MINUTES
WATAUGA COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2023
The Watauga County Board of Commissioners held a regular meeting, as scheduled, on Tuesday, February 7, 2023, at 5:30 P.M. in the Commissioners’ Board Room located in the Watauga County Administration Building, Boone, North Carolina.
Chairman Turnbow called the meeting to order at 5:34 P.M. The following were present:
PRESENT: Larry Turnbow, Chairman
Charlie Wallin, Vice-Chairman
Todd Castle, Commissioner
Braxton Eggers, Commissioner
Ray Russell, Commissioner
Andrea Capua, County Attorney
Deron Geouque, County Manager
Anita J. Fogle, Clerk to the Board
Commissioner Castle opened with a prayer and Commissioner Eggers led the Pledge of Allegiance.
Approval of Minutes
Chairman Turnbow called for additions and/or corrections to the January 17, 2023, regular meeting and closed session minutes.
Commissioner Russell, seconded by Commissioner Eggers, moved to approve the January 17, 2023, regular meeting minutes as presented.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
Commissioner Russell, seconded by Commissioner Eggers, moved to approve the January 17, 2023, closed session minutes as presented.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
Approval of Agenda
Chairman Turnbow called for additions and/or corrections to the February 7, 2023, agenda.
Commissioner Wallin, seconded by Commissioner Castle, moved to approve the February 7, 2023, agenda as presented.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
Ms. Melanie Jirka and Ms. Amber Balduf with W.A.M.Y. Community Action presented an update to the Board on their housing efforts. W.A.M.Y. was thankful for the $10,000 of funding from Watauga County in FY 2023. Ms. Jirka stated that the Watauga Housing Coalition was formed to perform repairs on homes to make them safer for families and ready for weatherization and shared examples of completed projects and those on waiting lists. Ten families in Watauga County were assisted through W.A.M.Y.’s Housing Preservation Grant and thirteen families were assisted with weatherization and heating/air replacement/repair services. The report was for information only and, therefore, no action was taken.
4H Presentation
Ms. Kate Payne, President of the Watauga County 4H Blue Ridge Pioneers, gave a presentation on the 4H program, the largest youth organization and known for hands-on learning, including youth made projects, work toward skill development, and raising and/or training animals. Ms. Payne shared the benefits of 4H and stated that 99% of North Carolina counties have one or more clubs. Watauga County’s Blue Ridge Pioneers 4H Club began in January 2023. Ms. Payne shared the importance and benefits of 4H clubs and information on their 2023 projects, including the Chick to Chicken, Beef Production, Equine Explorers, Shooting Sports, and Trades Training projects. Ms. Payne discussed funding through the Cooperative Extension and the Club’s vision of a County facility geared toward agriculture such as the facility in Halifax County which consists of two outdoor arenas, twelve RV hookups, restrooms, a concession stand, a sixteen-stall barn, and several miles of wooded, marked trails. Ms. Payne shared that the Blue Ridge Pioneers was governed by a three-member Board including herself, President, Ms. Hannah Osborne, Vice-President, and Ms. Robin Tomer, Secretary. The report was given for information only and, therefore, no action was taken.
Blue Ridge Conservancy Presentation
Ms. Wendy Patoprsty, Middle Fork Greenway Director, began by thanking the Board for the adoption of the recent resolution supporting the Year of the Trail along with local partnerships from the Watauga County Tourism Development Authority and the Parks and Recreation Department. Ms. Patoprsty stated that this was Middle Fork Greenway’s 23rd year as a non-profit and in 2015 the Blue Ridge Conservancy took the leadership role with the Watauga County Economic Development being beneficial as well.
Ms. Patoprsty presented a proposed letter of commitment for at least a 25% match and completion of the Boone Gorge Park project within a 3-year time frame for the NC Recreational Trails Program (RTP) grant. The Park was a portion of the Greenway consisting of 33 acres. The Blue Ridge Conservancy would provide the match. The letter would state that the Middle Fork Greenway was on target to be completed in the next three years and that the PARTF grant was funded.
Commissioner Wallin, seconded by Commissioner Russell, moved to authorize the drafting and approval of the letter of commitment.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
New River Conservancy Presentation
Ms. Katie Krogmeier, Restoration Director for the New River Conservancy, presented two requests to the Board. First, Ms. Krogmeier stated that the New River Conservancy was applying for an Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) grant for a New River Water Trail project which would provide mile markers along the river for safety purposes as well as recreation and economic development benefits. The project was started by Giles County, Virginia, which began the markers with Mile 1 being in Watauga County. Ms. Krogmeier requested a letter of support of the project to submit along with the ARC grant application.
Commissioner Russell, seconded by Commissioner Wallin, moved to authorized staff to draft and sign a support letter for the New River Water Trail project to be submitted to the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) along with the New River Conservancy’s grant application.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
Ms. Krogmeier also requested the following in regards to the Boone Creek Temple Restoration Project:
· Permission to implement the stream restoration project on County property (parcel IDs - 2900-59-4808-000, 2900-69-5897-000, & 2900-69-5774-000).
· Watauga County to place a DCR (Declaration of Covenant and Restrictions) on each parcel. The placement would vary depending on the parcel, but it must cover the riparian zone (up to 50 ft) around Boone Creek. - It was recommended that the area of County land, on parcel 2900-59-4808-00, that was in between the Temple property and Poplar Grove Connector Road be covered in its full extent.
· Watauga County to hold a conservation easement on the riparian zones of the Temple of the High Country’s property.
· Provide a letter of support, as presented by Ms. Krogmeier, to New River Conservancy discussing what was agreed upon.
Discussion was held regarding the above requests. County Attorney Capua stated that the County would hold the easements on the Temple of the High Country property to restore and maintain the stream. The County would be responsible for maintenance and to make sure no one interfered with the rights in the easements. If a violation was found, Watauga County would have to enforce and the County could be liable/responsible. County Manager Geouque stated that the easement was standard and just like easements the County has held for the Middle Fork Greenway project. The County Manager stated that he was good with the proposed letter of support as written.
Commissioner Russell, seconded by Commissioner Eggers, moved to approve the letter of support for the Boone Creek Temple Restoration Project as presented and directed staff to work with the County Attorney to draft a standard easement for the portions of the High Country Temple property as needed.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
Watauga County Public Library Annual Report
Ms. Monica Caruso, County Librarian, presented the Watauga County Public Library Annual Report. Ms. Caruso reported on youth and adult services, activities at the Western Watauga Branch, volunteer activities and gave an overview of revenues and expenses, statistics, and grants received. The report was for information only and, therefore, no action was required.
Maintenance Matters
A. Bid Award Request for Hannah Building Roof
Mr. Robert Marsh, Maintenance Director, stated that the County was awarded a State Capital Infrastructure Fund (SCIF) grant for the roof replacement on the County owned Hannah Building operated by the Health and Hunger Coalition. The SCIF grant provided $100,000 for the roof replacement and the Hunger and Health Coalition, who currently leases the property from the County, agreed to pay the difference. Bids for the replacement of the membrane roof system were recently solicited and opened on January 9, 2023. Mr. Marsh stated that staff reviewed the low bid including Alternates 1, 2, and 3 submitted by Triad Roofing Company, Inc. in the amount of $363,925 and recommended awarding the bid to Triad Roofing Company, Inc. with the additional amount over the $100,000 SCIF grant to be paid by the Hunger and Health Coalition.
Commissioner Eggers, seconded by Commissioner Wallin, moved to award the roofing project for the Hannah Building to the low bidder, Triad Roofing Company, Inc. including Alternates 1, 2, and 3 in the amount of $363,925 with the additional amount over the $100,000 SCIF grant to be paid by the Hunger and Health Coalition.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
B. Bid Award Request for Law Enforcement Center HVAC
Mr. Robert Marsh stated that Muter Construction was selected by the County to replace roofs and HVAC equipment in several County buildings including the Courthouse, Administration and Human Services buildings, Appalachian Enterprise Center, and the Law Enforcement Center. The scope of work at the Law Enforcement Center included retrofitting a new metal roof over a membrane roof and the replacement of all HVAC units. The contractor recently alerted the County to a condition of which they felt a Change Order was necessary. Their subcontractor, Associated Heating, was unable to connect the existing central controls unit to the new HVAC units due to the age and obsolescence of the existing electronic controls system. The Contractor applied for a Change Order in the amount of $55,462.59 for replacing the DDC controls with a new Honeywell cloud-based system. Staff reviewed and rejected the Change Order with an agreement that the new controls contractor would contract directly with the County to avoid the general contractor's markup.
Mr. Marsh stated that it was imperative to replace the DDC Controls as they coordinate with the function of the HVAC equipment and a portion of the Life Safety systems throughout the Law Enforcement Center Campus. The HVAC systems were currently operating on temporary controls; however, the Life Safety smoke exhaust system was inoperable until the new controls system was in place.
Mr. Marsh stated that Alpha Energy Solutions submitted a $47,078 proposal to replace the existing Honeywell controls system with a new Honeywell cloud-based controller, wiring, and sensors. The County has worked with the staff at Alpha for many years with good results and had already met with Alpha to discuss replacing the controls system in 2022. Funds would come from the administrative contingency.
Commissioner Russell, seconded by Commissioner Castle, moved to accept the bid submitted by Alpha Energy Solutions, in the amount of $47,078 for replacement of the existing HVAC controls system at the Law Enforcement Center.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
Parks and Recreation Out-of-State Travel Request
Mr. Eric Smallwood, Parks and Recreation Director, retroactively requested approval for Ms. Keron Poteat, Assistant Parks and Recreation Director, to travel to Hilton Head, SC, to make a presentation at the Professional Tennis Registry International Tennis Symposium. Ms. Poteat was asked to make the presentation shortly prior to the travel dates of Saturday, February 4 - Wednesday, February 8, 2023. All expenses were covered by Special Olympics and Keron would use her personal vehicle.
Commissioner Wallin, seconded by Commissioner Eggers, moved to authorize, retroactively, the out-of-state travel for Ms. Keron Poteat as presented by Mr. Smallwood.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
A. Proposed Audit Contract for Fiscal Year Ending June 30, 2023
Ms. Samantha Jones, Finance Director, presented an audit contract and engagement letter with C. Randolph CPA, PLLC for the County’s Fiscal Year 2022-23 audit. The contract was in the amount of $47,800. Adequate funds were available to cover the expenditure.
Commissioner Eggers, seconded by Commissioner Castle, moved to accept the contract with C. Randolph, CPA, PLLC for the County’s Fiscal Year 2022-2023 audit in an amount not to exceed $47,800.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
B. Proposed Letter of Engagement for County Financials for Fiscal Year Ending June 30, 2023
Ms. Samantha Jones presented a proposed engagement letter, in the amount of $10,000, with Misty Watson, CPA, PLLC to write the County Financials for Fiscal Year ending June 30, 2023. Adequate funds were available to cover the expenditure. County Manager Geouque and Ms. Jones confirmed that it was usual to hire an outside firm to write the Financials.
Commissioner Russell, seconded by Commissioner Eggers, moved to approve and accept the engagement letter with Misty Watson, CPA, PLLC to write the County Financials for Fiscal Year ending June 30, 2023, in the amount of $10,000.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
Miscellaneous Administrative Matters
A. Boards and Commissions
County Manager Geouque presented the following:
Planning Board
Each Commissioner nominates a representative to the Watauga County Planning Board whose terms run concurrent with the term of the appointing Commissioner. The Planning Board members must live within the appointing Commissioner’s District and action must be taken by the entire Board of Commissioners to make these appointments.
Commissioner Russell, seconded by Commissioner Wallin, moved to reappoint Mr. Neil Hartley to represent District 2.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
Tourism Development Authority
The terms of Matt Vincent, Tina Houston, and Lisa Cooper on the Watauga County Tourism Development Authority (TDA) were set to expire at the end of February 2023. All three board members were willing to continue to serve. Mr. Vincent currently serves as the TDA Board Chair. The Board of Commissioners also appoints the TDA Chair. It has been requested that, if reappointed to the TDA Board, Mr. Vincent be reappointed Chair.
Commissioner Wallin, seconded by Commissioner Eggers, moved to waive the second reading and reappoint Matt Vincent, Tina Houston and Lisa Cooper to the Watauga County Tourism Development Authority (TDA) and to reappoint Matt Vincent as the Chair to the Watauga County TDA.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
B. Announcements
County Manager Geouque announced that the Annual Pre-Budget Retreat was scheduled for Thursday, February 9, beginning at 12:00 P.M. and Friday, February 10, 2023, at 9:00 A.M.
Ms. Donna Breitenstein and Ms. Susan Poorman both shared support for the Watauga County Library’s request for expansion of their facility.
Closed Session
At 7:25 P.M., Commissioner Wallin, seconded by Commissioner Eggers, moved to enter Closed Session to discuss Attorney/Client Matters, per G. S. 143-318.11(a)(3).
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
Commissioner Wallin, seconded by Commissioner Eggers, moved to resume the open meeting at 9:21 P.M.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
Adjourn
Commissioner Wallin, seconded by Commissioner Eggers, moved to adjourn the meeting at 9:21 P.M.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
Larry Turnbow, Chairman
ATTEST:
Anita J. Fogle, Clerk to the Board