MINUTES
WATAUGA COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2011
The Watauga County Board of Commissioners held a regular meeting on Tuesday, December 20, 2011, at 5:00 P.M. in the Commissioners' Board Room of the Watauga County Administration Building, Boone, North Carolina.
PRESENT: Nathan A. Miller, Chairman
Vince Gable, Vice-Chairman
David Blust, Commissioner
Jim Deal, Commissioner
Stacy C. Eggers, IV, County Attorney
Deron Geouque, County Manager
Anita J. Fogle, Clerk to the Board
Chairman Miller called the meeting to order at 5:04 P.M.
[Clerk’s Note: Commissioner Tim Futrelle was not in attendance due to a prior commitment.]
Commissioner Deal opened the meeting with a prayer and Vice-Chairman Gable led the Pledge of Allegiance.
Approval of Minutes
Chairman Miller called for additions and/or corrections to the December 6, 2011, regular and closed session minutes.
Commissioner Deal, seconded by Vice-Chairman Gable, moved to approve the December 6, 2011, regular meeting minutes as presented.
VOTE: Aye-4(Miller, Gable, Blust, Deal)
Nay-0
Absent-1(Futrelle)
By consensus, the Board tabled approval of the December 6, 2011, closed session minutes until after closed session to allow for review of proposed amendments.
Approval of Agenda
Chairman Miller called for additions and/or corrections to the December 20, 2011, agenda.
County Manager Geouque requested to add Watauga Medical Center Board of Trustees under Boards and Commissions.
Commissioner Deal, seconded by Vice-Chairman Gable, moved to approve the December 20, 2011, agenda as amended.
VOTE: Aye-4(Miller, Gable, Blust, Deal)
Nay-0
Absent-1(Futrelle)
Presentation of Fiscal Year 2011 Audit
Mr. Bryce Holder presented the County’s Fiscal Year 2010/2011 audit. Mr. Holder stated that the County’s assets exceeded its liabilities by $110,806,926. The unassigned fund balance was $11,880,356 representing 25.63% of the total General Fund expenditures while the state average was approximately 25%.
This report was given for information only; therefore, no action was required.
Proposed American Red Cross Shelter Agreement
Mr. Tom Dunn, Mountain Area Emergency Services Manager with the American Red Cross, presented a proposed agreement requesting permission for the Western Watauga Community Center to be designated as an emergency disaster shelter when/if needed.
Commissioner Blust, seconded by Vice-Chairman Gable, moved to approve the agreement with the American Red Cross, contingent upon the County Attorney’s review.
VOTE: Aye-4(Miller, Gable, Blust, Deal)
Nay-0
Absent-1(Futrelle)
Planning and Inspections Matters
A. Update Regarding Proposed Acceptance of NC Rural Center Grant
Mr. Joe Furman stated that the County’s requests for amendments to the Building Reuse and Restoration Program grant award presented at the October 18, 2011, Board meeting had been denied by the NC Rural Center. However, Rural Center staff assured Mr. Furman that there was no language within the agreement requiring the local governments to repay funds in the event of the recipient’s default.
The grant application was originally submitted, per Board approval of an Economic Development Commission request, with the NC Rural Center Building Reuse and Restoration Program requesting an amount of $64,000 which required a commitment from Giant Street Ventures dba Aaron’s, the benefactor of the grant, to create eight new jobs within eighteen months and maintain the same number for another six months. Funds were awarded in the amount of $44,843 and the job requirement was reduced to six positions. The reason for the reduction was that the grant was to only fund the renovation portion of the project. The local match was to be covered by Mr. Furman’s administrative time which would total approximately 30 hours. A promissory note was included as a part of the grant agreement.
County Attorney Eggers stated that, according to correspondence from the NC Rural Center, the County should not be responsible for repaying funds in the event of the recipient’s default; however, the County would be responsible for attempting to collect funds from the project owner if a default resulted due to the grant stipulations not being met.
Commissioner Deal, seconded by Vice-Chairman Gable, moved to authorize staff to enter into the contract with the NC Rural Center as presented.
VOTE: Aye-4(Miller, Gable, Blust, Deal)
Nay-0
Absent-1(Futrelle)
B. NCDOT Secondary Roads Program Public Hearing Request
Mr. Furman stated that each year the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) presented their Secondary Road Improvement Program to the County at a public hearing. The NCDOT requested that a public hearing be scheduled on January 17, 2012.
Commissioner Deal, seconded by Commissioner Blust, moved to schedule a public hearing to allow citizen comment on the North Carolina Department of Transportation’s Secondary Road Improvement Program on Tuesday, January 17, 2012, at 6:00 P.M.
VOTE: Aye-4(Miller, Gable, Blust, Deal)
Nay-0
Absent-1(Futrelle)
Budget Amendments
Ms. Margaret Pierce, Finance Director, reviewed the following budget amendments:
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Account # |
Description |
Debit |
Credit |
|
103586-332006 |
Senior Health Insurance Information Pro. (SHIIP) Grant |
|
$8,803 |
|
105550-449901 |
SHIIP supplies |
$8,803 |
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The amendment recognized a grant award for Senior Health Insurance Information Program (SHIIP). The award was accepted at the August 2, 2011, regular Board meeting. |
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Account # |
Description |
Debit |
Credit |
|
103586-332000 |
Home & Community Care Block Grant (H&CCBG) |
|
$9,932 |
|
105550-429200 |
POA Program Supplies |
$4,966 |
|
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105550-422000 |
POA Food and Provisions |
$4,966 |
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The amendment recognized the award of Home and Community Care Block Grant (H&CCBG) funds for an additional allocation received from the High Country Area Agency on Aging. The County match of $1,103 was present in the Project on Aging’s budget. The award was approved at the December 6, 2011, regular Board meeting. |
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Account # |
Description |
Debit |
Credit |
|
103300-343313 |
Homeland Security Training Grant |
|
$1,857 |
|
104330-439501 |
EM Training Grant |
$1,857 |
|
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The amendment recognized a grant award for a search and rescue and level 330-400 Incident Command Classes for first responders. No County match was required. The award was approved at the November 15, 2011, regular Board meeting. |
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Account # |
Description |
Debit |
Credit |
|
103300-345000 |
E&D Transportation Grant |
|
$40,359 |
|
103300-345001 |
WorkFirst Transportation Assistance |
|
$11,822 |
|
103300-345002 |
Rural General Public |
|
$60,222 |
|
104500-469843 |
AppalCART – RGP |
$60,222 |
|
|
104500-469844 |
AppalCART – WorkFirst |
$11,822 |
|
|
104500-469845 |
Elderly & Disabled Transportation Assistance |
$1,500 |
|
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105550-431301 |
POA – E&D |
$21,859 |
|
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105890-469846 |
Watauga Opportunities – E&D |
$17,000 |
|
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143300-345000 |
E&D Transportation Grant |
|
$18,645 |
|
145310-469845 |
E&D Transportation Grant |
$18,645 |
|
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The amendment recognized the award of the NC Public Transportation Division FY 2011-12 Rural Operating Assistance Program (ROAP) grant funds. |
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Vice-Chairman Gable, seconded by Commissioner Blust, moved to approve the budget amendments as presented.
VOTE: Aye-4(Miller, Gable, Blust, Deal)
Nay-0
Absent-1(Futrelle)
Miscellaneous Administrative Matters
A. Boards & Commissions
County Manager Geouque stated that the Farmland Preservation Advisory Board requested the reappointment of Mr. Johnny Moretz whose term expired November 2011.
Commissioner Blust, seconded by Vice-Chairman Gable, moved to waive the second reading and reappoint Mr. Johnny Moretz to the Farmland Preservation Advisory Board.
VOTE: Aye-4(Miller, Gable, Blust, Deal)
Nay-0
Absent-1(Futrelle)
County Manager Geouque stated that the Watauga Medical Center Board of Trustees had requested the appointment of Mr. Joe Miller, Mr. Paul Miller, Jr., and Dr. Mark Murrey to serve three-year terms beginning January 2012 and ending December 2014.
Commissioner Deal, seconded by Vice-Chairman Gable, moved to recuse Chairman Miller from this vote as his father, Mr. Paul Miller, Jr., was considered for appointment.
VOTE: Aye-4(Miller, Gable, Blust, Deal)
Nay-0
Absent-1(Futrelle)
Commissioner Deal, seconded by Commissioner Blust, moved to waive the second reading and reappoint Mr. Joe Miller and Mr. Paul Miller, Jr., and appoint Dr. Mark Murrey to serve three-year terms on the Watauga Medical Center Board of Trustees beginning January 1, 2012, and ending December 31, 2014.
VOTE: Aye-3(Gable, Blust, Deal)
Nay-0
Absent-1(Futrelle)
Recused-1(Miller)
B. Announcements
The County Manager announced that the first regular meeting of the Board scheduled in January had been cancelled due to the holiday schedule. Therefore, the only regularly scheduled meeting of the Board of Commissioners in January would be on the 17th at 5:30 P.M.
The County Manager announced that the National Association of Counties’ (NACo) 2012 Annual Legislative Conference had been scheduled for March 3-7, 2012, in Washington DC.
Public Comment
There was no public comment.
Chairman Miller wished the citizens of Watauga County a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year on behalf of the Watauga County Board of Commissioners.
Closed Session
At 5:26 P.M., Commissioner Blust, seconded by Vice-Chairman Gable, moved to enter Closed Session to discuss Attorney/Client Matters, per G. S. 143-318.11(a)(3).
VOTE: Aye-4(Miller, Gable, Blust, Deal)
Nay-0
Absent-1(Futrelle)
Commissioner Blust, seconded by Vice-Chairman Gable, moved to resume the open meeting at 6:23 P.M.
VOTE: Aye-4(Miller, Gable, Blust, Deal)
Nay-0
Absent-1(Futrelle)
Action After Closed Session
Commissioner Deal, seconded by Vice-Chairman Gable, moved to approve the December 6, 2011, closed session minutes as amended.
VOTE: Aye-4(Miller, Gable, Blust, Deal)
Nay-0
Absent-1(Futrelle)
Adjourn
Chairman Miller adjourned the meeting at 6:24 P.M.
Nathan A. Miller, Chairman
ATTEST: