MINUTES
 
WATAUGA COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
MONDAY, JUNE 3, 2002
 
 
            The Watauga County Board of Commissioners held a regular meeting on Monday, June 3, 2002 at 9:00 A.M. in the Board Room of the Watauga County Courthouse.
 
                        PRESENT:       Jimmy Hodges, Chairman
                                                James Coffey, Vice-Chairman
                                                Jack Lawrence, Sr., Commissioner
                                                Sue Sweeting, Commissioner
                                                Pat Wilkie, Commissioner
                                                Jeff Hedrick, County Attorney
                                    Robert E. Nelson, Jr., County Manager
                                                Anita J. Fogle, Clerk to the Board
 
            Chairman Hodges called the meeting to order at 9:01 A.M. welcoming those in attendance.
 
            A moment of silence was observed.
 
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
 
            Chairman Hodges called for additions or corrections to the May 6, 2002 closed session minutes.
 
            Commissioner Lawrence, seconded by Vice-Chairman Coffey, moved to approve the May 6, 2002 closed session minutes as presented.
 
VOTE:    Aye-5
               Nay-0
 
            Chairman Hodges called for additions or corrections to the May 21, 2002 regular meeting and closed session minutes.
 
            Commissioner Lawrence, seconded by Commissioner Wilkie, moved to approve the May 21, 2002 regular meeting and closed session minutes as presented.
 
            [Clerk’s note: Chairman Hodges and Commissioner Sweeting abstained from the vote as they were both absent from the May 21, 2002 Board meeting.]
 
VOTE:    Aye-3 (Coffey, Lawrence, Wilkie)
               Nay-0
               Abstain-2 (Hodges, Sweeting)
 
 
APPROVAL OF AGENDA
 
            County Manager Nelson requested to add a Closed Session to discuss Personnel Matters per G. S. 143-318.11(a)(6) and County Attorney Hedrick requested to add to the Closed Session Land Acquisition per G. S. 143-318.11 (a)(5)(i) to discuss the Miller property.
 
            Commissioner Sweeting, seconded by Commissioner Wilkie, moved to approve the June 3, 2002 agenda as amended.
 
VOTE:    Aye-5
               Nay-0
 
PUBLIC HEARING – FISCAL YEAR 2003 RECOMMENDED BUDGET
 
Chairman Hodges declared the public hearing open at 9:05 A.M. to allow for comment on the Manager’s recommended budget for FY 2003.
 
            The following individuals addressed the Board regarding the recommended budget:
 
Mr.Chip Williamson, Dr. Richard Jones, and Mr. Ed Pilkington – Blowing Rock Community Arts Center
Dr. Richard Jones – Watauga County Schools
Mr. Andy Reese – Watauga County Schools
Ms. Jennifer Herman – OASIS
Mr. David Moses – Watauga High School
Ms. Jenny Miller – Watauga High School/Exceptional Children’s Program
Mr. Marshall Ashcraft – Children’s Council and Watauga County Schools
Ms. Betty Sammis and Ms. Mary Sizemore – Watauga County Library
Ms. Jerry Hayes – Meat Camp resident
Ms. Karen Carter – Bethel resident
Dr. Sandra Anderson – Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute
Mr. Larry McRae – Hospitality House
Mr. Max Schrum – High Country Recreation Task Force
Mr. Lan O’Loughlin – Watauga High School Swim Coach
 
            Each individual briefly discussed their agency’s budget request and/or their concerns regarding the Manager’s Recommended Budget for Fiscal Year 2003.
 
            Vice-Chairman Coffey encouraged all those who spoke and requested funding from the County to write Legislators and request that the State not withhold local funding.
 
            There being no further public comment, Chairman Hodges declared the public hearing closed at 9:46 A.M.
 
            Board action was not required and none was taken.
 
 
 
FY 2003 HOME AND COMMUNITY CARE BLOCK GRANT REQUEST
 
            Ms. Barbara Barghothi, Region D Area Agency on Aging Director, reviewed the proposed Home and Community Care Block Grant allocations for aging services for fiscal year 2003. Ms. Barghothi stated that Watauga County was to receive $223,483, which required $25,467 local match. Ms. Barghothi stated the funds for the Project on Aging provided congregate and home delivered meals, in-home aide services, transportation, health screenings, medication management and caregiver support services.
 
            Commissioner Lawrence, seconded by Vice-Chairman Coffey, moved to approve the Home and Community Care Block Grant request as presented.
 
VOTE:    Aye-5
               Nay-0
 
CHANGE ORDER REQUESTS – HEALTH DEPARTMENT BUILDING
 
            Mr. Randy Jones, David R. Jones Architecture, discussed change orders for the Health Department Building as first presented at the April 16, 2002 meeting. The change orders involved extra work and expense due to springs and rock being encountered at the site. The total amount of the change orders was $297,359. Mr. Jones identified contingency amounts and credits that left a balance of $192,055.45.
 
            Commissioner Sweeting, seconded by Commissioner Lawrence, moved to approve the change orders and the subsequent budget amendment to allocate $192,055.45 from the fund balance to pay for the change orders.
 
VOTE:    Aye-5
               Nay-0
 
ARCHITECTURE DESIGN SERVICES PROPOSAL
 
            Mr. Jones discussed his proposed contract for architectural design services for the renovation of the Heilig Meyers Warehouse building. Mr. Jones agreed that a more thorough study was needed to determine the structural integrity of the building and retaining walls on the site to determine if renovation could be accomplished in a cost efficient manner. After the study phase, Mr. Jones would report back prior to beginning the design phase to provide more information to determine if the project would continue.
 
            After discussion, Commissioner Sweeting, seconded by Commissioner Wilkie, moved to table the proposal until a later date at which time Mr. Jones would present a separate contract for the study.
 
VOTE:    Aye-5
               Nay-0
 
 
 
PROJECT ON AGING QUALITY IMPROVEMENT PLANS
 
            Ms. Angie Boitnotte, Project on Aging (POA) Director, reviewed Quality Improvement Plans for the following POA services: Home Delivered Meals, Congregate Nutrition, and Management. The NC State Division of Aging required the Quality Improvement Plans.
 
            Commissioner Wilkie, seconded by Commissioner Sweeting, moved to approve the Project on Aging Quality Improvement Plans as presented.
 
VOTE:    Aye-5
               Nay-0
 
TAX MATTERS
 
A. Collections Report – Tax Administrator, Kelvin Byrd, presented the Tax Collections Report for the month of May 2002.
 
B. Refunds & Releases – Tax Administrator Byrd presented the following Refunds and Releases for May 2002 for Board approval:
 
TO BE TYPED IN MINUTE BOOK
 
            Commissioner Sweeting, seconded by Commissioner Wilkie, moved to approve the Refunds and Releases Report as presented.
 
VOTE:    Aye-5
               Nay-0
 
PARKS AND RECREATION TRUST FUND GRANT AGREEMENT
                                           
            Ms. Deb Wynne, Parks and Recreation Director, reviewed the North Carolina Parks and Recreation Trust Fund Grant Agreement, which awarded Watauga County, upon acceptance, $250,000 to develop a park on the Brookshire Road property.
 
            Commissioner Wilkie, seconded by Commissioner Sweeting, moved to accept the grant from the North Carolina Parks and Recreation Trust Fund in the amount of $250,000 as presented.
 
VOTE:    Aye-5
               Nay-0
 
            County Attorney Hedrick requested that the motion be held till after the closed session discussion on land acquisition.
 
            Commissioner Wilkie withdrew her motion.
 
 
 
BUDGET AMENDMENTS
 
Finance Director Doris Isaacs presented the following budget amendments for Board approval:
 
            Account #                    Description                                                           Debit             Credit
            223594-333000           State School Bond Proceeds                                                $617,832
            225912-463000           School Cap. Outlay                                       $617,832
 
            To recognize balance on State School Bond Proceeds project allotments.
 
            Account #                    Description                                                           Debit             Credit
            243101-312100           Taxes Ad Valorem-01-02                                                      $12,000
            244340-469905           Pay. To Fire Dist. – Boone Rural                     $12,000
            283101-312101           Taxes Ad Valorem-01-02                                                        $7,000
            284340-469901           Pay. To Fire Dist. – Foscoe                               $7,000
            283101-312104           Taxes Ad Valorem-01-02                                                        $5,000
            284340-469904           Pay. To Fire Dist. – B. Dam                              $5,000
            283101-312105           Taxes Ad Valorem-01-02                                                        $3,000
            284340-469905           Pay. To Fire Dist. – St. Simmons                       $3,000
            283101-312106           Taxes Ad Valorem-01-02                                                        $4,000
            284340-469906           Pay. To Fire Dist. – Zionville                              $4,000
            283101-312107           Taxes Ad Valorem-01-02                                                        $4,000
            284340-469907           Pay. To Fire Dist. – Cove Creek                       $4,000
            283101-312108           Taxes Ad Valorem-01-02                                                        $3,000
            284340-469908           Pay. To Fire Dist. – Shawneehaw                      $3,000
            283101-312109           Taxes Ad Valorem-01-02                                                        $4,200
            284340-469909           Pay. To Fire Dist. – Meat Camp                        $4,200
            283101-312110           Taxes Ad Valorem-01-02                                                        $7,500
            284340-469910           Pay. To Fire Dist. – Deep Gap                          $7,500
            283101-312111           Taxes Ad Valorem-01-02                                                        $1,500
            284340-469911           Pay. To Fire Dist. – Todd                                  $1,500
            283101-312112           Taxes Ad Valorem-01-02                                                        $4,000
            284340-469912           Pay. To Fire Dist. – B. Rock                             $4,000
            283101-312119           Taxes Ad Valorem-01-02                                                        $1,200
            284340-469919           Pay. To Fire Dist. – M. Camp Creston              $1,200
 
            To recognize additional fire tax district revenue and appropriations based on actual billing in excess of the tax administrator’s budget estimates for fiscal year 2001-02.
 
            Account #                    Description                                                           Debit             Credit
            213991-399101           Fund Balance Approp. - New                                              $415,000
            219800-498044           Transfer to Capital Projects                           $415,000
            443980-398121           Transfer from Capital Reserve                                              $415,000
            446120-457000           Capital Outlay – Land Acquisition                  $415,000
 
            To recognize the transfer of funds from Capital Reserve to the Capital Projects Fund for the Brookshire land acquisition.
 
            Account #                    Description                                                           Debit             Credit
            103612-384000           Donations                                                                                $2,000
            106125-451000           Capital Outlay-Equip.                                        $2,000
 
            To recognize the donations to supplement the cost of a multi-purpose off-road vehicle to be used for recreational field preparation.
 
            Vice-Chairman Coffey, seconded by Commissioner Lawrence, moved to approve the budget amendments as presented.
 
VOTE:    Aye-5
               Nay-0
 
MISCELLANEOUS ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS
 
            A. Boards and Commissions – County Manager Nelson stated that the Watauga County Council on the Status of Women had five members (Stella Anderson, Louise Bell, Peggy Main, Margaret Sigmon, and Sue Sweeting) whose terms expired effective June 2002. The Council recommended the following appointees: Dr. Pat Geiger, Ms. Sandy Kadyk, Ms. Louise Harris, Ms. Claudia Cook, and Ms. Mary Sue Morgan.
 
            Commissioner Sweeting, seconded by Commissioner Wilkie, moved to appoint Dr. Pat Geiger, Ms. Sandy Kadyk, Ms. Louise Harris, Ms. Claudia Cook, and Ms. Mary Sue Morgan to the Watauga County Council on the Status of Women.
 
VOTE:    Aye-5
               Nay-0
 
            B. Announcements – County Manager Nelson announced that at the budget work session on Thursday, May 30, 2002 the Board agreed to recess the June 3, 2002 regularly scheduled meeting after the last agenda item till 6:00 P.M. that evening to conduct additional work on the budget for Fiscal Year 2003.
 
            Commissioner Lawrence, seconded by Vice-Chairman Coffey, moved to approve recessing the meeting till 6:00 P.M.
 
VOTE:    Aye-5
               Nay-0
 
CLOSED SESSION
 
            At 10:34 A.M., Commissioner Wilkie, seconded by Vice-Chairman Coffey, moved to enter Closed Session to discuss Land Acquisition, per G.S. 143-318-11(a)(5)(i) and Personnel Matters, per G.S. 143-318-11(a)(6).
 
VOTE:    Aye-5
               Nay-0
 
            Commissioner Wilkie, seconded by Commissioner Sweeting, moved to resume the open meeting at 11:03 A.M.
 
VOTE:    Aye-5
               Nay-0
 
BROOKSHIRE ROAD PARK
 
            Commissioner Wilkie, seconded by Commissioner Sweeting, moved to accept the grant from the North Carolina Parks and Recreation Trust Fund in the amount of $250,000 for development of a park on the Brookshire Road property as presented.
 
VOTE:    Aye-5
               Nay-0
 
RECESS
 
            At 11:04 A.M., Commissioner Sweeting, seconded by Commissioner Wilkie, moved to recess the meeting until 6:00 P.M. in the Manager’s Conference Room for a budget work session.
 
VOTE:    Aye-5
               Nay-0
 
            The Board reconvened at 6:00 P.M. in the Manager’s Conference Room with Chairman Hodges, Vice-Chairman Coffey, Commissioners Lawrence, Sweeting, and Wilkie, the County Manager, Assistant County Manager, and Finance Director present.
 
BUDGET WORK SESSION
 
            County Manager Nelson, Assistant County Manager Geouque, and Finance Director Isaacs reviewed the proposed Fiscal Year 2002/2003 budget for Board discussion.
 
ADJOURN
 
            The meeting adjourned at 8:20 P.M.
 
                                                                                                Jimmy Hodges, Chairman
 
ATTEST:
 
Anita J. Fogle, Clerk to the Board