MINUTES
WATAUGA COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
TUESDAY, APRIL 15, 2014
The Watauga County Board of Commissioners held a regular meeting on Tuesday, April 15, 2014, at 5:30 P.M. in the Commissioners' Board Room of the Watauga County Administration Building, Boone, North Carolina.
PRESENT: Nathan Miller, Chairman
David Blust, Vice-Chairman
Billy Kennedy, Commissioner
John Welch, Commissioner
Perry Yates, Commissioner
Stacey “Four” Eggers, IV, County Attorney
Deron Geouque, County Manager
Anita J. Fogle, Clerk to the Board
Chairman Miller called the meeting to order at 5:30 P.M.
Vice-Chairman Blust opened the meeting with a prayer and Commissioner Yates led the Pledge of Allegiance.
Approval of Minutes
Chairman Miller called for additions and/or corrections to the April 1, 2014, regular meeting and closed session minutes.
Commissioner Yates, seconded by Commissioner Kennedy, moved to approve the April 1, 2014, regular meeting minutes as presented.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
Commissioner Yates, seconded by Commissioner Kennedy, moved to approve the April 1, 2014, closed session minutes as presented.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
Approval of Agenda
Chairman Miller called for additions and/or corrections to the April 15, 2014, agenda.
County Manager Geouque requested to add a Proposed Resolution Terminating/Appointing Plat Review Officers and Possible Action After Closed Session to the agenda.
Chairman Miller requested to add under Boards and Commissions an appointment to serve as a representative on Appalachian State University’s Town and Gown Committee.
Commissioner Kennedy, seconded by Vice-Chairman Blust, moved to approve the April 15, 2014, agenda as amended.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
Boone Town Council Request for Watauga County to Change the Method of Distribution of Sales Tax
Mayor Andy Ball, Town of Boone, read a resolution from the Town of Boone requesting consideration of changing the sales tax distribution method from ad valorem to per capita. Lengthy discussion was held by Board members and Mayor Ball.
The Towns of Blowing Rock, Beech Mountain and Seven Devils provided resolutions requesting the continuation of the current ad valorem method of sales tax distribution. The following spoke briefly encouraging the same: Blowing Rock Town Manager Scott Fogleman, Beech Mountain Councilman Alan Holcombe, and Seven Devils Mayor Pro-Tem Brad Lambert.
After continued discussion, Commissioner Welch, seconded by Commissioner Kennedy, moved to change the method of sales tax distribution to per capita.
VOTE: Aye-2(Kennedy, Welch)
Nay-3(Miller, Blust, Yates)
Proposed proclamation Honoring Hound Ears Club’s 50th Anniversary
Mr. Jason Reagan, Director of Communications for Hound Ears Club, gave a presentation detailing the history of the Club and a proclamation for consideration honoring the 50th Anniversary of Hound Ears Club.
Commissioner Yates, seconded by Vice-Chairman Blust, moved to adopt the proclamation as presented.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
Proposed proclamation establishing greening my plate week
Mr. Bill Moretz will request the Board to proclaim the week of April 27, 2014 as Greening My Plate Week. The purpose of the proclamation is to bring awareness of the benefits of locally grown fruits and vegetables and recognize and celebrate the farmers who provide this produce.
Commissioner Yates, seconded by Commissioner Welch, moved to adopt the proclamation as presented.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
Bid Award Request for Paving Recycling Center and Transfer Station Parking Areas
Mr. J.V. Potter, Operations Service Director, presented the following bids for paving the Recycling Center parking lot and patching at the Transfer Station:
|
Bidder |
Amount |
|
Moretz Paving |
$80,648.00 |
|
Boone Paving |
$105,700.00 |
|
Tri County Paving |
$98,672.60 |
Moretz Paving was the lowest responsive bidder in the amount of $80,648. Mr. Potter stated that adequate funds were budgeted to cover the expense.
County Manager Geouque stated that the Transfer Station floor was scheduled to be replaced and, therefore, paving near the Transfer Station may be delayed due to that project.
Commissioner Yates, seconded by Commissioner Welch, moved to award the bid for paving at the Recycling Center parking lot and patching at the Transfer Station to Moretz Paving in the amount of $80,648 as presented.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
Tax Matters
A. Monthly Collections Report
Tax Administrator Larry Warren presented the Tax Collections Report for the month of March 2014. This report was presented for information only and, therefore, no action was required.
B. Refunds and Releases
Mr. Warren presented the Refunds and Releases Report for March 2014, as well as a report from the new motor vehicle billing system, North Carolina Vehicle Tax System (NCVTS), for Board approval:
TO BE TYPED IN MINUTE BOOK
Vice-Chairman Blust, seconded by Commissioner Kennedy, moved to approve the Refunds and Releases Report for March 2014, as presented.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
Commissioner Kennedy, seconded by Vice-Chairman Blust, moved to approve the North Carolina Vehicle Tax System Refunds and Releases Report for March 2014 as presented.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
C. Proposed Resolution Terminating/Appointing Plat Review Officers
Mr. Warren presented a resolution terminating Plat Review Officers that were no longer employed with the County and appointing Brandon Saunders and Nathan Bland as Review Officers in addition to Ms. Marilyn M. Osborne who already serves as a Review Officer.
Commissioner Kennedy, seconded by Commissioner Welch, moved to adopt the resolution as presented.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
High Country Rural Planning Organization (RPO) Transportation Priorities
Mr. Joe Furman, Planning and Inspections Director, will present the Transportation priorities for the High Country Rural Planning Organization. The General Assembly adopted a new funding method for transportation projects last year which requires that projects from all modes of transportation be ranked together. Mr. Furman compiled all modes into one list for easier viewing and ranking. In addition, he contacted the four municipalities and AppalCART for input. The Town of Boone was to submit one project directly to the RPO; the other municipalities do not have allotted projects, so their input comes through the County. Mr. Furman stated that the Town of Boone was likely to choose an “in-town” project, such as the King Street/College Street improvements. Seven Devils favors the NC Highway 105 bridge/turn lane at Broadstone Road. Beech Mountain’s top project is the Beech Mountain Parkway Walkway (shown as an Avery County project). Blowing Rock favors the King/College Street improvements, US Highway 421/321/194 North to Vilas widening and US Highway 321/NC Highway 105 intersection improvements in that order. AppalCART would like to purchase an additional bus if proposed student housing occurs. Documentation is attached on the input received.
Commissioner Yates, seconded by Commissioner Welch, moved to select the following projects, in the stated order of priority:
1. US Highway 421 to the junction of US Highway 421/321 in Vilas
2. NC Highway 105 @ Broadstone Road (new bridge and left turn lane)
3. Bamboo Road/Wilson Ridge Road (widen the lanes and improve the intersections)
4. NC Highway 194 from King Street to Howard’s Creek Road
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
Miscellaneous Administrative Matters
A. Request to Waive Fee for Use of Human Services Center Parking Lot
County Manager Geouque stated that, per Commissioner request, staff contacted Mr. Bill Mast to obtain more details regarding his use of the Human Services Center for a fund raising event. Mr. Mast indicated that the money raised by the event would be used for scholarships for rising high school seniors.
No action was taken.
B. Boards and Commissions
County Manager Geouque stated that the Blowing Rock Town Council recommended the appointments of Doug Matheson and Ray Pickett to serve as representatives on the Watauga County Recreation Commission.
Commissioner Welch, seconded by Commissioner Kennedy, moved to waive the second reading and appoint Doug Matheson and Ray Pickett to the Watauga County Recreation Commission.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
Chairman Miller stated that a request had been submitted for the County to appoint representatives to Appalachian State University’s Town and Gown Committee.
Vice-Chairman Blust, seconded by Commissioner Yates, moved to appoint Commissioner Kennedy and County Manager, Deron Geouque, and/or his designee to represent Watauga County on the Town and Gown Committee.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
C. Announcements
County Manager Geouque announced the following:
· Caldwell Community College & Technical Institute will hold an Open House & Business After Hours on Thursday, April 17, 2014, from 5:00 -7:00 P.M. at the Watauga Campus located at 506 Community College Drive in Boone.
· Budget Work Sessions are scheduled for Thursday, May 8, and Tuesday, May 13, 2014; both beginning at 4:00 P.M. and will be held in the Commissioners’ Board Room.
· Community Pride Week will be held May 12 – 17. The week will conclude on May 17 with Household Hazardous Waste Day at the County Landfill from 9:00 A.M. until 2:00 P.M. and Operation Medicine Cabinet at the three local Food Lion locations as well as Foscoe Fire Department from 10:00 A.M. until 2:00 P.M. Please see the enclosed announcement for more details.
Public Comment
Mr. Matt Snyder commented on the sales tax distribution method by stating that he appreciated the distribution method being ad valorem.
Closed Session
At 7:33 P.M., Commissioner Kennedy, seconded by Commissioner Welch, moved to enter Closed Session to discuss Attorney/Client Matters, per G. S. 143-318.11(a)(3) and Land Acquisition, per G. S. 143-318.11(a)(5)(i).
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
Commissioner Yates, seconded by Commissioner Welch, moved to resume the open meeting at 8:19 P.M.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
Possible Action After Closed Session
Commissioner Kennedy, seconded by Vice-Chairman Blust, moved to proceed, upon recommendation of the engineer, with the purchase of the Hwy 321 property contingent upon substantial progress of acquiring permits as monitored by the County Manager with the intent to construct an ambulance base at the site and to approve the allocation of $1,500 for a wetlands permit as required by the North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
Adjourn
Vice-Chairman Blust, seconded by Commissioner Yates, moved to adjourn the meeting at 8:21 P.M.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
Nathan A. Miller, Chairman
ATTEST:
Anita J. Fogle, Clerk to the Board