MINUTES
WATAUGA COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
MONDAY, MARCH 3, 2003
The Watauga County Board of Commissioners held a regular meeting on Monday, March 3, 2003, at 9:00 A.M. in the Board Room of the Watauga County Courthouse.
PRESENT: James Coffey, Chairman
Jimmy Hodges, Vice-Chairman
David Blust, Commissioner
Keith Honeycutt, Commissioner
Allen Trivette, Commissioner
Rebecca Eggers-Gryder, County Attorney
Robert E. Nelson, Jr., County Manager
Deron Geouque, Assistant County Manager
Anita J. Fogle, Clerk to the Board
Chairman Coffey called the meeting to order at 9:00 A.M. welcoming those in attendance.
A moment of silence was observed.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Chairman Coffey called for additions and/or corrections to the February 18, 2003, regular meeting minutes and the February 18, 2003, closed session minutes.
The Clerk to the Board stated the February 18, 2003, regular meeting minutes under Lawsuit Settlement should read as follows:
The settlement agreement was performed presented by County Attorney Eggers-Gryder as a result of court ordered mediation.
Vice-Chairman Hodges, seconded by Commissioner Honeycutt, moved to approve the February 18, 2003, regular meeting minutes as amended and the February 18, 2003, closed session minutes as presented.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
APPROVAL OF AGENDA
Chairman Coffey called for additions or corrections to the March 3, 2003, agenda.
County Manager Nelson requested to add a Closed Session to discuss Land Acquisition, per G. S. 143-318-11(a)(5)(i).
Commissioner Honeycutt, seconded by Commissioner Blust, moved to approve the March 3, 2003, agenda as amended.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
CRIMINAL JUSTICE PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM GRANT REQUEST
Ms. Gail Hawkinson, Director of New River Behavioral Healthcare, reviewed the FY 2003/2004 Criminal Justice Partnership Program (CJPP) Grant. Ms. Hawkinson gave a brief history of the grant, which was in the amount of $55,661 and used by the CJPP Program in providing substance abuse counseling and various support services to those clients referred by the court system. The grant required no local match.
Vice-Chairman Hodges, seconded by Commissioner Trivette, moved to approve the application for the FY 2003/2004 Criminal Justice Partnership Program Grant as presented by Ms. Hawkinson.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
FIRE MARSHAL/EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT MATTERS
A. Hazardous Materials Emergency Preparedness Planning Grant Request – Watauga County Fire Marshal Lisa Danner requested approval to apply for a $5,000 grant to the North Carolina Department of Crime Control and Public Safety for the purpose of conducting a hazardous materials emergency preparedness drill. The drill would include various emergency personnel from Fire Departments, Rescue Squads, Watauga Medics, and the Emergency Management Department. No local match was required.
Commissioner Honeycutt, seconded by Commissioner Blust, moved to approve the application to the North Carolina Department of Crime Control and Public Safety for the Hazardous Materials Emergency Preparedness Planning Grant as presented by Ms. Danner.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
B. US Department of Justice Grant Request – Ms. Danner reviewed plans for the expenditure of $28,000 in US Department of Justice Weapons of Mass Destruction Grant funds that were available to Watauga County. The Watauga County Board of Commissioners appointed a committee at their September 17, 2002, meeting to make a recommendation as to how these funds were to be used. Ms. Danner presented the recommendation from this committee for proposed equipment purchases.
Vice-Chairman Hodges, seconded by Commissioner Trivette, moved to approve the recommendation for proposed equipment purchases as presented by Ms. Danner.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
TAX MATTERS
A. Monthly Collections Report – Tax Administrator, Kelvin Byrd, presented the Tax Collections Report for the month of February 2003.
B. Releases and Refunds – Tax Administrator Byrd presented the following Refunds and Releases for February 2003 for Board approval:
TO BE TYPED IN MINUTE BOOK
Vice-Chairman Hodges, seconded by Chairman Coffey, moved to approve the Refunds and Releases Report for February 2003 as presented.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
C. Board of Equalization and Review Appointments – Tax Administrator Byrd stated that in the past, the Board of Commissioners served as the County’s Board of Equalization and Review, however, a special Board could be appointed to serve.
By consensus, the Board agreed to serve as the Board of Equalization and Review.
Mr. Byrd made a request that at the next scheduled meeting that the Board confirm dates for the Board of Equalization and Review sessions.
Mr. Byrd also stated that the approximate date for lien advertisements in the Watauga Democrat was March 19, 2003.
BUDGET AMENDMENTS
Finance Director Doris Isaacs presented the following budget amendments for Board approval:
Account # Description Debit Credit
143585-323000 Title XX & FSA Daycare $14,613
143585-323002 Smartstart Daycare $33,500
145850-440900 Title XX & FSA Daycare $14,613
145850-440901 Smartstart Daycare $33,500
The amendment recognized an increase in Title XX & FSA Daycare direct service benefits and a decrease in Smartstart Daycare funding. Both daycare direct service benefits programs were funded by the state. Funds were spent locally and reimbursed by the state.
Account # Description Debit Credit
145480-438800 Transfer From General Fund $18,963
143531-323000 Administration Building $18,963
The amendment recognized another increase in the Crisis Intervention Prevention funding. These funds were expended locally and then reimbursed by the state from federal pass through funds.
Account # Description Debit Credit
103586-354000 Donations $526
105550-429200 Program Supplies $273
105550-469514 Contracted Services-Instructor $253
The amendment recognized donations received and designated for program supplies and contracted classes.
Account # Description Debit Credit
103991-399101 Fund Balance Approp.-New $3,169
105550-429855 High Country Senior Games $3,169
The amendment appropriated balance of High Country Senior Game funds from FY 2001-02.
Commissioner Honeycutt, seconded by Vice-Chairman Hodges, moved to approve the budget amendments as presented.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
DISCUSSION OF DRAFT ORDINANCE TO REGULATE HIGH IMPACT LAND USES
Mr. Joe Furman reviewed changes to the Draft Ordinance to Regulate High Impact Land Uses that were so directed at the last Board meeting. Mr. Furman also presented the Board with Draft Rules of Procedure for Appeals, Challenges, and Variance Requests as referenced in the Ordinance to Regulate High Impact Land Uses.
No action was required. A public hearing was previously scheduled for March 18, 2003, at 7:00 P.M. in the large courtroom to allow for public input on the draft ordinance.
AMBULANCE FRANCHISE ORDINANCE AMENDMENT
County Manager Nelson stated that at the last meeting an Amendment to the Ambulance Franchise Ordinance was approved relevant to the amount of umbrella insurance coverage available from $5,000,000 to $4,000,000. State Statutes required that Franchise Ordinances and their subsequent amendments be approved at two successive meetings prior to adoption.
Vice-Chairman Hodges, seconded by Commissioner Blust, moved to approve the second reading and the adoption of the Amendment to the Ambulance Franchise Ordinance as presented by the County Manager to be effective March 3, 2003.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
MISCELLANEOUS ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS
A. Draft Resolution In Support of the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) – County Manager Nelson stated that the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) was a federally funded program that assisted 410 counties in 13 states including the 7 High Country counties. The ARC had provided a variety of grants for infrastructure in the seven member counties as well as staff support for the High Country Council of Governments (HCCOG).
The Administration’s recommended FY 2004 Federal budget made drastic changes to the ARC and greatly reduced funding. The County Manager read a proposed resolution in support of the ARC as currently structured and continuation of current funding.
Vice-Chairman Hodges, seconded by Commissioner Honeycutt, moved to adopt the Resolution In Support of the Appalachian Regional Commission as presented by the County Manager.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
B. Caldwell Community College & Technical Institute Joint Meeting Request – County Manager Nelson stated that Caldwell Community College & Technical Institute President, Dr. Ken Boham, requested a joint meeting between the CCC&TI Board, the Watauga County School Board, and the Watauga County Board of Commissioners. The requested date was for May 15, 2003, at 6:00 P.M. at CCC&TI White Oak Campus and included dinner.
The Board agreed, by consensus, to attend the joint meeting with Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute and the Watauga County Board of Education as requested.
C. Discussion of March 18, 2003, Board of Commissioners Meeting – County Manager Nelson stated that due to the scheduled public hearing at 7:00 P.M. on March 18, 2003, he recommended that the meeting begin at 6:30 P.M. in order to conduct regular business prior to the anticipated lengthy public hearing.
By consensus, the Board agreed, to begin the March 18, 2003, Board meeting at 6:30 P.M. in Courtroom # 1 on the second floor of the Courthouse.
D. Boards and Commissions – County Manager Nelson stated that the Town of Blowing Rock had submitted Mr. Ronald Mace for appointment to the Town of Blowing Rock Planning Board and Board of Adjustment.
This was the first reading of the above recommendation and therefore no Board action was required until the next meeting.
E. Announcements – County Manager Nelson announced upcoming meetings that Board members may wish to attend.
CLOSED SESSION
At 9:49 A.M., Vice-Chairman Hodges, seconded by Commissioner Blust, moved to enter into Closed Session to discuss Land Acquisition, per G. S. 143-318-11(a)(5)(i).
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
Vice-Chairman Hodges, seconded by Commissioner Blust, moved to resume the open meeting at 10:00 A.M.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
ADJOURN
Commissioner Blust, seconded by Commissioner Honeycutt, moved to adjourn the meeting at 10:00 A.M.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
James Coffey, Chairman
ATTEST:
Anita J. Fogle, Clerk to the Board