MINUTES
 
WATAUGA COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
MONDAY, MARCH 1, 2004
 
            The Watauga County Board of Commissioners held a regular meeting on Monday, March 1, 2004, at 9:00 A.M. in the Board Room of the Watauga County Courthouse.
 
                        PRESENT:       James Coffey, Chairman
                                                Jimmy Hodges, Vice-Chairman
                                                Keith Honeycutt, Commissioner
                                                David Blust, Commissioner
                                                Allen Trivette, Commissioner
                                                Stacy C. Eggers, IV, County Attorney
                                    Robert E. Nelson, Jr., County Manager
                                    Deron Geouque, Assistant County Manager
                                                Anita J. Fogle, Clerk to the Board
 
            Chairman Coffey called the meeting to order at 9:02 A.M. welcoming those in attendance.
 
            A moment of silence was observed.
 
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
 
            Chairman Coffey called for additions or corrections to the February 17, 2004, regular meeting minutes.
 
            Commissioner Honeycutt, seconded by Commissioner Blust, moved to approve the February 17, 2004, regular meeting minutes as presented.
 
VOTE:   Aye-5
              Nay-0
 
APPROVAL OF AGENDA
 
            Chairman Coffey called for additions and/or corrections to the March 1, 2004, agenda.
 
            County Manager Nelson requested to add to Miscellaneous Administrative Matters a discussion on scheduling Budget Work Sessions in May.
 
            Commissioner Blust, seconded by Commissioner Honeycutt, moved to approve the March 1, 2004, agenda as amended.
VOTE:    Aye-5
               Nay-0
 
 
CRIMINAL JUSTICE PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM GRANT APPLICATION REQUEST
 
            Mr. Randy Townsend, Chairman of the Criminal Justice Partnership Advisory Board, requested approval to submit a funding application for Fiscal Year 2005. The grant amount of $55,661 was available to WataugaCounty from the State and required no local match.
 
            Commissioner Honeycutt, seconded by Commissioner Blust, moved to approve the submission of the Criminal Justice Partnership Grant to the State.
 
VOTE:    Aye-5
               Nay-0
 
“VOLUNTEERISM MONTH” PROCLAMATION REQUEST
 
Ms. Nancy Reigel, Chairperson, Volunteer Outreach Center Advisory Board, read a proclamation designating the month of March 2004 as “Volunteer Month” in Watauga County and requested adoption by the Board. 
 
Commissioner Blust, seconded by Commissioner Trivette, moved to adopt the “Volunteerism Month” Proclamation as presented by Ms. Reigel.
 
VOTE:    Aye-5
               Nay-0
 
FINANCE MATTERS
 
            A.        Audit Contract RequestMs. Isaacs reviewed a proposal to contract for audit services with Holder Powell and Associates, PA. Ms. Isaacs stated that the County was pleased with the past performance of Holder Powell and Associates, PA. The contract terms were as follows: Standard billing rate times hours incurred not to exceed $30,800 plus additional time incurred for GASB 34 implementation at the standard billing rate. The total billed was not to exceed $35,900.
 
Vice-Chairman Hodges, seconded by Commissioner Trivette, moved to approve the contract with Holder Powell and Associates, PA for audit services contingent upon the County Attorney’s review.
 
VOTE:    Aye-5
               Nay-0
 
 
 
 
B.         Budget Amendments – Ms. Isaacs presented the following budget amendments for Board approval:
 
            Account #                    Description                                                           Debit             Credit
104960-469853           Soil & Water-Special Alloc.                              $1,796
103991-399101           Fund Balance Approp.-New                                                    $1,796
 
            The amendment re-appropriated funds for a purchase order that was erroneously cancelled in June of 2003.
 
            Account #                    Description                                                           Debit             Credit
234310-451000           Capital Outlay-Equip.                                        $5,840
233839-389002           NC Cont. Substance Tax                                                         $5,840
 
            The amendment appropriated NC Controlled Substance Tax funds to purchase equipment for narcotics enforcement.
 
            Account #                    Description                                                           Debit             Credit
145890-469803           Project Challenge-JCPC                                    $1,144
145890-469804           Project Challenge-JCPC Co. Match                     $343
145890-469809           Watauga Youth Center-JCPC                           $1,800
145890-469810           WYC-JCPC-County Match                                 $537
145890-469811           Blue Ridge Dispute-JCPC                                 $1,000
145890-469812           B. Ridge Dispute-JCPC Co. Match                      $300
143583-333000           JCPC-Restricted                                                                      $3,944
143991-399101           Fund Balance Approp-New                                                     $1,180
 
            The amendment recognized additional JCPC funds and the required County Match.
 
            Account #                    Description                                                           Debit             Credit
145480-438800           CIP-Energy Assistance                                    $20,092
143531-323000           Admn. Cost Reimb.-Fed/State                                               $20,092
 
            The amendment recognized the increase in the CIP Energy Assistance allocation from the State.
 
            Account #                    Description                                                           Debit             Credit
103300-343307           State Homeland Security-I                                                      $50,035
103300-343308           State Homeland Security-II                                                   $131,417
104330-449907           TOB-SHS-I&II                                              $53,139
104330-449913           Watauga Med. Ctr.-SHS-I&II                          $9,267
104370-449901           Watauga Medics-SHS-I&II                              $3,060
104330-449914           Blowing Rock PD-SHS-I&II                             $7,757
104310-449902           SHS-I&II                                                        $55,377
104370-449900           Watauga Rescue Squad-SHS I&II                    $9,689
104330-449905           Exercise-SHS I&II                                            $7,297
104330-439501           Training-SHS I&II                                             $2,438
104330-449906           Fire Depts.-SHS I&II                                      $29,885
104330-449901           Emerg. Mgt.-SHS I&II                                      $3,543
 
            The amendment recognized two State Homeland Security grants for equipment and training for County agencies and departments.
 
            Account #                    Description                                                           Debit             Credit
213991-399101           Fund Balance Approp.-New                                                  $30,000
219800-498010           Transfer to General Fund                                 $30,000
103980-398121           Transfer from Capital Reserve                                                 $30,000
104920-463001           Revco Upgrade-ECR Software, Inc.                $30,000
 
            The amendment appropriated NC Controlled Substance Tax funds to purchase equipment for narcotics enforcement.
 
            Account #                    Description                                                           Debit             Credit
103300-343301           Hazard Mitigation Grant                                                            $8,056
104330-452000           Capital Outlay-DP Equip.                                  $1,223
104330-452100           Capital Outlay-Software                                       $777
104330-434101           Printing-Hazard Mitigation                                 $1,000
104330-469500           Cont. Services-Haz. Mitigation                          $5,056
 
            The amendment recognized the carryovers on the Hazard Mitigation Grant.
 
            Commissioner Blust, seconded by Commissioner Honeycutt, moved to approve the budget amendments as presented.
 
VOTE:    Aye-5
               Nay-0
 
TAX MATTERS
 
            A.        Monthly Collections Report – Tax Administrator, Mr. Kelvin Byrd, presented the Tax Collections Report for the month of February 2004.
 
B.         Releases and Refunds – Tax Administrator Byrd presented the following Refunds and Releases for February 2004 for Board approval:
 
TO BE TYPED IN MINUTE BOOK
 
            Vice-Chairman Hodges, seconded by Commissioner Honeycutt, moved to approve the Refunds and Releases Report for February 2004 as presented.
 
VOTE:    Aye-5
               Nay-0
 
C.        Board of Equalization and Review – Tax Administrator Byrd stated that in the past, the Board of Commissioners served as the County’s Board of Equalization and Review, however, a special Board could be appointed to serve.
 
By consensus, the Board agreed to serve as the Board of Equalization and Review.
 
            Mr. Byrd also stated that the approximate date for lien advertisements in the Watauga Democrat was March 17, 2004, with March 10, 2004, being the last day to have a name removed from the list.
 
MISCELLANEOUS ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS
 
A.        Budget Work Session Schedule Discussion – County Manager Nelson reviewed tentative dates and time for budget work sessions and also requested that a public hearing be set for the Manager’s recommended budget on May 18, 2004.
 
            By consensus, the Board scheduled budget work sessions for Friday, May 7, 2004, from 6:00 P.M. till 10:00 P.M. and May 14, 2004, from 1:00 P.M. till 5:00 P.M., and also scheduled a public hearing for the May 18, 2004, Board meeting which begins at 7:00 P.M. to allow for public comment on the Manager’s recommended budget.
 
B.         Boards and Commissions – County Manager Nelson gave a second reading of the following recommendations for appointment/reappointment to the Watauga County EMS Advisory Committee: Pat Gray, Marcus Hickman, Randy Collins, Craig Sullivan, Allen Trivette, Patricia Shook, Aaron Miller, Bill Kaiser, Floyd Hicks, and Patty Jenkins. The County Manager stated that he and the Fire Commission Chairman (currently Terry Combs) also served on this committee.
 
            Commissioner Trivette, seconded by Commissioner Blust, moved to appoint/reappoint Pat Gray, Marcus Hickman, Randy Collins, Craig Sullivan, Allen Trivette, Patricia Shook, Aaron Miller, Bill Kaiser, Floyd Hicks, and Patty Jenkins to the Watauga County EMS Advisory Committee.
 
VOTE:   Aye-5
              Nay-0
 
County Manager Nelson gave a first reading of a vacancy on the Economic Development Advisory Board. The County Manager stated that a replacement would need to be appointed.
 
As this was the first reading for the above, no action was required.
 
C.        Announcements – County Manager Nelson stated that the NC DOT had requested that agenda time be reserved at the Commissioners meeting scheduled for May 18, 2004, to present their secondary roads plan to the Board of Commissioners as required by statute. DOT was also required to hold a public hearing and requested that a public hearing be scheduled concurrent with the presentation.
 
            By consensus, the Board set a public hearing for May 18, 2004, at 7:00 P.M. to allow for comment on the NCDOT’s Secondary Roads Plan.
 
            The County Manager stated that the NACo annual conference was scheduled for July 16-20, 2004, in Phoenix Arizona. Those wishing to attend, please contact the Clerk to the Board so that she may assist with arrangements and reservations.
 
The County Manager announced that the Cooperative Extension Annual Luncheon and “Report to the People” was scheduled for Monday, March 1, 2004, at 11:45 A.M. at the Agricultural Conference Center and that the Commissioners, County Attorney, and Staff were invited.
 
CLOSED SESSION
 
            At 9:37 A.M., Vice-Chairman Hodges, seconded by Commissioner Blust, moved to enter Closed Session to discuss Personnel Matters, per G. S. 143-318-11(a)(6).
 
VOTE:    Aye-5
               Nay-0
 
            Commissioner Honeycutt, seconded by Commissioner Blust, moved to resume the open meeting at 10:01 A.M.
 
VOTE:    Aye-5
               Nay-0
 
ADJOURN
 
            Vice-Chairman Hodges, seconded by Commissioner Blust, moved to adjourn the meeting at 10:01 A.M.
VOTE:    Aye-5
               Nay-0
 
 
                                                                                                James Coffey, Chairman
 
ATTEST:
Anita J. Fogle, Clerk to the Board