MINUTES
WATAUGA COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
TUESDAY, APRIL 19, 2016
The Watauga County Board of Commissioners held a regular meeting, as scheduled, on Tuesday, April 19, 2016, 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 5:30 P.M.
Commissioner Yates opened the meeting with a prayer and Commissioner Welch led the Pledge of Allegiance.
Approval of Minutes
Chairman Hodges called for additions and/or corrections to the April 5, 2016, regular meeting and closed session minutes.
Commissioner Kennedy, seconded by Vice-Chairman Blust, moved to approve the April 5, 2016, regular meeting minutes as presented.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
Amendments were requested by the County Attorney for the closed session minutes, therefore, action was tabled until a future meeting.
Approval of Agenda
Chairman Hodges called for additions and/or corrections to the April 19, 2016, agenda. The County Attorney stated that there were no Attorney/Client matters to discuss in closed session and, therefore, that portion of the closed session could be removed.
Commissioner Kennedy, seconded by Vice-Chairman Blust, moved to approve the April 19, 2016, agenda as amended.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
Public Hearing to Allow Citizen Comment on A Proposed Solicitation Ordinance
A public hearing was held to allow citizen comment on the proposed Solicitation Ordinance.
Chairman Hodges called the public hearing to order at 5:33 P.M.
Sheriff Hagaman presented a draft ordinance regulating panhandling in the County.
Mr. Eric Eller shared his comments on the proposed ordinance.
There being no further public comment, Chairman Hodges closed the public hearing at 5:58 P.M. and tabled consideration of the ordinance to allow for further review.
Public Hearing to Allow Citizen Comment on Proposed Amendments to the Sign Ordinance
A public hearing was held to allow citizen comment on proposed amendments to the Sign Ordinance.
Chairman Hodges called the public hearing to order at 6:07 P.M.
Mr. Joe Furman stated that the Planning Board had recently approved changes to the County’s sign ordinance. The changes were in response to the U.S. Supreme Court case Reed versus the Town of Gilbert, Arizona. Sign regulations must now be content-neutral. It is permissible to regulate size, number, location, and differentiate between temporary and permanent and commercial and residential. Mr. Furman reviewed additional changes and recommended not taking action until those changes could be presented at the next regular meeting.
There was no public comment.
Commissioner Yates, seconded by Commissioner Welch, moved to continue the public hearing on Tuesday, May 3, 2016, at 8:30 A.M. as recommended by Mr. Furman to review additional amendments.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
Cooperative Extension Update
Mr. Richard Boylan, Area Specialized Agent with Cooperative Extension, provided program updates. The report was for information only; therefore no action was required.
Tax Matters
A. Monthly Collections Report
Tax Administrator Larry Warren presented the Tax Collections Report for the month of March 2016. 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 2016 for Board approval:
TO BE TYPED IN MINUTE BOOK
Commissioner Kennedy, seconded by Commissioner Welch, moved to approve the Refunds and Releases Report for March 2016, as presented.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
Budget Amendments
Ms. Margaret Pierce, Finance Director, reviewed the following budget amendments:
|
Account # |
Description |
Debit |
Credit |
|
103991-399100 |
Fund Balance Appropriation |
|
$150,000 |
|
104264-458000 |
Capital Outlay-Buildings |
$150,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The amendment recognized additional funds for the Emergency Medics Base construction contract. |
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Commissioner Kennedy, seconded by Commissioner Yates, moved to approve the budget amendments as presented by Ms. Pierce.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
Miscellaneous Administrative Matters
A. Boards and Commissions
County Manager Geouque presented the following Boards and Commissions appointments for consideration:
Watauga Community Housing Trust Board
The Watauga Community Housing Trust Board of Directors appointments are due for reappointment. The Commissioners appoint organizations to the Board; the organizations then designate an individual to be the representative. The expiring seats are for Town of Boone, Appalachian Regional Health Care System, and Habitat for Humanity. It is requested that these organizations be reappointed. The terms are two years.
Commissioner Kennedy, seconded by Vice-Chairman Blust, moved to appoint the Town of Boone, Appalachian Regional Health Care System, and Habitat for Humanity to serve on the Watauga Community Housing Trust Board; each for a two-year term.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
Watauga County Board of Adjustment
Janet Beck has resigned from the Board of Adjustment. Her 3-year term was set to expire in November. She is an at-large appointee. The Commissioners have the option of appointing someone to finish the term or to make a new 3-year appointment that would expire in November, 2019. No volunteer applications have been received for this position at this time.
Watauga County Nursing Home Community Advisory Committee
Regional Ombudsman, Laura Jane Ward, has requested that Mr. Tim Racz and Ms. Karen Robertson be considered for reappointment to serve on the Watauga County Nursing Home Community Advisory Committee for three-year terms.
Commissioner Yates, seconded by Commissioner Welch, moved to waive the second reading and reappoint Mr. Tim Racz and Ms. Karen Robertson to each serve a three-year term on the Watauga County Nursing Home Community Advisory Committee.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
B. Announcements
County Manager Geouque announced Budget work sessions which are scheduled for Wednesday, May 11, (12:00-6:00 P.M.) and Thursday, May 12, (9:00 A.M.-12:00 P.M.). Both work sessions will be held in the Commissioners’ Board Room.
Public Comment
There was no public comment.
Closed Session
At 6:25 P.M., Commissioner Kennedy, seconded by Commissioner Welch, moved to enter Closed Session to discuss Personnel Matters, per G. S. 143-318.11(a)(6).
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
Commissioner Kennedy, seconded by Commissioner Welch, moved to resume the open meeting at 6:52 P.M.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
Adjourn
Commissioner Welch, seconded by Commissioner Kennedy, moved to adjourn the meeting at 6:52 P.M.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
Jimmy Hodges, Chairman
ATTEST:
Anita J. Fogle, Clerk to the Board