MINUTES
WATAUGA COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2023
The Watauga County Board of Commissioners held a regular meeting, as scheduled, on Tuesday, December 5, 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 5:36 P.M. The following were present:
PRESENT: Larry Turnbow, Chairman
Charlie Wallin, Vice-Chairman
Todd Castle, Commissioner
Braxton Eggers, Commissioner
Ray Russell, Commissioner
Anthony di Santi, County Attorney
Andrea Capua, County Attorney (arrived at 5:54 P.M.)
Deron Geouque, County Manager
Anita J. Fogle, Clerk to the Board
Commissioner Russell opened with a prayer and Commissioner Castle led the Pledge of Allegiance.
Approval of Minutes
Chairman Turnbow called for additions and/or corrections to the November 21, 2023, regular minutes and closed session minutes.
Commissioner Castle, seconded by Vice-Chairman Wallin, moved to approve the November 21, 2023, regular meeting minutes as presented.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
Commissioner Castle, seconded by Vice-Chairman Wallin, moved to approve the November 21, 2023, closed session minutes as presented.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
Approval of Agenda
Chairman Turnbow called for additions and/or corrections to the December 5, 2023, agenda.
County Manager Geouque requested to add an out-of-state travel request from Parks and Recreation to Miscellaneous Administrative Matters.
Commissioner Russell, seconded by Vice-Chairman Wallin, moved to approve the December 5, 2023, agenda as amended.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
Board Organizational Matters
A. Election of Officers
County Manager Geouque called for nominations for Chairman.
Vice-Chairman Wallin, seconded by Commissioner Russell, moved to nominate Commissioner Turnbow for Chairman of the Watauga County Board of Commissioners.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
The meeting was turned over to Chairman Turnbow.
Chairman Turnbow called for nominations for Vice-Chairman.
Chairman Turnbow, seconded by Commissioner Russell, moved to nominate Commissioner Wallin for Vice-Chairman of the Watauga County Board of Commissioners.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
B. Staff Appointments
Vice-Chairman Wallin, seconded by Commissioner Russell, moved to reappoint the following:
· Deron Geouque as the County Manager
· Anita Fogle as Clerk to the Board
· Monica Harrison and Macy Chirco as Substitute Clerks to the Board
· di Santi, Capua, & Garrett as the Law Firm representing Watauga County as legal counsel for Watauga County
· di Santi, Capua, & Garrett as the Law Firm representing as legal counsel for Watauga County Department of Social Services and the Child Support Enforcement Offices with rates to remain as current and authorized di Santi, Capua, & Garrett to appoint another attorney, at the same rate, in the event their firm had a conflict of interest.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
C. Fidelity Bonds
The following individual fidelity bonds were presented for approval:
Position Bond Amount Statutory Requirement
Finance Director $1,000,000 No less than $50,000, per NCGS 159-29
Deputy Finance Director $50,000
(County Manager)
Tax Collector $50,000 Amount considered reasonable
by BCC, NCGS 105-349-c
Register of Deeds $50,000 At least $10,000 but no more
than $50,000, NCGS 161-4
Sheriff $25,000 Amount considered reasonable by BCC,
but no more than $25,000 max, NCGS 162-8
Commissioner Eggers, seconded by Commissioner Castle, moved to approve the individual fidelity bonds as presented and to approve the Finance Director, County Manager, and Chairman of the Board of Commissioners as the authorized signers for disbursements on all County accounts and to approve additional signers and Deputy Finance Officers, on the Inmate Commissary account only, as Randy Greene, James Sharpe, Barry Trivette, and Michael Brown and to approve the official depositories of the County as First National Bank, Truist Bank, NC Capital Management Trust Fund, and Multi-Bank Securities, Inc.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
D. Commissioner Appointments to Boards & Commissions
Chairman Turnbow requested Commissioners review the below list of Commissioner Board appointments, with Commissioner Russell now the representative to the High Country Council of Governments Boards, and let him know preferences for serving.
|
Member |
|
|
Appalachian District Health Department |
Castle |
|
Appalachian Theatre Board of Trustees Ex-Officio Member |
Wallin |
|
AppalCART Authority |
Wallin |
|
Blue Ridge Resource Conservation & Development Area |
Turnbow |
|
Caldwell Community College &Technical Institute - Watauga Advisory Board |
Eggers |
|
Children’s Council |
Castle |
|
Child Protection Team |
Russell |
|
Cooperative Extension Advisory Leadership Board |
Castle |
|
Economic Development Commission (EDC) |
Turnbow |
|
Educational Planning Committee (2 appointees) |
Wallin & Russell |
|
EMS Advisory Committee |
Castle |
|
High Country Council of Governments Executive Board Rural Transportation Advisory Committee |
Russell |
|
Juvenile Crime Prevention Council (JCPC) |
Russell |
|
Humane Society |
Turnbow |
|
Library Board |
Eggers |
|
Motor Vehicle Valuation Review Committee |
BCC |
|
New River Service Authority Board |
Wallin |
|
Northwest Regional Housing Authority (five-year term expires Dec. 12, 2024) |
Pat Vines |
|
POA Advisory Committee (Home & Community Care Block Grant) |
Eggers |
|
Sheriff’s Office Liaison |
Turnbow |
|
Vaya Regional Board (Region 3) |
Russell & Wallin |
|
Social Services Advisory Board |
Wallin |
|
Watauga County Arts Council (added February 2020) |
Eggers |
|
Watauga County Fire Commission |
Turnbow |
|
Watauga County Personnel Advisory Committee |
Chair or Vice-Chair |
|
Watauga County Recreation Commission |
Russell |
|
Watauga Medical Center Board of Trustees |
Russell |
|
W.A.M.Y. Community Action |
Wallin |
|
Watauga Opportunities, Inc. |
Turnbow |
|
Workforce Development Board (WDB) |
Chairman |
Commissioner Eggers stated that the Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute (CCC&TI) Board no longer met and should be removed from the list. Commissioner Russell questioned having no direct line of communication with the CCC&TI. County Manager Geouque stated that the CCC&TI Board invited the Board of Commissioners to attend a joint meeting twice a year and reminded the Board that Dr. Mark Poarch, Executive Director of CCC&TI always made himself available to the Board and County Manager for questions. Commissioner Russell requested, due to the amount of money the CCC&TI receives from the County, an Advisory Board be reestablished. County Manager Geouque stated that he would contact Dr. Poarch with the concerns.
Chairman Turnbow appointed representatives to the above Boards and Commissions as presented.
E. Regular Meeting Schedule
Chairman Turnbow stated that the Board of Commissioners’ regular meetings were currently scheduled for the first and third Tuesdays of each month at 5:30 P.M.
Vice-Chairman Wallin, seconded by Commissioner Russell, moved to retain the regular meeting schedule for the Watauga County Board of Commissioners as follows: the first Tuesday and third Tuesdays of each month at 5:30 P.M.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
County Manager Geouque reminded the Board that the first December meeting in even numbered years had to be rescheduled to the first Monday.
There was no public comment.
Bid Award Request for Soil and Water Conservation Streamflow Rehabilitation Assistance Program (StRAP) for the Stone Mountain Branch Project
In July of 2022, the Board accepted a contract with the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Sciences for $159,750 under StRAP. Previous projects have been awarded under this contract.
Ms. Mikey Woodie, Soil and Water Conservation, presented the following bids received for the fourth project under the StRAP Program which is the Stone Mountain Branch Stream Debris Removal Project.
|
List of Bidding Contractors |
Contractor Location |
Total Bid Amount |
Meets License and Insurance Requirements |
|
W. Brown Construction, LLC |
Eastbend, NC |
$60,000 |
Yes |
|
Southern Disaster Recovery, LLC |
Greenville, SC |
$132,180 |
Yes |
|
WMF Land Service, LLC |
Clyde, NC |
$38,889 |
Yes |
|
Hicks Construction Enterprises Inc. |
Sugar Grove, NC |
$52,000 |
Yes |
Ms. Woodie recommended the bid be awarded to WMF Land Service, LLC, in the amount of $38,889. The award of this project would leave $28,150 remaining of the $159,750 awarded initially in the 2022 StreamFlow Rehabilitation Assistance Program (StRAP) contract which would leave funds for one final project. No County funds were required.
Commissioner Russell, seconded by Vice-Chairman Wallin, moved to award the bid to WMF Land Service, LLC in the amount of $38,889 from the StreamFlow Rehabilitation Assistance Program (StRAP) contract for the Stone Mountain Branch Stream Debris Removal Project.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
FY 2024 Senior’s Health Insurance Information Program (SHIIP) Grant/Contract
Ms. Angie Boitnotte, Project on Aging Director, requested acceptance of the grant from the Senior’s Health Insurance Information Program (SHIIP) which was a division of the North Carolina Department of Insurance. The grant was in the amount of $8,310 and does not require any County match. The funds would be used to conduct outreach, provide open enrollment for Medicare Part D, a volunteer recognition event, counseling clinics, expand Low Income Subsidy (LIS) outreach and enrollment, and the cost of the SHIIP Coordinator’s attendance at the SHIIP Coordinator’s Training Conference.
Vice-Chairman Wallin, seconded by Commissioner Eggers, moved to accept the grant from the Senior’s Health Insurance Information Program (SHIIP) in the amount of $8,310 with no County match.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
Miscellaneous Administrative Matters
A. Parks and Recreation Out-of-State Travel Request
County Manager Geouque requested for Mr. Craig Lands, Assistant Parks and Recreation Director, to travel out-of-state to Pigeon Forge, TN, for a trip with senior citizens.
Commissioner Castle, seconded by Commissioner Eggers, moved to approve the out-of-state travel request as presented by the County Manager.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
B. January Meeting Schedule
County Manager Geouque stated that the Board has traditionally cancelled one of the meetings in either December or January depending on how the holidays have fallen. Due to where Christmas and New Year’s fall during the week, staff would recommend the Board cancel the first meeting in January as there would be insufficient time to prepare the Board packets. Historically, December and the first weeks in January have few issues requiring Board action; however, a special meeting could be called if needed prior to the second meeting in January.
Commissioner Castle, seconded by Commissioner Russell, moved to cancel the January 2, 2024, Board of County Commissioners meeting.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
C. Boards and Commissions
County Manager Geouque presented the following:
Watauga Medical Center Board of Trustees
The Watauga Medical Center Board of Trustees has recommended Dr. Paul Dagher, Ms. Meagan Phillips, and Ms. Mary Louise Roberts for reappointment as Board Trustees. Each of their terms would be effective January 1, 2024, through December 31, 2026. These are first readings.
Commissioner Russell, who serves on the Watauga Medical Center Board of Trustees, stated that he was honored to have served with each of these who have performed excellent work as Trustees.
Commissioner Russell, seconded by Commissioner Eggers, moved to waive the second reading and reappoint Dr. Paul Dagher, Ms. Meagan Phillips, and Ms. Mary Louise Roberts to serve three-year terms, beginning on January 1, 2024, and ending on December 31, 2026, on the Watauga Medical Center Board of Trustees.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
D. Announcements
County Manager Geouque announced that the Annual Employee Christmas Lunch would be held at Dan’l Boone Inn on Tuesday, December 12, 2023, from 11:30 A.M. to 2:00 P.M. The first lunch group would begin at 11:30 A.M. and the second lunch group would begin at 1:00 P.M.
Closed Session
At 6:07 P.M., Vice-Chairman Wallin, seconded by Commissioner Russell, moved to enter Closed Session to discuss Attorney/Client Matters, per G. S. 143-318.11(a)(3).
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
Vice-Chairman Wallin, seconded by Commissioner Russell, moved to resume the open meeting at 6:58 P.M.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
Adjourn
Vice-Chairman Wallin, seconded by Commissioner Eggers, moved to adjourn the meeting at 6:58 P.M.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
Larry Turnbow, Chairman
ATTEST:
Anita J. Fogle, Clerk to the Board