MINUTES

 

 

WATAUGA COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2012

 

 

The Watauga County Board of Commissioners held a regular meeting on Tuesday, November 13, 2012, at 5:30 P.M. in the Commissioners' Board Room of the Watauga County Administration Building, Boone, North Carolina.

 

                        PRESENT:      Nathan Miller, Chairman

Vince Gable, Vice-Chairman

                                                David Blust, Commissioner

Jim Deal, Commissioner

                                                Tim Futrelle, Commissioner

Austin Eggers, County Attorney

                                                Deron Geouque, County Manager

                                                Anita J. Fogle, Clerk to the Board

 

Chairman Miller called the meeting to order at 5:30 P.M.

 

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

Approval of Minutes

Chairman Miller called for additions and/or corrections to the October 8, 2012, special meeting minutes, October 11, 2012, special meeting minutes, October 16, 2012, regular meeting minutes and the October 16, 2012, closed session minutes.

 

Commissioner Blust, seconded by Vice-Chairman Gable, moved to approve the October 8, 2012, special meeting minutes as presented.

 

VOTE:  Aye-5

             Nay-0

 

Commissioner Blust, seconded by Vice-Chairman Gable, moved to approve the October 11, 2012, special meeting minutes as presented.

 

VOTE:  Aye-5

             Nay-0

 

Commissioner Blust, seconded by Vice-Chairman Gable, moved to approve the October 16, 2012, regular meeting minutes as presented.

 

VOTE:  Aye-5

             Nay-0

 

Commissioner Blust, seconded by Vice-Chairman Gable, moved to approve the October 16, 2012, closed session meeting minutes as presented.

 

VOTE:  Aye-5

             Nay-0

Approval of Agenda

Chairman Miller called for additions and/or corrections to the November 13, 2012, agenda.

 

County Manager Geouque requested to add a grant award request for the Communications and Emergency Services Department to be used for a training exercise.

 

Commissioner Futrelle, seconded by Commissioner Blust, moved to approve the November 13, 2012, agenda as amended.

 

VOTE:  Aye-5

             Nay-0

Proposed Law Enforcement Memorial at the Watauga County Sheriff’s Office

Chairman Miller stated that the Sheriff’s Office was interested in creating a memorial at the Law Enforcement Center in honor of law enforcement personnel who sacrificed their lives in the line of duty.  Mr. Bill Dixon, with Appalachian Architecture, graciously provided, without being under contract, a conceptual drawing of the proposed memorial based on a design provided by Deputy James Sherwood.

 

Mr. Dixon presented his conceptual drawing and stated that an architect may be needed to design, facilitate, and provide construction management and documents for the project due to the location of the memorial being in the Town of Boone’s ETJ.  Various issues that would need to be considered included the Town of Boone’s Unified Development Ordinance regulations, a potential utility easement with Blue Ridge Electric Membership Corporation, and a potential Department of Transportation right-of-way encroachment agreement due to grading that would be required in the right-of-way area.

 

County Manager Geouque stated that North Carolina General Statute 143-64.32 requires the use of the Qualifications-Based Selection (QBS) process for procurement of professional services performed by architects, engineers, surveyors, and construction managers at risk unless the Board exempts itself.  Staff recommended the Board hire Mr. Bill Dixon based on his understanding of the project scope and concept.  Should the Board wish to hire Mr. Dixon, the Board would be required to exempt the project from the Qualifications-Based Selection (QBS) process.  A negotiated contract with Appalachian Architecture will be forthcoming for Board approval and County Attorney review, if directed to proceed. 

 

Commissioner Deal, seconded by Vice-Chairman Gable, moved to exempt the project from the Qualifications-Based Selection (QBS) process per North Carolina General Statute 143-64.32 and employ Appalachian Architecture through a contract to be prepared by the County Attorney, County Manager, and Board Chairman.

 

VOTE:  Aye-5

             Nay-0

Introduction of Mr. Stuart Scott, County Ranger

Mr. Hunter Birckhead, North Carolina Forest Service District Forester, introduced Mr. Stuart Scott as the new Watauga County Ranger.  Ranger Scott stated that he was happy to serve the citizens of Watauga County and would be available to the County at all times.

 

The introduction was for information only and, therefore, no action was required.

Watauga County Library Update

Ms. Monica Caruso, Ms. Jackie Cornett, and Ms. Nichole Ben, all with the Watauga County Library, updated the Board on the Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) Outreach Grant that allows the library to lend E-readers to elder care facilities.  Ms. Cornette stated that 44 Kindles were acquired through the grant to enhance the Library’s outreach projects for the elderly.  After a test of various electronic reading devices, the Kindle was found to be the most user friendly for that demographic.  Ms. Cornett stated that the Library hoped to continue the outreach project after the grant program ended in June 2013.

 

The presentation was for information only and, therefore, no action was required.

Tax Matters

A.     Monthly Collections Report

Interim Tax Administrator Larry Warren presented the Tax Collections Report for the month of October 2012.  This report was presented for information only and, therefore, no action was required.

B.     Refunds and Releases

Mr. Warren presented the following Refunds and Releases for October 2012 for Board approval:

 

TO BE TYPED IN MINUTE BOOK

 

Commissioner Deal, seconded by Commissioner Blust, moved to approve the Refunds and Releases Report for October 2012, as presented.

 

VOTE:  Aye-5

             Nay-0

Project on Aging Matters

A.  Annual Report

Ms. Angie Boitnotte, Project on Aging Director, presented the annual comprehensive evaluation of the agency’s operations and policies as required by the NC Division of Health Service Regulation. 

 

Commissioner Deal, seconded by Commissioner Futrelle, moved to approve the Project on Aging’s Annual Report as presented by Ms. Boitnotte.

 

VOTE:  Aye-5

             Nay-0

B.  Home & Community Care Block Grant (H&CCBG) Matters

1.  Additional Allocation of Funds

2.  FY 2013 Budget Revisions

 

Ms. Boitnotte presented an additional funding allocation from the County’s Home and Community Care Block Grant (H&CCBG) Allocation for FY 2013.  An increase of $742 was granted which required a County match of $82.  The local match was present in the agency’s current budget.  Ms. Boitnotte also presented a budget amendment which increased In-home Aide Level II services by the $742.

 

Commissioner Blust, seconded by Vice-Chairman Gable, moved to accept the additional H&CCBG funding in the amount of $742, approve the $82 local match to be allocated from the Project on Aging’s current budget and approve the budget revision as presented.

 

VOTE:  Aye-5

             Nay-0

Smoky Mountain Center Quarterly Financial Report

Ms. Margaret Pierce, Finance Director, presented the Smoky Mountain Center Quarterly Financial Report as required by Statute.

 

The report was given for information only and, therefore, no action was required.

Communications and Emergency Services Grant Award Request

County Manager Geouque stated that a Fiscal Year 2012 Homeland Security Grant Program Exercise had been awarded to the State of North Carolina in the amount of $225,000.  Watauga County must accept the award in order to receive a portion of these funds to be used for a training exercise program.  A local match was not required.

 

 

Commissioner Deal, seconded by Commissioner Blust, moved to authorize the acceptance of the County’s portion of the Homeland Security Grant Program as presented by the County Manager.

 

VOTE:  Aye-5

             Nay-0

Update on Current Upset Bid Process for the Old High School Property

County Manager Geouque stated that no upset bids for the old high school property were received by the deadline of Thursday, November 8, 2012, at 5:00 PM.  The Board could accept the current offer from Templeton Properties LP, or reject all bids and begin the process over.

 

The Templeton offer was in the amount of $18,948,000 and the County had the earnest money for this offer, in the amount of $947,400, in an escrow account.  After the five percent (5%) realtor commission the County would net $18,000,600 from the sale.  The offer included a one hundred eighty (180) day inspection period.  The County Manager reviewed the information received from Templeton Properties LP regarding their plans for development of the old high school property.

 

Commissioner Deal, seconded by Vice-Chairman Gable, moved to accept the Templeton Properties LP, bid in the amount of $18,948,000 and approve the Purchase and Sale Agreement with Templeton Properties, LP, contingent upon the County Attorney’s review.

 

VOTE:  Aye-5

             Nay-0

Miscellaneous Administrative Matters

A.  December and January Meeting Schedules

County Manager Geouque stated that due to North Carolina General Statues, County Boards of Commissioners are required to meet the first Monday in December following each general election.

 

By consensus, the Board agreed to reschedule their Tuesday, December 4, 2012, regular meeting to Monday, December 3, 2012, beginning at 8:00 A.M. with the meeting to recess after the adoption of the minutes to allow for new members to be sworn in.  The meeting would reconvene at 5:30 P.M. on December 3, 2012, with the new Board seated.

 

The County Manager stated that the County has historically cancelled the first meeting in January due to the New Year Holiday.  This year the New Year Holiday falls on the same day as the first scheduled Board meeting for the month of January.  The County Manager stated that there would be only one scheduled meeting for the month of January which would be adequate to conduct County business.

 

Commissioner Deal, seconded by Commissioner Futrelle, moved to cancel the regular meeting scheduled for Tuesday, January 1, 2013, due to the New Year Holiday and hold the second January meeting in accordance with the regular meeting schedule.

 

VOTE:  Aye-5

             Nay-0

 

[Clerk’s Note:  The second regular meetings in both December and January will be held according to the regular meeting schedule adopted at the December 3, 2012, organizational meeting.]

B.  Announcements

The County Manager announced that the Annual County Christmas Luncheon would be held at Dan’l Boone Inn on Tuesday, December 11, 2012, from 12:00 to 2:00 P.M.

Public Comment

There was no public comment; however, Vice-Chairman Gable, Commissioner Deal, and Commissioner Futrelle, each shared their appreciation for fellow Board members, the County Attorney, staff, and citizens during their tenure as Commissioners.

 

Chairman Miller and Commissioner Blust shared their appreciation for fellow Board members, the County Attorney, staff, and citizens and stated that they looked forward to working with the new Board members as well.

Closed Session

At 6:20 P.M., Commissioner 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 Gable, moved to resume the open meeting at 6:35 P.M.

 

VOTE:  Aye-5

             Nay-0

Adjourn

Commissioner Deal, seconded by Commissioner Blust, moved to adjourn the meeting at 6:35 P.M.

 

VOTE:  Aye-5

             Nay-0

 

 

Nathan A. Miller, Chairman

 

ATTEST:                                                             

Anita J. Fogle, Clerk to the Board