MINUTES
WATAUGA COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
SPECIAL MEETING, SATURDAY, JANUARY 17, 2009
The Watauga County Board of Commissioners held a special meeting on Saturday, January 17, 2009, in the Commissioners’ Conference Room at the Watauga County Administration Building, Boone, NC. Those present were: Chairman Deal, Vice-Chairman Winkler, Commissioner Cooper, Commissioner Futrelle, Commissioner Kinsey, County Manager Nelson, and Deputy County Manager Geouque. Others present were as follows:
[Clerk’s Note: Commissioner Cooper arrived at 9:00 A.M.]
- Watauga County Board of Education: Lowell Younce, Dr. Lee Warren, Deborah Miller, Marsha Walpole, Attorney Paul Miller, Superintendent Marty Hemric, and Clerk Jennifer Combs.
- Town of Boone Greenway Representatives: Lynne Mason, Stephen Phillips, Bunk Spann, Eric Gustavson, Blake Brown, Craig Scheffler, and John Spear.
- Appalachian District Health Department: Danny Staley, Director; and Jennifer Greene, Health Education and Promotion Supervisor
Chairman Deal called the meeting to order at 8:39 A.M.
Bill Dixon of Appalachian Architecture and Mike Wilson of Toyhsma presented information on behalf of the Town of Boone.
Discussion continued on the Childhood Obesity Grant written by Appalachian District Health Department regarding the right-of-way location at the new high school. The grant specifies that a Greenway connection be located on the far western/southwestern border of the property.
Blake Brown presented a Greenway Trail Incident Report from 2003-2008. He mentioned the possibility of adding emergency call boxes on the trail. The boxes will be discussed at the next Greenway Committee meeting. Mr. Brown and Eric Gustavson shared information regarding the current and proposed Greenway.
Bill Dixon presented a drawing of the current proposed Greenway Trail with a redistribution of landscaping around the Edmisten house. He also shared a 3-D presentation that suggested moving the proposed fence toward WHS and extending the fence around the corner at the top of the hill.
Mike Wilson presented an alternative route for the proposed Greenway which would come from Morningside Drive and continue to the bridge at the back portion of the WHS property. The estimate for the alternative route was higher than the originally requested location. The Council of State would be involved in the alternative location because of the use of ASU property for a portion of this option.
Another alternative location as presented by Dr. Hemric mentioned the possibility of entering from Charlie Hollar Road.
Security, student safety, future development and neighborhood access were again discussed.
The groups agreed by consensus to refer the Greenway right-of-way discussion to the WHS Sub-Committee. The Town of Boone Greenway Committee will join the WHS Sub-Committee at their January 30th meeting. The meeting is scheduled to begin at 2:00 P.M. with discussion on the Greenway right-of-way to be at 4:00 P.M.
The meeting was adjourned at 10:25 A.M.
Jim Deal, Chairman
ATTEST:
Deron Geouque, Deputy County Manager