MINUTES
WATAUGA COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
TUESDAY, JUNE 6, 2017
The Watauga County Board of Commissioners held a regular meeting, as scheduled, on Tuesday, June 6, 2017, at 8:30 A.M. in the Commissioners' Board Room of the Watauga County Administration Building, Boone, North Carolina.
PRESENT: John Welch, Chairman
Billy Kennedy, Vice-Chairman
Larry Turnbow, Commissioner
Jimmy Hodges, Commissioner
Perry Yates, Commissioner
Anthony di Santi, County Attorney
Deron Geouque, County Manager
Anita J. Fogle, Clerk to the Board
Chairman Welch called the meeting to order at 8:30 A.M.
Commissioner Yates opened with prayer and Commissioner Kennedy led the Pledge of Allegiance.
Approval of Minutes
Chairman Welch called for consideration of amendments to the February 21, 2017, regular minutes and additions and/or corrections to the May 16, 2017, regular and closed session minutes.
Vice-Chairman Kennedy, seconded by Commissioner Turnbow, moved to approve proposed amendments to the February 21, 2017, regular meeting minutes as presented.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
Vice-Chairman Kennedy, seconded by Commissioner Turnbow, moved to approve the May 16, 2017, regular meeting minutes as presented.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
Vice-Chairman Kennedy, seconded by Commissioner Turnbow, moved to approve the May 16, 2017, closed session minutes as presented.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
Approval of Agenda
Chairman Welch called for additions and/or corrections to the June 6, 2017, agenda.
County Manager Geouque requested to add consideration of the following:
· Selection of Architect for the Recreation/Community Center
· Proposed resolution entitled: “Resolution of Support for Adequate Funding to meet the Mental Health, Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, and Substance Use Disorder Service Needs for Citizens of Watauga County”
· Possible Action After Closed Session.
Vice-Chairman Kennedy, seconded by Commissioner Turnbow, moved to approve the June 6, 2017, agenda as amended.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) Reserve Funds Request
Dr. Scott Elliott, Watauga County School Superintendent, introduced Board of Education members, Mr. Ron Henries and Mr. Jason Cornett, as well as Director of Finance, Ms. Ly Marze, and Director of Student Services, Dr. Paul Holden. Dr. Elliott stated that 321 students recently graduated from Watauga High School which included the first four-year JROTC graduates and 53 Innovative Academy graduates.
Dr. Elliott requested $228,688 that has been set aside for COLA increases be redirected and assigned to the school CIP reserve. The School System was able to meet the COLA obligation through reduced expenditures within the current budget. The request is now to shift the funds designated for the COLA into the CIP reserve. In addition, Dr. Elliott is requesting the release of $50,000 of the $228,688 from the School’s CIP reserve to finalize the batting cage facility.
Commissioner Yates, seconded by Commissioner Turnbow, moved to reallocate the $228,688 set aside for Watauga County Schools’ COLA and to direct those funds into the School’s CIP reserves and release the $50,000 from the CIP reserves to pay for the new batting cage facility.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
Juvenile Crime Prevention Council (JCPC) FY 2018 Certification, Membership, and County Plan
Dr. Paul Holden, Chairman of Juvenile Crime Prevention Council (JCPC), presented the JCPC’s FY 2018 Certification, County Plan, and membership roster.
Commissioner Yates, seconded by Commissioner Turnbow, moved to approve the Juvenile Crime Prevention Council FY 2018 Certification, County Plan, and Membership as presented.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
High Country Chapter of the Military Officers Association of America (MOAA) Request
Lieutenant Colonel George Brudzinski, USMC Ret., stated that Board approval was given at the September 6, 2016, meeting committing $25,000 of County funds to assist in the construction of a Veteran’s Memorial by the High Country Chapter of the Military Officers Association of America (MOAA). The proposed site for the new memorial is adjacent to the Boone Town Hall. A design contest was recently held with the three finalists to be displayed at the Jones House on July 4, 2017. A committee will choose the winner. Groundbreaking for the project is expected in spring of 2018 with a dedication later that summer. Lieutenant Colonel Brudzinski requested the funds be released for the project.
Commissioner Yates, seconded by Commissioner Turnbow, moved to release $25,000 to the High Country Chapter of the Military Officers Association for the Veteran’s Memorial project.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
Request to Accept 2017 Community Waste Reduction and Recycling Grant
Ms. Pamela Thomas, Recycling Coordinator, requested acceptance of a grant from the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality. The purpose of the grant is to assist in the purchase of two (2) closed top roll-off containers to collect recycling materials at County schools. The grant is for $10,000 with a local match of $2,000 which will be paid by the Watauga County School System allocated from their 2017-2018 budget.
Vice-Chairman Kennedy, seconded by Commissioner Turnbow, moved to accept the grant from the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality in the amount of $10,000 with the $2,000 match to be paid by the Watauga County School System.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
Tax Matters
A. Monthly Collections Report
Tax Administrator, Mr. Larry Warren, presented the Tax Collections Report for the month of May 2017. The report was presented for information only and, therefore, no action was required.
B. Refunds and Releases
Mr. Warren presented the Refunds and Releases Report for May 2017 for Board approval:
TO BE TYPED IN MINUTE BOOK
Commissioner Hodges, seconded by Commissioner Yates, moved to approve the Refunds and Releases Report for May 2017 as presented.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
Brookshire Wetlands Requests
Mr. Joe Furman, Planning and Inspections Director, stated that an application was recently submitted by the County, as prepared by Blue Ridge Environmental Consultants (BREC), for Clean Water Management Trust Funds (CWMTF) to construct wetlands on the County’s property on Brookshire Road. Since the submission of the application, Mr. Furman learned that the New River Conservancy had submitted a successful application for the previous funding cycle to do stream bank restoration of the South Fork New River adjacent to the County’s land.
The two projects are entirely different, but there is some overlap in the area to be under either conservation easement or restrictive covenants which affect the grant match. Specifically, both projects show the same 50’ buffer along the river which encompasses the existing greenway, and which is included as match (value of property under easement/covenants) in the BREC application. Due to the fact that the New River Conservancy’s project was approved, it is necessary to revise the BREC project, which is pending. This was discussed with CWMTF staff during a site visit. Also discussed was the value of the greenway construction, which was shown as a match in the BREC project, but is not eligible to be used. The same is true for the soccer fields, which were shown to be placed under conservation easement or covenants and used as a match in the BREC application.
Mr. Furman requested approval of a revised application. The easement or covenants will need formal approval only if the application is approved. The revised application removes the overlapping easement and the easement of the soccer fields, and adds a conservation easement adjacent to the South Fork New River and small tributary on the original Brookshire Park. The budget changes to reflect the higher value for the area to be under easement/covenant, removal of credit (match) of the constructed greenway on the soccer field property, and an increased in-kind match to be provided by BREC.
Vice-Chairman Kennedy, seconded by Commissioner Turnbow, moved to approve the revised application and commit to provide a conservation easement or record restrictive covenants if the grant is awarded.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
Adoption of the Fiscal Year 2018 Budget Ordinance
County Manager Geouque presented the Fiscal Year 2018 Budget Ordinance for consideration.
After lengthy discussion, Vice-Chairman Kennedy, seconded by Commissioner Turnbow, moved to adopt the Fiscal Year 2018 Budget Ordinance as presented.
VOTE: Aye-3(Welch, Kennedy, Turnbow)
Nay-2(Hodges, Yates)
Miscellaneous Administrative Matters
A. Proposed Resolution of Support for Adequate Funding to meet the Mental Health, Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, and Substance Use Disorder service needs for Citizens of Watauga County
County Manager Geouque presented a proposed resolution of Support for Adequate Funding to meet the Mental Health, Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, and Substance Use Disorder service needs for Citizens of Watauga County
Vice-Chairman Kennedy, seconded by Commissioner Hodges, moved to adopt the resolution as presented.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
B. Proposed Resolution In Support of Independent Redistricting Reform
County Manager Geouque presented a proposed resolution in support of independent redistricting reform. Representative Jonathan C. Jordan is a sponsor of the bill. The bill calls for an independent redistricting process that includes diversity, along with partisan balance and geography in all future districts.
Commissioner Yates, seconded by Commissioner Hodges, moved to adopt the resolution as presented.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
C. Selection of Architect for the Recreation/Community Center
County Manager Geouque stated that twelve RFQs (Requests for Qualifications) were received for architect services for the Recreation/Community Center and three were interviewed by a committee comprised of the County Manager, Maintenance Director, Parks and Recreation Director, Vice-Chairman Kennedy, and Commissioner Hodges. The committee recommends the Board hire Clark Nexsen.
Commissioner Yates, seconded by Vice-Chairman Kennedy, moved to select Clark Nexsen for architectural services for the Recreation/Community Center contingent upon successful negotiation of a contract and contingent upon the County Attorney’s review.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
D. Proposed Fiscal Year 2018 AppalCART Contracts
County Manager Geouque presented proposed AppalCART contracts for FY 2018 transportation services including the Project on Aging and Social Services Departments. The proposed rates for the Project on Aging, Department of Social Services, and all other county functions are $1.45 per vehicle mile. The rate has been the same for the last three (3) years.
Vice-Chairman Kennedy, seconded by Commissioner Yates, moved to approve the AppalCART contracts for FY 2018 as presented.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
E. Boards and Commissions
County Manager Geouque presented the following for consideration:
Economic Development Commission
The terms of four members of the Economic Development Commission expire in June. Mr. Ed Evans and Mr. Tommy Sofield have served two consecutive terms and are, therefore, not eligible for reappointment. Mr. Robert Hoffman was recently appointed to fill an unfinished term which expires in June. Therefore, he is up for reappointment. The first term of the current chair, Mr. Walter Kaudelka is expiring. Mr. Kaudelka is eligible to be reappointed to another term, and is willing to continue to serve. Each term is for three years. The EDC’s next scheduled meeting is July 13th. This was a first reading; therefore, no action was taken.
Workforce Development Board
High Country Council of Governments’ Workforce Director, Mr. Keith Deveraux, recommends the reappointment of Mr. Chris Edwards to continue representing Watauga County in a private sector seat on the Workforce Development Board. This was a first reading; therefore, no action was taken.
F. Announcements
There were no announcements.
Public Comment
Ms. Susie Winters shared comments urging the Board to support clean air in the County and mentioned a volunteer organization, Small and Mighty Acts.
Closed Session
At 10:00 A.M., Vice-Chairman Kennedy, seconded by Commissioner Hodges, moved to enter Closed Session to discuss Attorney/Client Matters, per G. S. 143-318.11(a)(3).
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
Commissioner Yates, seconded by Commissioner Turnbow, moved to resume the open meeting at 11:04 A.M.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
Possible Action After Closed Session
Commissioner Yates, seconded by Commissioner Turnbow, moved to decline the acceptance of property from the Lois Hayes Trust.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
Vice-Chairman Kennedy, seconded by Commissioner Yates, moved to approve a utility easement with the Town of Boone for County-owned property on Poplar Grove Road contingent upon the County Attorney’s review.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
Commissioner Turnbow, seconded by Commissioner Yates, moved to add consideration of the cancellation of the July 4, 2017, regular meeting to the agenda.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
Commissioner Turnbow, seconded by Commissioner Yates, moved to cancel the July 4, 2017, regular meeting.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
Adjourn
Commissioner Turnbow, seconded by Commissioner Yates, moved to adjourn the meeting at 11:06 A.M.
John Welch, Chairman
ATTEST: Anita J. Fogle, Clerk to the Board