WATAUGA COUNTY

 

There being no further public comment, Chairman Miller declared the public hearing closed at 7:24 P.M.

 

Statutes allow the Board of Commissioners to either endorse the plan or take no action at all; however, the Board has no control over the operation of the plan.

 

After discussion, Vice-Chairman Gable, seconded by Commissioner Deal, moved to endorse the Department of Transportation’s Secondary Roads Improvement Plan as presented.

 

VOTE:  Aye-4(Miller, Blust, Deal, Gable)

             Nay-0

             Absent-1(Futrelle)

 

By consensus, the Board agreed to direct the County Manager to draft a resolution requesting the Department of Transportation give consideration to Roby Greene Road for safety reasons and to follow up with DOT staff regarding potential discretionary funds that might be available to assist with the repairs.

Landfill Gas to Energy Project Matters

A.  Proposed Interconnection Agreement with BREMCO

Mr. Brian Crutchfield, with Blue Ridge Electric Membership Corporation (BREMCO), presented an interconnection agreement between the County and BREMCO.  The interconnection agreement was a part of the County’s Gas to Energy project and was required in order for the County to place electricity generated through the project onto BREMCO’s electric infrastructure.

 

Commissioner Deal, seconded by Commissioner Blust, moved to approve the interconnection agreement with BREMCO, contingent upon the County Attorney’s review.

 

VOTE:  Aye-4(Miller, Blust, Deal, Gable)

             Nay-0

             Absent-1(Futrelle)

B.  Proposed Facilities Charge Agreement

Mr. Crutchfield also presented a Consumer Requested Facilities Charge Agreement between the County and BREMCO.  The purpose of the agreement was to cover the cost of the facilities constructed by BREMCO in support of the Gas to Energy project.  BREMCO had installed primary metering at a single point, eliminating the seven existing meters and permitted the County to utilize the mini grid while BREMCO still maintained the facilities.  This agreement established a permanent consumer requested facilities charge in the total amount of $200 per month as long as the service was being provided.

 

Commissioner Blust, seconded by Commissioner Deal, moved to approve the Consumer Requested Facilities Charge Agreement, contingent upon the County Attorney’s review.

 

VOTE:  Aye-4(Miller, Blust, Deal, Gable)

             Nay-0

             Absent-1(Futrelle)

C.  Proposed Baseline Gas Monitoring

Mr. Brian Raichle with the Appalachian State University’s Department of Technology and Environmental Design requested permission to install up to three (3) wellhead monitors to record landfill gas flow, temperature, and humidity in real time.  Mr. Raichle stated that the goal for the monitoring program was to improve energy production.  The baseline data collected also had the potential to strengthen future proposals for external funding.  Mr. Raichle stated that McGee Environmental, Inc., currently involved with the County’s project, was to be involved and provide input on the design of the monitors.  Appalachian State University was to provide all the necessary equipment and funds for the monitoring project at no cost to the County.  County Attorney Eggers inquired about preparing a formal agreement; however, he was not directed to do so.

 

Commissioner Blust, seconded by Vice-Chairman Gable, moved to give permission to Appalachian State University’s Department of Technology and Environmental Design to install the wellhead monitors as presented.

 

VOTE:  Aye-4(Miller, Blust, Deal, Gable)

             Nay-0

             Absent-1(Futrelle)

Proposed Gated Community Ordinance

Mr. Joe Furman stated that the Fire Commission had requested an ordinance be drafted requiring rules and standards for the installation of electronic access gates for gated communities.  Mr. Furman presented a proposed Gated Community Ordinance and requested the Board schedule a public hearing for the February 21, 2012, meeting to allow public comment on the proposed ordinance.  Mr. Furman stated that the Ordinance was to regulate new communities and would also require current communities to adhere to the standards when replacing gates in the future.  Mr. Furman stated that the Planning and Inspections Department was to serve as the gateway for applicants under the proposed ordinance.

 

Mr. Ronnie Marsh with the Fire Commission stated that it would cost current communities approximately $1,200 to $1,500 when replacing current gates to meet the standards within the ordinance.

 

Vice-Chairman Gable, seconded by Commissioner Deal, moved to schedule a public hearing on Tuesday, February 21, 2012, at 6:00 P.M. to allow citizen comment on the proposed Gated Community Ordinance.

VOTE:  Aye-4(Miller, Blust, Deal, Gable)

             Nay-0

             Absent-1(Futrelle)

Tax Matters

A.  Monthly Collections Report

Tax Administrator Kelvin Byrd presented the Tax Collections Report for the month of December 2011.  This report was presented for information only and, therefore, no action was required.

B.  Refunds and Releases

Mr. Byrd presented the following Refunds and Releases for December 2011 for Board approval:

 

TO BE TYPED IN MINUTE BOOK

 

Vice-Chairman Gable, seconded by Commissioner Blust, moved to approve the Refunds and Releases Report for December 2011, as presented.

 

VOTE:  Aye-4(Miller, Gable, Blust, Deal)

             Nay-0

             Absent-1(Futrelle)

Finance Matters

A.  Budget Amendments

Ms. Margaret Pierce, Finance Director, reviewed the following budget amendments:

 

Account #	Description	Debit	Credit
103586-384000	Donations – Project on Aging		$1,500
105550-429200	Program Supplies	$1,500
The amendment recognized a grant award from the Exxon Mobile Volunteer Foundation.  The Board approved the volunteer award program at the July 12, 2011, regular Board meeting.
Account #	Description	Debit	Credit
143531-323000	Admin Cost Reimb from State		$139,621
145480-438800	Crisis Intervention Payments	$139,621
The amendment recognized an additional state DSS allocation for crisis intervention payments to clients.  No County funds were required in this program.
Account #	Description	Debit	Credit
103839-384000	Donations		$7,500
104330-454000	Capital Outlay – Vehicles	$7,500
The amendment recognized acceptance of a mass casualty trailer as a part of a regional grant program from Homeland Security.

Commissioner Blust, seconded by Vice-Chairman Gable, moved to approve the budget amendments as presented.

 

VOTE:  Aye-4(Miller, Gable, Blust, Deal)

             Nay-0

             Absent-1(Futrelle)

B.  Records Retention Request

Ms. Pierce stated that the Board previously approved a Document Scanning Policy allowing public records in the Finance Department to be retained electronically per approval from the North Carolina Department of Cultural Resources, Division of Historical Resources, Government Records Branch.  Due to interest from other County departments, Ms. Pierce presented a revised policy entitled Watauga County Electronic Records System Policy which was to allow for additional departments to use an electronic means of retaining records.  The revised draft had been sent to the North Carolina Department of Cultural Resources for their approval.

 

Commissioner Blust, seconded by Vice-Chairman Gable, moved to approve the Watauga County Electronic Records System Policy as presented by Ms. Pierce.

 

VOTE:  Aye-4(Miller, Gable, Blust, Deal)

             Nay-0

             Absent-1(Futrelle)

 

Ms. Pierce presented Request for Disposal of Original Records Duplicated by Electronic Means forms from both the Finance and Social Services Departments as required in association with the Electronic Records System Policy.

 

Commissioner Deal, seconded by Commissioner Blust, moved to approve the Request for Disposal of Original Records Duplicated by Electronic Means forms as presented by Ms. Pierce.

 

VOTE:  Aye-4(Miller, Gable, Blust, Deal)

             Nay-0

             Absent-1(Futrelle)

 

Ms. Pierce presented Records Retention and Disposition Schedules for both the Sheriff’s Office and Tax Department which had been updated by the North Carolina Department of Cultural Resources for consideration.

 

Commissioner Blust, seconded by Commissioner Deal, moved to adopt the Records Retention and Disposition Schedules for both the Sheriff and Tax Office as presented by Ms. Pierce.

 

VOTE:  Aye-4(Miller, Gable, Blust, Deal)

             Nay-0

             Absent-1(Futrelle)

Update on Consolidated Dispatch

Vice-Chairman Gable reported that Blowing Rock Town Council had adopted a resolution in support of consolidated dispatch; however, the Town of Boone had not yet made a commitment.  Mr. Gable stated that a job description for an Emergency Services Director had been formulated and staff was working on a departmental budget.  At this time, it appears that costs savings would be seen and safety issues would be met.

 

Vice-Chairman Gable moved to ratify the job description and publish a job advertisement in a move to have the department operable for FY 2013 which was to begin July 1, 2012.

 

County Attorney Eggers stated that the job description needed to include that the Emergency Services Director reports directly to either the Sheriff or the County Manager in order for the County to qualify to receive 911 funding.

 

County Manager Geouque stated that consolidated dispatch was also a topic for discussion on the draft agenda for the upcoming Annual Pre-Budget Retreat.

 

After discussion, Vice-Chairman Gable’s motion died for a lack of a second to allow for the development of a departmental budget and further discussion at the Annual Pre-Budget Retreat.  

Miscellaneous Administrative Matters

A.  Request to Donate Bleachers from Old High School

Commissioner Deal stated that the Optimist Club had contacted him inquiring about the County possibly donating the bleachers from the old high school to the Optimist Club for use at the baseball fields leased by the County.

 

County Attorney Eggers stated that a resolution needed to be adopted to donate property to a non-profit and the donation would have to be advertised for five days; therefore, the Optimist Club would have to be an incorporated nonprofit agency in order to receive a donation of property from the County.

 

Vice-Chairman Gable, seconded by Commissioner Blust, moved to declare the bleachers at the old high school as surplus property and direct the County Manager to follow up with the Optimist Club and prepare an appropriate resolution and advertisement to meet the requirements for the donation.

VOTE:  Aye-4(Miller, Gable, Blust, Deal)

             Nay-0

             Absent-1(Futrelle)

B.  Boards & Commissions

County Manager Geouque stated that the term of Watauga County Recreation Commission member, Mr. Denny Norris, representing the Green Valley Elementary School district, expired December 31, 2011.  Green Valley Principal, Phillip Griffin, had recommended the reappointment of Mr. Denny Norris.

Commissioner Deal, seconded by Vice-Chairman Gable, moved to waive the second reading and reappoint Mr. Denny Norris to the Watauga County Recreation Commission.

 

VOTE:  Aye-4(Miller, Gable, Blust, Deal)

             Nay-0

             Absent-1(Futrelle)

 

County Manager Geouque stated that two terms on the Watauga County Tourism Development Authority (TDA) were set to expire at the end of February 2012.  The TDA requested that Mr. Rob Holton and Mr. Mike Hall each be reappointed to three-year terms.  Both Mr. Holton and Mr. Hall were willing to continue to serve if so appointed.  Chairman Miller nominated Ms. Kim Rogers and Mr. Jim Neustadt for consideration of appointment as well.

 

The County Manager stated that, per TDA Bylaws, the TDA Chairman was also due for appointment by the Board of Commissioners.

 

The above was a first reading and, therefore, no action was required at this time.

 

County Manager Geouque stated that the term of Watauga County Nursing Home Community Advisory Committee (NHCAC) member, Mr. Fred Badders, was to expire January 24, 2012.  High Country Council of Governments’ Ombudsman, Ms. Julie Wiggins, had nominated Mr. Badders for reappointment.  Mr. Badders was willing to continue to serve if so appointed.

 

Commissioner Blust, seconded by Commissioner Deal, moved to waive the second reading and reappoint Mr. Fred Badders to the Watauga County Nursing Home Community Advisory Committee.

 

VOTE:  Aye-4(Miller, Gable, Blust, Deal)

             Nay-0

             Absent-1(Futrelle)

 

C.  Announcements

County Manager Geouque announced that the North Carolina Association of County Commissioners had a seminar scheduled at the UNC School of Government’s Knapp-Sanders Building on January 20, 2012, entitled “Leading Your County Governing Board.”

 

County Manager Geouque announced that the proposed dates for the Annual Pre-Budget Retreat were February 24 & 25, 2012, and March 2 & 3, 2012, with times proposed as 12:00–6:00 P.M. on Friday and 9:00 A.M.–12:00 P.M. on Saturday.  The County Manager requested direction in setting the date of the Retreat.

 

By consensus, the Board scheduled the Annual Pre-Budget Retreat for Friday, February 24, 2012, from 12:00 noon until 6:00 P.M. and Saturday, February 25, 2012, from 9:00 A.M. until 12:00 noon.

 

County Manager Geouque announced that the 2012 Watauga County Economic Development Summit was scheduled for Wednesday, March 7, 2012, from 1:00–5:00 P.M. at the Blowing Rock Art and History Museum in Downtown Blowing Rock.

 

County Manager Geouque announced that Watauga County Library invited the Board of Commissioners to a dinner from 4:00 P.M. to 5:00 P.M. on February 21, 2012, at the Library.

 

Public Comment

There was no public comment.

Closed Session

At 8:03 P.M., Commissioner Deal, seconded by Commissioner Blust, 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)

 

Vice-Chairman Gable, seconded by Commissioner Blust, moved to resume the open meeting at 8:56 P.M.

 

VOTE:  Aye-4(Miller, Gable, Blust, Deal)

             Nay-0

             Absent-1(Futrelle)

Adjourn

Chairman Miller adjourned the meeting at 8:56 P.M.

 

 

 

Nathan A. Miller, Chairman

 

ATTEST:

Anita J. Fogle, Clerk to the Board