MINUTES
WATAUGA COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
MONDAY, JUNE 5, 2000
The Watauga County Board of Commissioners held a regular meeting on Monday, June 5, 2000 at 9:00 A.M. in the Board Room of the Watauga County Courthouse.
PRESENT: Jimmy Hodges, Chairman
Sue Sweeting, Vice-Chairman
James Coffey, Commissioner
Art Kohles, Commissioner
Jack Lawrence, Sr., Commissioner
Jeff Hedrick, County Attorney
Robert E. Nelson, Jr., County Manager
Libby Link, Clerk to the Board
Chairman Hodges called the meeting to order at 9:00 A.M. welcoming those in attendance.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Chairman Hodges called for additions or corrections to the May 23, 2000 regular and closed session meeting minutes as well as the June 1, 2000 special meeting minutes.
Commissioner Kohles seconded by Vice-Chairman Sweeting, moved to approve the May 23, 2000 regular and closed session meeting minutes and the June 1, 2000 special meeting minutes as presented.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
APPROVAL OF JUNE 5, 2000 AGENDA
County Manager Nelson requested Item 8 be deleted (Adoption of the Fiscal Year 2000/2001 Budget Ordinance) and requested an additional item (a budget work session to be scheduled immediately following Item 11 (Closed Session). It was agreed to recess following Closed Session and to conduct the budget work session in the Administrative Conference Room immediately following the regular meeting.
Vice-Chairman Sweeting seconded by Commissioner Kohles, moved to approve the June 5, 2000 agenda with the amendments as requested.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
TAX MATTERS
A. Monthly Collections Report – Tax Administrator, Larry McLean, presented the Tax Collections Report for the month of May, 2000.
B. Refunds and Releases – Tax Administrator McLean presented the following Refunds and Releases for May, 2000 for Board approval:
TO BE TYPED IN MINUTE BOOK
Commissioner Coffey seconded by Vice-Chairman Sweeting, moved to approve the Refunds and Releases Report as presented.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
C. Request for a Public Hearing for a Vehicle Gross Receipts Tax Ordinance – Tax Administrator McLean explained the new requirement for Vehicle Gross Receipts Tax and requested the Board schedule a public hearing for its June 20, 2000 regular meeting in order to consider establishing an ordinance allowing taxes to be collected on the gross receipts derived from the rentals.
Commissioner Lawrence seconded by Commissioner Coffey, moved to schedule a public hearing for the Board’s June 20, 2000 regular meeting as requested.
Prior to the vote, Tax Administrator McLean stated this issue involved approximately 12 rental agencies and all had been contacted regarding this issue in order to get their estimated receipts. Mr. McLean agreed to notify each rental agency that might be affected that the public hearing was scheduled for the Board’s June 20, 2000 regular meeting.
The following vote was then made on Commissioner Lawrence’s motion:
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
FINANCE MATTERS
A. Budget Amendments – Finance Director, Doris Isaacs, presented the following budget amendments for Board approval:
Account # Description Debit Credit
663470-327501 Scrap Tire Disposal Grant 4,916
667420-412600 Salaries – Part-time 4,916
To recognize Scrap Tire Disposal Grant revenue and expense. These funds were to be used to cover excess costs for solidwaste disposal of tires. Currently the need existed to hire a temporary driver to catch up on the backlog of tires on hand at the landfill.
Account # Description Debit Credit
143583-333000 JCPP-OJJ 17,600
145890-469816 Psychological Ser. –
Juvenile Court 2,900
145890-469813 JCPP Task Force 500
145890-469809 Watauga Youth Network 2,400
145890-469809 Watauga Youth Network 17,600
To recognize a grant award of Office of Juvenile Justice discretionary funds in the amount of $17,600 to Watauga Youth Network. Also, to transfer $2,900 of unspent funds between existing programs. Notification of these budget revisions had been received from the OJJ office in Black Mountain.
Commissioner Coffey seconded by Vice-Chairman Sweeting, moved to approve the budget amendments as presented.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
B. Transfer of Asset – Finance Director, Doris Isaacs, presented a request to transfer a Solo 2550 SE laptop computer (serial #17986518) to the Appalachian Regional Library. The computer was purchased for the Library with funds donated specifically for use by the Library, and Ms. Isaacs requested the Board’s approval to remove the computer from the County’s fixed asset list and transfer to the Library.
Vice-Chairman Sweeting seconded by Commissioner Coffey, moved to approve the transfer of asset as requested.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
PROJECT ON AGING QUALITY IMPROVEMENT PLAN
Ms. Angie Boitnotte, Project on Aging (POA) Director, presented a Quality Improvement Plan (QIP), which addressed areas of nutrition (home-delivered meals and congregate nutrition) and POA’s overall management. The QIP was required by the Division of Aging in an effort to improve the quality of services and identify best practices appropriate for local services delivery. Ms. Boitnotte stated the QIP was standard throughout the State and requested the Board’s approval.
Vice-Chairman Sweeting seconded by Commissioner Kohles, moved to approve the Quality Improvement Plan as presented.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
PLANNING MATTERS
A. Countywide Architectural Survey – County Manager Nelson stated the State Historic Preservation Office was proposing to include Watauga County in an application for DOT enhancement funds to conduct a countywide architectural survey. He added the overall cost for this survey amounted to approximately $40,000 and required a 20% local match of $8,000. Mr. Nelson noted the local match could be provided during two fiscal years (since a typical architectural survey took 18-24 months to complete). The County had previously applied for grant funds to conduct an architectural survey but had been unsuccessful. Chairman Hodges, who served on the Blue Ribbon Commission on Growth Issues, stated that conducting a countywide architectural survey had been discussed quite extensively during meetings. County Manager Nelson stated staff recommended approval to survey the entire County.
Commissioner Coffey seconded by Vice-Chairman Sweeting, moved to approve the request from the State Historic Preservation Office to include Watauga County in an application for DOT enhancement funds to conduct a countywide architectural survey.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
B. DOT Transportation Enhancement Program – At the Board’s May 23, 2000 regular meeting, The High Country Conservancy had proposed to apply for funds to acquire a conservation easement from the Valle Crucis Conference Center on land adjacent to Highway 194 which was a N.C. Scenic Byway, and County Manager Nelson stated that no action was taken at that time until County Attorney Hedrick could review the proposed easement. County Attorney Hedrick stated he had reviewed the draft easement received from Womble, Carlyle Sandridge & Rice which clarified his concerns primarily concerning the County’s responsibility and liability. He added that the Conservancy would be the primary enforcing entity, however, the program required a local government to sponsor the project. Mr. Hedrick stated this request would simply allow the Conservancy to apply for funds to acquire this easement.