MINUTES
WATAUGA COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
 
SPECIAL MEETING, WEDNESDAY, MAY 31, 2006
 
 
            The Watauga County Board of Commissioners held a special meeting on Wednesday, May 31, 2006, in the Commissioners’ Board Room at the Watauga County Administration Building in Boone, NC. Those present were: Chairman Deal, Vice-Chairman Winkler, Commissioner Blust, Commissioner Honeycutt, Commissioner Kinsey, County Manager Nelson, Assistant County Manager Geouque, and Clerk to the Board Fogle. Representatives of the County’s fire departments present were:  Ben Winebarger, Meat Camp VFD; Doug Berry, Stewart Simmons VFD; Kent Graham, Blowing Rock VFD; Robert Henson, Dean Greene, and Mark Parsons, Deep Gap VFD; Terry Combs, Cove Creek VFD; Donald Miller, Zionville VFD; Chris Welch, Todd VFD; Floyd Hicks, Beaver Dam VFD; Reggie Hassler, Boone Fire Department; Carlos Hicks, Shawneehaw VFD; Frank Aldridge, Foscoe VFD; and Jim Brooks, Beech Mountain VFD.
 
            Chairman Deal called the meeting to order at 4:08 P.M.
 
            [Commissioner Honeycutt arrived at the meeting at 4:10 P.M.]         
 
            Lengthy discussions were held in which fire department representatives shared budgetary needs, concerns, and plans for the purchase of new equipment. Discussion was also held on the need for a fire tax rate and the County’s supplement to the fire departments and how those funds were expended.
 
            The Board of Commissioners suggested fire department representatives meet throughout the coming year and bring a recommendation to the Board in time for FY 2008’s budget preparation which detailed how/if the County’s supplement was needed and a fair way to distribute it among the different departments.
 
            The meeting was adjourned at 6:06 P.M.
 
 
Jim Deal, Chairman
 
ATTEST:
Anita J. Fogle, Clerk to the Board