MINUTES

 

WATAUGA COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS

TUESDAY, APRIL 21, 2015

 

The Watauga County Board of Commissioners held a regular meeting, as scheduled, on Tuesday, April 21, 2015, at 5:30 P.M. in the Commissioners' Board Room of the Watauga County Administration Building, Boone, North Carolina.

 

                        PRESENT:      Jimmy Hodges, Chairman

                                                David Blust, Vice-Chairman

                                                Billy Kennedy, Commissioner

John Welch, Commissioner

Perry Yates, Commissioner

Stacy C. Eggers, IV, County Attorney

                                                Deron Geouque, County Manager

                                                Anita J. Fogle, Clerk to the Board

 

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

 

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

Approval of Minutes

Chairman Hodges called for additions and/or corrections to the April 7, 2015, regular meeting and closed session minutes.

 

Commissioner Kennedy, seconded by Vice-Chairman Blust, moved to approve the April 7, 2015, regular meeting minutes as presented.

 

VOTE:  Aye-5

             Nay-0

 

Commissioner Kennedy, seconded by Vice-Chairman Blust, moved to approve the April 7, 2015, closed session minutes as presented.

 

VOTE:  Aye-5

             Nay-0

Approval of Agenda

Chairman Hodges called for additions and/or corrections to the April 21, 2015, agenda.

 

County Manager Geouque requested to add the following:

?  Proposed Juvenile Crime Prevention Council Budget Amendment

?  Possible action after closed session

 

Commissioner Kennedy, seconded by Commissioner Welch, moved to approve the April 21, 2015, agenda as amended.

 

VOTE:  Aye-5

             Nay-0

Board of Equalization & Review (E&R) Schedule

Ms. Mitzi Rochelle, Tax Department, presented a resolution establishing the FY 2015 Board of Equalization and Review (E&R) which includes each of the five Commissioners as members and the County Manager as an alternate.  The rate of pay was established as $75.00 per meeting.

 

Ms. Rochelle also presented the following proposed dates for the Board of E&R:

 

Convene on Monday May 4, 2015 at 4:00 pm.

Adjourn for the taking of applications on Friday May 29, 2015 at 7:00 pm.

 

Meeting times:

May 06, 2015 4:00 pm-7:00 pm

May 07, 2015 4:00 pm-7:00 pm

May 13, 2015 4:00 pm-7:00 pm

May 14, 2015 4:00 pm-7:00 pm

May 18, 2015 4:00 pm-7:00 pm

May 21, 2015 4:00 pm-7:00 pm

May 29, 2015 4:00 pm-7:00 pm

 

Commissioner Kennedy, seconded by Commissioner Yates, moved to adopt the resolution establishing the FY 2015 Board of Equalization and Review (E&R) and set compensation for members at $75.00 per meeting.

 

VOTE:  Aye-5

             Nay-0

 

Commissioner Kennedy, seconded by Vice-Chairman Blust, moved to convene the Board of Equalization and Review on Monday May 4, 2015, at 4:00 P.M. and adjourn on Friday May 29, 2015, at 7:00 P.M. and approve the meeting dates as presented.

 

VOTE:  Aye-5

             Nay-0

Request to Approve Funding from the North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources (NCDENR) Mercury Grant

Ms. Heather Bowen requested the Board accept a grant as awarded through the Mercury Products Recycling grant from the North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources for a Household Hazardous Waste Facility in the amount of $24,055

 

At the March 3, 2015 Board meeting, authorization was given to submit a Mercury Products Recycling grant requesting the amount of $10,000 to the North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources for a Household Hazardous Waste Facility.  County staff received notification of approval for the grant with an additional $14,055 awarded.  The Board approved funds in the current fiscal year budget to construct and operate a household hazardous waste facility that would allow for enhanced service at the same or current cost being paid for contracted services.  County funds budgeted for the project was $50,000.  The grant does not require a county match.

 

Ms. Bowen stated that work on the facility could begin June 1, 2015.

 

Vice-Chairman Blust, seconded by Commissioner Welch, moved to accept the Mercury Products Recycling grant from the North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources for a Household Hazardous Waste Facility in the amount of $24,055.

 

VOTE:  Aye-5

             Nay-0

Proposed Juvenile Crime Prevention Council (JCPC) Budget Amendment

Ms. Margaret Pierce, Finance Director, presented a revised Juvenile Crime Prevention Council (JCPC) FY 2014-15 Funding Allocation form. With limited placement this fiscal year to the Temporary Shelter/Group Home program at Crossnore, remaining funding for the program is proposed to be reallocated to other JCPC programs to avoid losing $14,038 in state funds. These funds can only be used per the existing program agreements.  Project Challenge requested $3,349; WYN’s Youth Resource Center requested $10,000; and the Task Force requested $689 for an event to be held in May.  The JCPC recommends approval of these requests which allows existing funds to stay within the County for local youth services.  Ms. Pierce stated that the required match existed in the budget and would be reallocated as well.

 

Commissioner Yates, seconded by Commissioner Welch, moved to approve the Juvenile Crime Prevention Council (JCPC) budget amendment as presented.

 

VOTE:  Aye-5

             Nay-0

Miscellaneous Administrative Matters

A.  Watauga Medics Proposed Contract Revisions

 

County Manager Geouque, per discussion at the County’s Annual Retreat, presented a copy of proposed amendments to the current Ambulance Franchise Agreement with Watauga Medics.  The major change to the agreement would allow Watauga Medics to increase their rates to maximize Medicaid dollars.  This change would result in a reduction in the County’s annual supplement and allow the savings to fund an ambulance study and the additional utility costs associated with the new ambulance station.

 

North Carolina General Statute 153A-46 requires grants, renewals, extensions, or amendments of any franchise to be passed at two regular meetings of the Board of Commissioners before it may be officially adopted.

 

County Attorney Eggers stated that he had reviewed the agreement and found it to be legally appropriate.

 

Commissioner Kennedy, seconded by Commissioner Yates, moved to approve amendments to the Ambulance Franchise Agreement and direct staff to present the agreement at the May 5, 2015, regular Board meeting for a second ratifying adoption.

 

VOTE:  Aye-5

             Nay-0

 

B.  Announcements

 

County Manager Geouque announced that Budget Work Sessions are scheduled for Monday, May 11, and Tuesday, May 12, 2015.  Both work sessions begin at 4:00 P.M. and will be held in the Commissioners’ Board Room.

Public Comment

Dr. Stephanie West invited the Board to attend the Outdoor Recreation Summit on Thursday, April 19, 2015, from 6:00 P.M. to 9:00 P.M. at the Boone United Methodist Church.  Dr. West also shared support for recreation in the County and for Mr. Rosenfeld who spoke next.

 

Mr. Richard Rosenfeld shared his plans to bring a public disc golf course to Watauga County.  Mr. Rosenfeld stated that he had talked to the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) about leasing approximately 40 acres of land adjacent to the Watauga County Sheriff’s Office (which also sits on property leased from the NCDOT).  Mr. Rosenfeld stated that NCDOT seemed agreeable to lease the additional acreage to the County for 45 years at a rate of one dollar ($1) per year.  Mr. Rosenfeld stated that he planned to finance the construction of the course and had approximately $50,000 budgeted for the project.

 

By consensus, the Board agreed to direct the County Manager to include a formal presentation from Mr. Rosenfeld at the next regular Board meeting scheduled for May 5, 2015.

Closed Session

At 6:00 P.M., Commissioner Kennedy, seconded by Commissioner Welch, 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-5

             Nay-0

 

Commissioner Kennedy, seconded by Commissioner Welch, moved to resume the open meeting at 7:17 P.M.

 

VOTE:  Aye-5

             Nay-0

Possible Action After Closed Session

There was no action after closed session.

Adjourn

Commissioner Kennedy, seconded by Commissioner Welch, moved to adjourn the meeting at 7:17 P.M.

 

VOTE:  Aye-5

             Nay-0

 

 

Jimmy Hodges, Chairman

 

ATTEST:

Anita J. Fogle, Clerk to the Board