MINUTES
WATAUGA COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
TUESDAY, MAY 20, 2014
The Watauga County Board of Commissioners held a regular meeting, as scheduled, on Tuesday, May 20, 2014, at 5:30 P.M. in the Commissioners' Board Room of the Watauga County Administration Building, Boone, North Carolina.
PRESENT: Nathan Miller, Chairman
Billy Kennedy, Commissioner
John Welch, Commissioner
Perry Yates, Commissioner
Austin Eggers, County Attorney
Deron Geouque, County Manager
Anita J. Fogle, Clerk to the Board
[Clerk’s Note: Vice-Chairman Blust was absent due to a family illness.]
Chairman Miller called the meeting to order at 5:30 P.M.
Commissioner Yates opened the meeting with a prayer and Commissioner Welch led the Pledge of Allegiance.
Approval of Minutes
Chairman Miller called for additions and/or corrections to the May 7, 2014, regular meeting, May 7, 2014, closed session, May 8, 2014, special meeting, and May 13, 2014, special meeting minutes.
Commissioner Kennedy, seconded by Commissioner Welch, moved to approve the May 7, 2014, regular meeting minutes as presented.
VOTE: Aye-4(Miller, Kennedy, Welch, Yates)
Nay-0
Absent-1(Blust)
Commissioner Kennedy, seconded by Commissioner Welch, moved to approve the May 7, 2014, closed session minutes as amended.
VOTE: Aye-4(Miller, Kennedy, Welch, Yates)
Nay-0
Absent-1(Blust)
Commissioner Kennedy, seconded by Commissioner Welch, moved to approve the May 8, 2014, special meeting minutes as presented.
VOTE: Aye-4(Miller, Kennedy, Welch, Yates)
Nay-0
Absent-1(Blust)
Commissioner Kennedy, seconded by Commissioner Welch, moved to approve the May 13, 2014, special session minutes as presented.
VOTE: Aye-4(Miller, Kennedy, Welch, Yates)
Nay-0
Absent-1(Blust)
Approval of Agenda
Chairman Miller called for additions and/or corrections to the May 20, 2014, agenda.
Commissioner Yates, seconded by Commissioner Kennedy, moved to approve the May 20, 2014, agenda as presented.
VOTE: Aye-4(Miller, Kennedy, Welch, Yates)
Nay-0
Absent-1(Blust)
Project on Aging Proposed Allocation of FY 2015 Home and Community Care Block Grant (H&CCBG) Funds
Ms. Angie Boitnotte presented the projected allocation of $256,063 in Home and Community Care Block Grant (H&CCBG) funds for FY 2015. The required local match, in the amount of $28,452, was present in the Project on Aging's FY 2015 requested budget. Ms. Boitnotte stated that the Home and Community Care Block Grant (H&CCBG) Committee recommended the funds be allocated as follows:
|
H&CCBG Service |
H&CCBG Allocation |
Local Match |
|
In-Home Aide |
$119,112 |
$13,235 |
|
Congregate Meals |
$44,286 |
$4,921 |
|
Home Delivered Meals |
$79,867 |
$8,874 |
|
Transportation |
$12,798 |
$1,422 |
|
Totals |
$256,063 |
$28,452 |
Commissioner Yates, seconded by Commissioner Welch, moved to accept the projected allocation in the amount of $256,063 in Home and Community Care Block Grant funds for FY 2015 and to approve the local match in the amount of $28,452
VOTE: Aye-4(Miller, Kennedy, Welch, Yates)
Nay-0
Absent-1(Blust)
Smoky Mountain Quarterly Report
Ms. Margaret Pierce, Finance Director, presented the Smoky Mountain Center Quarterly Financial Report as required by Statute.
No action was required.
Miscellaneous Administrative Matters
A. Request for Use of Old High School Parking Lot
County Manager Geouque stated that Mr. Scott Nelson, President of Blood, Sweat, and Gears (BSG), had requested use of the Old Watauga High School parking lot for the purpose of a fireworks show on June 28, 2014. The firework display was in conjunction with the BSG event in Valle Crucis. The fireworks were in honor of 18 paraplegic military veterans participating in the event and all of the veterans and their sacrifices. The County Manager stated that BSG would be required to obtain all necessary and required permits for the event.
Mr. Sean Spiegelman, owner of Mountain Brewery, stated that the Brewery was sponsoring the paraplegic veterans in the event and will host the event in their honor to view the fireworks display. Mr. Spiegelman stated that only the fireworks team would be present at the Old Watauga High School site as those viewing the fireworks show would be at the Brewery. Mr. Spiegelman stated that proper insurance would be provided.
Commissioner Yates, seconded by Commissioner Welch, moved to allow Blood, Sweat, and Gears to utilize the Old Watauga High School parking lot for a fireworks display contingent upon Blood, Sweat, and Gears working with the County Attorney to ensure that insurance was in place to protect the County from liability.
VOTE: Aye-4(Miller, Kennedy, Welch, Yates)
Nay-0
Absent-1(Blust)
B. Boards and Commissions
Watauga County Economic Development Commission
County Manager Geouque stated that the Watauga County Economic Development Commission has four terms set to expire in June. Mr. Ed Evans, Mr. Tommy Sofield, and Mr. Ben Shoemake are each eligible and available for reappointment. The fourth seat was not eligible for reappointment due to having served two consecutive terms.
Commissioner Kennedy recommended the appointment of Evelyn Asher to fill the fourth seat.
Commissioner Kennedy, seconded by Commissioner Yates, moved to reappoint Mr. Ed Evans, Mr. Tommy Sofield, and Mr. Ben Shoemake to the Watauga County Economic Development Commission.
VOTE: Aye-4(Miller, Kennedy, Welch, Yates)
Nay-0
Absent-1(Blust)
Consideration for appointment of Ms. Asher was tabled to allow Commissioner Kennedy to contact Ms. Asher to see if she would be willing to serve.
Region D Development Corporation
County Manager Geouque stated that the Region D Development Corporation was a Certified Development Company that assisted the US Small Business Administration in delivering small business loans to the region. They also assisted in marketing and packaging loans for small businesses throughout the region. Per their bylaws, each county was required to appoint four persons to serve as members of the Development Corporation in May of each year. Representative categories are local government (1), private lending institution (1), and community organization or a business organization (2). Following is a list of current appointees: Mr. John Spear (Local Government); Mr. Brian Crutchfield (Community Organization); Mr. Jim Furman (Business Organization); and Mr. Brian Riggins (Private Lending Institution).
Mr. Riggins was no longer with a private lending institution; however the others could be reappointed or new members can be appointed.
Commissioner Kennedy, seconded by Commissioner Yates, moved to reappoint the following to the Region D Development Corporation: Mr. John Spear as the local government representative, Mr. Brain Crutchfield as the community organization representative, and Mr. Jim Furman as the business organization representative.
VOTE: Aye-4(Miller, Kennedy, Welch, Yates)
Nay-0
Absent-1(Blust)
Town of Boone Planning Commission
County Manager Geouque stated that the Boone Town Council had recommended appointment of Mr. Thomas Purpur as an Extra-Territorial Jurisdiction (ETJ) member of the Town of Boone Planning Commission.
Commissioner Kennedy, seconded by Commissioner Welch, moved to appoint Mr. Thomas Purpur as an ETJ member of the Town of Boone Planning Commission.
VOTE: Aye-2(Kennedy, Welch)
Nay-2(Miller, Yates)
Absent-1(Blust)
Consideration of the ETJ appointment was tabled until the June 3, 2014, Board meeting.
Town of Boone Board of Adjustment
County Manager Geouque stated that the Boone Town Council had recommended appointment of Dr. Robert (Bob) Goddard as a Regular Extra-Territorial Jurisdiction (ETJ) member of the Town of Boone Board of Adjustment.
Consideration of the ETJ appointment was tabled until the June 3, 2014, Board meeting.
C. Announcements
County Manager Geouque announced the following:
· Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute has invited the Board to a joint meeting on Wednesday, May 21, 2014, at 6:00 P.M. at the Watauga Instructional Facility on Hwy 105 Bypass, Room 112.
· The Military Officers Association of America’s (MOAA) 8th Annual Memorial Day Program will be held at Boone Mall on Monday, May 26, 2014, with the ceremony commencing at 10:30 A.M.
Recess
At 5:44 P.M. Commissioner Kennedy, seconded by Commissioner Welch, moved to declare a recess until 6:00 P.M. which was the advertised time for the Public Hearing to begin.
VOTE: Aye-4(Miller, Kennedy, Welch, Yates)
Nay-0
Absent-1(Blust)
Reconvene
Chairman Miller reconvened the meeting by calling order at 6:01 P.M.
Public Hearing to Allow Citizen Comment on the FY 2015 Proposed Budget
A public hearing was scheduled to allow citizen comment on the Manager's Recommended Budget for Fiscal Year 2015.
The following changes were made to the FY 2015 Manager’s Recommended Budget due to recent budget work sessions:
|
Budget Line |
Proposed Change |
Amount in Recommended Budget |
New Amount |
Increase/ Decrease |
Date of Discussion |
|
General Fund |
Remove 2% from BCC COLA |
|
|
($815) |
May 8 |
|
Reduced Beech Mountain Parks & Rec |
$2,500 |
$0 |
($2,500) |
May 13 |
|
|
Blowing Rock Parks & Rec |
$15,000 |
$12,000 |
($3,000) |
May 13 |
|
|
Reduced Children’s Playhouse |
$2,500 |
$0 |
($2,500) |
May 13 |
|
|
Reduced Watauga County Schools Current Expense |
$12,062,834 |
$12,012,834 |
($50,000) |
May 13 |
|
|
Reduced Courthouse M/R Grounds based on new rock wall repair estimates received |
|
|
($50,000) |
May 13 |
|
|
Increased West Annex M/R Grounds retaining wall repairs for engineering study |
|
|
$50,000 |
May 13 |
|
|
|
|
Net Change |
($58,815) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Fire Districts |
Denied Todd VFD’s request to increase tax rate from seven cents (7?) to eight cents (8?) |
|
|
($9,817) |
May 13 |
|
|
|
Net Change |
($9,817) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Solid Waste |
Reduced Sale of Recycling due to updated information received |
$275,000 |
$100,000 |
($175,000) |
May 13 |
|
|
|
Net Change |
($175,000) |
|
Commissioner Kennedy, seconded by Commissioner Welch, moved to declare the public hearing open at 6:02 P.M. to allow citizen comment on the Proposed Budget for FY 2015.
VOTE: Aye-4(Miller, Kennedy, Welch, Yates)
Nay-0
Absent-1(Blust)
The following individuals addressed the Board, speaking on behalf of their organization, regarding the recommended budget:
Mr. Bill Ireland representing Mountain Alliance
Ms. Monica Caruso representing Watauga County Library
Ms. Mary Sue Morgan representing Watauga County Library
Ms. Susan Poorman representing Watauga County Library
Ms. Lynne Mason representing Hospitality House as well as all non-profits
Ms. Marjorie McKinney representing Hospitality House
Ms. Kathy Parham, representing The Children’s Playhouse
Mr. Butch Butler representing Community Care Clinic
Mr. Joseph Miller representing High Country Crime Stoppers
Mr. John Cooper representing Appalachian Theatre
Ms. Delora Hodges representing the Board of Education
Ms. Tina Krause representing Hospitality House
Being no further public comments, Chairman Miller declared the public hearing closed at 6:38 P.M.
Commissioner Yates, seconded by Commissioner Kennedy, moved to reinstate the $50,000 in funding to the School Board which had been removed from the Proposed Budget.
VOTE: Aye-4(Miller, Kennedy, Welch, Yates)
Nay-0
Absent-1(Blust)
Public Comment
There was no public comment.
Adjourn
Commissioner Kennedy, seconded by Commissioner Welch, moved to adjourn the meeting at 6:40 P.M.
VOTE: Aye-4(Miller, Kennedy, Welch, Yates)
Nay-0
Absent-1(Blust)
Nathan A. Miller, Chairman
ATTEST:
Anita J. Fogle, Clerk to the Board