MINUTES
WATAUGA COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
TUESDAY, JUNE 21, 2016
The Watauga County Board of Commissioners held a regular meeting, as scheduled, on Tuesday, June 21, 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
Monica Harrison, Substitute Clerk to the Board
Commissioner John Welch led the Pledge of Allegiance and Commissioner Perry Yates opened with a prayer.
Chairman Hodges called the meeting to order at 5:30 P.M.
Approval of Minutes
Chairman Hodges called for additions and/or corrections to the June 6, 2016, regular meeting and closed session minutes.
Commissioner Billy Kennedy, seconded by Commissioner John Welch, moved to approve the June 6, 2016, regular meeting minutes as presented.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
Commissioner Billy Kennedy, seconded by Commissioner John Welch, moved to approve the June 6, 2016, closed session minutes as presented.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
Approval of Agenda
Chairman Hodges called for additions and/or corrections to the June 21, 2016, agenda.
County Manager Geouque stated that three (3) contract agreements needed to be added to the agenda for approval including; the contract for floor resurfacing at the jail, and agreements for roof repair and paving at the old AppalCart building. The bids for all three of these project were presented to the Board for approval at the June 6, 2016 Board of Commissioners meeting
Commissioner Billy Kennedy, seconded by Commissioner Perry Yates, moved to approve the June 21, 2016, agenda as amended.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
Proposed Contract for Inmate Phone Services
Captain Al Reed requested the Board consider a new vendor to provide inmate phone services. A copy of the proposed contract was included in the Board packet and a revised copy of the contract agreement was provided as a handout at the meeting. Captain Reed provided a memo detailing the reasons for changing providers. To date, the current amount paid out is $38,038.78 with $13,786.90 received in commissions for a net amount of $24,251.88 paid to the vendor. Based on the new contract, staff is unable to provide potential expenditures and revenues that may be accrued. However, Captain Reed is of the understanding that Combined Public Communications (CPC) will increase the County’s phone commissions, and provide modernized equipment with other wireless products available to purchase at lower rates.
A copy of the current contract with Securus Technologies, Inc. was included in the Board packet. According to Captain Reed, the required termination notice, due to violation of the contract agreement has been sent to Securus Technologies, Inc. Captain Reed stated that the County Attorney had reviewed the contract which was provided for the Boards’ approval.
Commissioner Perry Yates, seconded by Vice-Chairman David Blust, moved to approve the contract with Combined Public Communications for inmate phone services as presented.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
Public Hearing to Allow Citizen Comment on Proposed Amendments to An Ordinance to Regulate Loud Disturbing Noise and Activities
A public hearing was held to allow citizen comment on proposed amendments to the Watauga County Ordinance to Regulate Loud Disturbing Noise and Activities.
Chairman Hodges called the public hearing to order at 5:41 P.M.
Lee Stroupe, Annette Reeves, Butch Reeves, Shelly Parsons, Richard M. Butler and Nathan Miller all spoke during the public hearing on proposed amendments to the Watauga County Ordinance to Regulate Loud Disturbing Noise and Activities.
Chairman Hodges closed the public hearing at 6:00 P.M.
A discussion was held between the commissioners in regard to the Watauga County Ordinance to Regulate Loud Disturbing Noise and Activities and the wide range of discretion being given to Law Enforcement Officers in relation to the enforcement of the Ordinance.
Joe Furman, Planning Director was asked if the Planning Board had seen the most recent amendments that were made to the Ordinance to Regulate Loud Disturbing Noise and Activities.
Mr. Furman stated that the Planning Board had not seen the most recent amendments to the Ordinance.
After discussion Commissioner Perry Yates, seconded by Vice-Chairman David Blust, moved to adopt the Watauga County Ordinance to Regulate Loud Disturbing Noise and Activities as amended, and request that the Planning Board further review the Ordinance for additional needed changes.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
Miscellaneous Administrative Matters
A. Proposed Renewal of ASU Greenhouse Lease
At a previous Board meeting, preliminary approval was given to extend the lease with the Appalachian State University Foundation for the greenhouse located at the Watauga County Landfill.
Property owned by the County may be leased or rented for such terms and upon such conditions as the Board may determine, for three (3) years in accordance with State Guidelines. Property may be rented or leased only pursuant to a resolution of the Board authorizing the execution of the lease or rental agreement adopted at a regular Board meeting upon 10 days' public notice. Notice has been given by publication describing the property to be leased, stating the annual rental or lease payments, and announcing the Board's intent to authorize the lease or rental at its next regular meeting.
The County Attorney reviewed the contract in conjunction with the University Attorney.
Commissioner Perry Yates, seconded by Commissioner John Welch, moved to approve the lease with Appalachian State University Foundation for the greenhouse located at the Watauga County Landfill as presented.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
B. Contract Agreement with LaFave’s Construction Company, Inc.
A bid award was approved at the June 6, 2016 Board of Commissioner’s Meeting for LaFave’s Construction Company, Inc. in the amount of $158,777 to provide a new metal roof, added insulation and some minor demolition work at the old AppalCart Building.
The contract agreement between Watauga County and LaFave’s Construction Company, Inc. for a metal roof was provided for Board approval. The County Attorney has reviewed the contract.
Commissioner Billy Kennedy, seconded by Vice-Chairman David Blust, moved to approve the contract agreement between Watauga County and LaFave’s Construction Company, Inc. for a metal retrofit roof as presented.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
C. Contract Agreement with Custom Coatings, Inc.
A bid award was approved at the June 6, 2016 Board of Commissioner’s Meeting for Custom Coatings, Inc. in the amount of $30,400 to provide floor resurfacing at the Watauga County Detention Center in the sally-port and booking areas.
The contract agreement between Watauga County and Custom Coatings, Inc. for floor resurfacing at the jail was provided for approval of the Board. The County Attorney has reviewed the contract.
Commissioner Billy Kennedy, seconded by Vice-Chairman David Blust, moved to approve the contract agreement between Watauga County and Custom Coatings, Inc. for floor resurfacing at the jail as presented.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
D. Contract Agreement with Tri-County Paving, Inc.
A bid award was approved by the Board at the June 6, 2016 Board of Commissioner’s Meeting for Tri-County Paving, Inc. in the amount of $25,591.24 to provide asphalt paving services and materials at the old AppalCart Building.
The contract agreement between Watauga County and Tri-County Paving, Inc. for asphalt paving services was provided for approval of the Board. The County Attorney has reviewed the contract.
Vice-Chairman David Blust, seconded by Commissioner Perry Yates, moved to approve the contract agreement between Watauga County and Tri-County Paving, Inc. for paving at the old AppalCart building as presented.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
E. July Meeting Schedule Discussion
Historically, the Board cancels the first meeting in July due to the adoption of the annual budget and the beginning of a new fiscal year.
Staff would recommend the Board cancel the July 5, 2016, meeting leaving the next regularly scheduled meeting to be Tuesday, July 19, 2016, at 5:30 PM. In the event that an addition meeting is needed, a special meeting may be scheduled.
Commissioner Billy Kennedy, seconded by Commissioner John Welch, moved to cancel the July 5, 2016, regular Board meeting.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
F. Boards and Commissions
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.
Commissioner Billy Kennedy asked Planning Director, Joe Furman if the Board of Adjustment terms were being staggered with the resignation and expiration of several members’ terms recently and Mr. Furman confirmed that the terms were still being staggered.
Economic Development Commission
There are two vacancies on the Economic Development Commission. One vacancy is an unfulfilled term expiring June, 2017, and the other is an unfulfilled term expiring June, 2018. Those seats were occupied by individuals who have moved from Watauga County. The EDC has fourteen members; nine are appointees, the other five serve by virtue of their organizations, including one Commissioner. All members vote.
No volunteer applications have been submitted for Board of Adjustment or Economic Development Commission and therefore, no action was taken.
G. Announcements
There were no announcements.
Public Comment
Anne Ward spoke during public comment.
Closed Session
At 6:25 P.M., Commissioner Billy Kennedy, seconded by Commissioner John Welch, moved to enter Closed Session to discuss Attorney/Client Matters, per G. S. 143-318.11(a)(3).
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
[Clerks Note: Commissioner Perry Yates left the meeting at 6:48 P.M.]
Commissioner John Welch, seconded by Commissioner Billy Kennedy, moved to resume the open meeting at 7:06 P.M.
VOTE: Aye-4(Hodges, Blust, Kennedy, Welch)
Nay-0
Absent-1(Yates)
Adjourn
Vice-Chairman David Blust, seconded by Commissioner Billy Kennedy, moved to adjourn the meeting at 7:07 P.M.
VOTE: Aye-4(Hodges, Blust, Kennedy, Welch)
Nay-0
Absent-1(Yates)
Jimmy Hodges, Chairman
ATTEST:
Monica Harrison, Substitute Clerk to the Board