MINUTES
WATAUGA COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
SPECIAL MEETING, THURSDAY, AUGUST 30, 2007
The Watauga County Board of Commissioners held a special joint meeting with the Watauga County Board of Education on Thursday, August 30, 2007, in the Media Center at Watauga High School, Boone, North Carolina. Those present were: Chairman Deal, Vice-Chairman Winkler, Commissioner Kinsey, Commissioner Moretz, County Manager Nelson, Assistant County Manager Geouque, and Clerk to the Board Fogle. Members of the School Board present were Lowell Younce, Steve Combs, Deborah Miller, Lee Warren, and Ron Henries. Bobbie Short, Watauga County Schools Superintendent; Jennifer Combs, Clerk to the Board; and Mr. Paul Miller, School Board Attorney were also in attendance.
Chairman Deal called the meeting to order at 5:10 P.M.
School Board Attorney Miller reviewed a proposed contract with Barnhill/Vannoy for Construction Manager at Risk for the new high school project in the amount of $1,890,924. The set completion date for the project was May 1, 2010, with the punch list to be completed by July 1, 2010.
Chairman Deal stated that a contingency amount was included in the contract of which any funds unspent from that line were to be split between the County and Barnhill/Vannoy if the completion date of May 1, 2010, was met. If the completion date was not met, any unspent funds were to go to the County only.
The Board of Education unanimously approved the contract with Barnhill/Vannoy; agreed that unspent contingency funds were to be split between the County and Barnhill/Vannoy only if the completion date of May 1, 2010, was met; and recommended that the County execute the contract.
Commissioner Moretz, seconded by Vice-Chairman Winkler, moved to accept the Board of Education’s recommendation and authorized the Chairman and County Manager to execute the documents, contingent upon the Local Government Commission’s approval of financing.
VOTE: Aye-4(Deal, Winkler, Kinsey, Moretz)
Nay-0
Absent-1(Cooper)
County Manager Nelson presented a request for an easement from the Town of Boone to allow a “turn around” to be placed on Delmar Street on County-owned property.
The Board of Education unanimously agreed to recommend the County approve the easement request from the Town of Boone.
Commissioner Kinsey, seconded by Vice-Chairman Winkler, moved to authorize the County to enter into an easement with the Town of Boone on Delmar Street as presented by the County Manager.
VOTE: Aye-4(Deal, Winkler, Kinsey, Moretz)
Nay-0
Absent-1(Cooper)
County Manager Nelson updated the Board on the following: Poor soil was removed from the site due to oil tanks at the houses which have been removed; all graves have been re-interred at Mount Lawn; grave markers were still needed with the costs to be between $6,000 and $8,000 and approved by the County Manager; three barns remained on the property and needed to be removed; and the North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources approved the County’s request for the Express Review process.
School Board Chairman Younce invited the Board to a Ground Breaking Ceremony at 4:30 P.M. on Wednesday, September 19, 2007.
Vice-Chairman Winkler, seconded by Commissioner Moretz, moved to adjourn the meeting at 5:35 P.M.
Jim Deal, Chairman
ATTEST:
Anita J. Fogle, Clerk to the Board