WATAUGA COUNTY

MINUTES

 

WATAUGA COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS

TUESDAY, APRIL 17, 2018

 

The Watauga County Board of Commissioners held a regular meeting, as scheduled, on Tuesday, April 17, 2018, at 5:30 P.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

Anthony di Santi, County Attorney

                                                Deron Geouque, County Manager

                                                Anita J. Fogle, Clerk to the Board

 

Chairman Welch called the meeting to order at 5:30 P.M.

 

Commissioner Yates opened with a prayer and Vice-Chairman Kennedy led the Pledge of Allegiance.

Approval of Minutes

Chairman Welch called for additions and/or corrections to the April 3, 2018, regular meeting and closed session minutes.

 

Vice-Chairman Kennedy, seconded by Commissioner Yates, moved to approve the April 3, 2018, regular meeting minutes as presented.

 

VOTE:  Aye-5

             Nay-0

 

Vice-Chairman Kennedy, seconded Commissioner Yates, moved to approve the April 3, 2018, closed session minutes as presented.

 

VOTE:  Aye-5

             Nay-0

Approval of Agenda

Chairman Welch called for additions and/or corrections to the April 17, 2018, agenda.

 

County Manager Geouque requested to add surplus property under Finance Matters.

 

Vice-Chairman Kennedy, seconded by Commissioner Yates, moved to approve the April 17, 2018, agenda as amended.

 

VOTE:  Aye-5

             Nay-0

Appalachian Regional Library Presentation

Ms. Jane Blackburn, Appalachian Regional Library (ARL) Director, introduced the following who were present for the meeting:  Mr. Terry Hamilton, an Appalachian Regional Library Board member, Ms. Tish Rokoske, a former Board member, and Ms. Monica Caruso, the Watauga County Librarian.  Ms. Blackburn presented the recently completed salary study, as performed by Springsted, for the ARL.

 

Ms. Blackburn began by stating that the Interlocal Agreement for the Appalachian Regional Library stipulates that the budgets for each county “will include an agreed upon amount paid by each member county for the materials, salaries, and operating expenses.”  Ms. Blackburn went on to give data and the reasons why the ARL chose to do a compensation study and what they hoped to achieve with the study.  The results of the study shows that salary levels within the ARL are significantly lower than the average salary rates paid in comparable regional library systems and the turnover rate is high within the ARL which is costly in services and funds.

 

Ms. Blackburn stated that the following options were presented by Springsted:

 

·       Option 1 brings all those below grade to the minimum of the new recommended grade and provides nothing for those within or above grade.

 

·       Option 2 brings all those under grade to the minimum of their new recommended grade and provides all those whose current salaries fall within grade a 2% increase (if any are below grade by less than 2%, they get a full 2% raise).

 

·       Option 3 brings employees into the new scale using a ‘Years of Service’ adjustment based on time with the library as benchmark for service length.

 

Option 3 is Springsted’s and the ARL Governing Board’s recommended option.

 

Ms. Blackburn requested the Board of Commissioners consider moving all current employees to the minimum in their salary range in the new pay scale, plus 0.5% per year in position, and fully fund all personnel costs, over the course of the next 3 years.

 

No action was taken at this time as the request will be discussed during the budget process.

Proposed Proclamation Honoring Renee Boughman and F.A.R.M. Café

Mr. Thomas Brown, Volunteer Coordinator and Marketing/Development Coordinator with F.A.R.M. Café, presented a proposed proclamation declaring May 2, 2018, as RENEE BOUGHMAN and F.A.R.M. CAFÉ DAY.  The purpose of the proclamation is to bring awareness and support of work to end food insecurity in the High Country by visiting the F.A.R.M. Café.  Mr. Brown invited the Board to F.A.R.M. Café on May 2 where Best Cellar will be providing lunch and the proclamation will be presented to Renee Boughman.

 

Vice-Chairman Kennedy, seconded by Commissioner Turnbow, moved to adopt the proclamation as presented.

 

VOTE:  Aye-5

             Nay-0

 

[Clerk’s Note:  Due to technical problems, the Community/Recreation Center Update presentation was given prior to Closed Session.]

Request for RPO Ranking of Transportation Projects

Mr. Joe Furman, Planning and Inspections Director, requested the Board rank in order the eight (8) listed projects for the possible inclusion in the 2020-2029 State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP).  The rankings are due May 1, 2018.

 

Vice-Chairman Kennedy, seconded by Commissioner Yates, moved to approve the following ranking of projects for possible inclusion in the 2020-2029 State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP):

 

1.     Multi-lane US Hwy 421 from Vilas to Tennessee line

2.     Multi-lane NC Hwy 194 from East King Street to Howard’s Creek Road

3.     Middle Fork Greenway, Section 5 from Niley Cook Road to Jordan V. Cook Road

4.     Multi-lane 105 Bypass

5.     Improve Deerfield Road/Bamboo Road intersection at 3-way stop sign

6.     Improve US Hwy 321 between Payne Branch Road and Fairway Drive

7.     Multi-lane NC Hwy 105 from Clark’s Creek Road to US Hwy 221 in Linville

8.     Improve US Hwy 421/old 421 South intersection at Food Lion

 

VOTE:  Aye-5

             Nay-0

Tax Matters

A.  Monthly Collections Report

 

Tax Administrator, Mr. Larry Warren, presented the Tax Collections Report for the month of March 2018.  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 2018 for Board approval:

 

TO BE TYPED IN MINUTE BOOK

 

Commissioner Yates, seconded by Vice-Chairman Kennedy, moved to approve the Refunds and Releases Report for March 2018, as presented.

 

VOTE:  Aye-5

             Nay-0

Finance Matters

A.  Budget Amendments

 

Ms. Margaret Pierce, Finance Director, reviewed the following budget amendments:

 

Account #	Description	Debit	Credit
103300-332004	SHIIP Grant		$2,566
105550-449901	SHIIP Grant Expenses	$2,566
The amendment recognizes the acceptance of the Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act (MIPPA) grant from the State Health Insurance Information Program (SHIIP).  No match is required.
105911-471000	NC Lottery Funds		$117,500
105911-470004	Valle Crucis Fire Alarm Replacement	$57,500
105911-470028	Phone and Intercom System – Cove Creek	$60,000
The amendment allocates funds for the NC Lottery projects as requested by the Watauga County Schools and approved by the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction.

Vice-Chairman Kennedy, seconded by Commissioner Yates, moved to approve the budget amendments as presented by Ms. Pierce.

 

VOTE:  Aye-5

             Nay-0

 

B.  Proposed Community Recreation Center Financing

 

Ms. Pierce presented an engagement letter from Parker Poe Adams & Bernstein LLP to serve as the County’s Bond Council for the financing of the new Community Recreation Center.  The County has utilized the services of Parker Poe Adams & Bernstein LLP multiple times in which they have provided exemplary service.  The fee is a $55,000 lump sum payment for Bond Council Services.

 

Commissioner Yates, seconded by Commissioner Turnbow, moved to approve Parker Poe Adams & Bernstein LLP as the County’s Bond Council for the Community Recreation Center and approve the $55,000 lump sum fee contingent upon the County Attorney’s review.

 

VOTE:  Aye-5

             Nay-0

 

Ms. Pierce also presented an engagement letter from Robert W. Baird & Company, Inc. to serve as the County’s managing underwriter or placement agent for the Community Recreation Center.  The engagement letter will be replaced and superseded by a bond purchase agreement to be entered into when the Securities are priced following a successful completion of the offering process.  Robert W. Baird & Company, Inc. has served in many projects in North Carolina and has a successful relationship with the North Carolina Local Government Commission.  The proposed fees are in line with the 2012 school refinance.  Robert W. Baird & Company, Inc.’s per bond fee is not to exceed $2.85/$1,000 plus expenses related to the bond issuance.

 

Vice-Chairman Kennedy, seconded by Commissioner Turnbow, moved to approve Robert W. Baird & Company, Inc. as the County’s managing underwriter or placement agent for the Community Recreation Center and approve the fee of $2,85/$1,000 plus expenses related to the bond issuance contingent upon the County Attorney’s review.

 

VOTE:  Aye-5

             Nay-0

 

C.  Surplus Property

 

Ms. Pierce stated that a surplus 1998 John Deere 160 Excavator was put on GovDeals for sale with an expected sale price of $15,000-20,000.  The auction closed April 16, 2018, with a high bid of $36,501.  The amount of the sale exceeded the County Manager’s approval level of $30,000, therefore; Board approval was required to finalize the sale.

 

Ms. Pierce stated that a 2005 Volvo VHD roll off truck has also been declared surplus with an expected sale price in the range of $20,000-25,000.  Based on the sale of the last item, staff recommends the Board approve the surplus and sale of this vehicle in the event the $30,000 threshold is once again exceeded.

 

Commissioner Yates, seconded by Commissioner Turnbow, moved to approve the sale of the 1998 John Deere Excavator and the surplus and sale of the 2005 Volvo truck as presented by Ms. Pierce.

 

VOTE:  Aye-5

             Nay-0

Miscellaneous Administrative Matters

A.  Authorize the Transfer of County Owned Property at 131 Morningside Drive to the Town of Boone

 

County Manager Geouque stated that in August of 2014, the Board approved the submittal of an application to the Hazardous Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) for funding for the demolition and removal of a home located at 131 Morningside Drive in Boone.  Several years ago numerous homes located in the area were demolished and removed along Morningside Drive as part of a HMGP project.  At that time, the subject property owner was not interested in participating in the project.  However, continued flood related issues after the sale of the home has prompted the new owners to request participation in the HMGP.  Based on conversations at that time with Mr. Stephen Sudderth, the Town of Boone was not interested in participating in the current application leaving the County the only option for assistance and relief for the home owner.  Board approval was given to accept the grant from the Hazardous Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) with matching funds to be paid by the State.  The demolition and removal of the house has now been completed.  The Town of Boone has indicated a willingness to accept the property.

 

County Manager Geouque stated that per North Carolina General Statute 160A-274 staff requests authorization for the transfer of the County owned property located at 131 Morningside Drive to the Town of Boone.  The County would handle all necessary legal work regarding the transfer.

 

Commissioner Turnbow, seconded by Vice-Chairman Kennedy, moved to authorize the transfer of the County owned property located at 131 Morningside Drive to the Town of Boone with the all necessary legal work regarding the transfer to be handled by the County.

 

VOTE:  Aye-5

             Nay-0

 

B.  Announcements

 

County Manager Geouque announced the following:

 

·       The location of the Tuesday, May 1, 2018, Board of Commissioners meeting has been changed to the Cooperative Extension Conference Room due to One-Stop Voting taking place in the Commissioners’ Board Room.  The meeting will be held at 8:30 A.M.

 

·       Budget Work Sessions are scheduled for Wednesday, May 2, and Thursday, May 3, 2018, from 12:00 P.M. until 7:00 P.M.  The Work Sessions will be held in the Commissioners’ Conference Room.

Public Comment

Mr. Craig Hughes, AppalCART Director, and Mr. Jim Ritchey with Whitman Requardt and Associates, LLP, shared that AppalCART is conducting a Comprehensive Service Review and encouraged everyone to tell AppalCART “where to go.”  Mr. Hughes shared the following dates and invited the Board to attend:

 

 

Tuesday, April 17

BREMCO

2491 US HWY 421 S, Boone

 

10:00 A.M. – 12:00 P.M.

Stakeholder Workshop

 

12:00 – 2:00 P.M.

Drop-In-Session

Wednesday, April 18

College of Education

Building, Room 124A

151 College Street, Boone

 

Drop-In Sessions

9:30 A.M. - 11:00 A.M.

11:00 A.M. - 12:30 P.M.

1:00 P.M. - 2:30 P.M.

2:30 P.M. - 4:00 P.M.

Thursday, April 19

108 Lakeside Drive,

Blowing Rock

 

Drop-In Session

12:00 – 2:00 P.M.