MINUTES
WATAUGA COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
TUESDAY, MARCH 17, 2015
The Watauga County Board of Commissioners held a regular meeting, as scheduled, on Tuesday, March 17, 2015, at 5:30 P.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
Stacy C. Eggers, IV, County Attorney
Deron Geouque, County Manager
Anita J. Fogle, Clerk to the Board
Chairman Hodges called the meeting to order at 5:31 P.M.
Commissioner Kennedy opened the meeting with a prayer and Vice-Chairman Blust led the Pledge of Allegiance.
Approval of Minutes
Chairman Hodges called for additions and/or corrections to the March 3, 2015, regular meeting and closed session minutes.
Commissioner Yates, seconded by Commissioner Welch, moved to approve the March 3, 2015, regular meeting minutes as presented.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
Commissioner Yates, seconded by Commissioner Welch, moved to approve the March 3, 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 17, 2015, agenda.
County Manager Geouque requested to add the following:
? The Girl Scouts’ request to place a peace pole at Cove Creek Park
? Sheriff’s Office Budget Matters
? Possible action after closed session
Commissioner Kennedy, seconded by Vice-Chairman Blust, moved to approve the March 17, 2015, agenda as amended.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
Request To Place A Girl Scout Peace Pole At Cove Creek Park
Girl Scout Troop 10289 requested permission to place a five (5) foot high “Peace Pole” at the County-owned Park located at the old Cove Creek School. The following members of the Troop were present: Terran Julian, Hailey Marshall, Aubrey Flowers, Katelyn Jones, and Hannah Ligon. Miss. Julian and Miss. Jones presented the request and stated that the peace pole would host four languages.
Commissioner Kennedy, seconded by Commissioner Welch, moved to authorize Girl Scout Troop 10289 to place a Peace Pole at the County-owned Park located at the Old Cove Creek School.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
Request for Additional Services for Medic Base 3
Mr. Robert Marsh, Maintenance Director, requested funds for additional services performed for the new medic base. The additional services performed were to reevaluate the geotechnical site analysis. The purpose was to determine if the current seismic rating of D was appropriate or if the site had the potential to be designated as a C rating. Based on additional analysis, the site was able to be reclassified from a D to C rating. The change in the rating would reduce the costs in the construction while not jeopardizing the structural integrity of the facility.
The cost for the additional services for reevaluation was $2,970. A change order to the contract with Innovative Designs in that amount was requested.
Vice-Chairman Blust, seconded by Commissioner Kennedy, moved to approve the change order for additional services to the Innovative Designs contract in the amount of $2,970.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
Acceptance of the FY 2015 Senior Health Insurance Information Program (SHIIP) Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act (MIPPA) Grant and Contract
Ms. Angie Boitnotte, Project on Aging Director, presented a proposed Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act (MIPPA) grant from the Senior’s Health Insurance Information Program (SHIIP). The grant is in the amount of $1,773.25 with no local match required. If accepted, grant funds will be used to expand low income subsidy SHIIP outreach and training.
Commissioner Yates, seconded by Commissioner Welch, moved to accept the Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act grant in the amount of $1,773.25.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
Bid Award for Engineering Services to Perform Construction and Administration Services for the South Fork New River Greenway Extension Project
Mr. Joe Furman, Planning and Inspections Director, stated that letters of interest were solicited from six (6) North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) pre-qualified engineering firms for construction administration for the South Fork New River greenway extension project. McGill Associates and Vaughn & Melton responded to the solicitation for services. Both of these firms have local offices. McGill Associates was the design engineer for the project. NCDOT does not allow for the design engineer to also perform construction administration unless an exception is requested and granted. Vaughn & Melton provided the construction administration for the Middle Fork greenway project. The County was satisfied with the services provided by Vaughn & Melton. Therefore, Mr. Furman requested approval to negotiate a contract with Vaughn & Melton Associates to perform construction administration for the South Fork New River greenway extension project. Once negotiated, the contract will be presented for consideration at a future meeting.
The NC General Statute governing the selection of engineers specifies that the most qualified engineering company is to be selected based upon qualifications without regard to fee, and that a contract is to be negotiated thereafter.
Commissioner Kennedy, seconded by Vice-Chairman Blust, moved to authorize Mr. Furman to negotiate a contract with Vaughn & Melton for construction administration for the South Fork New River greenway extension project 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 February 2015. 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 February 2015, 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 Yates, moved to approve the Refunds and Releases Report and the North Carolina Vehicle Tax System Refunds and Releases Report for February 2015, as presented.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
C. Unpaid Real Estate Tax Bills
Mr. Warren presented the unpaid real estate tax bills for Board consideration and advertisement.
Vice-Chairman Blust, seconded by Commissioner Yates, moved to order Mr. Warren to advertise the unpaid real estate tax bills for 2014.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
Miscellaneous Administrative Matters
A. Sheriff’s Office Budget Matters
County Manager Geouque stated that the Sheriff’s Office had requested a budget amendment in the amount of $5,000 to transfer drug fund money to pay for the purchase of a used vehicle for detective use and travel expenses for five officers to attend a training seminar. The County Manager stated that a formal budget amendment would be presented at a future meeting; however, approval was requested for the purchase of the vehicle.
Commission Yates, seconded by Vice-Chairman Blust, moved to approve the purchase of the vehicle for the Sheriff’s Office as requested.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
B. Scheduling of Budget Work Sessions
County Manager Geouque presented the dates of May 11th from 4:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M. and May 12th from 4:00 P.M. to 7:00 P.M. for consideration in scheduling two budget work sessions for the County’s annual budget process. The proposed budget would be presented to the Board on May 5, 2015, for review at the work sessions and a public hearing to allow citizen comment on the proposed budget would be scheduled on May 19, 2015.
By consensus, the Board agreed to schedule budget work sessions on May 11, 2015, at 4:00 P.M. and May 12, 2015, at 4:00 P.M. in the Commissioners’ Board Room.
C. Scheduling of Joint Meeting with the Economic Development Commission (EDC)
County Manager Geouque stated that direction was given to schedule a joint meeting with the Economic Development Commission (EDC). Potential dates for a joint meeting were April 14, 2015, at 1:00 P.M. which is the EDC’s regularly scheduled meeting date and April 21, 2015, prior to the Board of Commissioners meeting that evening which begins at 5:30 P.M.
By consensus, the Board agreed to schedule a joint meeting with the Economic Development Commission (EDC) on Tuesday, April 14, 2015, at 1:00 P.M. in the Commissioners’ Board Room.
D. Announcements
County Manager Geouque announced that the Commissioners were invited to a presentation on March 31, 2015, at 6 P.M. at the Watauga Medical Center on “The Effects of a Line of Duty Death.”
Public Comment
There was no public comment.
Closed Session
At 6:02 P.M., Commissioner Kennedy, seconded by Vice-Chairman Blust, moved to enter Closed Session to discuss Attorney/Client Matters, per G. S. 143-318.11(a)(3).
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
Commissioner Welch, seconded by Commissioner Kennedy, moved to resume the open meeting at 7:18 P.M.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
Possible Action After Closed Session
Chairman Hodges announced that the Board directed the County Manager to forward easements as requested from the Town of Boone to the School Board for review prior to taking action.
Adjourn
Commissioner Kennedy, seconded by Commissioner Yates, moved to adjourn the meeting at 7:20 P.M.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
Jimmy Hodges, Chairman
ATTEST:
Anita J. Fogle, Clerk to the Board