MINUTES
WATAUGA COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
TUESDAY, JUNE 3, 2014
The Watauga County Board of Commissioners held a regular meeting, as scheduled, on Tuesday, June 3, 2014, at 8:30 A.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
Rebecca Eggers-Gryder, County Attorney
Deron Geouque, County Manager
Anita J. Fogle, Clerk to the Board
[Clerk’s Note: Commissioner Yates was absent due to a prior commitment.]
Chairman Miller called the meeting to order at 8:31 A.M.
Vice-Chairman Blust 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 20, 2014, regular meeting.
Vice-Chairman Blust, seconded by Commissioner Kennedy, moved to approve the May 20, 2014, regular meeting minutes as presented.
VOTE: Aye-4(Miller, Blust, Kennedy, Welch)
Nay-0
Absent-1(Yates)
Approval of Agenda
Chairman Miller called for additions and/or corrections to the June 3, 2014, agenda.
County Manager Geouque requested to add a vendor award for a hazardous materials exercise. Commissioner Kennedy requested to add discussion regarding Hospitality House funding.
Commissioner Kennedy, seconded by Vice-Chairman Blust, moved to approve the June 3, 2014, agenda as amended.
VOTE: Aye-4(Miller, Blust, Kennedy, Welch)
Nay-0
Absent-1(Yates)
Juvenile Crime Prevention Council (JCPC) FY 2015 Certification, Membership, and County Plan
Ms. Karee Mackey presented the Juvenile Crime Prevention Council (JCPC) Certification and County Plan as well as the membership roster for FY 2015.
Commissioner Welch, seconded by Commissioner Kennedy, moved to approve certification, County Plan and membership as presented by Ms. Mackey.
VOTE: Aye-4(Miller, Blust, Kennedy, Welch)
Nay-0
Absent-1(Yates)
Public Hearing Request to Allow Citizen Comment Regarding the Consideration of Proposed Amendments to the Following:
A. Ordinance To Govern Subdivisions and Multi Unit Structures
B. Sign Ordinance
Mr. Joe Furman, Planning and Inspections Director, presented proposed amendments to two County ordinances as recommended by the Planning Board. The first amendment was to the Ordinance To Govern Subdivisions and Multi Unit Structures. The Planning Board has requested to add Subsection 71.0233 which would provide a mechanism for developers that had preliminary plats approved with 18 foot wide roads and began construction prior to the new 20 foot requirement to receive plat approval, without requesting a variance, if they meet the requirements of the new Subsection. In May, 2012, the ordinance was amended to increase the required road width from 18 to 20 feet in order to be consistent with the NC Fire Code.
The second amendment was to the Sign Ordinance. New electronic billboards are prohibited under the ordinance, however on-premise electronic variable message signs for businesses, churches, etc. are allowed. The Planning Board has requested to change the time the message must remained fixed from one (1) hour to fifteen (15) seconds.
Commissioner Kennedy, seconded by Vice-Chairman Blust, moved to schedule a public hearing on June 17, 2014, at 6:00 P.M. to allow for citizen comment regarding proposed amendments to both the Ordinance To Govern Subdivision and Multi Unit Structures and the Sign Ordinance.
VOTE: Aye-4(Miller, Blust, Kennedy, Welch)
Nay-0
Absent-1(Yates)
Tax Matters
A. Monthly Collections Report
Tax Administrator Larry Warren presented the Tax Collections Report for the month of May 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 May 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
Commissioner Kennedy, seconded by Commissioner Welch, moved to approve the Refunds and Releases Report for May 2014, as presented.
VOTE: Aye-4(Miller, Blust, Kennedy, Welch)
Nay-0
Absent-1(Yates)
Commissioner Kennedy, seconded by Commissioner Welch, moved to approve the North Carolina Vehicle Tax System Refunds and Releases Report for May 2014 as presented.
VOTE: Aye-4(Miller, Blust, Kennedy, Welch)
Nay-0
Absent-1(Yates)
Vendor Award Request for Hazardous Materials Training Exercise
At the November 19, 2013, Board meeting the Board approved the submission of a grant application to the North Carolina Emergency Management for a hazardous materials exercise in the amount of $10,000. The grant required no County match and would be a pass through grant with Avery County. The exercise scenario would be an accident in which hazardous materials would be released into the Watauga River affecting the counties of Watauga, Avery, Johnson and Carter with the latter two being located in Tennessee.
Fire Marshal Steven Sudderth stated that a Request for Proposal was issued for a vendor to carry out the training exercise. The following proposals were received:
|
Vendor |
Amount |
|
Specialized Consulting Services LLC |
$28,250.00 |
|
Envirosafe |
$24,986.00 |
|
RLMC-Group |
$25,950.00 |
Mr. Sudderth recommended RLMC-Group be awarded as the vendor for the training exercise. After review with Avery County and Johnson County Emergency Management Departments it was determined that RLMC-Group would best provide the service of an HSEEP Compliant regional exercise.
Vice-Chairman Blust, seconded by Commissioner Welch, moved to award RLMC-Group as the vendor to provide the regional hazardous materials training exercise which would be funded through the County grants.
VOTE: Aye-4(Miller, Blust, Kennedy, Welch)
Nay-0
Absent-1(Yates)
Discussion Regarding Hospitality House Funding
Commissioner Kennedy shared that Wilkes County has appropriated $9,500 and Ashe County has appropriated $5,000 to the Hospitality House for FY 2015.
Commissioner Kennedy, seconded by Commissioner Welch, moved to appropriate $7,000 to the Hospitality House in the FY 2015 budget.
VOTE: Aye-2(Kennedy, Welch)
Nay-2(Miller, Blust)
Absent-1(Yates)
[Clerk’s Note: The motion failed due to the lack of a majority vote.]
Miscellaneous Administrative Matters
A. Boards and Commissions
Watauga County Economic Development Commission
County Manager Geouque stated that the Watauga County Economic Development Commission had one remaining term set to expire in June. The current member was not eligible for reappointment due to having served two consecutive terms. Commissioner Kennedy stated that Ms. Evelyn Asher was not available to serve as she was in the process of moving out of County. A volunteer application was also received from Mr. Walter Kaudelka who had expressed interest in serving; however, this was a first reading and, therefore, no action was required.
Region D Development Corporation
County Manager Geouque stated that Region D Development Corporation was a Certified Development Company that assists the US Small Business Administration in delivering small business loans to the region. They also assist in marketing and packaging loans for small businesses throughout the region. Per their bylaws, each county is 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).
The County Manager stated that the following were appointed at the May 20, 2014, meeting: Mr. John Spear (local government); Mr. Brian Crutchfield (community organization); Mr. Jim Furman (business organization).
An appointment still needs to be made for the private lending institution representative.
Town of Boone Planning Commission
County Manager Geouque stated that the Boone Town Council recommended appointment of Mr. Thomas Purpur as an ETJ member of the Town of Boone Planning Commission.
Commissioner Kennedy, seconded by Commissioner Welch, moved to appoint Mr. Thomas Purpur as an Extra-Territorial Jurisdiction (ETJ) member of the Town of Boone Planning Commission.
VOTE: Aye-2(Kennedy, Welch)
Nay-2(Miller, Blust)
Absent-1(Yates)
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 ETJ member of the Town of Boone Board of Adjustment.
Vice-Chairman Blust, seconded by Commissioner Welch, moved to appoint Dr. Robert (Bob) Goddard as a regular Extra-Territorial Jurisdiction (ETJ) member of the Town of Boone Board of Adjustment.
VOTE: Aye-3(Blust, Kennedy, Welch)
Nay-1(Miller)
Absent-1(Yates)
B. Announcements
County Manager Geouque announced that the North Carolina Association of County Commissioners' (NCACC) Annual Conference was scheduled for August 14-17, 2014, in Buncombe County.
Public Comment
There was no public comment.
Adjourn
Commissioner Kennedy, seconded by Commissioner Welch, moved to adjourn the meeting at 8:58 A.M.
VOTE: Aye-4(Miller, Blust, Kennedy, Welch)
Nay-0
Absent-1(Yates)
Nathan A. Miller, Chairman
ATTEST:
Anita J. Fogle, Clerk to the Board