MINUTES

 

WATAUGA COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS

TUESDAY, MARCH 20, 2018

 

The Watauga County Board of Commissioners held a regular meeting, as scheduled, on Tuesday, March 20, 2018, at 5:30 P.M. in the Commissioners' Board Room of the Watauga County Administration Building, Boone, North Carolina.

 

                        PRESENT:      John Welch, Chairman

                                                Billy Kennedy, Vice-Chairman

                                                Jimmy Hodges, Commissioner

                                                Larry Turnbow, Commissioner

                                                Perry Yates, Commissioner

Anthony di Santi, County Attorney

                                                Deron Geouque, County Manager

                                                Anita J. Fogle, Clerk to the Board

 

Chairman Welch called the meeting to order at 5:33 P.M.

 

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

Approval of Minutes

Chairman Welch called for additions and/or corrections to the February 19 & 21, 2018, special meeting minutes as well as the March 6, 2018, regular meeting and closed session minutes.

 

Commissioner Hodges, seconded by Commissioner Yates, moved to approve the February 19 & 21, 2018, regular meeting minutes as presented.

 

VOTE:  Aye-5

             Nay-0

 

Commissioner Hodges, seconded by Commissioner Yates, moved to approve the March 6, 2018, regular meeting minutes as presented.

 

VOTE:  Aye-5

             Nay-0

 

Commissioner Hodges, seconded Commissioner Yates, moved to approve the March 6, 2018, closed session minutes as presented.

 

VOTE:  Aye-5

             Nay-0

Approval of Agenda

Chairman Welch called for additions and/or corrections to the March 20, 2018, agenda.

 

Vice-Chairman Kennedy, seconded by Commissioner Turnbow, moved to approve the March 20, 2018, agenda as presented.

 

VOTE:  Aye-5

             Nay-0

Watauga County School System Lottery Funds Request

Dr. Scott Elliott, Watauga County Schools Superintendent, requested approval of applications for Education Lottery Funds.  A total amount of $117,500 is being requested.  $60,000 is to replace the phone intercom and bell systems at Cove Creek Elementary School and $57,500 for a new fire alarm system at Valle Crucis Elementary School.  Dr. Elliott stated that the phone intercom and bell systems are being replaced Countywide, one school at a time.  Dr. Elliott gave a brief update stating that he had met with the County Manager and discussed facility needs and capital improvement plans earlier in the day.

 

Commissioner Yates, seconded by Commissioner Turnbow, moved to approve the $117,500 request for lottery funds to be utilized for phone intercom, bell, and fire systems as requested by Dr. Elliott.

 

VOTE:  Aye-5

             Nay-0

Opioid Litigation Presentation

Mr. Mike Fox, with Tuggle Duggins Attorneys at Law, and Mr. Garry Whitaker, Attorney with McHugh Fuller Law Group, PLLC, presented information on the opioid epidemic.  Mr. Whitaker and Mr. Fox presented statistics and data encouraging the Board to join in a an opioid litigation by pursuing all civil remedies against those in the chain of distribution of prescription opiates responsible for the opioid epidemic which is plaguing Watauga County, North Carolina, including, but not limited to, filing a claim for public nuisance to abate the damages caused thereby.  Mr. Fox stated that thirty-five counties in North Carolina were in various stages of approving litigation.  Twenty-six counties have filed suits to date.

 

Discussion was held and then tabled for closed session to allow for consultation with the County Attorney.

 

[Clerk’s Note:  Action was taken after closed session.]

Parks and Recreation Matters

A.  Vehicle Bid Award Request

 

Mr. Stephen Poulos, Parks and Recreation Director, stated that vehicle bids were solicited for one (1) new 2018 Ford F150 pickup truck.  The following three (3) bids, which include tax and tag fees, were received:

 

Ashe County Ford of West Jefferson             $22,884.36

Duncan Ford of Blacksburg                           $22,831.83

Asheville Ford Lincoln                                  $22,099.97

 

Asheville Ford Lincoln is the lowest responsible bidder in the amount of $22,099.97.

 

Vice-Chairman Kennedy, seconded by Commissioner Turnbow, moved to award the bid to Asheville Ford Lincoln for one (1) new 2018 Ford F150 pickup truck in the amount of $22,099.97 which includes taxes and tag fees.

 

VOTE:  Aye-5

             Nay-0

Parks and Recreation Matters

B.  Out-of-State Travel

 

Mr. Poulos stated that a trip, traveling to Abingdon, Virginia, to attend a play at the Barter Theater, has been scheduled for the older adult population.  Mr. Poulos and Ms. Keron Poteat, Recreation Specialist II, will be providing transportation and assistance for the trip and lunch.  Mr. Poulos requested authorization for out-of-state travel for himself and Ms. Poteat.

 

Commissioner Hodges, seconded by Commissioner Yates, moved to authorize the out-of-state travel to Abingdon, Virginia, for Mr. Stephen Poulos and Ms. Keron Poteat as requested.

 

VOTE:  Aye-5

             Nay-0

Tax Matters

A.  Monthly Collections Report

 

Tax Administrator, Mr. Larry Warren, presented the Tax Collections Report for the month of February 2018.  This 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 February 2018 for Board approval:

 

TO BE TYPED IN MINUTE BOOK

 

Commissioner Turnbow, seconded by Commissioner Yates, moved to approve the Refunds and Releases Report for February 2018, as presented.

 

VOTE:  Aye-5

             Nay-0

Miscellaneous Administrative Matters

A.  Boards and Commissions

 

County Manager Geouque presented the following:

 

W.A.M.Y. Community Action

Ms. Joy Coffey’s final term as a Public Sector representative for Watauga County ended on February 8, 2018.  Ms. Melissa Soto, Executive Director of W.A.M.Y. Community Action, Inc., has requested a Commissioner or appointee be appointed to fill one four-year term.  A volunteer application has been received from Mr. George Winkler who has expressed interest in serving.

 

Ms. Soto has stated that the W.A.M.Y. Board meets bi-monthly on the 2nd Tuesday at 5:00 P.M.  The meetings are held in the Commissioners’ Board Room in Avery County.  The next meeting is their Board Retreat (and a great time for a new member to begin) which will be held in the Boone office on April 7 at 10:00 A.M.  The next regular meeting will be May 8, 2018.

 

Vice-Chairman Kennedy, seconded by Commissioner Turnbow, moved to waive the second reading and appoint Mr. George Winkler to serve as the Watauga County representative on the W.A.M.Y. Community Actions, Inc., Board.

 

VOTE:  Aye-5

             Nay-0

 

B.  Announcements

 

County Manager Geouque announced that the Watauga County Planning & Inspections, Veteran’s Service Office, and the Red Cross Office are moving on Wednesday, March 21, 2018, to the 2nd Floor of the Health Department Building located at 126 Poplar Grove Connector.  The entrance to these offices will be at the lower level on the side facing the Human Services Building (Social Services/Project on Aging).

 

Chairman Welch announced that the Watauga County Health Leadership Forum will be held on Friday, April 13, 2018, from 10:00 A.M. to 12:30 P.M. in the Watauga Medical Center Auditorium.  The Keynote Speaker will be Mr. Danny Staley, Director of the North Carolina Division of Public Health.  Mr. Staley will speak on the opioid epidemic.  County Manager Geouque stated that Mr. Staley served as the Director of Appalachian District Health Department prior to his current position.

Public Comment

Mr. Terry Hamilton shared his gratitude to the Board for support of the Library.  Mr. Hamilton is a long-time volunteer and patron of the Library.

 

Sheriff Hagaman shared remarks on the opioid issue.  The Sheriff stated that there had been ten lives saved during the past one and one-half years with Narcan. The Sherriff also stated that Watauga County has a Mental Health Task Force through which Daymark Recovery Services has been following up with those admitted to the Emergency Department on a Narcan overdose.  The Sheriff then introduced Ms. Mollie Mellishrencken who has served as an intern with the Sheriff’s Office.  Ms. Mellishrencken is a Watauga County native and Hardin Park parent who will be graduating from Appalachian State University this spring with a degree in Social Work and will then begin a graduate dual concentration program in individual clinical practice and community and organizational management.

 

Ms. Mollie Mellishrencken stated that she had recently anonymously interviewed forty-two offenders.  Among the statistics collected, Ms. Mellishrencken shared that charges against the offenders included 40% being probation violations, 20% being larceny/theft, and 16% being possession of drugs.  Of those, 42% were directly related to drugs.  Out of the remaining 58%, 75% were indirectly related to drugs with 68% of those being methamphetamines, 38% being marijuana, and 28% being heroin with some using multiple drugs.  Ms. Mellishrencken offered to provide her full report to those interested.

Closed Session

At 6:37 P.M., Commissioner Turnbow, seconded by Vice-Chairman Kennedy, moved to enter Closed Session to discuss Attorney/Client Matters, per G. S. 143-318.11(a)(3), Land Acquisition, per G. S. 143-318.11(a)(5)(i) and Personnel Matters, per G. S. 143-318.11(a)(6).

 

VOTE:  Aye-5

             Nay-0

 

Commissioner Turnbow, seconded by Vice-Chairman Kennedy, moved to resume the open meeting at 7:03 P.M.

 

VOTE:  Aye-5

             Nay-0

Possible Action After Closed Session

Commissioner Yates, seconded by Commissioner Turnbow, moved to adopt a resolution declaring the opioid crisis a public nuisance which must be abated for the benefit of Watauga County and its residents and citizens.

 

VOTE:  Aye-5

             Nay-0

 

Commissioner Turnbow, seconded by Vice-Chairman Kennedy, moved to give authority for Watauga County to be represented by McHugh Fuller Law Group, PLLC, to pursue all civil remedies against those in the chain of distribution of prescription opiates responsible for the opioid epidemic which is plaguing Watauga County, North Carolina, including, but not limited to, filing a claim for public nuisance to abate the damages caused thereby.

 

VOTE:  Aye-5

             Nay-0

 

Commissioner Turnbow, seconded by Vice-Chairman Kennedy, moved to approve a five-year extension of County Manager, Deron Geouque’s, employment contract which includes an annual salary of $135,000 and a $500 per month vehicle allowance.

 

VOTE:  Aye-5

             Nay-0

Adjourn

Commissioner Yates, seconded by Commissioner Turnbow, moved to adjourn the meeting at 7:10 P.M.

 

VOTE:  Aye-5

             Nay-0

 

 

John Welch, Chairman

 

ATTEST:

Anita J. Fogle, Clerk to the Board