MINUTES
WATAUGA COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
MONDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2024
The Watauga County Board of Commissioners held a regular meeting, as scheduled, on Monday, December 2, 2024, 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 5:31 P.M. The following were present:
PRESENT: Larry Turnbow, Chairman
Charlie Wallin, Vice-Chairman
Todd Castle, Commissioner
Braxton Eggers, Commissioner
Ray Russell, Commissioner
Deron Geouque, County Manager
Anita J. Fogle, Clerk to the Board
Chairman Turnbow called for a moment of silence in memory of former Sheriff, Red Lyons, who passed earlier in the day.
Chairman Turnbow opened with a prayer and Chairman Turnbow led the Pledge of Allegiance.
Approval of Minutes
Chairman Turnbow called for additions and/or corrections to the November 19, 2024, regular meeting and closed session minutes.
Vice-Chairman Wallin, seconded by Commissioner Russell, moved to approve the November 19, 2024, regular meeting minutes as presented.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
Vice-Chairman Wallin, seconded by Commissioner Russell, moved to approve the November 19, 2024, closed session minutes as presented.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
Recess Meeting for Swearing In of New Commissioners
At 5:34 P.M. Vice-Chairman Wallin, seconded by Commissioner Russell, moved to recess the meeting to allow for Commissioners-Elect Todd Castle, Braxton Eggers, and Ronnie Marsh to take their oath of office.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
Reconvene
County Manager Geouque reconvened the meeting at 5:43 P.M. in the Commissioners’ Board Room with Commissioners Castle, Eggers, and Marsh present.
Board Organizational Matters
A. Election of Officers
County Manager Geouque called for nominations for Chairman.
Commissioner Marsh, seconded by Commissioner Castle, moved to nominate Commissioner Eggers for Chairman of the Watauga County Board of Commissioners.
VOTE: Aye-3
Nay-0
The meeting was turned over to Chairman Eggers.
Chairman Eggers called for nominations for Vice-Chairman.
Commissioner Marsh, seconded by Chairman Eggers, moved to nominate Commissioner Castle for Vice-Chairman of the Watauga County Board of Commissioners.
VOTE: Aye-3
Nay-0
B. Staff Appointments
1. Staff
Vice-Chairman Castle, seconded by Commissioner Marsh, moved to reappoint Deron Geouque as the County Manager.
VOTE: Aye-3
Nay-0
Vice-Chairman Castle, seconded by Commissioner Marsh, moved to reappoint Anita Fogle as Clerk to the Board.
VOTE: Aye-3
Nay-0
Vice-Chairman Castle, seconded by Commissioner Marsh, moved to reappoint both Monica Harrison and Macy Chirco as Substitute Clerks to the Board.
VOTE: Aye-3
Nay-0
B. Staff Appointments
2. County Attorney
Commissioner Marsh, seconded by Vice-Chairman Castle, moved to appoint Miller & Johnson, PLLC, as the Law Firm representing Watauga County as legal counsel and approve the proposed contract for services.
VOTE: Aye-3
Nay-0
B. Staff Appointments
3. Resolution to Allow the County Attorney to Act on the Behalf of the County
Chairman Eggers presented a proposed Resolution to Allow the County Attorney to Act on the Behalf of the County.
Vice-Chairman Castle, seconded by Commissioner Marsh, moved to adopt the resolution as presented.
VOTE: Aye-3
Nay-0
C. Fidelity Bonds
The following individual fidelity bonds were presented for approval:
Position Bond Amount Statutory Requirement
Finance Director $50,000 No less than $50,000, per NCGS 159-29
Deputy Finance Director $50,000 As the County Manager was currently
(County Manager) the Finance Director this was not needed.
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 Marsh, seconded by Vice-Chairman Castle, moved to approve the individual fidelity bonds as presented.
VOTE: Aye-3
Nay-0
D. Appointment of Commissioner Vacancies
County Attorney Miller explained that, in accordance with General Assembly of North Carolina Session 2023, Session Law 2023-147, Senate Bill 759, newly elected Commissioners Braxton Eggers and Todd Castle won new four-year terms and upon being sworn in, their two former seats were vacated. The vacated seats must be filled in accordance with the Consent Order in 23-CVS-591 and G. S. 153A-27. Mr. Miller stated that in the Consent Order the districts with seats to be filled were defined as Residency Districts with appointments to be made from Old Residency District 1 and Old Residency District 3 and from the same political party as the vacating commissioners.
After giving a brief biography of Mr. Hodges, Commissioner Marsh, seconded by Vice-Chairman Castle, moved to nominate Tim Hodges to be appointed to the Old Residency District 3 seat.
VOTE: Aye-3
Nay-0
After giving a brief biography of Ms. Greene, Vice-Chairman Hodges, seconded by Commissioner Marsh, moved to nominate Emily Greene to be appointed to the Old Residency District 1 seat.
VOTE: Aye-3
Nay-0
Recess Meeting for Swearing In of New Commissioners
At 5:55 P.M. Chairman Eggers recessed the meeting to allow for newly appointed Commissioners Tim Hodges and Emily Greene to take their oath of office.
Reconvene
Chairman Eggers reconvened the meeting at 6:01 P.M. in the Commissioners’ Board Room with Chairman Eggers, Vice-Chairman Castle, as well as Commissioners Greene, Hodges, and Marsh present.
Board Organizational Matters (Continued)
E. Commissioner Appointments to Boards & Commissions
Chairman Eggers presented a list of proposed appointments to various Boards and Commissions as below:
|
Member |
|
|
Appalachian District Health Department |
Castle |
|
Appalachian Theatre Board of Trustees Ex-Officio Member |
Greene |
|
AppalCART Authority |
Marsh |
|
Blue Ridge Resource Conservation & Development Area |
Eggers |
|
Children’s Council |
Greene |
|
Child Protection Team |
Greene |
|
Cooperative Extension Advisory Leadership Board |
Castle |
|
Economic Development Commission (EDC) |
Hodges |
|
Educational Planning Committee (2 appointees) |
Eggers & Castle |
|
EMS Advisory Committee |
Marsh |
|
High Country Council of Governments Executive Board Rural Transportation Advisory Committee |
Eggers |
|
Juvenile Crime Prevention Council (JCPC) |
Marsh |
|
Humane Society |
Castle |
|
Library Board |
Greene |
|
Motor Vehicle Valuation Review Committee |
BCC |
|
New River Service Authority Board |
Marsh |
|
Northwest Regional Housing Authority (five-year term expires Dec. 13, 2029) |
Pat Vines |
|
POA Advisory Committee (Home & Community Care Block Grant) |
Eggers |
|
Sheriff’s Office Liaison |
Marsh & Eggers |
|
Vaya Regional Board (Region 3) |
Eggers & Castle |
|
Social Services Advisory Board |
Hodges |
|
Watauga County Arts Council (added February 2020) |
Greene |
|
Watauga County Fire Commission |
Marsh |
|
Watauga County Personnel Advisory Committee |
Chair or Vice-Chair |
|
Watauga County Recreation Commission |
Eggers & Castle |
|
Watauga Medical Center Board of Trustees |
Castle |
|
W.A.M.Y. Community Action |
Hodges |
|
Watauga Opportunities, Inc. |
Hodges |
|
Workforce Development Board (WDB) |
Chairman |
Commissioner Marsh, seconded by Vice-Chairman Castle, moved to approve the appointments as presented by Chairman Eggers.
VOTE: Aye-4
Nay-0
Chairman Eggers stated that each Commissioner nominates a representative to the Boone Rural Fire Protection Service District Board and the Watauga County Planning Board whose terms run concurrent with the term of the appointing Commissioner. 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. Boone Rural Fire Service District Board members must own property and reside within the Fire Service District.
Chairman Eggers tabled the appointments to the Planning Board and Boone Rural Fire Service District Board to the December 17, 2024, meeting.
F. Regular Meeting Schedule
Chairman Eggers 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 Castle, seconded by Commissioner Hodges, moved to retain the regular meeting schedule for the Watauga County Board of Commissioners as follows: the first Tuesday and third Tuesday of each month at 5:30 P.M.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
Approval of Agenda
Chairman Eggers called for additions and/or corrections to the December 2, 2024, agenda.
County Manager Geouque requested the proposed interior and exterior signage for the new Valle Crucis Elementary School be removed from the agenda as State contract pricing would be requested prior to consideration.
Commissioner Marsh, seconded by Vice-Chairman Castle, moved to approve the December 2, 2024, agenda as amended.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
Public Comment
North Carolina Association of County Commissioners’ (NCACC) Second Vice President Todd McNeill, from Ashe County, introduced himself to the Board and stated that he looks forward to working with Commissioners and encouraged each to join NCACC Committees.
Miscellaneous Administrative Matters
A. 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 recommended 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. Mr. Geouque stated that a special meeting could be called if necessary.
Commissioner Hodges, seconded by Commissioner Greene, moved to cancel the first meeting in January 2025.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
B. Announcements
County Manager Geouque announced the following:
The Essentials of County Government course (including Ethics Training) will be held on the following dates:
· January 16-17, 2025, in New Bern (8:30 A.M. – 4:30 P.M. on Thursday and Friday)
· January 23-24, 2025, in Winston Salem (8:30 A.M. – 4:30 P.M. on Thursday and Friday)
· February 19-20, 2025, in Asheville (8:30 A.M. – 4:30 P.M. on Wednesday and Thursday)
There is also a Pre-Session Zoom presentation this year entitled “From Campaigning to Governing: What a Newly Elected Commissioner Needs to Know in the First 30 Days.” This will take place on Thursday December 5, 2024, from 8:30-9:30 A.M.
County Manager Geouque stated that an online Ethics course was typically available later in the year as well.
Adjourn
Commissioner Marsh, seconded by Commissioner Greene, moved to adjourn the meeting at 6:10 P.M.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
Braxton Eggers, Chairman
ATTEST: Anita J. Fogle, Clerk to the Board