MINUTES
WATAUGA COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
TUESDAY, MAY 18, 1999
The Watauga County Board of Commissioners held a regular meeting on Tuesday, May 18, 1999 at 7:00 P.M. in the Board Room of the Watauga County Courthouse.
PRESENT: Jimmy Hodges, Chairman
Sue Sweeting, Vice-Chairman
James Coffey, Commissioner
Art Kohles, Commissioner
Jack Lawrence, Sr., Commissioner
Jeff Hedrick, County Attorney
Barry J. Reed, County Manager
Libby Link, Clerk to the Board
Chairman Hodges called the meeting to order at 7:01 P.M. welcoming those in attendance.
A moment of silence was observed.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Chairman Hodges called for additions or corrections to the May 3, 1999 regular and closed session minutes.
Vice-Chairman Sweeting seconded by Commissioner Coffey, moved to approve the May 3, 1999 regular and closed session minutes as presented.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
APPROVAL OF AGENDA
Commissioner Lawrence seconded by Vice-Chairman Sweeting, moved to approve the agenda for the May 18, 1999 regular meeting as presented.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
CONTRACT RENEWALS WITH APPALCART
County Manager Reed stated it was time to renew the County’s AppalCART service contracts with the Project on Aging and Parks & Recreation for the forthcoming year (effective July 1, 1999). The contract amounts remained the same as the current year (per hour and per mile), and Mr. Reed recommended approval of both contracts.
Commissioner Lawrence seconded by Commissioner Coffey, moved to renew the contracts with AppalCART as presented.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
CONSIDERATION OF APPOINTMENTS
County Manager Reed stated there were three members whose terms had expired on the Cove Creek Fire Protection District Commission: Allen Shelton, Kent Adams and A. B. Hodges. Vice-Chairman Sweeting nominated Derek Wilson as well as Joe and Betty Henson. Commissioner Kohles stated he wished to reappoint Kent Adams.
Vice-Chairman Sweeting seconded by Commissioner Kohles, moved to reappoint Kent Adams and to appoint Betty Henson and Derek Wilson to the Cove Creek Fire Protection District Commission for two-year terms.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
County Manager Reed noted the Commissioners needed to make appointments to the Region D Council of Governments (COG) Workforce Development Board for two at-large seats. A nomination form was provided for each Board member to submit to Region D (COG).
County Manager Reed stated the Town of Boone requested an appointment be made to the Howard’s Knob/Rich Mountain Task Force. In addition, this newly formed task force would begin meeting in August, 1999 once a month for a limited period of time (probably less than a year).
Following brief discussion, Commissioner Lawrence seconded by Vice-Chairman Sweeting, moved to appoint Brent Graybeal, Planner II, to the Howard’s Knob/Rich Mountain Task Force.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
County Manager Reed indicated six members had been appointed to the Foster Care Task Force and wanted to give the Board an opportunity to appoint a seventh member if so desired before their first meeting was held. Following brief discussion, and since the Task Force would report back to the Board with recommendations concerning foster care matters, it was the consensus of the Board to decline making an additional appointment at this time.
County Manager Reed stated the Volunteer Outreach Center Board of Directors had decided to expand its membership by inviting a Commissioner and Town Council Member to serve and requested the Board make an appointment. Chairman Hodges noted that Commissioner Lawrence had agreed to serve.
Commissioner Coffey seconded by Vice-Chairman Sweeting, moved to appoint Commissioner Lawrence to serve on the Volunteer Outreach Center Board of Directors.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
County Manager Reed noted that the Boone Town Council had nominated Brian Haas to serve on the Town of Boone’s Planning Board as a representative for the ETJ. Mr. Jerry Williamson had also applied for this position, but the Town declined his nomination. Mr. Williamson had submitted a letter and application for the Board’s consideration. Mr. Reed stated the Board was not required to appoint the Town Council’s nominee.
Commissioner Coffey seconded by Commissioner Lawrence, moved to comply with the Town Council’s nominee and to appoint Brian Haas to the Town of Boone’s Planning Board.
VOTE: Aye-2 (Coffey, Lawrence)
Nay-3 (Hodges, Kohles, Sweeting)
Vice-Chairman Sweeting seconded by Commissioner Kohles, moved to appoint Jerry Williamson to the Town of Boone’s Planning Board.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
BUDGET AMENDMENTS
Finance Director, Doris Isaacs, presented the following budget amendments for Board approval:
Account # Description Debit Credit
103991-399101 Fund Bal. Approp.-New 20,000
104320-422000 Food & Provisions 20,000
To appropriate additional funds to cover the increased cost of meals for prisoners. Meals were formerly provided by the local N.C. prison facility. The increased cost reflected the contract approved with Watauga Medical Center (breakfast, lunch and dinner at $10.25/day) at the Board’s December 7, 1998 meeting.
Account # Description Debit Credit
663991-399101 Fund Bal. Approp.-New 94,320
667420-435100 M & R-Bldg. & Grounds 46,820
667420-451000 Capital Out.-Equip. 47,500
To appropriate prior years White Goods revenue to be expended for the recycling area paving project, the road tractor purchase and the skid steer loader purchase for the County landfill.
Commissioner Coffey seconded by Commissioner Lawrence, moved to approve the budget amendments as presented.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
MODIFIED MEETING SCHEDULE FOR JUNE-NOVEMBER, 1999
County Manager Reed stated that at the Board’s last regular meeting (May 3, 1999) the Board had requested a schedule with locations be developed in order for the Board to conduct its regularly scheduled night meetings at different locations throughout the County. Mr. Reed proposed the following schedule and locations:
June 7 9:00 A.M. Courthouse
June 22 7:00 P.M. Blowing Rock – Town Council Chamber
July 12 7:00 P.M. Deep Gap Volunteer Fire Department
August 2 9:00 A.M. Courthouse
August 17 7:00 P.M. Green Valley Elementary School (Music Room)
September 13 7:00 P.M. Foscoe Christian Church (Fellowship Hall)
October 4 9:00 A.M. Courthouse
October 19 7:00 P.M. Cove Creek Elementary School
November 1 9:00 A.M. Courthouse
November 16 7:00 P.M. Bethel Elementary School (Media Center)
Mr. Reed stated that there would only be one meeting in July and September due to holidays and both meetings would be held at night. In addition, he stated all individuals spoken to at these locations were very excited about this proposition and offered to assist in any way. The only exception was the Foscoe Volunteer Fire Department (VFD) who refused to allow the Board to use their facility. Commissioners Coffey and Lawrence voiced their concerns that the Foscoe VFD would not permit the Board to use their facility and instructed the Clerk or County Manager to write a letter to Chief Frank Aldridge regarding this matter.
Commissioner Coffey seconded by Commissioner Kohles, moved to approve this modified schedule as presented.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
MANAGER’S PROPOSED BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 1999/2000
County Manager Reed submitted his proposed balanced budget for Fiscal Year 1999/2000. This recommended budget proposed to maintain a $.435 tax rate. Mr. Reed stated a public hearing regarding the budget had been scheduled for May 24, 1999 at 7:00 P.M. He suggested the Board review the proposed budget and to decide after the May 24, 1999 public hearing when work sessions should be scheduled. Mr. Reed noted the Board’s meeting scheduled for June 7, 1999 would begin at 9:00 A.M., and the Board could conduct budget work shops after that meeting. Chairman Hodges stated the Board would wait until after the public hearing to schedule budget work sessions.
MISCELLANEOUS ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS
County Manager Reed had distributed several miscellaneous administrative items for the Board’s information (Recreation Commission and Juvenile Crime Prevention Council Minutes, the NCACC District Director Report and the Register of Deeds’ and Planning & Inspections’ Monthly Reports). None of these items required Board action.
ADJOURN
Commissioner Lawrence seconded by Commissioner Coffey, moved to adjourn the meeting at 7:27 P.M.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
___________________________________
Jimmy Hodges
Chairman
ATTEST:
______________________________
Elizabeth H. Link
Clerk to the Board