MINUTES

 

WATAUGA COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS

TUESDAY, MARCH 19, 2019

 

The Watauga County Board of Commissioners held a regular meeting, as scheduled, on Tuesday, March 19, 2019, 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

                                                Charlie Wallin, Commissioner

                                                Perry Yates, Commissioner

Andrea Capua, County Attorney

                                                Deron Geouque, County Manager

                                                Anita J. Fogle, Clerk to the Board

 

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

 

Chairman Welch announced that Commissioner Turnbow was not able to be at the meeting.

Approval of Minutes

Vice-Chairman Kennedy called for additions and/or corrections to the March 5, 2019, regular meeting and closed session minutes.

 

Commissioner Yates, seconded by Vice-Chairman Kennedy, moved to approve the March 5, 2019, regular meeting minutes as presented.

 

VOTE:  Aye-4(Welch, Kennedy, Wallin, Yates)

             Nay-0

             Absent-1(Turnbow)

 

Commissioner Yates, seconded by Vice-Chairman Kennedy, moved to approve the March 19, 2019, closed session minutes as presented.

 

VOTE:  Aye-4(Welch, Kennedy, Wallin, Yates)

             Nay-0

             Absent-1(Turnbow)

Approval of Agenda

Vice-Chairman Kennedy called for additions and/or corrections to the March 19, 2019, agenda.

 

County Manager Geouque requested to withdraw the Proposed Agreement with Advanced Disposal and Proposed Agreement with Custom Ecology, Inc. under Sanitation Matters from the agenda.

 

Vice-Chairman Kennedy requested to add the following announcement:  Appalachian Regional Healthcare System will host a Town Hall meeting from 6:00 - 7:30 P.M. on Thursday, March 21, 2019, in the Auditorium at Watauga Medical Center to discuss Medicaid expansion NC Senator Deanna Ballard and NC Representative Ray Russell will be in attendance.

 

Commissioner Wallin, seconded by Vice-Chairman Kennedy, moved to approve the February 19, 2019, agenda as amended.

 

VOTE:  Aye-4(Welch, Kennedy, Wallin, Yates)

             Nay-0

             Absent-1(Turnbow)

Watauga County Schools Matters

A.  Lottery Funds Request

 

Dr. Scott Elliot, Watauga County Schools Superintendent, requested the release of $144,200 in funds from the State Education Lottery Fund.  $95,000 was requested to expand access control systems in all schools, $30,000 for the continuation of carpet and tile replacement throughout all schools, and $19,200 for the addition of management systems in all schools for registering and monitoring all visitors to ensure safety for everyone in the building.

 

Commissioner Yates, seconded by Commissioner Wallin, moved to approve the release of $144,200 in funds from the State Education Lottery Fund as requested by Dr. Elliot.

 

VOTE:  Aye-4(Welch, Kennedy, Wallin, Yates)

             Nay-0

             Absent-1(Turnbow)

 

B.  Proposed Resolution Approving the Contract Price for the Purchase of Real Property for A Future Valle Crucis School

 

Dr. Scott Elliott, Watauga County School Superintendent, stated that the School Board has long range plans to replace both Hardin Park Elementary School and Valle Crucis Elementary School.  Hardin Park will be built on site and the Board has been looking for property for the construction of a new Valle Crucis School.  With limited properties available, the School Board has made an offer on a 14.4 acre tract in the amount of $1,105,000 near the location of the current school.  Dr. Elliot presented a proposed resolution stating the Board of Commissioners approve the purchase price for 14.4 acre tract.  School Board members Ron Henries, Brenda Reece, and Gary Childers were also present for the request.

 

Vice-Chairman Kennedy, seconded by Commissioner Yates, moved to adopt the resolution approving the proposed purchase price of One Million One Hundred Five Thousand and No/100

Dollars ($1,105,000.00) for an 14.4 acre property for the construction of a new Valle Crucis Elementary School in accordance with G.S. §115C-426 and as requested by Dr. Elliot on behalf of the School Board.

 

VOTE:  Aye-4(Welch, Kennedy, Wallin, Yates)

             Nay-0

             Absent-1(Turnbow)

Proposed Resolution Supporting Juvenile Crime Prevention Council (JCPC) Allocation Expansion

Dr. Paul Holden, Juvenile Crime Prevention Council (JCPC) Chairman, presented a proposed resolution stating that Watauga County fully supports an adequate and timely increase of local Juvenile Crime Prevention funding to ensure program expansion and successful implementation of the Juvenile Justice Reinvestment Act Raise the Age Legislation, set for December 1, 2019.

 

Vice-Chairman Kennedy, seconded by Commissioner Wallin, moved to adopt the resolution as presented by Dr. Holden.

 

VOTE:  Aye-4(Welch, Kennedy, Wallin, Yates)

             Nay-0

             Absent-1(Turnbow)

Bid Award Request for New Front-End Load Trash Truck and New Roll-Off Trash Truck

On behalf of Operation Services Director, Mr. Rex Buck, County Manager Geouque requested the authorization to purchase one (1) new Front-End Load Trash Truck in the amount of $259,553 and one (1) new Roll-Off Trash Truck in the amount of $166,297.  Adequate funds are available in the current Sanitation budget to cover the expense. 

 

Commissioner Yates, seconded by Commissioner Wallin, moved to authorize the purchase of one (1) new Front-End Load Trash Truck in the amount of $259,553 and one (1) new Roll-Off Trash Truck in the amount of $166,297 as presented by the County Manager.

 

VOTE:  Aye-4(Welch, Kennedy, Wallin, Yates)

             Nay-0

             Absent-1(Turnbow)

Tax Matters

A.  Monthly Collections Report

 

Tax Administrator, Mr. Larry Warren, presented the Tax Collections Report for the month of February 2019.  The 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 February 2019 for Board approval:

 

TO BE TYPED IN MINUTE BOOK

 

Vice-Chairman Kennedy, seconded by Commissioner Yates, moved to approve the Refunds and Releases Report for February 2019 as presented.

 

VOTE:  Aye-4(Welch, Kennedy, Wallin, Yates)

             Nay-0

             Absent-1(Turnbow)

 

Chairman Welch called for a recess at 5:54 P.M. as the County Manager had stepped out of the meeting to attend to County business.  Chairman Welch called the meeting back to order at 5:55 P.M.

Miscellaneous Administrative Matters

A.  Watauga Solar Lease Amendment

 

County Attorney Capua stated that extensions could not be included in the proposed lease past the twenty-five year lease in accordance with Statutes.

 

County Manager Geouque returned to the meeting and presented a copy of a proposed resolution authorizing the lease of a portion of the landfill property to Encore T\Renewable Energy.  Property owned by the County may be leased or rented for such terms and upon such conditions as the Board may determine, for up to ten (10) years or twenty-five (25) years for a renewable energy project.  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 shall be given by publication describing the property to be leased or rented, stating the annual rental or lease payments, and announcing the Board's intent to authorize the lease or rental at its next regular meeting.

 

Commissioner Yates, seconded by Vice-Chairman Kennedy, moved to adopt the attached resolution and approve the lease at a future meeting after the ten day public notice time.

 

VOTE:  Aye-4(Welch, Kennedy, Wallin, Yates)

             Nay-0

             Absent-1(Turnbow)

 

B.   NCDOT U-5603 (NC 105 Improvements)

 

County Manager Geouque stated that on March 14, 2019, the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) held a public officials meeting to unveil the conceptual revisions to the NC 105 project.  The NCDOT is requesting the County and Town give an up or down vote on the proposed changes.  If either the County or Town vote no, the project would be stopped and moved back on the funding priority list. 

 

NCDOT stressed that time was of the essence and the project was already six (6) months behind schedule due to the revision process.  The County Manager suggested two (2) options:  Option one (1) is to approve the conceptual revisions as presented by the NCDOT so that further detailed plans may be created; and Option two (2) is to review the changes more thoroughly that were unveiled at the March 14 meeting and take a vote at the April 2, 2019, Board meeting.

 

After discussion, Commissioner Yates, seconded by Vice-Chairman Kennedy, moved to support the revised plans including the option for right-turns only in and out of Highland Avenue from and onto NC Hwy 105.

 

VOTE:  Aye-4(Welch, Kennedy, Wallin, Yates)

             Nay-0

             Absent-1(Turnbow)

 

C.  Boards and Commissions

 

County Manager presented the following for consideration:

 

Jury Commission

Biannually, a Jury Commission is empanelled for a two-year term.  Of the three member panel, one member is appointed by the Board of Commissioners.  The term of Mr. Jerry Dotson expires June 30, 2019.  The new term for the appointment will be July 1, 2019, through June 30, 2021.  Assistant Clerk of Court Stephanie Dalton has stated that Mr. Dotson is willing to continue to serve if so appointed.  This is a first reading and, therefore, no action is required at this time.

 

Commissioner Wallin, seconded by Vice-Chairman Kennedy, moved to waive the second reading and reappoint Mr. Jerry Dotson to serve on the Jury Commission from July 1, 2019, until June 30, 2021.

 

VOTE:  Aye-4(Welch, Kennedy, Wallin, Yates)

             Nay-0

             Absent-1(Turnbow)

 

Boone Rural Fire Protection Service District Board

Each Commissioner nominates a representative to the Boone Rural Fire Protection Service District Board whose terms run concurrent with the term of the appointing Commissioner.  Boone Rural Fire Service District Board members must own property and reside within that Fire Service District.

 

D.  Announcements

 

County Manager Geouque announced the following:

 

·       Appalachian Regional Healthcare System will host a Town Hall meeting from 6:00 - 7:30 P.M. on Thursday, March 21, 2019, in the Auditorium at Watauga Medical Center to discuss Medicaid expansion NC Senator Deanna Ballard and NC Representative Ray Russell will be in attendance.

 

·       The Watauga Compassionate Community Initiative Conference 2019 will be held from 8:00 A.M. – 4:00 P.M. on Saturday, May 4, 2019, at Watauga High School.

Public Comment

Mr. Joe Salamone with Republic Services stated that his company had been providing services to the County for ten years.  Mr. Salamone stated that seeing proposed bid awards for trash services to another company on the agenda was taken personally and was not handled professionally.  Mr. Salamone stated that his company should not have contacted Board members over the weekend and thanked the Board for time to clear communications.

Closed Session

At 6:09 P.M., Commissioner Wallin, seconded by Vice-Chairman Kennedy, moved to enter Closed Session to discuss Attorney/Client Matters, per G. S. 143-318.11(a)(3).

 

VOTE:  Aye-4(Welch, Kennedy, Wallin, Yates)

             Nay-0

             Absent-1(Turnbow)

 

Commissioner Yates, seconded by Commissioner Wallin, moved to resume the open meeting at 7:12 P.M.

 

VOTE:  Aye-4(Welch, Kennedy, Wallin, Yates)

             Nay-0

             Absent-1(Turnbow)

Adjourn

Vice-Chairman Kennedy, seconded by Commissioner Wallin, moved to adjourn the meeting at 7:13 P.M.

 

VOTE:  Aye-4(Welch, Kennedy, Wallin, Yates)

             Nay-0

             Absent-1(Turnbow)

 

 

 

John Welch, Chairman

 

ATTEST:

Anita J. Fogle, Clerk to the Board