MINUTES
WATAUGA COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
MONDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2004
The Watauga County Board of Commissioners held a regular meeting on Monday, October 4, 2004, 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 9:01 A.M. welcoming those in attendance.
A moment of silence was observed.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Chairman Coffey called for additions or corrections to the September 21, 2004, regular meeting minutes.
Commissioner Honeycutt, seconded by Commissioner Blust, moved to approve the September 21, 2004, regular meeting minutes as presented.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
APPROVAL OF AGENDA
Chairman Coffey called for additions and/or corrections to the October 4, 2004, agenda.
County Manager Nelson requested to add the following two items under Miscellaneous Administrative Matters: 1) Consideration of a Resolution Designating a FEMA Agent to represent Watauga County; and 2) Out of State Travel Request
Vice-Chairman Hodges, seconded by Commissioner Trivette, moved to approve the October 4, 2004, agenda as amended.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION STATUS REPORT
Mr. Rob Holton, Chairman of the Watauga County Economic Development Commission, gave a status report on programs and plans for economic development in Watauga County.
This report was for information only and therefore no action was required.
ENTREPRENEURSHIP DEVELOPMENT PARTNERSHIP STATUS REPORT
Dr. Paul Combs with Appalachian Regional Development Institute (ARDI) gave a status report on the Entrepreneurship Development Partnership Program with Watauga County. Dr. Combs stated that Ms. Chilton Rogers with ARDI and Mr. Joe Furman with Watauga County Economic Development Commission were Co-Directors of the program. Dr. Combs stated that workshops were planned for citizens interested in entrepreneurship.
This report was for information only and therefore no action was required.
ASUTOWER LEASE MODIFICATION REQUEST
Mr. Finley Dula, representing the ASU Physical Plant, requested a modification to the lease agreement for the ASU antenna located on the County’s tower. The lease agreement was modified from $200 per month to $600 per month at the August 2, 2004, Board meeting. Mr. Dula requested a lower lease rate than was offered by the County for the current Fiscal Year and sufficient notice to allow inclusion of increases in the ASU budget.
Commissioner Trivette, seconded by Vice-Chairman Hodges, moved to set the rate for the ASU Tower Lease Agreement at $300.00 per month for Fiscal Year 2005 and discuss future rate amounts in Fiscal Year 2006 budget work sessions.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
PROJECT ON AGING ANNUAL REPORT
Project on Aging Director Angie Boitnotte stated that the North Carolina Division of Facility Services required an annual report be complied and presented to the Board each year. Ms. Boitnotte reviewed the report.
Commissioner Blust, seconded by Commissioner Honeycutt, made a motion to accept the annual report as presented.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
MAINTENANCE MATTERS
A. Equipment Purchase Request – Mr. Robert Marsh reviewed the following bids received for the purchase of a commercial lawn mower:
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Vendor
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Equipment Description
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Price
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Tarheel Tractor
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22 HP Diesel Grasshopper 61”
List $10,500
Trade-in $ 2,500
$ 8,000
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$8,000
|
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G&S Turf Equipment
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Jacobsen 72” Diesel Turfcat
Upon demonstration it was determined that the Turfcat was unsuitable for use on our fields.
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n/a
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Jim’s LawnCareEquipmentCenter
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Did not quote
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West Davie Power Equipment
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Ferris IS 5000 72” Deck
31 HP Cat Diesel
New $14,500
Demo (2) hrs. $14,200
Will not take the Bobcat on trade
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$14,500
|
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Martin Equipment Co.
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Ferris IS 5000
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$14,195
|
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Logger Shop Equipment Sales, Inc.
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Ferris IS 5000
List $16,999
Trade In $ 6,000
$10,999
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$10,999
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GSA – Government Contract Pricing is available for the Ferris IS 5000
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$13,514
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Mr. Marsh recommended the Ferris IS 5000 which had the state contract price of $13,514. The County also proposed to surplus a Bobcat Skid Steer that was no longer of use to either the maintenance or sanitation departments. Mr. Marsh asked the respective bidders to include a trade-in allowance for the Skid Steer.
Mr. Marsh recommended accepting the low bid as received from Logger Shop Equipment Sales, Inc. of Wilkesboro which with the trade-in allowance for the Bobcat came to $10,999.
Commissioner Blust, seconded by Commissioner Trivette, moved to declare the Bobcat as surplus and approve the trade-in on a new mower.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
Commissioner Honeycutt, seconded by Commissioner Blust, moved to award the bid to Logger Shop Equipment Sales, Inc., for the purchase of the Ferris IS 5000 at a price of $10,999 which included the trade-in of the Bobcat in the amount of $6,000.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
A. LawEnforcementCenter Cabling Proposal – Mr. Marsh stated that IT Director, Glenda Duncan, recommended a ten (10) year lease for the Law Enforcement Center cabling proposal which was tabled at the last Board meeting. Mr. Marsh stated, however, that he had not received answers to questions that arose at the last meeting due to staff turnover at Charter Communications.
By consensus, the Board agreed to table further discussion until the information requested from Charter was obtained.
TAX MATTERS
A. Monthly Collections Report – Tax Administrator Kelvin Byrd presented the Tax Collections Report for the month of September 2004.
B. Releases and Refunds – Mr. Byrd presented the following Refunds and Releases for September 2004 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 September 2004 as presented.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
PLANNING AND INSPECTIONS MATTERS
A. Junked Car Ordinance Enforcement Report – Mr. Brent Graybeal of the Planning and Inspections Department reported on the status of complaints relevant to the junked motor vehicle ordinance. Mr. Graybeal reported that compared to his report to the Board on June 7, 2004, total complaints were down by 3; new complaints were down by 13; site visits were down by 9; letters were up by 2; and complaints resolved were up by 2.
This report was for information only and therefore no action was required.
B. Secondary Road Systems Addition Request – Planning and Inspections Director, Mr. Joe Furman, stated that property owners of Phillips Street which was in the Archie Carroll Subdivision that was located off of Castleford Road (NCSR 1333) had duly petitioned the County and requested that the road be included as an addition to the State Maintained Secondary Road System.
Commissioner Trivette, seconded by Commissioner Honeycutt, made a motion to adopt a resolution to request the North Carolina Division of Highways include Phillips Street as an addition to the State Maintained Secondary Road System.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
C. Subdivision Performance Guarantee Request – Mr. Joe Furman, Planning and Inspections Director, presented a subdivision performance guarantee from BB&T for Boulder Creek Phase I. Mr. Furman stated that the guarantee was for road paving pursuant to section 92 of the Subdivision Regulations.
Commissioner Blust, seconded by Vice-Chairman Hodges, moved to approve the subdivision performance guarantee as presented by Mr. Furman.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
D. CDBG Public Hearing Request – Mr. Furman stated that an amendment to the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Scattered Site budget was needed to allow for the demolition of homes that were beyond repair and allow for replacement with a mobile home. The requested budget amendment required a public hearing prior to adoption, Mr. Furman requested one be scheduled for October 19, 2004.
By consensus, the Board agreed to set a public hearing on the Community Development Block Grant budget amendment for the Tuesday, October 19, 2004, Board meeting at 7:00 P.M.
HUMAN RESOURCE MATTERS
A. Employee Benefit Renewal Proposal – Assistant County Manager Geouque recommended that the County extend it’s coverage with the existing carriers for medical, dental, and life insurance benefits for Watauga County employees. Medical insurance premiums were to decrease by 4.2% with the North Carolina Association of County Commissioners Insurance Pool; dental insurance rates were to increase 2.2% with Fortis; and life Insurance rates were to remain unchanged with Companion Life. Mr. Geouque also stated that plan coverage was to remain the same.
Commissioner Blust, seconded by Commissioner Honeycutt, moved to approve continuing coverage with the North Carolina Association of County Commissioners Insurance Pool for medical insurance with Blue Cross/Blue Shield at a rate decrease of 4.2%; Fortis for dental insurance at a rate increase of 2.2%; and Companion Life with rates remaining the same.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
B. Death Benefit Change Request – Mr. Geouque stated that with the Fiscal Year 2005 budget Watauga County added the Death Benefit for employees who had membership in the North Carolina Local Government Employees Retirement System. The General Assembly changed the maximum benefit to $50,000 which required a new resolution and a slightly higher fee that was covered in the Fiscal Year 2005 budget.
Commissioner Honeycutt, seconded by Vice-Chairman Hodges, moved to adopt the amended resolution to extend the death benefit to qualified employees as presented by the Assistant County Manager.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
MISCELLANEOUS ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS
A. Designation of FEMA Agent – County Manager Nelson stated that to be eligible to participate in FEMA programs relevant to flood damages, a representative agent must be appointed, by resolution, to represent the County for each event. This resolution request was for Hurricane Ivan. County Manager Nelson recommended Fire Marshal/Emergency Management Director Lisa Danner as the primary agent with Finance Director Doris Isaacs as the secondary agent. The County Manager read the draft resolution.
Commissioner Blust, seconded by Commissioner Trivette, moved to adopt the resolution naming Lisa Danner as the primary FEMA agent and Doris Isaacs as the secondary FEMA agent representing Watauga County.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
B. Out of State Travel Request – County Manager Nelson stated that Mr. Jim Atkinson, Social Services Director, requested to travel out of state for the last phase of training as a member of the Planning Committee for the Watauga and Avery County Drug Court. The travel was previously approved by the Social Services Board and did not involve County funding.
Vice-Chairman Hodges, seconded by Commissioner Blust, moved to approve Mr. Atkinson’s out of state travel for training as a member of the Planning Committee for the Watauga and Avery County Drug Court as presented by County Manager Nelson.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
C. Proposed Proclamation for “Red Ribbon Celebration 2004” – County Manager Nelson stated that Anna Boyce Phillips with the Alcohol/Drug Council of Watauga County had requested a proclamation declaring October 24-30, 2004, as “Red Ribbon Celebration 2004” in Watauga County promoting public awareness of substance abuse prevention. County Manager Nelson read the proposed Proclamation.
Commissioner Honeycutt, seconded by Vice-Chairman Hodges, made a motion to adopt the proclamation as presented by the County Manager.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
D. Boards and Commissions – County Manager Nelson gave a second reading of appointments to the Watauga County Parks and Recreation Commission. Letters were sent by Parks and Recreation soliciting nominations for the following terms that were to expire in December 2004: Ms. Laura Johnson representing Cove Creek; Ms. Becka Saunders representing Bethel; Mr. Bill Hollingsworth representing Mabel; Mr. Michael Maybee representing Blowing Rock; and Ms. Maggie McFadden representing the Town of Boone.
The County Manager stated that to date a nomination for Ms. Carla Duffy to replace Ms. Becka Saunders and a nomination to reappoint Mr. Bill Hollingsworth had been received.
Commissioner Trivette, seconded by Commissioner Blust, moved to appoint Ms. Carla Duffy and reappoint Mr. Bill Hollingsworth to the Watauga County Parks and Recreation Commission.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
County Manager Nelson stated that Zionville VFD Chief, Donald Miller, recommended Mr. Ronnie Harmon to serve on the Zionville Fire Protection District Commission.
Commissioner Blust, seconded by Commissioner Trivette, moved to appoint Mr. Ronnie Harmon to the Zionville Fire Protection District Commission.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
County Manager Nelson stated that nominations were to be forthcoming for the Blowing Rock Fire Protection District Commission.
E. Announcements – County Manager Nelson announced that the Fifth Annual Future Forward Leadership Summit was scheduled for November 17, 2004, from 8:00 A.M. to 3:30 P.M. at the Broyhill Inn and Conference Center.
County Manager Nelson announced that Commissioners were invited to a tour of the new AF Financial Center located on Blowing Rock Road on October 25, 2004, from 5:15 P.M. to 7:00 P.M.
CLOSED SESSION
At 10:15 A.M., Commissioner Blust, seconded by Commissioner Honeycutt, moved to enter Closed Session to discuss Attorney/Client Matters, per G. S. 143-318-11(a)(3).
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
[Clerk’s Note: Vice-Chairman Hodges left the meeting during closed session at 10:37 A.M. due to a prior commitment.]
Commissioner Blust, seconded by Commissioner Honeycutt, moved to resume the open meeting at 10:46 A.M.
VOTE: Aye-4(Coffey, Blust, Honeycutt, Trivette)
Nay-0
Absent-1(Hodges)
ADJOURN
Commissioner Honeycutt, seconded by Commissioner Blust, moved to adjourn the meeting at 10:46 A.M.
VOTE: Aye-4(Coffey, Blust, Honeycutt, Trivette)
Nay-0
Absent-1(Hodges)
James Coffey, Chairman
ATTEST:
Anita J. Fogle, Clerk to the Board