MINUTES
WATAUGA COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
MONDAY, JANUARY 5, 1998
The Watauga County Board of Commissioners held a regular meeting on Monday, January 5, 1998 at 9:00 A.M. in the Board Room of the Watauga County Courthouse.
PRESENT: James Coffey, Chairman
Jack D. Lawrence, Sr., Vice-Chairman
Linda S. Craig, Commissioner
Jack Wellborn, Commissioner
Stacy C. Eggers, Jr., County Attorney
James S. Ratchford, County Manager
Libby Link, Clerk to the Board
Chairman Coffey called the meeting to order at 9:03 A.M. welcoming those in attendance.
A moment of silence was observed.
Chairman Coffey called for additions or corrections to the December 16, 1997 regular minutes; there being none, they were approved as presented.
Commissioner Jimmy Hodges entered the Board Room at 9:04 A.M.
Commissioner Wellborn, seconded by Vice-Chairman Lawrence, moved to approve the agenda for the January 5, 1998 regular meeting as presented.
VOTE: Aye – 5
Nay – 0
Commissioner Craig stated she had been served with a subpoena to appear in Juvenile Court and asked to be excused at 9:30 A.M.
Vice-Chairman Lawrence, seconded by Commissioner Wellborn, moved to approve Commissioner Craig’s absence.
VOTE: Aye – 5
Nay - 0
Chairman of the Youth Services Advisory Committee, Susan McCracken, presented the YSAC certification forms in order to administer the community based alternatives funds for this year. In addition, Ms. McCracken stated Mitchel Yates resigned at the December meeting and the YSAC Committee wished to add Jim Page to the 1997-98 Roster.
Vice-Chairman Lawrence, seconded by Commissioner Hodges moved to approve the application and the Committee’s 1997-98 members.
VOTE: Aye – 5
Nay – 0
In addition, County Manager Jim Ratchford, asked the Board for permission to sign all Program Agreements for this Program. Mr. Ratchford stated the Board would still approve the budget allocation, but this action would help administratively with Amendments to be signed.
Commissioner Craig, seconded by Commissioner Wellborn moved to approve this request.
VOTE: Aye – 5
Nay – 0
A. Emergency Operations Plan - Fire Marshal, Lisa Shoun, presented the County’s new Emergency Operations Plan. Ms. Shoun stated that nothing had really changed but she had worked on this Plan since 1995 to make it a more workable Plan. In addition, she stated she had met with other organizations within the County to ensure their requests were in the Plan.
County Attorney Stacy Eggers added that this new Plan superseded the old Plan and would go into effect upon execution of all parties involved.
Commissioner Wellborn, seconded by Commissioner Hodges moved to accept the new Emergency Operations Plan contingent upon being approved by all parties.
VOTE: Aye – 5
Nay - 0
B. 5-Mile Fire Insurance Rate Map Proposals - Fire Marshal Shoun also presented 5-Mile fire insurance rate map proposals for seven of the county volunteer fire departments. Ms. Shoun stated that all chiefs involved had looked at this proposal and had approved. Ms. Shoun added that the fire departments previously had a 4-Mile insurance district but the State had now approved a 5-Mile insurance district to provide more affordable homeowner’s insurance to individuals.
Commissioner Hodges stated that the public needed to be aware of this new insurance district and requested Ms. Shoun prepare a news release to notify the public. Ms. Shoun stated she would comply and would also send a copy to all insurance agents.
Commissioner Hodges, seconded by Commissioner Wellborn moved to approve the new 5-Mile insurance districts for the following fire departments: Stewart Simmons VFD, Cove Creek VFD, Shawneehaw VFD, Foscoe VFD, Meat Camp VFD, Deep Gap VFD, and Boone Rural VFD.
VOTE: Aye – 5
Nay – 0
RESOLUTION BOOK # 9 , PAGE # 19 , 20 , 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 , & 25
A. Collections Report - Tax Administrator Larry McLean presented the Tax Collections Report for the month of December, 1997.
B. Refunds and Releases – Tax Administrator McLean presented the following Refunds and Releases Report for December, 1997 for Board approval:
TO BE TYPED IN MINUTE BOOK
Vice-Chairman Lawrence, seconded by Commissioner Craig moved to approve the Refunds and Releases Report as presented.
VOTE: Aye – 5
Nay – 0
Data Processing Manager, Glenda Duncan, received three bids for the new computer hardware system for the Tax Department. Bids were received as follows:
DBM Systems, Inc. $58,142.00
Raleigh, NC
IKON Office Solutions $65,631.67
Morrisville, NC
Premier Systems Integrators, Inc. $57,986.60
Charlotte, NC
Commissioner Craig, seconded by Vice-Chairman Lawrence motioned to accept the Premier Systems Integrators, Inc. bid.
VOTE: Aye – 5
Nay – 0
Social Services Director, Jim Atkinson, presented the standard monthly report for that Department as well as the final Work First Plan to be submitted to the State. Mr. Atkinson stated he had received no requests for changes from the public and felt that this was a good Plan. Commissioner Craig stated that the Work First Committee would meet periodically to make amendments to the Plan as needed.
Commissioner Craig, seconded by Vice-Chairman Lawrence motioned to accept the Work First Plan as submitted.
VOTE: Aye – 5
Nay – 0
Commissioner Craig exited the Board Room at 9:30 A.M.
Mr. Atkinson also presented a Plan for Program Integrity Allocation. Mr. Atkinson stated Social Services was currently using caseworkers to perform fraud investigation but this was no longer adequate because caseworkers did not have the time to adequately investigate cases as needed.
Mr. Atkinson stated the State would provide $25,000 for an Income Maintenance Investigator position, and that very little County money would be involved as long as federal funds were available. Mr. Atkinson also stated that Social Services had needed a fraud investigator for a long time and was convinced that the Department would save money.
Vice-Chairman Lawrence, seconded by Commissioner Hodges moved to approve the Program Integrity Allocation Plan as presented.
VOTE: Aye – 4 (Coffey, Lawrence, Hodges, Wellborn)
Nay – 0
Absent – 1 (Craig)
Commissioner Craig reentered the Board Room at 9:35 A.M.
Mr. Atkinson also presented an Adult Daycare Vendor Agreement for adult day care services with the Blowing Rock Hospital. Mr. Atkinson stated this Agreement would provide transportation for some clients and required 12.5% County match. The Board had previously approved the grant application for this service. Mr. Atkinson added this Agreement would allow seniors to stay in their homes rather than being admitted to nursing facilities. County Attorney Eggers stated he had reviewed the Agreement and found it to be satisfactory.
Commissioner Craig, seconded by Commissioner Wellborn moved to approve the Agreement with the Blowing Rock Hospital.
VOTE: Aye – 5
Nay – 0
Auditor, Bryce Holder, made a brief presentation of his firm’s proposal to conduct the County’s annual audit for this current year. Mr. Holder stated the contract was the same as last year with the exception of a $1.00 hour increase to cover inflationary type cost increases. Chairman Coffey stated he thought that Mr. Holder had done a good job.
Vice-Chairman Lawrence, seconded by Commissioner Wellborn motioned to accept the Holder, Copeland & Associates, P.A. proposal.
VOTE: Aye – 5
Nay – 0
A. Community College Water Sewer Project Change Order. County Manager Ratchford presented a change order for this project and stated the funds would have to come out of the County’s general fund. Mr. Ratchford stated a budget amendment would be provided at the next meeting.
After discussion, Commissioner Wellborn, seconded by Vice-Chairman Lawrence moved to accept this change order.
VOTE: Aye – 5
Nay – 0
B. Boards and Commissions. Chairman Coffey noted the following board member term expiring: Loyce Warren, Watauga County Parks & Recreation Commission. Two names were submitted from the Cove Creek Community; Laura Johnson and Dan Isaacs. Commissioner Hodges stated he knew both candidates, and he felt both would serve well.
The following votes were made:
Chairman Coffey – Laura Johnson
Vice-Chairman Lawrence – Laura Johnson
Commissioner Craig – Dan Isaacs
Commissioner Hodges – Dan Isaacs
Commissioner Wellborn – Laura Johnson
Based on the results of the vote, Laura Johnson was appointed to the Watauga County Parks & Recreation Commission.
Chairman Coffey also noted that ASU had submitted a formal nomination which stated that Roy Tugman, Director of Campus Police had retired and requested that Larry Foster, ASU Campus Security be appointed in his place to the AppalCart Board.
Commissioner Wellborn, seconded by Commissioner Hodges, moved to approve the nomination.
VOTE: Aye – 5
Nay – 0
Commissioner Wellborn, seconded by Vice-Chairman Lawrence moved to adjourn the meeting at 9:55 A.M.
VOTE: Aye – 5
Nay – 0
______________________________
James Coffey
Chairman
ATTEST:
________________________________
Elizabeth H. Link
Clerk to the Board
ADJOURN
MISCELLANEOUS ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS
FY 97/98 AUDIT PROPOSAL
DSS REPORT
COMPUTER SYSTEM BIDS
TAX REPORT
FIRE/EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT
YSAC CERTIFICATION
APPROVAL OF AGENDA
APPROVAL OF MINUTES