MINUTES
WATAUGA COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
TUESDAY, AUGUST 1, 2023
The Watauga County Board of Commissioners held a regular meeting, as scheduled, on Tuesday, August 1, 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 5:30 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 July 18, 2023, regular and closed session minutes.
Commissioner Russell, seconded by Commissioner Eggers, moved to approve the July 18, 2023, regular meeting minutes as presented.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
Approval of Agenda
Chairman Turnbow called for additions and/or corrections to the August 1, 2023, agenda.
Commissioner Castle, seconded by Commissioner Russell, moved to approve the August 1, 2023, agenda as presented.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
Public Comment
There was no public comment.
“Finding Our Way Home” Art Installation Request
Ms. Andi “Andi Dandelion” Gelsthorpe, Community Expressive Artist, requested permission from the Board to erect a community-built ephemeral labyrinth, titled “Finding Our Way Home,” which would be made of rope and ripped cloth in the grass area in front of the Human Services Building for the month of September. Ms. Gelsthorpe was pursuing community involvement and stated that the labyrinth would include ADA accessibility, windchimes, rocks to leave stacked in the center, laminated take-home cards that could be used as finger-tracing labyrinths, and local crops grown in pots in the center. Ms. Gelsthorpe requested to display the labyrinth from October 1 – November 1, 2023 and has been in communication with the Blue Ridge Women In Agriculture (BRWIA) staff so as not to be in conflict with the Tuesday afternoon Farmer’s Market.
Commissioner Russell, seconded by Commissioner Eggers, moved to approve the display of the labyrinth on the lawn in front of the Human Services Building as presented by Ms. Gelsthorpe.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
Emergency Services Matters
A. Communications Maintenance Contracts Renewal Requests
Mr. Will Holt, Emergency Services Director, presented the renewal of three maintenance contracts with Mobile Communications America in the total amount of $67,328.04. The contracts cover maintenance for the radio systems in the Communications Center, at each tower site, and the mobile equipment. Adequate funds were budgeted for the expense.
Commissioner Russell, seconded by Vice-Chairman Wallin, moved to approve the renewal of three maintenance contracts with Mobile Communications America in the amount of $67,328.04.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
B. Carolina Recording Systems (CRS) Recorder AIS Purchase Request
Mr. Will Holt, Emergency Services Director, presented a request for the purchase and installation of the AIS recorder license for the back-up PSAP in the amount of $25,910.00. Adequate funds were available for the expenditure.
Commissioner Eggers, seconded by Commissioner Castle, moved to approve the purchase and installation of the AIS recorder license from Carolina Recording Systems in the amount of $25,910.00.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
C. Fire Department District Adjustment Request
Mr. Will Holt, Emergency Services Director, presented a request to schedule a public hearing for September 5, 2023, to allow citizen comment on the approval of the plat to adjust the fire protection district for the Ridge Cherry Gap Subdivision from the Fall Creek to Beech Mountain district. The change was approved by both fire departments.
Vice-Chairman Wallin, seconded by Commissioner Russell, moved to schedule a public hearing at 5:30 P.M. on September 5, 2023, to allow public comment on the proposed approval of an adjustment to the fire protection district for the Ridge Cherry Gap Subdivision from the Fall Creek to Beech Mountain district.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
Miscellaneous Administrative Matters
A. Request to Purchase John Deere Excavator
County Manager Geouque stated that the Sanitation Department requested to purchase a new 2023 John Deere 160P LC FT4 Excavator on State Contract from James River Equipment, Inc., in the amount of $257,870. The County Manager stated that the new 2023 John Deere 160P LC FT4 Excavator would be used in the Transfer Station for the daily loading and removal of trash. Utilizing the new Excavator would optimize staff time and eliminate one Wheel Loader which would otherwise need replacing soon thus saving the County $83,460 in lieu of purchasing the new loader as budgeted.
After discussion, Vice-Chairman Wallin, seconded by Commissioner Russell, moved to approve the purchase of a new 2023 John Deere 160P LC FT4 Excavator on State Contract from James River Equipment, Inc., in the amount of $257,870.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
B. UNC School of Government Development Finance Initiative (DFI) Brookshire Housing Project Request to Exempt the Project per G. S. 143-64.32
County Manager Geouque stated that as part of the proposal with the UNC School of Government Development Finance Initiative (DFI), the Board adopted, in December 2022, a review of the development of the Brookshire Housing Project which is underway and requires the hiring of an architect to continue forward.
North Carolina General Statute 143-64.31 requires the hiring of architectural, engineering, surveying, construction management at risk services, design-build services, and public-private partnership construction services to be selected on the basis of demonstrated competence and qualification for the type of professional services required without regard to fee. However, NCGS 143-64.32 allows for an exemption on the above requirement in writing when an estimated professional fee is in an amount less than fifty thousand dollars ($50,000).
The County Manager stated that UNC DFI estimated costs for the services to be less than the $50,000 and, due to the specialty of this project, recommended the County exempt the project per NCGS 143-64.32.
After discussion, Commissioner Russell, seconded by Vice-Chairman Wallin, moved to exempt the architect selection process for the Brookshire Housing Project per NCGS 143-64.32.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
C. Request to Re-Schedule the Public Hearing to Allow Public Comment on the Closeout of the 2020 Community Development Block Grant Relief Program Project (CDBG-CV)
County Manager Geouque stated that the County was awarded the Community Development Block Grant – COVID (CDBG-CV). One of the conditions of the CDBG-CV grant required the County to schedule a public hearing for the closeout of the grant. High Country Council Governments requested the hearing be scheduled for August 1, 2023. As such, staff submitted the ad to the Watauga Democrat; however, the ad was not published in the requested edition. Therefore, the public hearing needed to be rescheduled for Tuesday, August 15, 2023, at 5:30 P.M.
Commissioner Castle, seconded by Commissioner Eggers, moved to reschedule the public hearing for the closeout of the Community Development Block Grant – COVID (CDBG-CV) for August 15, 2023.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
D. Proposed Human Services Parking Lot Agreement with Appalachian State University
County Manager Geouque stated that at the last Board meeting, discussion included the game day parking lease with Appalachian State University. Staff was seeking clarification that the one (1) year lease was approved for the upcoming season with the County Manager to contact ASU regarding an increase in the lease amount and terms for upcoming years.
Chairman Turnbow clarified that the lease was approved for one (1) year at the same amount as previous years with the understanding that it would be evaluated over the next year to consider a longer term and increased fee as well as to determine if it would be a better use to allow non-profits to profit from its use.
E. Boards and Commissions
County Manager Geouque presented the following:
Watauga County Library Board
The Watauga County Library Board recommended the appointment of Ms. Candice Trexler to replace Dr. Scott Elliott who resigned. If appointed, Ms. Trexler would fill the un-expired term which will end in August 2024. This was a first reading and, therefore, no action was required.
Commissioner Eggers, seconded by Vice-Chairman Wallin, moved to waive the second reading and appoint Ms. Candice Trexler to fill the un-expired term of Dr. Scott Elliott on the Watauga County Library Board with the term to end on August 31, 2024.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
F. Announcements
County Manager Geouque announced that the 116th North Carolina Association of County Commissioners (NCACC) Annual Conference would be held August 24-26, 2023, in Wake County at the Raleigh Convention Center.
Adjourn
Vice-Chairman Wallin, seconded by Commissioner Russell, moved to adjourn the meeting at 6:05 P.M.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
Larry Turnbow, Chairman
ATTEST:
Anita J. Fogle, Clerk to the Board