• Watauga County Board of Commissioners

MINUTES
 
WATAUGA COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
MONDAY, JUNE 4, 2001
 
            The Watauga County Board of Commissioners held a regular meeting on Monday, June 4, 2001 at 9:00 A.M. in the Board Room of the Watauga County Courthouse.
 
                        PRESENT:       Jimmy Hodges, Chairman
                                                James Coffey, Vice-Chairman
                                                Jack Lawrence, Sr., Commissioner
                                                Sue Sweeting, Commissioner
                                                Jeff Hedrick, County Attorney
                                                Robert E. Nelson, Jr., County Manager
                                                Anita Fogle, Clerk to the Board
 
            Commissioner Wilkie was unable to attend the meeting due to prior commitments.
 
            Chairman Hodges called the meeting to order at 9:01 A.M. welcoming those in attendance.
 
            A moment of silence was observed.
 
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
 
            Chairman Hodges called for additions or corrections to the May 22, 2001 regular meeting minutes; the May 22, 2001 closed session meeting minutes; the May 23, 2001 special meeting minutes; and the May 24, 2001 special meeting minutes.
 
            Commissioner Sweeting seconded by Vice-Chairman Coffey, moved to approve the May 22, 2001 regular meeting minutes; the May 22, 2001 closed session minutes; the May 23, 2001 special meeting minutes; and the May 24, 2001 special meeting minutes as presented.
 
VOTE: Aye-4
                                                                                                 Nay-0
                                                                                                 Absent-1 (Wilkie)
 
APPROVAL OF JUNE 4, 2001 AGENDA
 
            Chairman Hodges called for additions or corrections to the June 4, 2001 agenda.
 
            Vice-Chairman Coffey seconded by Commissioner Lawrence, moved to approve the June 4, 2001 agenda as presented.
 
VOTE: Aye-4
                                                                                                 Nay-0
                                                                                                 Absent-1 (Wilkie)
 
PUBLIC HEARING – CONSIDERATION OF ADOPTION OF THE SCHEDULE OF VALUES
 
            Chairman Hodges declared the public hearing open at 9:03 A.M. to allow for comment on the schedule of values. 
 
            Mr. Larry McLean, Tax Administrator, reported on the proposed Schedule of Values and noted of it’s availability for public inspection. Mr. McLean requested Board action on the Schedule of Values at the June 19, 2001 meeting.    
 
            There being no public comment, Chairman Hodges declared the public hearing closed at 9:05 A.M.
 
            No Board action was required and none was taken.
 
PUBLIC HEARING – CONSIDERATION OF THE MANAGER’S PROPOSED BUDGET FOR FY 2002
 
            Chairman Hodges declared the public hearing open at 9:05 A.M. to allow for comment on the Manager’s proposed budget for FY 2002. 
 
            The following individuals addressed the Board regarding their budget requests:
 
            Ms. Kim Johnson – Blowing Rock Community Arts Center
            Ms. Jennifer Herman – OASIS
            Mr. John Brubaker – Boone Area Chamber of Commerce
            Mr. Larry McRae – Hospitality House
            Ms. Cherry Johnson – Watauga County Arts Council
 
            Each individual briefly discussed their agency’s budget request for Fiscal Year 2001/2002 and encouraged the Board to approve their funding requests as presented.
 
            There being no further public comment, Chairman Hodges declared the public hearing closed at 9:24 A.M.
 
            No Board action was required and none was taken.
 
TAX MATTERS
 
            A.        Monthly Collections Report – Tax Administrator, Larry McLean, presented the Tax Collections Report for the month of May 2001.
 
            B.         Releases and Refunds – Tax Administrator McLean presented the following Refunds and Releases for May 2001 for Board approval:
 
TO BE TYPED IN MINUTE BOOK
 
            Commissioner Sweeting seconded by Commissioner Lawrence, moved to approve the Refunds and Releases Report as presented.
 
VOTE: Aye-4
                                                                                                 Nay-0
                                                                                                 Absent-1 (Wilkie)
       
BUDGET AMENDMENTS
 
Finance Director, Doris Isaacs, presented the following budget amendments for Board approval:
 
            Account #                    Description                                                           Debit             Credit
            103612-352100           Grant-App. Health Dept.                                                            4,500
            104283-435101           Repairs & Mtn.-Grounds                                     4,500
 
            To recognize the award from Appalachian District Health Department to pave a connecting path for the Greenway behind the Industrial Park ball field.
 
            Account #                    Description                                                           Debit             Credit
            223594-333000           State School Bond Proceeds                                                  132,899
            225912-463000           School Cap. Outlay                                         132,899
 
            To recognize balance on State School Bond Proceeds project allotments. We do not actually receive these funds, but recognize them as grant revenue in our financials.
 
            Account #                    Description                                                           Debit             Credit
            103991-399103           Fund Bal. Approp.-Pr. Yr. Carryover                                      10,405
            104310-412600           Salaries-Part-time                                              10,405
 
            To recognize carryover of balance of grant funds as of 06-30-00 for transportation of mental commitments.
 
            Vice-Chairman Coffey seconded by Commissioner Sweeting, moved to approve the budget amendments as presented.
 
VOTE: Aye-4
                                                                                                 Nay-0
                                                                                                 Absent-1 (Wilkie)
 
MISCELLANEOUS ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS
 
            A.         Zoning Ordinance Study Committee Discussion – County Manager Nelson stated that a memo was sent to members of the Zoning Ordinance Study Committee which stated that further information on a meeting schedule would follow and which included a copy of the Adopted Moratorium, the Proposed Interim Ordinance, Proposed Changes to the Proposed Interim Ordinance, and the motion from the April 17, 2001 meeting minutes stating the purpose of the Committee.
 
            Commissioner Lawrence, seconded by Vice-Chairman Coffey, made a motion to use Geoffrey Willet with the North Carolina Division of Community Assistance as facilitator for the Study Committee with Council Main assisting him.
 
VOTE: Aye-4
                                                                                                 Nay-0
                                                                                                 Absent-1 (Wilkie)
 
            B.     Boards and Commissions – County Manager Nelson stated that per Rick Herndon, Planning and Development Director at Region D Council of Governments, Carl Roten, Carroll Garland, Bill Williamson, Jr., and Patricia Wilkie could be reappointed or new appointments could be made to the Region D Development Corporation.
 
            Commissioner Lawrence, seconded by Commissioner Sweeting, made a motion to re-appoint Carl Roten, Carroll Garland, Bill Williamson, Jr., and Patricia Wilkie to the Region D Development Corporation.
 
VOTE: Aye-4
                                                                                                 Nay-0
                                                                                                 Absent-1 (Wilkie)
 
            County Manager Nelson stated that J. B. Lawrence and Susan Norris (formerly Susan Winkler) were nominated for re-appointment by the Economic Development Commission. County Manager Nelson stated that the current Economic Development Commission Chair, Jerry Moretz, will have completed six consecutive years of service at the end of June and, therefore, would be mandated to rotate off the Commission; therefore, the Commission nominated Phil Minor for appointment to a three year term, which will expire June 30, 2004.
 
            Commissioner Sweeting, seconded by Commissioner Lawrence, made a motion to re-appoint J. B. Lawrence and Susan Norris and to appoint Phil Minor to the Economic Development Commission as presented.
 
VOTE: Aye-4
                                                                                                 Nay-0
                                                                                                 Absent-1 (Wilkie)
 
            County Manager Nelson stated that the following Boards and Commissions are in the process of providing nominations for upcoming vacancies: Cove Creek Fire Protection District Commission, Boone Board of Adjustments, CCC&TI Board of Trustees, Criminal Justice Partnership Board, Juvenile Crime Prevention Council, Region D Workforce Development Board. County Manager Nelson also stated that Clerk of Court Glenn Hodges would be nominating a member for the Jury Commission and that the Board was to appoint a member to the Social Services Board or could request a nomination from that Board. The Commissioners requested that Jim Atkinson, Director of the Department of Social Services to prepare a list of nominations for the position on the Social Services Board. Commissioner Sweeting stated that an application of a citizen expressing interest in serving on the Social Services Board had recently been received.
 
 
            C.     Announcements –
                     1.      County Manager Nelson stated that the 94th Annual North Carolina Association of County Commissioners Conference would be held in Fayetteville, August 9-12, 2001. County Manager Nelson requested that Board members contact the Clerk to the Board to make arrangements for this conference.
 
                     2.      County Manager Nelson stated that Mr. Chris Turner with AppalCART requested a Public Hearing be set to consider the Rural Operating Assistance Program for FY 2001/2002. Mr. Turner requested that the Public Hearing be scheduled for the June 19, 2001 Commissioners Meeting.
 
                        Commissioner Sweeting, seconded by Vice-Chairman Coffey, made a motion to schedule a Public Hearing for the June 19, 2001 meeting of the Board of Commissioners to consider the Rural Operating Assistance Program for FY 2001/2002.
 
VOTE: Aye-4
                                                                                                 Nay-0
                                                                                                 Absent-1 (Wilkie)
 
                      3.      County Manager Nelson stated that cable rebroadcast of the Board of Commissioners meetings would be as follows: the Monday meetings would be broadcast on Monday evening at 7:00 P.M. and the Tuesday meetings would be broadcast on Wednesday evening at 7:00 P.M. The schedule took effect June 2001.
 
                       4.      County Manager Nelson stated that an additional Budget Work Session would need to be scheduled. It was the consensus of the Board that the Budget Work Session be Tuesday, June 12, 2001 at 6:00 P.M. or immediately following the Board of Equalization and Review meeting tentatively scheduled for 6:00 P.M..
 
ADJOURN
 
            Vice-Chairman Coffey, seconded by Commissioner Lawrence, moved to adjourn the meeting at 9:51 A.M.
 
VOTE: Aye-4
                                                                                                 Nay-0
                                                                                                 Absent-1 (Wilkie)
 
 
 
                                                                                                __________________________
                                                                                                Jimmy Hodges, Chairman
ATTEST:
 
 
_____________________________
Anita J. Fogle, Clerk to the Board