MINUTES
WATAUGA COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
TUESDAY, MARCH 6, 2018
The Watauga County Board of Commissioners held a regular meeting, as scheduled, on Tuesday, March 6, 2018, at 8:30 A.M. in the Commissioners' Board Room of the Watauga County Administration Building, Boone, North Carolina.
PRESENT: John Welch, Chairman
Billy Kennedy, Vice-Chairman
Jimmy Hodges, Commissioner
Larry Turnbow, Commissioner
Perry Yates, Commissioner
Andrea Capua, County Attorney
Deron Geouque, County Manager
Anita J. Fogle, Clerk to the Board
Chairman Welch called the meeting to order at 8:32 A.M.
Commissioner Hodges opened with a prayer and Commissioner Turnbow led the Pledge of Allegiance.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Chairman Welch called for additions and/or corrections to the February 20, 2018, special meeting, regular meeting and closed session minutes.
Vice-Chairman Kennedy, seconded by Commissioner Turnbow, moved to approve the February 20, 2018, special meeting minutes as presented.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
Vice-Chairman Kennedy, seconded by Commissioner Turnbow, moved to approve the February 20, 2018, regular meeting minutes as presented.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
Vice-Chairman Kennedy, seconded by Commissioner Turnbow, moved to approve the February 20, 2018, closed session minutes as presented.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
APPROVAL OF AGENDA
Chairman Welch called for additions and/or corrections to the March 6, 2018, agenda.
County Manager Geouque requested to add consideration of acceptance of a Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) grant award.
Vice-Chairman Kennedy, seconded by Commissioner Turnbow, moved to approve the March 6, 2018, agenda as presented.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
SHERIFF’S OFFICE REQUEST TO PURCHASE NEW BODY CAMERAS AND STORAGE
County Manager Geouque requested, on behalf of Captain Kelly Redmon with the Sheriff’s Office, approval of the purchase of four (4) new Axon body cameras along with licensing fees and cloud based storage. Adequate funds have been budgeted in the FY 2017-2018 budget. The current Axon plan with twelve cameras cost $12,108. The additional four cameras will cost $3,160 which brings the total to $15,268.
Commissioner Yates, seconded by Commissioner Turnbow, moved to approve the purchase of four (4) additional new Axon body cameras along with licensing fees and cloud based storage in the total amount of $15,268.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
REQUESTS FOR SOUTH FORK RESTORATION PROJECT AT THE TED MACKORELL SOCCER COMPLEX
Mr. George Santucci with the New River Conservancy presented information regarding the South Fork River restoration project adjacent to the County-owned Ted Mackorell Soccer Complex and property on the other side of the river consisting of lots owned by the Town of Boone and Hollar and Greene Produce Company. Mr. Santucci requested approval of a restricted covenant on a fifty (50) foot buffer along the County-owned property. In addition he requested that the County hold a conservation easement on the Hollar and Green property. These restrictions and easements are required by the Clean Water Management Trust Fund (CWMTF) to ensure funding for the project.
Commissioner Turnbow, seconded by Vice-Chairman Kennedy, moved to grant a fifty (50) foot restricted covenant buffer on the County-owned property located at the Ted Mackorell Soccer Complex and to hold the conservation easement for the Hollar and Greene Produce Company property related to this project.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
Discussion was held to clarify if Hollar and Greene had approved the conservation easement. Mr. Santucci said that they were in agreement. Mr. Joe Furman stated that Hollar and Greene Produce would have to allow the County an easement to their property on which the restricted covenant could be placed.
After discussion, Commissioner Yates, seconded by Commissioner Turnbow, moved to accept an easement from Hollar and Greene in order to place the restricted covenant as approved in the prior motion.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
PROPOSED PRE-APPLICATION FOR AN APPALACHIAN REGIONAL COMMISSION (ARC) GRANT FOR SECTION 4 OF THE MIDDLE FORK GREENWAY
Mr. Joe Furman, Planning and Inspections Director, requested permission to submit a pre-application for $300,000 to the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) for funds for the Middle Fork Greenway, Section 4. The ARC rates counties by “level of distress” and determines the required grant match accordingly. Watauga County is considered an “at risk” County; therefore, the maximum percentage of the cost of the project ARC funds can cover is 70%. The estimated cost of the project is $1.8 million; the $300,000 (which is the maximum amount that can be requested) will not approach the 70% that would be covered by ARC funds.
Mr. Furman stated that the Blue Ridge Conservancy (BRC) is also an eligible applicant and they are in the process of determining which entity has a better chance of being funded. If the determination is made that BRC should be the applicant, the County would not apply.
Mr. Furman stated that, if the County applies, he would know by early summer if the ARC planned to invite the County to submit a full application.
Vice-Chairman Kennedy, seconded by Commissioner Turnbow, moved to approve the submission of the grant pre-application contingent upon it being determined that the County would be the more suitable applicant.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
REQUEST TO ACCEPT TENNESSEE VALLEY AUTHORITY GRANT FUNDS
Mr. Joe Furman stated that the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) has granted Watauga County an amount not to exceed $50,000 for work on the Guy Ford Road River Access project. Mr. Furman presented the proposed Cooperative Agreement from the TVA and requested the Board accept the grant award from the TVA.
Commissioner Yates, seconded by Commissioner Hodges, moved to accept the Tennessee Valley Authority grant award in an amount not to exceed $50,000 as presented by Mr. Furman.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
BOARD OF EQUALIZATION AND REVIEW SCHEDULE
Mr. Larry Warren, Tax Administrator, discussed the scheduling of the FY 2018 Board of Equalization and Review (E&R). Mr. Warren recommended the convening date for the Board of Equalization and Review be scheduled for Wednesday April 18, 2018, at 2:30 P.M. and the adjournment of the Board be scheduled for Thursday April 26, 2018, at 5:00 P.M. The Board discussed other meeting dates as well.
Commissioner Yates, seconded by Commissioner Turnbow, moved to set the following dates for the Board of Equalization and Review:
· Convene on Wednesday, April 18, 2018, at 2:30 P.M.
· Meet on Thursday, April 19, 2018, from 4:00 – 7:00 P.M.
· Meet on Monday, April 23, 2018, from 4:00 – 7:00 P.M.
· Adjourn on Thursday, April 26, 2018, from 4:00 – 5:00 P.M.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
Mr. Warren stated that the Board may create a special Board of Equalization and Review or, as in previous years, the Board of Commissioners may serve as the Board of Equalization and Review and include the County Manager to serve as an alternate member. The County Manager would only serve if a quorum could not be met otherwise. A proposed resolution establishing the Board of Equalization and Review was presented. Mr. Warren stated that the Board of Equalization and Review has been compensated $75 per meeting in the past. County Manager Geouque clarified that he would not receive compensation.
Vice-Chairman Kennedy, seconded by Commissioner Turnbow, moved to adopt the resolution and establish the compensation rate for the Board of Equalization and Review at $75.00 per meeting.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
MISCELLANEOUS ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS
A. Proposed Lease Renewal - Daymark Recovery
County Manager Geouque presented a proposed lease renewal with Daymark Recovery Services, Inc. The County Manager stated that the current lease is set to expire June 30, 2018. The County Attorney has reviewed and updated the existing lease to allow for another three (3) year term. The conditions are proposed to remain the same. If approved, the lease will be forwarded to Daymark Recovery Services for their approval.
Commissioner Yates, seconded by Commissioner Turnbow, moved to approve the lease with Daymark Recovery Services effective July 1, 2018, through June 30, 2021, and as set forth in the lease.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
B. Boards and Commissions
County Manager Geouque presented the following for consideration:
WAMY Community Action
Ms. Joy Coffey’s final term as a Public Sector representative for Watauga County expired on February 8, 2018. Ms. Melissa Soto, Executive Director of WAMY, requests a Commissioner or appointee be appointed to fill the four-year term. There is one position to fill. Mr. George Winkler has expressed some interest to Ms. Soto.
Ms. Soto has stated that the WAMY Board meets bi-monthly on the 2nd Tuesday at 5:00 P.M. The meetings are held in the Commissioners’ Board Room in Avery County. The next meeting is their Board Retreat (and a great time for a new member to begin) which will be held in the Boone office on April 7 at 10:00 A.M. The next regular meeting will be May 8.
Consideration was tabled to allow for Mr. Winkler to submit a volunteer application if he is interested in serving.
High Country Workforce Development Board
Mr. Keith Deveraux, Director of the High Country Workforce Development Board (WDB), has recommended the appointment of Mr. Hayden Gibson to serve on the WDB.
Commissioner Yates, seconded by Commissioner Turnbow, moved to waive the second reading and appoint Mr. Hayden Gibson to the High Country Workforce Development Board.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
Blowing Rock ETJ Representative for Planning Board and Board of Adjustment
Mr. Kevin Rothrock, Blowing Rock Planning Director, stated that the Blowing Rock Town Council recommended Mr. Harrison Herbst to serve as an Extra-territorial Jurisdiction (ETJ) representative on both the Blowing Rock Planning Board and Board of Adjustment.
Commissioner Yates, seconded by Commissioner Turnbow, moved to waive the second reading and appoint Mr. Harrison Herbst to serve as an Extra-territorial Jurisdiction representative on the Blowing Rock Planning Board and Blowing Rock Board of Adjustment.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
C. Announcements
County Manager Geouque announced the following:
· Watauga County Cooperative Extension invites you to the Annual "Report to the People" on Tuesday, March 13, from 11:45 A.M. to 1:00 P.M. at the Agricultural Conference Center. The staff plans to prepare a homemade lunch, and Extension Director, Jim Hamilton, will briefly present an update.
PUBLIC COMMENT
There was no public comment.
CLOSED SESSION
At 9:03 A.M., Commissioner Hodges, seconded by Commissioner Turnbow, moved to enter Closed Session to discuss Attorney/Client Matters, per G. S. 143-318.11(a)(3) and Personnel Matters, per G. S. 143-318.11(a)(6).
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
Vice-Chairman Kennedy, seconded by Commissioner Yates, moved to resume the open meeting at 9:37 A.M.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
POSSIBLE ACTION AFTER CLOSED SESSION
There was no action after Closed Session.
ADJOURN
Commissioner Turnbow, seconded by Vice-Chairman Kennedy, moved to adjourn the meeting at 9:37 A.M.
John Welch, Chairman
ATTEST:
Anita J. Fogle, Clerk to the Board