MINUTES

 

 

WATAUGA COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2011

 

 

The Watauga County Board of Commissioners held a regular meeting on Tuesday, October 4, 2011, at 8:00 A.M. in the Commissioners' Board Room of the Watauga County Administration Building, Boone, North Carolina.

 

                        PRESENT:      Nathan A. Miller, Chairman

                                                David Blust, Vice-Chairman

                                                Jim Deal, Commissioner

                                                Tim Futrelle, Commissioner

                                                Vince Gable, Commissioner

                                                Stacy C. Eggers, IV, County Attorney

                                                Deron Geouque, County Manager

                                                Anita J. Fogle, Clerk to the Board

 

Chairman Miller called the meeting to order at 8:05 A.M.

 

Commissioner Deal opened the meeting with a prayer and Commissioner Gable led the Pledge of Allegiance.

Approval of Minutes

Chairman Miller called for additions and/or corrections to the September 12, 2011, special meeting minutes and the September 19, 2011, regular and closed session minutes.

 

Commissioner Futrelle, seconded by Commissioner Deal, moved to approve the September 12, 2011, special meeting minutes as presented.

 

VOTE:  Aye-5

             Nay-0

 

County Manager Geouque requested the following two amendments (additions in bold and deletions struck-through) to the September 19, 2011, regular meeting minutes:

 

Under “Miscellaneous Administrative Matters, A. Recommended Contract Awards for Employee Medical, Dental, and Life Insurance:”

 

“Vice-Chairman Blust, seconded by Commissioner Deal, moved to award the bid for employee dental and life insurance to LFG as presented by the County Manager.

 

VOTE:    Aye-4(Miller, Blust, Deal, Gable)

Nay-0

Absent-1(Futrelle)

Under “Miscellaneous Administrative Matters, B. Contract Renewal Request for Inmate Medical Care:”

“County Manager Geouque stated that the Sheriff’s Office had requested renewal of a contract with Competent Correctional Care, Inc. for the provision of medical care and staffing of the County jail.  The cost was $7,578 per month for services for 90 inmates and was to increase to $12,642 if/when the population grew to between 90-135 inmates.  The County Manager stated that funds were available to cover the contract within the Sheriff’s Office budget.

 

Commissioner Deal, seconded by Vice-Chairman Blust, moved to approve the contract with Competent Correctional Care, Inc. in an amount up to $12,642 $7,578 per month, contingent upon County Attorney review.

 

VOTE:     Aye-4(Miller, Blust, Deal, Gable)

                 Nay-0

                 Absent-1(Futrelle)”

 

Commissioner Deal, seconded by Vice-Chairman Blust, moved to approve the September 19, 2011, regular meeting minutes as amended.

 

VOTE:  Aye-5

             Nay-0

 

By consensus, consideration of the closed session minutes was tabled until after closed session to allow for the review of proposed amendments.

Approval of Agenda

Chairman Miller called for additions and/or corrections to the October 4, 2011, agenda.

 

County Manager Geouque requested to add possible action after closed session.

 

Commissioner Deal, seconded by Vice-Chairman Blust, moved to approve the October 4, 2011, agenda as amended.

 

VOTE:  Aye-5

             Nay-0

Proposed Proclamation in Support of 2012 “ROCK the Blue Ridge Bike Ride”

Ms. Lora Elder presented a proposed proclamation of support for a 100-mile bike ride entitled “Rock the Blue Ridge” which was planned for August 26, 2012.

 

Commissioner Deal, seconded by Commissioner Futrelle, moved to adopt the proclamation as presented.

 

VOTE:  Aye-5

             Nay-0

Board of Education Request for Lottery Funds

Watauga County School’s Finance Director, Ms. Ly Marze, presented requests for the following State applications for Education Lottery funding:

 

·        Replacement of carpets and floor tiles in the classrooms at Green Valley, Hardin Park, Parkway, and Valle Crucis Elementary Schools, in the amount of $36,000, with an estimated project beginning date of October 1, 2011, and completion date of June 1, 2012.

·        Restroom renovations at Parkway Elementary School, in the amount of $6,000, with an estimated project beginning date of December 1, 2011, and completion date of January 31, 2012.

·        Replacement of sidewalk near the bus parking lot at Blowing Rock Elementary School, in the amount of $2,000, with an estimated project beginning date of October 1, 2011, and completion date of December 31, 2011.

·        Add door sweeps to weatherize the building for winter weather at Blowing Rock Elementary School, in the amount of $480, with an estimated project beginning date of October 1, 2011, and completion date of December 31, 2011.

 

Ms. Marze also requested approval for an additional application for upgrades in all of the school cafeterias, in the amount of $30,000.

 

The total amount requested for the five applications was $74,480 with no local match required.

 

Commissioner Deal, seconded by Vice-Chairman Blust, moved to approve all five Education Lottery Fund applications as presented by Ms. Marze.

 

VOTE:  Aye-5

             Nay-0

Additional Appropriation of State Funds for Senior Centers

Ms. Angie Boitnotte stated that the Project on Aging was eligible to receive an additional $16,274 in Senior Center funding from the North Carolina General Assembly and the North Carolina Division of Aging.  This amount requires a 25% local match which was currently in the Agency’s existing budget.  The funds were to be allocated as follows:  $12,205 to the L. E. Harrill Senior Center, as a Center of Excellence, and $4,069 to the Western Watauga Community Center.

 

Commissioner Futrelle, seconded by Vice-Chairman Blust, moved to accept the funding and approve the local match as presented by Ms. Boitnotte.

 

VOTE:  Aye-5

             Nay-0

Proposed Contract for Engineering Services at the Swim Complex

County Maintenance Director Robert Marsh presented a proposed contract for engineering services with Sutton-Kennerly & Associates, Inc., Consulting Engineers (SKA), in an amount not to exceed $10,000.  The contract was for design of frame base repairs and cursory evaluation of the lateral bracing system at the swim complex.  SKA had provided a report in February 2011, detailing the general conditions of the swim complex.  As part of the report, high priority repairs were identified and one of those repairs was to be addressed through the proposed contract.

 

County Attorney Eggers stated that the Board could exempt the project from the Request for Qualification process as outlined in NCGS 143-64.31 based on the project fee being less than $30,000 and SKA’s familiarity with the project.

 

Commissioner Deal, seconded by Commissioner Futrelle, moved to award the contract, in an amount not to exceed $10,000, to Sutton-Kennerly & Associates, Inc., Consulting Engineers and exempt the County from the qualification based selection process due to project costs of less than $30,000 and Sutton-Kennerly & Associates, Inc., Consulting Engineers’ familiarity with the project.

 

VOTE:  Aye-5

             Nay-0

Tax Matters

A.  Monthly Collections Report

Tax Administrator Kelvin Byrd presented the Tax Collections Report for the month of September 2011.  This report was presented for information only and, therefore, no action was required.

B.  Refunds and Releases

Mr. Byrd presented the following Refunds and Releases for September 2011 for Board approval:

 

TO BE TYPED IN MINUTE BOOK

 

Vice-Chairman Blust, seconded by Commissioner Futrelle, moved to approve the Refunds and Releases Report for September 2011, as presented.

 

VOTE:  Aye-5

             Nay-0

Miscellaneous Administrative Matters

A.  Proposed Rural Center Grant Agreement Amendment # 4 for the Boone/Blowing Rock Interconnection Project

County Manager Geouque presented an amendment to the Rural Center contract which was a pass-through grant to the County to help with the construction of the Boone/Blowing Rock emergency water interconnect.  The amendment was to add three months to the contract and reduce the County’s portion of the budget from $445,513 to $336,977.56.  The additional time was needed for staff to close-out the project and the reduction in cost was due to the project coming in under budget.

 

Commissioner Deal, seconded by Commissioner Futrelle, moved to approve Amendment # 4 to the Rural Center Grant Agreement for the Boone/Blowing Rock emergency water interconnect as presented by the County Manger.

 

VOTE:  Aye-5

             Nay-0

B.  Boards & Commissions

County Manager Geouque stated that the Watauga County Library Board had recommended that Mr. Hugh Hagaman and Ms. Kathy Idol both be reappointed to the Watauga County Library Board with both terms set to expire on August 31, 2015. 

 

The Watauga County Library Board recommended that Mr. Hugh Hagaman also be reappointed as a Watauga County representative on the Appalachian Regional Library Board.  This term was also set to expire August 31, 2015.

 

Commissioner Deal, seconded by Vice-Chairman Blust, moved to waive second readings and reappoint Mr. Hugh Hagaman to both the Watauga County Library Board and the Appalachian Regional Library Board and reappoint Ms. Kathy Idol to the Watauga County Library Board with all three terms to expire August 31, 2015.

 

VOTE:  Aye-5

             Nay-0

C.  Announcements

County Manager Geouque announced that effective October 1, 2011, Watauga Humane Society now managed all aspects of shelter operations for animals handled by the Watauga County Animal Care and Control Department.  Based on an agreement with the Society, Watauga County no longer housed, cared for, or controlled domestic animals picked up, impounded, and/or confiscated by the Watauga County Animal Care and Control Department.  The County Manager stated that the County’s Animal Care and Control Officers would continue to enforce the Watauga County Animal Care and Control Ordinance and the Ordinance to Regulate Wild and Dangerous Animals and would continue to respond to service calls pertaining to domestic animals.

 

County Manager Geouque announced that a Hazardous Household Waste Collection Day was scheduled for October 8, 2011, from 9:00 A.M. to 2:00 P.M. at the Landfill.   Operation Medicine Cabinet was also scheduled for the same date and set to run from 10:00 A.M. to 2:00 P.M. at all Food Lions in the County and Foscoe and Beaver Dam Volunteer Fire Departments.

 

County Manager Geouque announced that the Annual County Christmas Luncheon was scheduled for Tuesday, December 13, 2011, from 12:00 to 2:00 P.M. at the Dan’l Boone Inn.  The Board and County Attorney were invited to attend.

 

County Manager Geouque announced that a “Turning of the Valve” ceremony was scheduled for the Boone/Blowing Rock Water Interconnection Project on Wednesday, October 19, 2011, at 5:00 P.M.  The ceremony would be held across from Tweetsie Railroad on Hwy 321 at the meter vault between both water systems.

 

County Manager Geouque announced that the Watauga High School Student Body had invited the Board to participate in and/or join the crowd of spectators for their 2011 Homecoming Parade scheduled for 5:00 P.M. on Friday, October 7, 2011, on King Street.

Public Comment

There was no public comment.

Closed Session

At 8:26 A.M., Vice-Chairman Blust, seconded by Commissioner Deal, moved to enter Closed Session to discuss Attorney/Client Matters, per G. S. 143-318.11(a)(3).

 

VOTE:  Aye-5

             Nay-0

 

Commissioner Deal, seconded by Vice-Chairman Blust, moved to resume the open meeting at 10:14 A.M.

VOTE:  Aye-5

             Nay-0

Action After Closed Session

Commissioner Deal, seconded by Commissioner Futrelle, moved to approve the “Amendment to Interlocal Agreement for the Provision of Behavioral Healthcare Services in Alleghany, Ashe, Avery, Watauga, and Wilkes Counties” as further amended below and authorized the Chairman to sign the agreement on the County’s behalf:

 


·       Accept Article I in its entirety

·       Accept Article II in its entirety

·       Delete Article III in its entirety

·       Accept Article IV, Section 1 with the deletion of the words “and operations” in both the title and last sentence of Section 1


·       Accept Article IV, Sections 2-3 in their entirety

·       Accept Article V, Sections 1-3

·       Delete Article V, Section 4

·       Accept Article VI in its entirety


 

VOTE:  Aye-5

             Nay-0

 

Chairman Miller appointed himself to serve as the Watauga County Board of Commissioners Representative to the newly constituted New River Service Authority Board.

 

Commissioner Deal, seconded by Vice-Chairman Blust, moved to approve the September 19, 2011, closed session minutes as amended.

 

VOTE:  Aye-5

             Nay-0

Adjourn

Commissioner Futrelle, seconded by Vice-Chairman Blust adjourned the meeting at 10:19 A.M.

 

 

 

Nathan A. Miller, Chairman

 

ATTEST:                                                                   

Anita J. Fogle, Clerk to the Board