MINUTES
WATAUGA COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
SPECIAL MEETING, WEDNESDAY, MAY 24, 2006
The Watauga County Board of Commissioners held a special meeting on Wednesday, May 24, 2006, in the Commissioners’ Board Room at the Watauga County Administration Building in Boone, NC. Those present were: Chairman Deal, Vice-Chairman Winkler, Commissioner Blust, Commissioner Honeycutt, Commissioner Kinsey, County Manager Nelson, Assistant County Manager Geouque, Finance Director Isaacs, and Clerk to the Board Fogle. Members of the School Board present were Mr. Andy Reece; Mr. Steve Combs; Dr. Lee Warren; Ms. Deborah Miller; Dr. Bobbie Short, Watauga County Schools Superintendent; Ms. Ly Marze, Finance Director; Mr. Mark Hurst, Assistant Superintendent; and Mr. Paul Miller, School Board Attorney.
Chairman Deal called the meeting to order at 6:33 P.M.
Mr. Paul Miller presented two offers to purchase for the current high school property including the county owned portion on HWY 105 below the school.
Granite Development Corporation offered $32,000,000 with a $100,000 per month lease back to the school for a three year period which was to allow time for the construction of a new high school. This offer also included upon approval a 120 day examination period with an optional 30 day extension.
Miller Properties offered $30,000,000 with a $300,000 per month lease back to the school for a three year period which was to allow time for the construction of a new high school. This offer also included upon approval a 180 day examination period.
After discussion and review of the proposals both the Board of Commissioners and School Board, by consensus, set a special joint meeting for 8:00 A.M. on Monday, June 5, 2006, to consider accepting an offer to purchase.
At 5:08 P.M., Commissioner Kinsey, seconded by Commissioner Blust, moved to enter Closed Session to discuss Land Acquisition, per G. S. 143-318.11(a)(5)(i).
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
Commissioner Honeycutt, seconded by Commissioner Blust, moved to resume the open meeting at 5:42 P.M.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
Commissioner Blust, seconded by Vice-Chairman Winkler, moved to amend the agenda to include a budget work session.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
County Manager Nelson reviewed changes to the proposed FY 2007 budget due to the public hearing and an additional request of $147,378 from the School Board to match the State’s proposed 8% raise for teachers.
After discussion and by consensus, the Board directed the County Manager to incorporate the presented proposed changes into the proposed FY 2007 budget with the $147,378 for the School Board to remain in the County’s Contingency fund until a final percentage was approved in the State’s budget and at that time a match of that percentage was to be allocated to the School Board.
Consideration of the request of AppalCART, the Library, and WeCan for allocation of their full funding requests may be made when the tax revaluation process was complete.
The meeting was adjourned at 5:58 P.M.
Jim Deal, Chairman
ATTEST:
Anita J. Fogle, Clerk to the Board