MINUTES
WATAUGA COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
MONDAY, JULY 7, 2003
The Watauga County Board of Commissioners held a regular meeting on Monday, July 7, 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
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 AGENDA
Chairman Coffey called for additions or corrections to the July 7, 2003, agenda.
County Manager Nelson requested to delete Item 5 (d) “Proposed Inmate Telephone System Contract” from the agenda.
Commissioner Honeycutt, seconded by Commissioner Blust, moved to approve the July 7, 2003, agenda as amended.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
WATAUGA COUNTY SPORTS HALL OF FAME REQUEST
Mr. Robert Norton, representing the Boone Optimist Club, requested approval to locate the newly formed Watauga County Sports Hall of Fame (WCSHOF) to the Watauga County Library. Mr. Norton stated that Ms. Megan Johnson, Library Director, had endorsed this project and offered wall space to display plaques for each inductee on the south wall of the Library. The Optimist Club would be responsible for upkeep of the plaques.
Vice-Chairman Hodges, seconded by Commissioner Honeycutt, moved to approve the request to locate the new Watauga County Sports Hall of Fame to the Watauga County Library.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROPOSAL
Dr. Paul Combs presented a proposal to contract with the County for Economic Development Services. Dr. Combs proposal included an annual $40,000 contract and an annual $3,000 contract with the Appalachian Regional Development Institute for logistical support.
After discussion, the Board agreed, by consensus, to schedule a work session (later in this meeting under Miscellaneous Administrative Matters) with Dr. Combs and the Economic Development Commission members to acquire more information.
SHERIFF DEPARTMENT MATTERS
A. Proposed Resolution Establishing Non-Local Service of Process Fees – Sheriff Shook requested that the Board of Commissioners establish, by resolution, a new fee for out-of-state process service. The County had charged $5.00 for out of state services of summons, complaints, and other legal documents as issued by federal courts and courts from other states. The proposed resolution established the fee for out of state process service at $50.00.
Commissioner Blust, seconded by Commissioner Trivette, moved to adopt the Resolution for Watauga County with Respect to the Fees to be Charged by the Sheriff for Service of Process Originating Outside of the General Court of Justice or Other North Carolina Courts or Agencies as presented by Sheriff Shook.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
B. Jail Commissary Request – Sheriff Shook requested the establishment of a commissary to provide goods to the inmates at the Watauga County Detention Center. The Sheriff explained that the inmates would order from a menu of goods that had been approved by the Sheriff and then the company would deliver the purchased goods the next day. The inmates would pay for their orders and the company would remit a percentage of the charges to the County.
Vice-Chairman Hodges, seconded by Commissioner Honeycutt, moved to authorize Sheriff Shook to issue a request for proposals for this service.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
C. Request for Malpractice Insurance for Detention Center Physician – Sheriff Shook stated that Dr. Cranston, the physician who provided inmate medical services by contract, had informed the Sheriff that his medical malpractice insurance did not cover his contracted inmate practice. The Sheriff requested that Dr. Cranston’s contract be amended to include payment for medical malpractice insurance to cover his practice at the Watauga Detention Center. The approximate cost for this policy was $1,500. County Manager Nelson stated that the funds for the additional payment were available in the administrative contingency fund.
Vice-Chairman Hodges, seconded by Commissioner Trivette, moved to amend the existing contract between Watauga County and Dr. Cranston, for inmate medical services, to cover the $1,500 per year medical malpractice insurance, contingent upon review by the County Attorney.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
D. Proposed Highway (US321) Safety Project Grant Resolution – Lieutenant Jamey Fletcher reviewed the proposed resolution authorizing continued participation in the Highway Safety Project Grant for FY 2004. This resolution authorized the second year of the grant, which began in Fiscal Year 2003. County Manager Nelson stated that the local match for this grant was included in the Sheriff’s budget.
Commissioner Blust, seconded by Commissioner Honeycutt, moved to adopt the proposed resolution as presented by Lieutenant Fletcher.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
TAX MATTERS
A. Monthly Collections Report – Tax Administrator, Kelvin Byrd, presented the Tax Collections Report for the month of June 2003.
Chairman Coffey congratulated Mr. Byrd upon the high collection rate of 97.55%.
B. Releases and Refunds – Tax Administrator Byrd presented the following Refunds and Releases for June 2003 for Board approval:
TO BE TYPED IN MINUTE BOOK
Vice-Chairman Hodges, seconded by Commissioner Blust, moved to approve the Refunds and Releases Report for June 2003 as presented.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
FINANCE MATTERS
A. Budget Amendments – Finance Director Doris Isaacs presented the following budget amendments for Board approval:
Account # Description Debit Credit
143583-333000 JCPC Grant $2,000
145890-469809 Watauga Youth Network $2,000
The amendment recognized the award of discretionary funding JCPC funding for Fiscal Year 2002-03.
Commissioner Blust, seconded by Commissioner Trivette, moved to approve the budget amendment as presented.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
B. Proposed Resolution for Application to Finance the Transfer Station/Maintenance Facility – Ms. Doris Isaacs presented a resolution authorizing the application for financing for the transfer station and maintenance facility that was to be constructed this Fiscal Year. State statutes required approval from the Local Government Commission (LGC) in obtaining financing.
Vice-Chairman Hodges, seconded by Commissioner Blust, moved to adopt the proposed resolution as presented by Ms. Isaacs and contingent upon the County Attorney’s review.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
PLANNING AND INSPECTION MATTERS
A. Proposed Resolution for Designation of Agent for Disaster Relief Act Funds – Planning and Inspections Director, Mr. Joe Furman, stated that Watauga County had been approved for supplemental grant funds from the NC Division of Emergency Management that were used to prepare a Hazard Mitigation Plan. Receipt of these grant funds required that a local agent be designated. The proposed resolution designated the local agent for this program to be Mr. Joe Furman and Watauga County Fire Marshal, Ms. Lisa Danner.
Vice-Chairman Hodges, seconded by Commissioner Blust, moved to adopt the proposed resolution.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
B. Emergency Dispatch (911) Console Proposal Request – Mr. Furman and Lieutenant Fletcher, who conducted the bidding process for new radio consoles for the law enforcement center, presented the proposals that were received. They recommended that the County accept the proposal from Wireless Communications, Inc., at $116,814. The recommended firm was both low bidder and the most appropriate for this project.
Vice-Chairman Hodges, seconded by Commissioner Trivette, moved to award the bid for new radio consoles for the law enforcement center to Wireless Communications, Inc., and approved a contract to be drafted based on the bid and reviewed by the County Attorney prior to execution.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
C. Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Requirements: Proposed Project Ordinance, Resolutions of Compliance (2), and Policies, Plans, and Procedures (6) – Mr. Furman stated that the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) for scattered site housing rehabilitation, as administered for Watauga County by the High Country Council of Governments, had numerous requirements. He reviewed a project ordinance, two resolutions of compliance (fair housing and relocation plan), and six policies, plans, and procedures (1. equal employment and procurement plan, 2. local economic benefit for low and very low income persons plan, 3. fair housing complaint procedure, 4. recipient’s plan to further fair housing, 5. residential anti-displacement and relocation assistance plan, and 6. optional coverage relocation plan.)
Commissioner Honeycutt, seconded by Commissioner Blust, moved to adopt the Grant Project Ordinance as presented by Mr. Furman.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
Vice-Chairman Hodges, seconded by Commissioner Honeycutt, moved to approve the Equal Employment and Procurement Plan as presented by Mr. Furman.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
Commissioner Blust, seconded by Commissioner Trivette, moved to approve the Local Economic Benefit for Low and Very Low Income Persons Plan as presented by Mr. Furman.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
Vice-Chairman Hodges, seconded by Commissioner Trivette, moved to adopt the Fair Housing Resolution as presented by Mr. Furman.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
Vice-Chairman Hodges, seconded by Commissioner Trivette, moved to approve the Watauga County Fair Housing Complaint Procedure as presented by Mr. Furman.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
Vice-Chairman Hodges, seconded by Commissioner Blust, moved to approve the Recipient’s Plan to Further Fair Housing as presented by Mr. Furman.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
Vice-Chairman Hodges, seconded by Commissioner Trivette, moved to approve the Residential Anti-Displacement and Relocation Assistance Plan as presented by Mr. Furman.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
Vice-Chairman Hodges, seconded by Commissioner Trivette, moved to adopt the Optional Coverage Relocation Plan Resolution as presented by Mr. Furman.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
Vice-Chairman Hodges, seconded by Commissioner Trivette, moved to approve the Optional Coverage Relocation Plan FY 03 Community Development Program as presented by Mr. Furman.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
MISCELLANEOUS ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS
A. Caldwell Community College & Technical Institute Construction Update and Joint Meeting Request – Construction Update: County Manager Nelson stated that Dr. Ken Boham wanted to clarify that the Watauga County capital reserve funds authorized for Caldwell Community College would be used for modular units. Several larger units instead of the originally planned twelve smaller units were to be constructed. The County Manager stated that the square footage gained from the larger units would exceed the square footage that was anticipated from the twelve units. The County Manager stated that a request for capital reserve funds would be forthcoming from Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute. The current balance in the capital reserve fund that was designated for Caldwell Community College was approximately $785,262. The County Manager stated that Caldwell Community College was to request approximately $735,000 from that capital reserve fund.
No Board action was required as this report was for information only.
Joint Meeting Request: The County Manager stated that the Caldwell Community College Board of Trustees requested a joint meeting with the Board of Commissioners on October 9, 2003, at 6:00 P.M. at the Watauga Campus. The County Manager stated that at the meeting the Board was to be able to inspect the work that was completed on the campus.
By Consensus, the Board agreed to hold a joint meeting with the Caldwell Community College Board of Trustees on October 9, 2003, at 6:00 P.M. at the Watauga Campus of Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute on White Oak Road.
B. July Meeting/Work Session Schedule – The County Manager stated that due to the number of meetings required prior to adopting the budget and the relative light workload in July, the second regularly scheduled Board of Commissioners meeting was historically cancelled.
By consensus, the Board agreed to cancel the second regularly scheduled Board meeting for July 2003.
The County Manager stated that the scheduling of a work session for review of the draft solid waste ordinance and abandoned and junked car ordinance was needed to finalize the current draft form of both ordinances prior to presentation at a regularly scheduled meeting. The County Manager also stated that a date needed to be set for the economic development work session agreed upon earlier in the meeting.
The Board agreed, by consensus, to schedule a work session for July 28, 2003 from 6:00 P.M. till 10:00 P.M. to discuss economic development issues and to review draft ordinances on solid waste and abandoned and junked vehicles.
C. Cove Creek Preservation and Development Request for Approval of Well Installation – County Manager Nelson stated that per the lease between the County and Cove Creek Preservation and Development for the old Cove Creek School, written approval must be obtained from Watauga County prior to making additions or improvements to the buildings.
Cove Creek Preservation and Development was required to install a new well and water system prior to using a part of the space under lease to locate a daycare center to serve citizens in the western part of the County.
The request was to install a well and a storage tank, as yet undetermined size, and a building to house the storage tank and chlorination system. The County Manager stated that the project would cost between $30,000 and $40,000 and no County funds were requested. However, it was to cost the County approximately $500 to close off lines and install a new high pressure tank that served the County gym on the site.
Commissioner Honeycutt, seconded by Commissioner Trivette, moved to approve CCP&D’s request to install a well, storage tank, and building (to house the storage tank and chlorination system) at the old Cove Creek School as presented by the County Manager.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
D. Boards and Commissions – County Manager Nelson stated that the Juvenile Crime Prevention Council submitted five recommendations (Wendy Tonker, Melissa Johnson, Celeste Holland, Karee Teague, and David Swartz) for vacant positions. The Board of Commissioners was to appoint seven to the Council.
Commissioner Honeycutt, seconded by Vice-Chairman Hodges, moved to appoint Wendy Tonker, Melissa Johnson, Celeste Holland, Karee Teague, and David Swartz to the Juvenile Crime Prevention Council.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
The Manager announced that Celia Roten’s term expired on the Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute Board of Trustees in June 2003.
The Manager announced that nominations from the Boone Town Council had been received for the following ETJ positions: one for the Town of Boone Board of Adjustment (Lee Stroupe), and two for the Town of Boone Planning Commission (Pat Vines and Larry Bordeaux).
The Manager announced that Watauga County Economic Development Commission submitted nominations for four positions. Sterling Carroll and Betty Koontz were recommended for two-year terms and Harry Davis and Rob Holton were recommended for three-year terms.
The Manager announced that the Watauga County Council on the Status of Women recommended Judy Clark and Bettie Bond both of whom wish to be reappointed for three-year terms and Crystal Lusk and Chuck Watkins who were recommended to fill two of the three additional vacant positions. A recommendation for the fifth appointment would be presented when received.
The Manager announced that one appointee was needed from the Board for the Jury Commission.
This was the first reading of the above appointments and therefore no Board action was necessary.
E. Announcements – County Manager Nelson announced upcoming meetings and events.
CLOSED SESSION
At 10:15 A.M., Commissioner Blust, seconded by Vice-Chairman Hodges, moved to enter into Closed Session to discuss Personnel Matters, per G. S. 143-318.11(a)(6) and Attorney/Client Matters, per G. S. 143-318.11(a)(3).
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
Commissioner Honeycutt, seconded by Commissioner Trivette, moved to resume the open meeting at 10:55 A.M.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
APPOINTMENT OF THE WATAUGA COUNTYTAX ASSESSOR/ADMINISTRATOR/ COLLECTOR
Kelvin Byrd, Watauga County Assessor/Administrator/Collector, was offered the position of Watauga County Tax Assessor/Administrator/Collector.
After discussion, Commissioner Honeycutt, seconded by Commissioner Trivette, moved to appoint Kelvin Byrd to the position of Watauga County Tax Assessor/Administrator/Collector for a four (4) year appointment at an annual salary of $61,292.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
ADJOURN
Commissioner Blust, seconded by Vice-Chairman Hodges, moved to adjourn the meeting at 11:00 A.M.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
James Coffey, Chairman
ATTEST:
Anita J. Fogle, Clerk to the Board