the interest rate environment. After a recess, commissioners approved J.P. Morgan's option with that flexibility.
The financing is intended to provide $14 million for project costs. The preliminary resolution sets a borrowing ceiling of $14.25 million to allow for financing expenses. Cole said the final borrowing amount was expected to fall below that ceiling.
The loan would be secured by a deed of trust on the new school property. Additional county and school board actions and Local Government Commission approval are required before closing.
Cole outlined a timetable calling for final county action Oct. 19 or Nov. 2, school board action Oct. 26 and consideration by the Local Government Commission Nov. 3. If those steps are completed, the financing could close by Nov. 19. No public comments were offered during the school financing hearing.
For the 2029 revaluation, Tax Administrator Stephanie Wiggins recommended Vincent Valuations, LLC, saying its proposal was the only one of four received that fully met the county's requirements.
According to the agenda packet, Vincent proposed a countywide property reappraisal of approximately 12,850 parcels at $37.50 per parcel, for a total of $481,875. The proposed schedule calls for completion in late 2028, with new values effective Jan. 1, 2029.
Wiggins cited the firm's experience, staffing, technology expertise and project planning in recommending it. The proposal also includes appeal support, public presentations and taxpayer outreach.
Commissioner Derek Burress raised a possible conflict of interest, saying representatives of the recommended firm had paid for meals during a conference trip to Durham. He said he was not accusing anyone of wrongdoing. The board initially tabled the item after discussion of recusals left only two members available to vote.
County Attorney Kevin MacQueen returned to the issue later in the meeting. Based on his discussions with commissioners, he said he was not aware of any request for favorable treatment in exchange for the meal and saw no actual impropriety. He said members could participate, while acknowledging their desire to avoid the appearance of impropriety.
Commissioners then approved selecting Vincent and proceeding with contract negotiations by a 4-0 vote, with Burress recused. Chairman Bennie Heath initially announced the result as 4-1, then corrected it to 4-0 because a recusal was not an opposing vote.
For the Maury Wastewater Treatment Plant, Rich Moore explained that construction bids exceeded the existing $3 million Community Development Block Grant infrastructure award. The state offered an additional $246,612.73 from available fiscal 2020 grant funds.
Accepting that funding requires separate paperwork for the original grant and the supplemental award. Moore said the county would remove that amount of work from the original grant's scope, then add it back under the supplemental funding so the improvements could proceed.
After two public hearings with no public comments, commissioners authorized the chairman to execute the required hearing records and paperwork.
During the public comment period, a speaker representing family members on Burnett Road opposed a possible data center in the area. He described surveying and visits to the property but said residents had received limited clarity about the project.
He raised concerns about industrial construction, traffic and the effect on nearby homes, and asked whether a less populated location could be considered. The board did not vote on a data center proposal during the meeting.
Commissioners accepted a $15,000 Hazardous Materials Emergency Preparedness grant for training local public safety agencies and a $35,620 Homeland Security grant for emergency response equipment. The latter includes a $3,664 county contribution from fund balance to address increased costs since the application.
The board also recognized Oct. 4-10 as National 4-H Week. Youth Development Agent Carly Taylor said the program had reached close to half of Greene County children ages 5 to 18 through activities and school partnerships. The impact report in the packet listed 1,457 participating youth, 221 club members and 15 certified volunteers.
The consent agenda included Sept. 28 meeting minutes, late property tax relief applications, releases and refunds, and a Health Department budget amendment.
During commissioner reports, Heath highlighted an Oct. 8 Boys & Girls Club event at 5:30 p.m. at the Community Center, an Oct. 9 golf fundraiser at Cutter Creek, and an Oct. 10 sportsman's giveaway benefiting the Snow Hill and Shine volunteer fire departments. The giveaway meal begins at noon, with the drawing at 1 p.m. at the Snow Hill Fire Department.
The meeting adjourned after commissioner reports.
