MINUTES
WATAUGA COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
TUESDAY, MARCH 19, 2002
The Watauga County Board of Commissioners held a regular meeting on Tuesday, March 19, 2002 at 7:00 P.M. in the Large Courtroom of the Watauga County Courthouse.
PRESENT: Jimmy Hodges, Chairman
James Coffey, Vice-Chairman
Jack Lawrence, Sr., Commissioner
Sue Sweeting, Commissioner
Pat Wilkie, Commissioner
Jeff Hedrick, County Attorney
Robert E. Nelson, Jr., County Manager
Anita J. Fogle, Clerk to the Board
Chairman Hodges called the meeting to order at 7:00 P.M. welcoming those in attendance.
A moment of silence was observed.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Chairman Hodges called for additions or corrections to the February 19, 2002 and March 4, 2002 regular meeting minutes and the March 1 & 2, 2002 special meeting minutes.
Commissioner Lawrence stated that he was addressed as Chairman Lawrence in the February 19, 2002 minutes and requested the correction be made to Commissioner Lawrence.
Commissioner Sweeting stated that under Budget Report and Discussion the minutes stated that no Board action was taken at this time. Commissioner Sweeting stated that by consensus the Board recommended not cutting allocations, putting a hiring freeze in effect, and suspending renovating the Heilig Meyers Warehouse Building until fiscal year 2003.
Commissioner Sweeting, seconded by Commissioner Lawrence, moved to approve the February 19, 2002 regular meeting minutes as amended and the March 1 & 2, 2002 special meeting minutes and the March 4, 2002 regular meeting minutes as presented.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
APPROVAL OF AGENDA
County Manager Nelson requested to add under Miscellaneous Administrative Matters a Discussion of the Proposed TVA Park on Stone Mountain.
Commissioner Sweeting seconded by Vice-Chairman Coffey, moved to approve the March 19, 2002 agenda as amended.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
PUBLIC HEARING ON COMMUNITY COUNCIL GUIDELINES
A public hearing was opened at 7:03 P.M. to consider the Watauga County Community Council Guidelines.
Mr. Ric Mattar, Chairman of the Planning Board, gave an update on the process in which the amended guidelines came to pass.
Citizens Deborah Greene, Dale Hayes, Peggy Atzel, Garry Cooper, Judi Scharns, Bill Moretz, Allen Trivette, Pam Williamson, Leo Mast, Tom Eshelman, and Stacey Miller voiced their opinions regarding Community Councils.
There being no further public comment, Chairman Hodges declared the public hearing closed at 7:45 P.M.
Commissioner Lawrence, seconded by Vice-Chairman Coffey, moved to table the Community Council Guidelines issue until the Study Committee on Zoning’s work had been completed.
VOTE: Aye-4 (Hodges, Coffey, Lawrence, Wilkie)
Nay-1 (Sweeting)
Commissioner Sweeting, seconded by Commissioner Wilkie, moved to send the Community Council Guidelines back to the Planning Board for review and recommendations and to look into what can be done to educate citizens about community councils.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
NEW RIVER BEHAVIORAL HEALTHCARE REQUEST
Mr. Don Suggs, Director of New River Behavioral HealthCare, stated that the Mental Health Reform Bill offered the County four options to choose from for Mental Health service. He recommended that the Board sign a letter of intent to the Secretary of the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services to remain a member of the five county New River Behavioral Health Care Authority.
Commissioner Lawrence, seconded by Vice-Chairman Coffey, moved to send a letter to the Secretary of the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services to remain a member of the five county New River Behavioral Health Care Authority.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
DOT FUNDING RESOLUTION REQUEST
Ms. Alena Cook presented the DOT Funding Resolution, which identified Project U-2703 (the Daniel Boone Highway) to be planned as a new facility on a new location thereby establishing eligibility for funding for the project from the DOT Trust Fund.
Commissioner Sweeting seconded by Commissioner Lawrence, moved to adopt the DOT Funding Resolution as presented.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
PLANNING AND INSPECTION MATTERS
A. Flood Mitigation Grant Application – Planning and Inspections Director Joe Furman discussed a grant application for flood mitigation to the NC Division of Emergency Management. Mr. Furman stated that due to time constraints the grant application was already forwarded for consideration however, should the Board not approve the application it would be removed from consideration immediately. Mr. Furman stated that no local match other than in-kind was required.
Vice-Chairman Coffey seconded by Commissioner Lawrence, moved to approve the grant application as presented.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
B. CDBG Close Out Public Hearing Request – Mr. Furman requested that a public hearing be set at the April 16, 2002, meeting to allow public input on the completion of the Glenhaven II Community Development Block Grant. Mr. Furman stated that a public hearing was required prior to closing out the project.
Commissioner Wilkie seconded by Commissioner Sweeting, moved to set a public hearing at the April 16, 2002, Board meeting to allow public input on the completion of the Glenhaven II Community Development Block Grant.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
C. Road Name Public Hearing Request – Mr. Furman stated a Public Hearing was required (pursuant to N.C.G.S. 153A-239.1) for the adoption of new private road names. Mr. Furman recommended the Board schedule this Public Hearing for their April 16, 2002 meeting.
Vice-Chairman Coffey seconded by Commissioner Sweeting, moved to set a public hearing at the April 16, 2002, meeting for the adoption of new private road names.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
D. Subdivision Performance Guarantee – Mr. Furman presented a subdivision performance guarantee for construction of improvements for three sections of roads in the Echota PUD in Foscoe.
Commissioner Sweeting, seconded by Commissioner Lawrence, moved to approve the subdivision performance guarantee upon approval by the County Attorney.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
E. Thoroughfare Plan Resolution Request – Mr. Furman stated that at the February 19, 2002, meeting the Board of County Commissioners adopted the Watauga County Thoroughfare Plan as presented by NCDOT. Mr. Furman presented a Resolution outlining this action, which the DOT forwarded and requested to be adopted, formalizing this previous approval.
Commissioner Lawrence seconded by Commissioner Sweeting, moved to adopt the DOT Thoroughfare Plan Resolution as presented.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
MISCELLANEOUS ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS
A. Discussion of Work Session for Draft Ordinances – County Manager Nelson requested direction for scheduling Work Sessions on the Draft Ordinances for Junk Cars and Solid Waste as first presented and discussed at the Annual Retreat in March 2002.
The Board instructed the County Manager to place time on the Agenda for the June 18, 2002 meeting to schedule the Work Sessions.
B. High Country Rural Transportation Planning Organization – County Manager Nelson stated that Region D Council of Governments requested adoption of an updated Memorandum of Understanding establishing a Rural Transportation Planning Organization. The County Manager stated that the Memorandum of Understanding was the amended version of the one adopted at the October 1, 2001 Board meeting.
Vice-Chairman Coffey, seconded by Commissioner Wilkie, moved to adopt the amended Memorandum of Understanding establishing a Rural Transportation Planning Organization as presented.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
C. DOT Scenic Highway Designation Status Report – County Manager Nelson stated, by direction received from the Board August 21, 2001, that he forwarded to the NC DOT a preliminary application for consideration of the Doc and Merle Watson Highway as a scenic highway. The County Manger also reviewed a status report from the DOT regarding the preliminary consideration of the application.
After the preliminary application, a more involved second application was required from the County. County Manager Nelson stated that local endorsement was also required with the submission of the second application and therefore presented a draft Resolution in Support of the New 421 as a Scenic Byway.
The County Manager stated that if application received preliminary approval, DOT recommended that if a local public hearing was desired that it be held before adoption of a resolution of support. County Manager Nelson stated that the public hearing referenced in the “Scenic Highway” standards was at the pleasure of the Transportation Board and, if so held, would come after the required local endorsement.
No Board action was required and none was taken.
D. Boards and Commissions – County Manager Nelson stated that the Boone Area Chamber of Commerce requested that a County Commissioner be appointed to sit on the Community Based Housing Task Force. The County Manager stated that Commissioner Wilkie had been working with this group and had requested to be appointed to this Task Force.
Commissioner Lawrence seconded by Commissioner Sweeting, moved to appoint Commissioner Wilkie to the Community Based Housing Task Force.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
County Manager Nelson stated that Ms. Pat Taylor was recommended for reappointment for a 3-year term to the Watauga County Adult Care Home Community Advisory Committee.
Vice-Chairman Coffey seconded by Commissioner Sweeting, moved to appoint Ms. Pat Taylor for a three-year term to the Watauga County Adult Care Home Community Advisory Committee.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
County Manager Nelson stated that Mr. David Cox was recommended to replace Mr. Walter Green, who was not interested in reappointment, on the Town of Blowing Rock Planning Board and Board of Adjustments
Vice-Chairman Coffey seconded by Commissioner Sweeting, moved to appoint Mr. Walter Green to the Town of Blowing Rock Planning Board and Board of Adjustments.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
E. Announcements – County Manager Nelson asked each Board member to mark which days they could attend the E&R Hearings on the schedule included in the packets. The request was to insure a quorum.
County Attorney Hedrick gave an update on the Heavenly Mountain Tax Appeal.
The Manager requested discussion and direction on a draft resolution regarding the Additional Local ½ Cent Sales Tax Option.
Commissioner Lawrence requested to set a public hearing on April 16, 2002 to allow public input regarding the draft resolution for the Additional Local ½ Cent Sales Tax Option. It was the consensus of the Board to set the Public Hearing as requested.
PUBLIC COMMENT
Ms. Deborah Greene voiced concerns regarding the Golden Leaf Foundation Program.
Mr. Dale Hayes spoke regarding Community Councils, zoning, and the proposed scenic designation for Hwy 421.
CLOSED SESSION
At 8:55 P.M., Commissioner Sweeting, seconded by Commissioner Lawrence, moved to enter Closed Session to discuss Personnel Matters, per G. S. 143-318-11(a)(6).
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
Commissioner Sweeting, seconded by Vice-Chairman Coffey, moved to resume the open meeting at 10:35 P.M.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
ADJOURN
Commissioner Wilkie seconded by Vice-Chairman Coffey, moved to adjourn the meeting at 10:35 P.M.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
Jimmy Hodges
Chairman
ATTEST:
Anita J. Fogle
Clerk to the Board