MINUTES
WATAUGA COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 29, 2005
The Watauga County Board of Commissioners held a special meeting on Thursday, December 29, 2005, at 12:00 P.M. in the Board Room of the Watauga County Courthouse. The purpose of the meeting was to select a vendor to provide voting machines for the County.
PRESENT: Jim Deal, Chairman
William R. Winkler, Vice-Chairman
Keith Honeycutt, Commissioner
Winston Kinsey, Commissioner
Robert E. Nelson, Jr., County Manager
Deron Geouque, Assistant County Manager
Chairman Deal called the meeting to order at 12:05 P.M.
[Clerk’s Note – Commissioner Honeycutt arrived at 12:11 P.M.]
APPROVAL AGENDA
Chairman Deal called for additions and/or corrections to the December 29, 2005, agenda.
County Manager Nelson requested to add to the agenda a consideration of supporting a grant proposal for Bio-diesel.
Commissioner Winkler, seconded by Commissioner Kinsey, moved to approve the December 29, 2005, agenda as amended.
VOTING EQUIPMENT PURCHASE REQUEST
Ms. Stella Anderson, Watauga County Board of Elections Chair, briefed the Board on the status of voting equipment. The State Board of Elections mandated, by January 1, 2006, the replacement of the punch ballot voting equipment used by Watauga County. The State Board of Elections met on December 5, 2005, and approved three vendors that may be used by all 100 counties without issuing an individual RFP. Three voting systems were approved to be compliant with federal and state standards: 1) electronic touch screen with a paper record, 2) optical scan, 3) paper ballots. The Watauga County Board of Elections recommended that the County purchase the optical scan voting system that has been in existence for many years and proven dependable. Watauga County was eligible to receive $264,410 in state money for the replacement. Ms. Hodges, Board of Elections Director, was of the opinion that if the County does not enter into a signed contract with an approved vendor prior to January 1, 2006, that the already received federal money, approximately $44,000, may be revoked.
Commissioner Kinsey made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Honeycutt, to approve the purchase of voting equipment from Elections Systems and Software (ES&S) in the amount of $332,196 as presented by Ms. Hodges.
VOTE: Aye-4(Deal, Winkler, Honeycutt, Kinsey)
Nay-0
Absent-1(Blust)
Commissioner Honeycutt, seconded by Commissioner Winkler, moved to approve the budget amendment in the amount of $317,909 as presented.
VOTE: Aye-4(Deal, Winkler, Honeycutt, Kinsey)
Nay-0
Absent-1(Blust)
[Clerk’s Note – Once the grant and purchase amount is finalized, a budget amendment will be executed to reflect the actual amount.]
BIO-DIESEL
Commissioner Honeycutt discussed the Board supporting a grant proposal by High Country Biofuels to the NC Department of Environmental and Natural Resources, Division of Air Quality for Mobile Source Emissions Reductions. The proposal has the potential to allow the County to utilize bio-diesel, which is less expensive and more environmentally friendly than regular diesel.
Commissioner Honeycutt, seconded by Commissioner Winkler, made a motion to send a letter of support for High Country Biofuels to the NC Department of Environmental and Natural Resources, Division of Air Quality for Mobile Source Emissions Reductions.
VOTE: Aye-4(Deal, Winkler, Honeycutt, Kinsey)
Nay-0
Absent-1(Blust)
Commissioner Winkler, seconded by Commissioner Kinsey, moved to adjourn the meeting at 12:32 P.M.
______________________________
Jim Deal, Chairman
ATTEST:
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Deron Geouque, Assistant County Manager