BY KARISSA MILLER

The Iredell County Board of Commissioners will meet Tuesday evening for its regular meeting as planned.

The meeting will be livestreamed via the Iredell County website at 7 p.m. There will be no pre-agenda meeting.

Any citizen who would like to comment during the public hearing or public comment period may do so by calling 704-878-3051 at the appropriate time.

During the meeting, commissioners will consider approval of a $133,835 grant for the county Health Department to use in its response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The money would come from the N.C. Division of Public Health’s Public Health Preparedness and Response branch.

These funds are for prevention, preparation for, and response to COVID-19 by carrying out surveillance, epidemiology, laboratory, infection control, mitigation, communication and other preparedness and response activities.

The funds will allow the Health Department to purchase testing kits, making them available for long-term care facilities and other congregate living facilities. It is a necessity for keeping with the state’s goal of increasing testing, according to a memo.

As required, the Health Department has created an Incident Action Plan. The department will fund these objectives from the remaining funds.

The board will also vote on a request from Emergency Medical Services for acceptance of Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) Provider Relief in the amount of $128,513.

If approved, this will allow the county EMS to purchase necessary medical supplies to protect the public and paramedics providing care for patients suffering from COVID-19.

Additionally, the Iredell County Sheriff’s Office is seeking approval to apply and accept the Coronavirus Emergency Supplemental Funding Program in the amount of $54,119.

There are no matching funds required and money would come from the U.S. Department of Justice.

This will allow the Sheriff’s Office to purchase items such as personal protective equipment including gloves, face shields, masks, and gowns, sanitizers and medical equipment directly related to the jail.

Also, during the meeting, commissioners will:
♦ Conduct a public hearing for an economic development incentive up to $440,000 over a five-year period for Project Coupling.

♦  Consider a request from Iredell-Statesville Schools for approval of a utility easement at
Cloverleaf Elementary School related to the I-77 construction project. The I-SS Board of Education is requesting approval of a $40,000 settlement offer by the NC Department of Transportation for a utility easement at Cloverleaf Elementary School to assist in facilitating the I-77 construction project.

♦ Consider a request from the Iredell County Public Library for approval of a 2-year agreement with Overdrive, Inc. to continue providing online access and checkout of e-books.

♦ Consider a request from Human Resources to call for a public hearing on May 5, 2020, in regard to provisions with the Personnel Ordinance.

♦ Hear an update on the Transportation Master Plan.

♦ Consider a request from the Finance Department for approval of an amended project
ordinance for Mitchell Community College Health Science Building.