BY KARISSA MILLER
The Iredell County Board of Commissioners unanimously adopted a formal resolution on Tuesday in support of NC Senate Bill 248 to allow local Register of Deeds offices the authority to access certified copies of birth certificates for adopted persons.
If approved, NC Senate Bill 248 would allow local Register of Deeds offices the authority to access vital records, as well as issue certified copies or abstracts of new birth certificates for all N.C. citizens, including those who have been adopted.
During the pre-agenda meeting, Register of Deeds Renee Holland explained that currently the process for adoptees to obtain a certified copy of their birth certificate involves making a request to North Carolina Vital Records in Raleigh.
“Sometimes the process for those folks can be very timely,” Holland said. “What the NC Association of Register of Deeds has come up with, we think, is going help those citizens tremendously.”
Holland emphasized that the proposed changes will not compromise the privacy of birth records.
“It simply will allow them to come into their local county Register of Deeds office to obtain their new birth record,” she said.
“It does not release original birth certificates or disclose adoption details or biological parent information and doesn’t change adoption law or who may access those sealed records,” she added.
If Senate Bill 248 is approved in its current form, adoptees would be required to obtain their birth certificate in the county where they were born.
Commissioner Brad Stroud viewed the proposed changes as an improvement.
“In my former capacity (as director of the Iredell County Department of Veteran Services) I have seen where that delay has a big adverse effect whether it was for passport or for benefits,” Stroud said.
OTHER BUSINESS
In other business:
♦ The board approved purchasing permanent shade structures for Iredell County Parks and Recreation. Four single-post, cantilever shade structures around the perimeter of the Recreation Center swimming pool.
According to County Manager Beth Milton, Parks and Recreation staff looked for grant funding to cover the cost, but was not successful. The $50,000 was included in this year’s budget.
The pool will open on May 24.
♦ Commissioners approved a request from Cool Springs Volunteer Fire Department to appoint Chris Cartner to their Relief Fund Board of Trustees.
♦ The board approved a request from the Finance Purchasing Division for consideration of an offer for and adoption of a resolution to sell the Hickory highway property.
♦ Commissioners approved the fiscal year 2025-2026 spending plan for the Juvenile Crime Prevention Council for $405,670.
♦ The board approved a request from the Health Department to accept $8,000 in grant funding, which will be used to enhance the Child Passenger Safety (CPS) program through training materials and facilitating key community events.
♦ Commissioners approved a request from the Health Department for approval of the Fee Policy and Proposed Fee Schedules for Fiscal Year 2025-2026. Many of the fees were lowered to be in line with neighboring counties.