MINUTES
WATAUGA
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2011
The Watauga County Board of Commissioners held a regular meeting on Tuesday, February 1, 2011, at 8:00 A.M. in the Commissioners’ Board Room of the
PRESENT: Nathan A. Miller, Chairman
Robert E. Nelson, Jr.,
Anita J. Fogle, Clerk to the Board
Chairman Miller called the meeting to order at 8:04 A.M., welcoming those in attendance.
Commissioner Deal opened the meeting with a prayer and Commissioner Gable led the Pledge of Allegiance.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Chairman Miller called for additions and/or corrections to the January 18, 2011, regular and closed session minutes.
One correction was handout out regarding the closed session minutes.
Commissioner Deal, seconded by Commissioner Futrelle, moved to approve the January 18, 2011, regular meeting minutes as presented.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
Commissioner Deal, seconded by Commissioner Futrelle, moved to approve the January 18, 2011, closed session minutes as amended.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
APPROVAL OF AGENDA
Chairman Miller called for additions and/or corrections to the February 1, 2011, agenda.
Chairman Miller stated that the following items had been requested to be added to the agenda: under Item # 5, a proposed resolution exempting the County from procurement of services for Rocky Knob Park Phase II; under Item # 8, discussion on consolidated dispatch and the Town of
Commissioner Deal, seconded by Vice-Chairman Blust, moved to approve the February 1, 2011, agenda as amended.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
FISCAL YEARS 2011, 2012, & 2013 AUDIT CONTRACT PROPOSAL
Finance Director
· a contract price not to exceed $53,400 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2011
· a contract price not to exceed $54,000 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2012
· a contract price not to exceed $54,550 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2013
Also included in the proposal was an October 31 deadline for the completion of the final audit report with a preliminary report to be provided to management 10 business days prior to October 31 report each year.
Commissioner Futrelle, seconded by Vice-Chairman Blust, moved to approve the contract proposal as presented.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
ROCKY
A. Proposed Resolution Exempting
Commissioner Deal, seconded by Commissioner Futrelle, moved to adopt the resolution exempting
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
B. Proposed Contract for Phase II – Mr.
Commissioner Deal, seconded by Commissioner Futrelle, moved to award the bid for construction of Phase II of Rocky Knob Park to Benchmark Trails in an amount not to exceed $65,000 and moved to direct the
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
PROJECT ON AGING MATTERS
A. Request to Appoint the Home & Community Care Block Grant (H&CCBG) Agency Committee and Lead Agency – Ms.
Ms. Boitnotte also requested that the Project on Aging be appointed as the Lead Agency.
Commissioner Futrelle, seconded by Commissioner Deal, moved to appoint the Project on Aging as the Lead Agency and appoint the following to the H&CCBG Advisory Committee: Anita Davie,
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
[Clerk’s Note: Commissioner Futrelle was appointed to this committee at the December 6, 2010, meeting.]
B. Budget Revision Request to Accept Additional Allocation of H&CCBG Funds – Ms. Boitnotte presented a proposed budget amendment which, if approved, would include an additional $3,481 which was available to
Vice-Chairman Blust, seconded by Commissioner Gable, moved to accept the additional H&CCBG funding in the amount of $3,481 and approve both the local match and budget amendment as presented.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
TAX MATTERS
A. Monthly Collections Report – Tax Administrator
B. Releases and Refunds – Mr. Byrd presented the following Refunds and Releases for January 2011 for Board approval:
TO BE TYPED IN MINUTE BOOK
Commissioner Deal, seconded by Vice-Chairman Blust, moved to approve the Refunds and Releases Report for January 2011, as presented.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
C. Extended Listing Period Request – Mr. Byrd requested that the tax listing period for 2011 be extended through February 28, 2011. The purpose of the extension was to allow ample time, due to recent weather conditions, for citizens to file personal property. Mr. Byrd presented a draft resolution which authorized the extension.
Vice-Chairman Blust, seconded by Commissioner Futrelle, moved to adopt the resolution authorizing the extension of the 2011 tax listing period through February 28, 2011 as presented by Mr. Byrd.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
MISCELLANEOUS ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS
A. Tentative Retreat Agenda – February 25 & 26, 2011 – County Manager Nelson presented additional topics that were to be added to the tentative Annual Pre-Budget Retreat agenda. The retreat was scheduled for February 25 & 26, 2011. The
This item was presented for information only and, therefore, no action was required.
B. Automatic External Defibrillator Purchase Authorization Request from 911 Fund Balance – County Manager Nelson stated that, due to a change in 911 spending guidelines by the State, the County was allowed to spend a portion of 911 reserve funds on public safety items.
Commissioner Gable recommended the purchase five Automatic External Defibrillators (AEDs). The cost was approximately $1,400 per unit. Commissioner Gable stated that the AEDs could be distributed by the Fire Marshal’s Office in a manner that would bring the total AEDs on hand for each of the Volunteer Fire Departments to a minimum of three.
Commissioner Gable, seconded by Commissioner Deal, moved to approve the purchase of five Automatic External Defibrillators with 911 reserve funds to be distributed so that each Volunteer Fire Department had a minimum of three on hand.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
C. Boards and Commissions – County Manager Nelson stated that the Watauga County Tourism Development Authority (TDA) had two terms expiring at the end of February. Dave Robertson was willing to continue to serve; however, Missy Harrill was not available to serve an additional term. Ms. Suzanne Stevens, Ms. Connie Baird and Mr. Matthew Vincent were all available to serve.
Written ballots were distributed, completed, and given to the Clerk who tallied them and announced that Connie Baird and Matthew Vincent received the greatest number of votes and therefore were appointed to each serve three-year terms on the Watauga County Tourism Development Authority.
Commissioner Deal, seconded by Vice-Chairman Blust, moved to reappoint Ms. Wanda Branch to the Watauga County Nursing Home Community Advisory Committee for a three-year term and reappoint Mr. Gene Vandiford to the Watauga County Adult Care Home Community Advisory Committee for a three-year term.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
Commissioner Gable stated that his appointment of Mr. B. W. Miller at a previous meeting was invalid as Mr. Miller’s property was in a neighboring fire district; therefore, Commissioner Gable appointed Mr. James Coffey as the District 2 representative to the Boone Rural Fire Protection Service District.
Vice-Chairman Blust appointed Mr. Weldon Critcher as the District 5 representative to the Boone Rural Fire Protection Service District.
D. Announcements – County Manager Nelson announced that the National Association of Counties Legislative (NACo) Conference was scheduled in
E. Discussion on Consolidated Dispatch – Commissioner Gable recommended the appointment of a committee to study the feasibility of consolidated dispatch for emergency communications. Discussion was held regarding the formation of and goals for the committee and the following were suggested to be included as members of the committee:
· Commissioner Gable to serve as the representative of the Fire Commission and Board of Commissioners
· A representative from each of the Towns within the County (Boone, Blowing Rock, Seven Devils, and
· Representation of the Volunteer Fire Departments
· A representative of the Watauga County Fire Marshal’s Office
· A representative from ASU emergency management
After discussion, Commissioner Gable, seconded by Vice-Chairman Blust, moved to request that Sheriff Hagaman form a committee including representation as listed above to study the feasibility of and seek federal funding for consolidated dispatch in
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
F. Discussion on the Town of Boone’s Water Intake Project – At the joint meeting with the Town of
After discussion, and by consensus, the Board scheduled a work session for February 22, 2011, at 5:00 P.M. to further discuss and receive additional information from the Town of
PUBLIC COMMENT
There was no public comment.
CLOSED SESSION
At 8:49 A.M., Commissioner Deal, seconded by Vice-Chairman Blust, moved to enter Closed Session to discuss Attorney/Client Matters, per G. S. 143-318.11(a)(3).
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
Commissioner Deal, seconded by Commissioner Futrelle, moved to resume the open meeting at 9:57 A.M.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
ADJOURN
Chairman Miller adjourned the meeting at 9:57 A.M.
Nathan A. Miller, Chairman
ATTEST:
Anita J. Fogle, Clerk to the Board