MINUTES

 

WATAUGA COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS

TUESDAY, MARCH 3, 2015

 

The Watauga County Board of Commissioners held a regular meeting, as scheduled, on Tuesday, March 3, 2015, at 8:30 A.M. in the Commissioners' Board Room of the Watauga County Administration Building, Boone, North Carolina.

 

                        PRESENT:      Jimmy Hodges, Chairman

                                                David Blust, Vice-Chairman

                                                Billy Kennedy, Commissioner

John Welch, Commissioner

Perry Yates, Commissioner

Chris Barnes, County Attorney

                                                Deron Geouque, County Manager

                                                Anita J. Fogle, Clerk to the Board

 

Chairman Hodges called the meeting to order at 8:31 A.M.

 

Commissioner Welch led the Pledge of Allegiance and Commissioner Yates opened the meeting with a prayer.

Approval of Minutes

Chairman Hodges called for additions and/or corrections to the February 17, 2015, regular meeting and closed session minutes.

 

Commissioner Yates, seconded by Commissioner Welch, moved to approve the February 17, 2015, regular meeting minutes as presented.

 

VOTE:  Aye-5

             Nay-0

 

Commissioner Yates, seconded by Commissioner Welch, moved to approve the February 17, 2015, closed session minutes as presented.

 

VOTE:  Aye-5

             Nay-0

Approval of Agenda

Chairman Hodges called for additions and/or corrections to the March 3, 2015, agenda.

 

County Manager Geouque requested to add for consideration a proposed lease renewal for a container site.

 

Commissioner Kennedy, seconded by Commissioner Welch, moved to approve the March 3, 2015, agenda as amended.

 

VOTE:  Aye-5

             Nay-0

Board of Education’s Request for ADM Funds

Ms. Ly Marze, Director of Finance for Watauga County Schools, requested the Board approve $140,000 from the Public School Building Capital Fund to install a grease trap at the Hardin Park kitchen area to be in compliance with the Town of Boone’s Grease Prevention Program.  The Town of Boone did grant a waiver for the temporary grease trap.  The project will be done in conjunction with installation of a new dishwasher in the kitchen which is scheduled for June 2015.  The scope of work includes installing a grease trap containment tank system and the redesigning and moving of the existing sewer drain lines.  The remaining funds would come from the County’s Capital Project set aside for the School system.

 

Commissioner Yates, seconded by Commissioner Welch, moved to approve the $140,000 request from the Public School Building Capital Fund and the $60,000 local match from the County’s Capital Project set aside to install a grease trap at the Hardin Park kitchen area. 

 

VOTE:  Aye-5

             Nay-0

Sanitation Matters

A.  Out-Of-State Travel Request

 

Ms. Heather Bowen, Recycling Coordinator, requested Board authorization to attend the Carolina Recycling Association Conference to be held on March 23 – 26, 2015, in Myrtle Beach, SC.  The only cost to the County will be three days of meals in the amount of $102 and share expenses with the Town of Boone employee attending.  A grant will cover the shared expenses.

 

Commissioner Kennedy, seconded by Vice-Chairman Blust, moved to authorize the out-of-state travel to the recycling conference in Myrtle Beach, SC.

 

VOTE:  Aye-5

             Nay-0

 

 

B.  Request to Apply for a Grant Related to Permanent Household Hazardous Waste Site

 

Ms. Bowen requested authorization to apply for a Mercury Products Recycling grant from the North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources (NCDENR).  This would be a secondary grant with the purpose to provide additional funding for the County’s proposed Household Hazardous Waste Facility.  The maximum amount was $10,000 with no cash match required. 

 

The Board approved funds in the current fiscal year budget to construct and operate a household hazardous waste facility that would allow for enhanced service at the same or current cost being paid for contracted services.  County funds budgeted for the project was $50,000.  The Mercury Products Recycling grant would be awarded in conjunction with the 2015 Community Waste Reduction and Recycling grant that the Board previously authorized submittal.  Total grant funds, if both grants were awarded, would be $40,000.

 

Commissioner Kennedy, seconded by Commissioner Welch, moved to authorize the submittal the of the Mercury Products Recycling grant in the amount of $10,000 to the North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources for a Household Hazardous Waste Facility. 

 

VOTE:  Aye-5

             Nay-0

Finance Matters

A.  Sale of Real Property on GovDeals

 

Ms. Margaret Pierce, Finance Director, requested the Board adopt the enclosed resolutions authorizing the sale of property to include the Brown Farm Ridge, Inc. and Mill Ridge properties.  All of the properties in question were donated to the county.  The Board already declared the properties surplus and the adoption of the included resolutions are necessary to start the sale process.

 

The minimum bid request for the properties will be the current tax value.  In the event the properties do not sell, staff will request the minimum bid amount be reduced in an effort to sell the properties. 

 

After considerable discussion, direction was given to set the minimum bid for both properties at half of the current tax value

 

Vice-Chairman Blust, seconded by Commissioner Yates, moved to adopt the resolution authorizing the sale of property off Daniel Drive, Boone, North Carolina, as amended.

 

VOTE:  Aye-5

             Nay-0

 

Vice-Chairman Blust, seconded by Commissioner Yates, moved to adopt the resolution authorizing the sale of Lots F-30 and F-32 of Section One in Mill Ridge, Banner Elk, North Carolina, as amended. 

 

VOTE:  Aye-5

             Nay-0

 

 

B.  Bid Award for Audit Contract for FY 2014-2015

 

Ms. Pierce presented bids recently received for the County’s audit service.  Three (3) firms, including the County’s current provider, responded to the request for proposals.  After careful review and consideration staff recommended Misty Watson CPA, PA in the amount of $37,000 for a three (3) year period.  The $37,000 is guaranteed for the three (3) year contract period.  The Local Government Commission recommends changing audit firms every five (5) years as a best management practice.  However, due to GASB changes over the past several years staff felt it was more important at that time to remain with the current provider to reduce any potential issues related to the GASB changes.

 

Vice-Chairman Blust, seconded by Commissioner Yates, moved to award the bid for audit services to Misty Watson CPA, PA firm in the amount of $37,000 for a three (3) year period to commence with fiscal year 2015 audit.

 

VOTE:  Aye-5

             Nay-0

Miscellaneous Administrative Matters

A.  Proposed Container Site Lease Renewal

 

County Manager Geouque presented a proposed renewal for the container site located at Triplett.  The lease, with Ms. Bina Simmons, had a term of twenty years and was in the amount of $300 per month for a twenty (20) year period.

 

Commissioner Yates, seconded by Commissioner Kennedy, moved to approve the lease as presented.

 

VOTE:  Aye-5

             Nay-0

 

B.  Boards and Commissions

 

Watauga County Adult Care Home Advisory Committee

County Manager Geouque stated that Mr. Harold Eller’s term expired February 18, 2015, on the Watauga County Adult Care Home Advisory Committee.  Mr. Eller was willing to continue to serve an additional three-year term if so appointed. 

 

Vice-Chairman Blust, seconded by Commissioner Yates, moved to waive the second reading and reappoint Mr. Eller to a three-year term on the Watauga County Adult Care Home Advisory Committee.

 

VOTE:  Aye-5

             Nay-0

 

C.  Announcements

 

County Manager Geouque announced the following:

?  The Board is invited to attend the Cooperative Extension’s Annual “Report to the People” luncheon which is scheduled today, Tuesday, March 3, 2015, at the Watauga County Agricultural Conference Center at 11:45 A.M. 

Public Comment

There was no public comment.

Closed Session

At 9:00 A.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).

 

VOTE:  Aye-5

             Nay-0

 

[Clerk’s Note:  Commissioner Yates left the meeting during closed session at 9:15 A.M. for Jury Duty.]

 

Commissioner Kennedy, seconded by Vice-Chairman Blust, moved to resume the open meeting at 9:24 A.M.

 

VOTE:  Aye-4(Hodges, Blust, Kennedy, Welch)

             Nay-0

             Absent-1(Yates)

Adjourn

Commissioner Kennedy, seconded by Commissioner Welch, moved to adjourn the meeting at 9:25 A.M.

 

VOTE:  Aye-4(Hodges, Blust, Kennedy, Welch)

             Nay-0

             Absent-1(Yates)

 

Jimmy Hodges, Chairman

 

ATTEST:

Anita J. Fogle, Clerk to the Board