MINUTES
WATAUGA COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
SPECIAL MEETING, FRIDAY, MARCH 9, 2007 &
SATURDAY, MARCH 10, 2007
The Watauga County Board of Commissioners held a special meeting on Friday, March 9, 2007 and Saturday, March 10, 2007 in order to conduct a retreat to review goals and objectives for the County. The meetings were held in the Watauga County Board of Commissioners’ Conference Room, Boone, N.C.
PRESENT: Jim Deal, Chairman
William R. Winkler, III, Vice-Chairman
John Cooper, Commissioner
Winston Kinsey, Commissioner
Mary Moretz, Commissioner
Robert E. Nelson, Jr., County Manager
Deron Geouque, Assistant County Manager
Doris Isaacs, Finance Director
Chairman Deal called the meeting to order on Friday, March 9, 2007 at 8:30 A.M., welcoming those in attendance.
Chairman Deal requested to add a closed session to the agenda for economic development incentives per G.S. 143-318.11(a)(4).
Vice-Chairman Winkler, seconded by Commissioner Cooper, made a motion to approve the retreat agenda as amended.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
The following topics were discussed:
REVIEW OF CURRENT CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN (CIP) –
MR. ROBERT E. NELSON, JR. AND MR. ROBERT MARSH
CAPITAL RESERVE FUND
1) Current CIP Plan
2) Anne Marie Drive Park
3) Parking Deck/Lot/Demolition
4) Animal Control Facility Schedule
5) Discussion of Unfunded Projects
Requested Appearance by Dave Roberts for Item A
A. Recreation Center/Swimming Pool (preliminary programming)
B. Eastern Senior Services
C. Human Services Center Building # 3
D. School Bus Garage Property
E. Tot Lot Proposal
F. Courthouse Exterior
G. Law Enforcement Center Kitchen
H. Purchase of Tag Office Building
I. Purchase of AppalCART Building
REVIEW OF CURRENT (FY 2007) BUDGET – MS. DORIS ISAACS
1) Revenues/Expenditures
2) Fund Balance
3) Debt Service Report
4) Sales Tax Reports
5) Tax Base Review
DISCUSSION OF FY 2008 BUDGET – MS. DORIS ISAACS
1) Budget Drivers Report
2) Funding of Non-County Departments
(Cooperative Extension, Health Dept., AppalCART, Mental Health, Library)
3) Fire District Funding
4) FY 2008 Budget Schedule Review
[Clerk’s Note – Commissioner Kinsey left the meeting at 12:00 P.M.]
Vice-Chairman Winkler, seconded by Commissioner Cooper, made a motion to go into closed session per G.S. 143-318.11(a)(4) at 1:15 P.M.
VOTE: Aye-4
Nay-0
Absent-1 (Commissioner Kinsey)
[Clerk’s Note – Commissioner Kinsey entered closed session at 1:26 P.M.]
Vice-Chairman Winkler, seconded by Commissioner Moretz, moved to go out of closed session at 2:03 P.M.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
The Board reconvened the meeting at 2:10 P.M. to review the following:
PLANNING/EDC MATTERS – MR. JOE FURMAN
1) Brookshire Land Plan (95) and Sales Policies (100)
2) EDC Report/Discussion
3) Construction Trades Training/New High School
4) Appalachian Enterprise Center
5) Affordable Housing
6) Laurelmor Update (*) and Subdivision Report (111)
7) Communications/e911 Equipment Needs
8) Water and Sewer Future Needs Discussion
9) Review/Discussion of Sign Ordinance
JOINT MEETING WITH WATAUGA COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD
1) General Discussion
2) Review of Schools’ (CIP) Maintenance Plan
3) Lottery Funds
4) High School Project Schedule for Financing and General Discussion
A recess was declared at 5:00 P.M. The meeting reconvened on Saturday, March 10, 2007 at 8:32 A.M.
The following topics were discussed:
FIRE DEPARTMENT ISSUES – MR. TERRY COMBS
1) Review of Subsidy Funding Formula
2) Non-Taxed Areas
3) Six Mile Rating Area Update
SHERIFF’S DEPARTMENT MATTERS – SHERIFF L. D. HAGAMAN
1) Consolidated Dispatch Discussion
2) Courthouse Security Discussion/Planning
MISCELLANEOUS
1) Blowing Rock Stage Company Funding Request
2) Cooperative Extension Memo of Understanding – Ms. Sue Counts
3) Employee Issues – Mr. Deron Geouque
A. Customer Service Survey – External and Internal
B. Wellness Program Funding
C. Retiree Insurance Benefits
D. Provision for Donating Annual Leave
E. Funds for Salary Adjustments
4) Discussion of Retaining Lobbyist/s
5) Watauga Medics Annual Report – Mr. Craig Sullivan
6) DSS Records/Imaging Management Proposal – Mr. Jim Atkinson
7) BREMCO Request
8) Downtown Boone Development Association Request
9) Recycling Discussion
10) Miscellaneous Information
The County Manager concluded the retreat by reviewing the issues addressed and seeking direction from the Board for Fiscal Year 2008.
Vice-Chairman Winkler, seconded by Commissioner Moretz, moved to adjourn the meeting at 12:12 P.M.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
Jim Deal, Chairman
ATTEST:
Deron Geouque
Assistant County Manager