MINUTES
WATAUGA COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
TUESDAY, JANUARY 15, 2019
The Watauga County Board of Commissioners held a regular meeting, as scheduled, on Tuesday, January 15, 2019, at 5:30 P.M. in the Commissioners' Board Room of the Watauga County Administration Building, Boone, North Carolina.
PRESENT: Billy Kennedy, Vice-Chairman
Charlie Wallin, Commissioner
Perry Yates, Commissioner
Chelsea Garrett, County Attorney
Deron Geouque, County Manager
Anita J. Fogle, Clerk to the Board
Vice-Chairman Kennedy called the meeting to order at 5:33 P.M. and announced that Chairman Welch was not in attendance due to a previous commitment and Commissioner Turnbow was not in attendance due to a health issue.
[Clerk’s Note: Chairman Welch arrived and joined the meeting at 6:14 P.M.]
Commissioner Yates opened with a prayer and Commissioner Wallin led the Pledge of Allegiance.
Approval of Minutes
Vice-Chairman Kennedy called for additions and/or corrections to the December 18, 2018, regular meeting and closed session minutes.
Commissioner Wallin, seconded by Commissioner Yates, moved to approve the December 18, 2018, regular meeting minutes as presented.
VOTE: Aye-3(Kennedy, Wallin, Yates)
Nay-0
Absent-2(Welch, Turnbow)
Commissioner Wallin, seconded by Commissioner Yates, moved to approve the December 18, 2018, closed session minutes as presented.
VOTE: Aye-3(Kennedy, Wallin, Yates)
Nay-0
Absent-2(Welch, Turnbow)
Approval of Agenda
Vice-Chairman Kennedy called for additions and/or corrections to the January 15, 2019, agenda.
Commissioner Yates, seconded by Commissioner Wallin, moved to approve the January 15, 2019, agenda as presented.
VOTE: Aye-3(Kennedy, Wallin, Yates)
Nay-0
Absent-2(Welch, Turnbow)
Request for Phase II of South Fork Restoration Project
Mr. George Santucci with the New River Conservancy (NRC) presented a request for funding for Phase II of the South Fork River restoration project adjacent to the County-owned Brookshire Park. Phase II would extend from Ted Mackorell Soccer Complex (at the location that Phase I began) back to the Highway 421 Bridge. NRC plans to submit a grant to the Clean Water Management Trust Fund (CWMTF) in the amount of $485,000 by February 6, 2019. The grant request requires a $100,000 match from both Watauga County and the Town of Boone. In the event that the County or Town does not provide the requested match the project would not be pursued. Mr. Santucci shared before and after pictures of Phase I of the project. Gradual slopes and step ups were being implemented to keep the river within the river banks during heavy rains and floods. Mr. Santucci stated that the project will also provide safe public access to the river and after the new vegetation grew the County would maintain trails via weed eating. Funds were previously approved to repair a small section that was undermining the Greenway Trail located at the Ted Mackorell Soccer Complex and Brookshire Park.
Commissioner Yates, seconded by Commissioner Wallin, moved to allocate $100,000 from the Watauga County Fund Balance to the New River Conservancy (NRC) as a match for the Clean Water Management Trust Fund (CWMTF) grant the NRC plans to apply for by February 6, 2019, in the amount of $485,000.
VOTE: Aye-3(Kennedy, Wallin, Yates)
Nay-0
Absent-2(Welch, Turnbow)
Community Recreation Center Matters
A. Community Recreation Center Update
Mr. Chad Roberson with Clark Nexsen presented an update on the progress of the new Community Recreation Center which is currently under construction. Mr. Roberson stated that building pad preparations were ongoing for the foundations and rigid inclusions were being installed. Construction has been ongoing for ninety-eight days with twenty-one weather impacts days. Mr. Roberson stated that the current completion date is April 10, 2020. Mr. Roberson shared a time-lapse video of the construction progress thus far. This report was given for information only.
B. Community Recreation Center GMP
Mr. Roberson shared the reconciled Guaranteed Maximum Price (GMP) based on the final receipt of bids for the vertical portion of the construction. The total project budget remains within the original allocation of $32,937,626 with a total project budget of $38,547,396.
Commissioner Yates, seconded by Commissioner Wallin, moved to approve the reconciled Guaranteed Maximum Price (GMP) for the Community Recreation Center as presented by Mr. Roberson.
VOTE: Aye-3(Kennedy, Wallin, Yates)
Nay-0
Absent-2(Welch, Turnbow)
Tax Matters
A. Monthly Collections Report
Tax Administrator, Mr. Larry Warren, presented the Tax Collections Report for the month of December 2018. 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 December 2018 for Board approval:
TO BE TYPED IN MINUTE BOOK
Commissioner Wallin, seconded by Commissioner Yates, moved to approve the Refunds and Releases Report for December 2018 as presented.
VOTE: Aye-3(Kennedy, Wallin, Yates)
Nay-0
Absent-2(Welch, Turnbow)
Budget Amendments
Ms. Misty Watson, Finance Director, reviewed the following budget amendments:
|
Account # |
Description |
Debit |
Credit |
|
|
103980-398121 |
Transfer from Capital Projects Fund |
|
$302,075 |
|
|
105921-459001 |
School Capital Outlay |
$302,075 |
|
|
|
213991-399101 |
Appropriated Fund Balance |
|
$302,075 |
|
|
219800-498010 |
Transfer to General Fund |
$302,075 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The amendment allocates funds from CIP set aside funds for projects as requested by Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute per Board action on June 19, 2018. |
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|
|
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|
145410-438800 |
Crisis intervention payments |
$41,895 |
|
|
|
145410-440002 |
Low Income Energy Assistance Program |
$41,895 |
|
|
|
143531-323000 |
Allocations – Federal and State |
|
$83,790 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The amendment recognizes additional allocations received for the Low Income Energy Assistance Program and the Crisis Intervention Program. |
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|
|
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|
103300-343317 |
Homeland Security Grant – Prime Mover |
|
$60,000 |
|
|
104330-454000 |
Capital Outlay – vehicles |
$60,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The amendment recognizes the acceptance of the Homeland Security Grant for the prime mover. No match is required. |
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|
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|
103300-343302 |
NC OSBM Grant |
|
$50,000 |
|
|
104283-457003 |
Guy Ford River Access Grant |
$50,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The amendment recognizes the grant from the NC Office of State Budget and Management to assist with the Guy Ford Road River Access Project. |
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Commissioner Yates, seconded by Commissioner Wallin, moved to approve the budget amendments as presented by Ms. Watson.
VOTE: Aye-3(Kennedy, Wallin, Yates)
Nay-0
Absent-2(Welch, Turnbow)
Miscellaneous Administrative Matters
A. Proposed Resolution In Support of Local Control of School Calendar
County Manager Geouque stated that at the Watauga County School Board’s meeting on December 13, 2018, a resolution requesting local control of the school calendar was adopted. The School Board requested the Board of Commissioners support this effort by adopting a similar resolution. The County Manager presented the proposed resolution for consideration.
Commissioner Yates, seconded by Commissioner Wallin, moved to adopt the “Resolution Supporting Local Control of School Calendars” as presented.
VOTE: Aye-3(Kennedy, Wallin, Yates)
Nay-0
Absent-2(Welch, Turnbow)
B. Proposed Dates for Annual Pre-Budget Retreat
County Manager Geouque presented proposed dates for the Annual Pre-Budget Retreat as Monday, February 18, 2019, from 12:00 to 7:00 P.M. and Tuesday, February 19, 2019, from 9:00 A.M. to 1:00 P.M. A regular Board of Commissioners meeting is also scheduled for Tuesday, February 19, 2019, beginning at 5:30 P.M.
Commissioner Wallin, seconded by Commissioner Yates, moved to schedule the Annual Pre-Budget Retreat on Monday, February 18, 2019, from 12:00 to 7:00 P.M. and Tuesday, February 19, 2019, from 9:00 A.M. to 1:00 P.M. as presented by the County Manager.
VOTE: Aye-3(Kennedy, Wallin, Yates)
Nay-0
Absent-2(Welch, Turnbow)
C. Boards and Commissions
County Manager Geouque shared the following recommendations for appointment to Boards and Commissions:
Watauga Medical Center Board of Trustees
The Watauga Medical Center Board of Trustees has recommended Ms. Kim Miller, Mr. Kent Tarbutton, and Ms. Jan Winkler for re-appointment as Board Trustees. Each of their terms would be effective January 1, 2019, through December 31, 2021. These are second readings.
Commissioner Yates, seconded by Commissioner Wallin, moved to reappoint Ms. Kim Miller, Mr. Kent Tarbutton, and Ms. Jan Winkler to the Watauga Medical Center Board of Trustees each with a term that will end December 31, 2021.
VOTE: Aye-3(Kennedy, Wallin, Yates)
Nay-0
Absent-2(Welch, Turnbow)
Boone Rural Fire Protection Service District Board
Each Commissioner nominates a representative to the Boone Rural Fire Protection Service District Board whose terms run concurrent with the term of the appointing Commissioner. Boone Rural Fire Service District Board members must own property and reside within that Fire Service District. County Manager Geouque encouraged Commissioners to make their appointments soon.
D. Announcements
County Manager Geouque stated that, as a result of a recent meeting, morgue space will be available to the County at Watauga Medical Center. Expenses for equipment will be forthcoming. The County Manager thanked the Medical Center and Health Department for finding a solution for morgue space.
County Manager Geouque announced that Frontier Natural Gas Company sent out Public Awareness materials focused around natural gas safety to Public Officials in all counties that they serve and have facilities in as they do every 3 years. Included in that email, they also attached their Effectiveness Evaluation Survey Questionnaire for Public Officials. The NC Utilities Commission requires that they document the effectiveness of their public awareness efforts. The County Manager stated that Frontier Natural Gas Company would greatly appreciate the time taken to complete the survey and send it back to them.
Public Comment
Sheriff Hagaman was at the meeting regarding space for a morgue and commended the County Manager as well as the North Carolina Chief Medical Officer for attending the meeting and finding a solution for morgue space as it is at times needed in relation to investigations.
Closed Session
At 6:13 P.M., Commissioner Wallin, seconded by Commissioner Yates, moved to enter Closed Session to discuss Attorney/Client Matters, per G. S. 143-318.11(a)(3) and Personnel Matters, per G. S. 143-318.11(a)(6).
VOTE: Aye-3(Kennedy, Wallin, Yates)
Nay-0
Absent-2(Welch, Turnbow)
[Clerk’s Note: Chairman Welch arrived and joined the meeting at 6:14 P.M. and was, therefore, present for Closed Session.]
Vice-Chairman Kennedy, seconded by Commissioner Yates, moved to resume the open meeting at 8:12 P.M.
VOTE: Aye-4(Welch, Kennedy, Wallin, Yates)
Nay-0
Absent-1(Turnbow)
Adjourn
Vice-Chairman Kennedy, seconded by Commissioner Wallin, moved to adjourn the meeting at 8:12 P.M.
VOTE: Aye-4(Welch, Kennedy, Wallin, Yates)
Nay-0
Absent-1(Turnbow)
John Welch, Chairman
ATTEST:
Anita J. Fogle, Clerk to the Board