MINUTES
WATAUGA COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2004
The Watauga County Board of Commissioners held a regular meeting on Monday, February 2, 2004, at 9:00 A.M. in the Board Room of the Watauga County Courthouse.
PRESENT: James Coffey, Chairman
Jimmy Hodges, Vice-Chairman
Keith Honeycutt, Commissioner
David Blust, Commissioner
Allen Trivette, Commissioner
Rebecca Eggers-Gryder, County Attorney
Robert E. Nelson, Jr., County Manager
Deron Geouque, Assistant County Manager
Anita J. Fogle, Clerk to the Board
Chairman Coffey called the meeting to order at 9:00 A.M. welcoming those in attendance.
A moment of silence was observed.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Chairman Coffey called for additions or corrections to the January 20, 2004, regular meeting and closed session minutes.
Vice-Chairman Hodges, seconded by Commissioner Blust, moved to approve the January 20, 2004, regular meeting and closed session minutes as presented.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
APPROVAL OF AGENDA
Chairman Coffey called for additions and/or corrections to the February 2, 2004, agenda.
County Manager Nelson requested to add an item for Discussion of the Hannah Building under Miscellaneous Administrative Matters and a Closed Session for discussion of personnel matters, per G. S. 143-318.11(a)(6), and economic development matters, per G. S. 143-318.11(a)(4).
Commissioner Blust, seconded by Commissioner Honeycutt, moved to approve the February 2, 2004, agenda as amended.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
“JOBLINK APPRECIATION WEEK IN WATAUGACOUNTY” PROCLAMATION REQUEST
Mr. Jim Atkinson, Chairman of the JobLink Career Center Management Team, discussed the JobLink program in WataugaCounty and requested the adoption of a proclamation naming JobLink Appreciation Week in Watauga County February 22-27, 2004.
Commissioner Blust, seconded by Commissioner Trivette, moved to adopt the “JobLink Appreciation Week in Watauga County” Proclamation as presented.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
STATE MEDICAL ASSISTANT TEAM REQUEST
Ms. Lisa Danner requested Board approval to apply to the State to formulate a State Medical Assistant Team (SMAT) and for subsequent funding. This team was to respond in the case of emergencies involving mass casualties and subsequent decontamination. Ms. Danner stated that she was to work with Watauga Medics and Blowing Rock and Watauga Rescue Squads in staffing this volunteer team. Watauga Medics had also volunteered to house pharmaceuticals related to the project. No local match was required.
Commissioner Trivette, seconded by Commissioner Honeycutt, moved to approve the submission of the application to formulate a State Medical Assistant Team (SMAT) as presented by Ms. Danner.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
BUDGET AMENDMENTS
Finance Director Doris Isaacs presented the following budget amendment for Board approval:
Account # Description Debit Credit
263255-360026 E-911 Telephone Surcharges $3,283
263831-349126 Interest Earned on Invest. $3,500
264330-451000 Cap. Out. - Equipment $2,783
264330-449900 Miscellaneous Expense $4,000
The amendment recognized additional revenue and appropriated funds to add a third console to the Wireless Communications contract (approved 01-05-04) and to fund a study for the Watauga County Emergency Communications plan for the new Law Enforcement Center.
Account # Description Debit Credit
105550-429855 High Country Senior Games $3,076
105550-469514 Contracted Services-Instructor $2,334
103991-399101 Fund Balance Approp. - New $5,410
The amendment re-appropriated funds for carry over programs in the Project on Aging Department.
Account # Description Debit Credit
104281-458000 Capital Outlay-Bldg. Improvements $333,193
104281-458001 Capital Outlay-Bldg. Contingency $50,000
109800-498021 Transfer to Capital Reserve Fund $225,000
103980-398121 Transfer from Capital Reserve $158,193
213991-399101 Approp. Fund Balance - New $158,193
213980-398100 Transfer from General Fund $225,000
219930-461202 Recreation-Pool Renovations $225,000
219800-498010 Transfer to General Fund $158,193
The amendment decreased transfers to the Capital Reserve Fund and appropriated prior years reserves to provide funding for the Pool renovations project as approved at the December 8,2003, Board meeting.
Account # Description Debit Credit
104263-458000 Capital Outlay-Bldg. Improvements $1,040,944
103991-399101 Fund Balance Approp. – New $1,040,944
The amendment re-appropriated the projected budget for the Administrative (Heilig Meyers) Building renovations which were not spent in FY 2002-03. Unspent funds at the end of the fiscal year roll to fund balance. Funds already committed from this amount are $321,841 for the Transfer Station project and $302,302 for the retaining wall and waterproofing the subsurface walls of the Administrative Building.
Commissioner Blust, seconded by Commissioner Honeycutt, moved to approve the budget amendments as presented.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
TAX MATTERS
A. Monthly Collections Report – Tax Administrator, Mr. Kelvin Byrd, presented the Tax Collections Report for the month of January 2004.
B. Releases and Refunds – Tax Administrator Byrd presented the following Refunds and Releases for January 2004 for Board approval:
TO BE TYPED IN MINUTE BOOK
Commissioner Blust, seconded by Commissioner Trivette, moved to approve the Refunds and Releases Report for January 2004 as presented.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
C. Tax Lien Report – Tax Administrator Byrd requested approval of the Tax Lien Report which allowed him to advertise the report of taxes that were liens on real estate in the County after March 1, 2004. Mr. Byrd stated the total outstanding tax bills as of January 31, 2004, was $1,483,317.38.
Commissioner Honeycutt, seconded by Commissioner Blust, moved to approve the Tax Lien Report authorizing advertisement as presented by Mr. Byrd.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
MISCELLANEOUS ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS
A. Hannah Building Discussion – County Manager Nelson stated that he had delayed advertising the Hannah Building for sale due to closed session discussion on January 20, 2004, related to economic development inducement matters. The County Manager stated that the “targeted” industry was not interested after examination of the space. However; the High Country Council of Governments was interested in leasing office space in the building as the due to their current lease expiring in June of 2004.
Vice-Chairman Hodges, seconded by Commissioner Honeycutt, moved to suspend the pending sale of the Hannah Building.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
The County Manager stated that he would gather information regarding costs of required renovations to suit the perspective tenant. Negotiation with the High Country Council of Governments for office space was to continue with a report to be scheduled at a future meeting.
B. Proposed Contract for Architectural Services (Courthouse Addition) – County Manager Nelson reviewed a contract for architectural services for the Courthouse addition with Hemphill and Associates. The proposed contract was in two parts. The first was a 9% fee of the actual construction costs for all items related to the new Courthouse addition. The second was a lump sum of $21,100 for the architectural/engineering services related to the replacement of the existing heating and air conditioning in the existing courthouse. The $21,100 fee was for a separate previously planned project that was to occur in conjunction with the new construction. The rough estimate and working budget for the HVAC replacement was $400,000 - $500,000, so the fee was in the 4-5% range.
Commissioner Blust, seconded by Commissioner Trivette, moved to adopt the contract with Hemphill Associates for the Courthouse addition contingent upon the County Attorney’s review.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
C. Boards and Commissions – County Manager Nelson stated that the term of Ms. Glenda Hodges was expiring on the Watauga County Adult Care Home Community Advisory Committee and that the committee recommended that she be reappointed as she wished to continue to serve.
Commissioner Blust, seconded by Commissioner Honeycutt, moved to reappoint Ms. Glenda Hodges to the Watauga County Adult Care Home Community Advisory Committee.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
County Manager Nelson gave a first reading of a recommendation for Ms. Wanda Branch to be appointed to the Watauga County Community Advisory Committee for Long Term Care (Nursing Homes).
As this was the first reading for the above, no action was required.
C. Announcements – County Manager Nelson reviewed the tentative agenda for the FY ’05 Annual Retreat and made revisions were necessary.
CLOSED SESSION
At 9:40 A.M., Commissioner Honeycutt, seconded by Commissioner Blust, moved to enter Closed Session to discuss Economic Development Matters, per G. S. 143-318-11(a)(4) and Personnel Matters, per G. S. 143-318-11(a)(6).
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
Commissioner Blust, seconded by Commissioner Honeycutt, moved to resume the open meeting at 10:41 A.M.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
SCHEDULING OF A PUBLIC HEARING
Commissioner Blust, seconded by Commissioner Honeycutt, moved to advertise a public hearing for the February 17, 2004, Board of County Commissioners meeting for Economic Development Inducements contingent upon successful ongoing negotiations.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
ADJOURN
Commissioner Blust, seconded by Commissioner Trivette, moved to adjourn the meeting at 10:42 A.M.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
James Coffey, Chairman
ATTEST:
Anita J. Fogle, Clerk to the Board