MINUTES
WATAUGA COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
TUESDAY, AUGUST 19, 2003
The Watauga County Board of Commissioners held a regular meeting on Tuesday, August 19, 2003, at 7:00 P.M. in the Board Room of the Watauga County Courthouse.
PRESENT: James Coffey, Chairman
Jimmy Hodges, Vice-Chairman
David Blust, Commissioner
Allen Trivette, Commissioner
Rebecca Eggers-Gryder, County Attorney
Robert E. Nelson, Jr., County Manager
Deron Geouque, Assistant County Manager
Chairman Coffey called the meeting to order at 7:00 P.M. welcoming those in attendance.
[Clerk’s Note: Commissioner Honeycutt was absent due to a prior commitment and Clerk to the Board Fogle was absent due to attending the Institute of Government’s Effective Management Program in Asheville.]
A moment of silence was observed.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Chairman Coffey called for additions and/or corrections to the June 17, 2003 regular meeting minutes, July 7, 2003, regular meeting minutes, July 28, 2003, special meeting minutes, and August 4, 2003, regular meeting minutes.
Commissioner Blust, seconded by Vice-Chairman Hodges, moved to approve the June 17, 2003 regular meeting minutes, July 7, 2003, regular meeting minutes, July 28, 2003, special meeting minutes, and August 4, 2003, regular meeting minutes presented.
VOTE: Aye-4
Nay-0
Absent-1(Honeycutt)
APPROVAL OF AGENDA
Chairman Coffey called for additions or corrections to the August 19, 2003, agenda.
County Manager Nelson requested the Board appoint Assistant County Manager Geouque as Assistant Clerk to the Board as neither Clerk nor Substitute Clerk were in attendance.
Commissioner Blust, seconded by Commissioner Trivette, moved to appoint Mr. Deron Geouque as the Assistant Clerk to the Board.
VOTE: Aye-4
Nay-0
Absent-1(Honeycutt)
County Manager Nelson requested to add to the agenda a request for Subdivision Guarantee approvals (2) to be presented by Mr. Joe Furman prior to Miscellaneous Administrative Matters.
Vice-Chairman Hodges, seconded by Commissioner Trivette, moved to approve the August 19, 2003, agenda as amended.
VOTE: Aye-4
Nay-0
Absent-1(Honeycutt)
PUBLIC HEARING: PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO THE WATAUGA COUNTYEROSION CONTROL ORDINANCE
Chairman Coffey declared the public hearing open at 7:04 P.M. to allow for comment on the proposed amendments to the Watauga County Erosion Control Ordinance.
Mr. Joe Furman, Planning and Inspections Director, reviewed the proposed changes to the Ordinance.
There being no public comment, Chairman Coffey declared the public hearing closed at 7:10 P.M.
Commissioner Blust, seconded by Commissioner Trivette, moved to adopt the Watauga County Erosion Control Ordinance as amended.
VOTE: Aye-4
Nay-0
Absent-1(Honeycutt)
REPORT AND PROPOSED RESOLUTION OF ENDORSEMENT OF THE FUTURE FORWARD ECONOMIC ALLIANCE’S REGIONAL ECONOMIC GROWTH STRATEGY
Mr. Art Barber, of Charleston Forge, reviewed the final draft of the Future Forward Economic Alliance’s Regional Economic Growth Strategy. The Future Forward Regional Economic Development initiative was convened by Congressman Cass Ballenger to include the twelve counties of North Carolina’s tenth and eleventh congressional districts. The project was federally funded to allow the Future Forward Leadership Committee to work with consultants in developing this plan for a strategy for economic development in the region. Mr. Barber presented a draft resolution endorsing the plan. No local funding was required at this time; however, some of the components, such as the formulation of a regional economic development alliance and the education initiatives were to request or require county funding when implemented.
Vice-Chairman Hodges, seconded by Commissioner Blust, moved to adopt the Resolution of Endorsement of the Future Forward Economic Alliance's Regional Economic Growth Strategy as presented.
VOTE: Aye-4
Nay-0
Absent-1(Honeycutt)
FINANCE MATTERS
A. Budget Amendments – Finance Director Doris Isaacs presented the following budget amendments for Board approval:
Account # Description Debit Credit
143531-323000 Admn. Cost Reimb. $7,018
145480-438800 Crisis Payments to Clients $7,018
The amendment recognized an increase in the annual allocation for Crisis Intervention Prevention.
Account # Description Debit Credit
663991-399100 Retained Earnings Approp. $1,500,000
663910-391010 Interfund Loan-Gen. Fund $321,841
667420-499306 Landfill Capital Reserves $120,000
667420-458000 Cap. Outlay-Bldg. Improvements $1,941,841
104263-458000 Cap. Outlay-Bldg. Imp. Heilig-Meyers $321,841
104199-449902 Interfund Loan to Solidwaste $321,841
The amendment appropriated retained earnings, recognized a loan from the general fund and utilized funds budgeted for the transfer station debt service that funded the transfer station and maintenance facility construction contract as approved at the August 4, 2003, Board of Commissioners meetings.
Account # Description Debit Credit
103300-343500 State Historic Preservation Grant $7,600
104199-499100 General Fund Contingency $1,900
104350-695000 Cont. Services-Historic Survey $9,500
The amendment recognized carry-over amounts on the National Historic Properties Survey Grant.
Commissioner Trivette, seconded by Commissioner Blust, moved to approve the budget amendments as presented.
VOTE: Aye-4
Nay-0
Absent-1(Honeycutt)
B. Vending Machine Service Proposal – Ms. Doris Isaacs reviewed the results of a request for proposal that was issued at the direction of the Manager in an attempt to formalize vending machine services in all county buildings. From a survey of the existing machines located in different county buildings it was apparent that many vendors were involved and were paying different commissions to the County. It was also apparent that some machines existed without payment to the County. In the interest of product availability, service to the consumer, ease of accountability, and maximizing county revenue, Ms. Isaacs recommended that the County award a three year contract to High Country Vending to provide vending services for all county buildings. The projected revenue was between $8,000 and $10,000 annually.
Results of the request for proposal were as follows:
|
Vendor Name
|
Time to Install
|
Services Resp. time
|
Refill Frequency
|
Refund Policy
|
Commission on Drinks
|
Commission on Snacks
|
Can Drink Price
|
Bottle Price
|
Snack Price
|
|
Watson’s Snack & Vending
Deep Gap
|
w/in 10 days
|
w/in 24 hours usually same day
|
“regular schedule”
|
Notes or phone calls
|
30%
|
10%
|
.55
|
.75
|
.55
|
|
Triangle Vending & Water
West Jefferson
|
w/in 30 days
|
2-24 hours
|
At least weekly
|
Refund slips
|
See attached
Based on net sales
|
See attached
Based on net sales
|
See attached
|
See attached
|
See attached
|
|
Northwest Food Service
North Wilkesboro
|
Not given
|
Day of call
|
Varies by use
|
Petty cash fund at each location
|
20% based on net sales
|
10% based on net sales
|
.6
|
1.00
|
.50-.75
|
|
High Country Vending
Boone
|
By 8-1-03
|
2-3 hours
|
At least weekly
|
Refund envelopes
|
32% negotiable
based on gross sales
|
32% negotiable based on gross sales
|
.65
negotiable
|
.75-1.25
negotiable
|
.40-.75
negotiable
|
Net sales = total sales minus taxes
Vice-Chairman Hodges, seconded by Commissioner Blust, moved to approve the three-year contract with High Country Vending contingent upon the County Attorney’s review.
VOTE: Aye-4
Nay-0
Absent-1(Honeycutt)
UPDATED DRAFT SOLID WASTE ORDINANCE AND DRAFT ABANDONED AND JUNKED MOTOR VEHICLE ORDINANCE
Mr. Furman stated that the most current version of the Solid Waste Ordinance was inadvertently not included in the information before the Commissioners. Mr. Furman reviewed the Draft Ordinances and stated that a complete package of the draft Ordinances would be furnished to the Board prior to the next meeting.
SUBDIVISION PERFORMANCE GUARANTEE
Mr. Joe Furman presented two letters of credit that served as performance guarantees for the completion of road improvements. One was from a High Country Bank for the Forest at Crestwood and the other was from BB&T for Day View pursuant to Section 92 of the subdivision regulations.
[Clerk’s note: The correct expiration date in the High Country Bank letter of credit was August 18, 2004.]
Vice-Chairman Hodges, seconded by Commissioner Blust, moved to approve the subdivision performance guarantees (2) as corrected.
VOTE: Aye-4
Nay-0
Absent-1(Honeycutt)
MISCELLANEOUS ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS
A. Inmate Meal Provision Contract Request – County Manager Nelson reviewed a contract from Watauga Medical Center to provide meals to the prisoners at the Watauga County Jail. The contract contained a 5% increase over the existing contract and the increase was included in the current Fiscal Year budget.
Commissioner Blust, seconded by Commissioner Trivette, moved to approve the inmate meal provision contract to be retroactive to August 10, 2003, as presented by the County Manager.
VOTE: Aye-4
Nay-0
Absent-1(Honeycutt)
B. Boards and Commissions – County Manager Nelson stated that the Watauga County Board of Adjustment needed an appointment to fill an unexpired term of a member who had moved. The member was required to reside within the Howard’s Creek Watershed. Commissioner Trivette nominated Mr. Bill Ragan.
Commissioner Trivette, seconded by Vice-Chairman Hodges, moved to appoint Mr. Bill Ragan to the Watauga County Board of Adjustment.
VOTE: Aye-4
Nay-0
Absent-1(Honeycutt)
The County Manager stated that the Farmland Preservation Program Advisory Board had two vacancies in which Virginia Ward was willing to be reappointed and Mike Presnell was recommended to fill the other vacancy.
Vice-Chairman Hodges, seconded by Commissioner Blust, moved to reappoint Virginia Ward and to appoint Mike Presnell to the Farmland Preservation Program Advisory Board.
VOTE: Aye-4
Nay-0
Absent-1(Honeycutt)
The County Manager stated that the Watauga County Library Board recommended that Ann Blackburn be appointed to the Appalachian Regional Library System Board for a one-year term expiring in August 2004.
Commissioner Blust, seconded by Commissioner Trivette, moved to appoint Ann Blackburn to the Appalachian Regional Library System Board.
VOTE: Aye-4
Nay-0
Absent-1(Honeycutt)
The County Manager stated that the Watauga County Library Board recommended that both Patty Wheeler and George Holloway be reappointed to the Watauga County Library Board for four-year terms expiring in August 2007.
Commissioner Blust, seconded by Commissioner Trivette, moved to reappoint Patty Wheeler and George Holloway to the Watauga County Library Board.
VOTE: Aye-4
Nay-0
Absent-1(Honeycutt)
C. Announcements – County Manager Nelson announced upcoming meetings and events.
PUBLIC COMMENT
Ms. Deborah Greene spoke.
ADJOURN
Commissioner Blust, seconded by Commissioner Trivette, moved to adjourn the meeting at 8:00 P.M.
VOTE: Aye-4
Nay-0
Absent-1(Honeycutt)
______________________________
James Coffey, Chairman
ATTEST:
______________________________
Anita J. Fogle, Clerk to the Board