MINUTES
WATAUGA COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
TUESDAY, JUNE 2, 2020
The Watauga County Board of Commissioners held a regular meeting, as scheduled, on Tuesday, June 2, 2020, at 8:30 A.M. remotely with the meeting originating in the Manager's Conference Room located in the Watauga County Administration Building, Boone, North Carolina.
Chairman Welch called the remote electronic meeting to order at 8:34 A.M. by calling roll with each Commissioner answering as present. The following were present:
PRESENT VIA ELECTRONIC MEANS:
John Welch, Chairman
Billy Kennedy, Vice-Chairman
Larry Turnbow, Commissioner
Charlie Wallin, Commissioner
Perry Yates, Commissioner
Anthony di Santi, County Attorney
Deron Geouque, County Manager
Anita J. Fogle, Clerk to the Board
Commissioner Wallin 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 May 14, 2020, special meeting minutes, May 15, 2020, special meeting minutes, and May 19, 2020, regular meeting and closed session minutes.
Vice-Chairman Kennedy, seconded by Commissioner Turnbow, moved to approve the May 14, 2020, special meeting minutes as presented.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
Vice-Chairman Kennedy, seconded by Commissioner Turnbow, moved to approve the May 15, 2020, special meeting minutes as presented.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
Vice-Chairman Kennedy, seconded by Commissioner Turnbow, moved to approve the May 19, 2020, regular meeting minutes as presented.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
Vice-Chairman Kennedy, seconded by Commissioner Turnbow, moved to approve the May 19, 2020, closed session minutes as presented.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
APPROVAL OF AGENDA
Chairman Welch called for additions and/or corrections to the June 2, 2020, agenda.
Vice-Chairman Kennedy requested to comment on the Town of Beech Mountain’s proposed water intake project.
Commissioner Turnbow, seconded by Vice-Chairman Kennedy, moved to approve the June 2, 2020, agenda as presented.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
TOWN OF BEECH MOUNTAIN’S PROPOSED WATER INTAKE PROJECT
Vice-Chairman Kennedy stated that he and other Board members had recently received hundreds of emails regarding the Town of Beech Mountain’s proposed water intake project and wanted to make it clear that the Town of Beech Mountain should fix their infrastructure first. Vice-Chairman Kennedy stated that the Board of Commissioners had no plans to change its opposition to the project and had strong support from the public on that stance.
PRESENTATION OF WATAUGA COUNTY COMMUNITY CHILD PROTECTIONS TEAM’S (CCPT) ANNUAL REPORT AND APPOINTMENT OF MEMBERS FOR 2020
Ms. Selena Moretz presented the annual reports for the Watauga County Community Child Protection Team (CCPT) and the Watauga County Child Fatality Team (CFT). Ms. Moretz also presented the following list of the team members for 2020- 2021:
County Director of DSS Tom Hughes
Member of the DSS Director’s staff Chad Slagle
Local Law Enforcement Officer Carolyn Johnson
Attorney from Office of the District Attorney Andrew Cochran
Community Action Agency Director Robin Triplett (Children’s Council)
Superintendent (Designee) of School Admin Dr. Paul Holden
Mental Health (LME) Greta Mikus
Member of Board of DSS (Commissioner) Billy Kennedy
Guardian Ad Litem Coordinator McKenzie Kilpatrick
Local Health Care Provider Dr. Robert Lonas
Director of Public Health (Designee) LeAnn Martin, Chair, Child Fatality Team
Members at large
Children’s Advocacy Center Selena Mortez, Chair, Child Protection Team
OASIS (Community Action Agency) Michelle Grit
Appalachian HealthCare (AARHC) Kim Greene
Mental Health Provider (Daymark) Holli Robinson
Watauga County Schools Megan Langdon
Hospitality House Tina Krause
The CCPT was tasked with reducing the acts of abuse and violence against children in the County and the CFT was tasked with reviewing fatalities in the County.
The Community Child Protection Team (CCPT) was mandated by G. S. 7B-1406 and consisted of a body of dedicated and concerned citizens representing agencies, organizations and the community at-large that functions, as a group, independently to address child protection and reduction of abuse and violence in the county. The team was responsible for reviewing policies, procedures and practices of our local Department of Social Services (DSS) in order to protect families; assist in the protection of children living in the family that was being reviewed; and evaluate the extent to which the agencies were effectively discharging their obligation to serve children responsibly. The team also was charged with developing treatment protocols.
Ms. Moretz stated that the Child Fatality Team had no recommendations this year and continued to encourage prenatal care. Ms. Moretz reported that there were two child deaths that were reviewed by the Child Fatality Team in the past year.
Vice-Chairman Kennedy, seconded by Commissioner Turnbow, moved to accept the Community Child Protection Team and Child Fatality Team Annual Reports and to approve the 2020-2021 membership list as presented.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19) COMMUNITY UPDATE
Ms. Jennifer Greene, AppHealthCare Director, provided an update on the Coronavirus (COVID-19). The report was for information only and, therefore, no action was required.
PROPOSED PROCLAMATION FOR ELDER ABUSE AWARENESS DAY
Ms. Betsy Richards with Social Services shared information on elder abuse awareness which was recognized each year from Mother’s Day through Father’s Day with June 15 being designated as “World Elder Abuse Awareness Day.”
Ms. Angie Boitnotte, Project on Aging Director read the proclamation which declared June 15, 2020, as “World Elder Abuse Awareness Day.”
Commissioner Turnbow, seconded by Commissioner Yates, moved to adopt the proclamation as presented.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD COVID-19 FUNDS FOR PROJECT ON AGING
Ms. Angie Boitnotte, Project on Aging Director, stated that Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina awarded $500,000 to the Meals on Wheels Association of North Carolina (MOWNC), which would facilitate pass-thru funding to each county in North Carolina with Watauga County to receive $4,950 after the MOWNC withheld $50 for administering the grant. The required submittal date was May 15, 2020; however, staff was not notified until May 21, 2020.
The funds could be used on items that increased and supported current capacity to provide senior meals in response to COVID-19. These items included refrigeration, freezer capability, packaging, delivery costs, temporary staffing support, groceries, shelf-stable meals, etc. Ms. Boitnotte recommended acceptance of the funds.
Commissioner Turnbow, seconded by Commissioner Wallin, moved to accept the funds from the Meals on Wheels Association of North Carolina in the amount of $4,950 as presented by Ms. Boitnotte.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
PROPOSED RESOLUTION APPROVING ZIONVILLE VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT’S FIVE AND SIX MILE INSURANCE DISTRICT BOUNDARIES
On behalf of Zionville Fire Chief, Donald Miller, Mr. Will Holt, Emergency Services Manager presented a proposed resolution and map which, if adopted, would approve the insurance boundary lines of the Zionville Rural Fire Department’s Five and Six-Mile district coverage. The actual boundaries for the Fire Department’s district would not change. Mr. Holt stated that the map was required to get rated by the State Fire Marshal’s Office.
Commissioner Yates, seconded by Commissioner Wallin, moved to adopt the resolution and the five and six-mile district coverage map as presented by Mr. Holt.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
ADOPTION OF THE FISCAL YEAR 2021 BUDGET ORDINANCE
County Manager Geouque presented the Fiscal Year 2021 Budget Ordinance for adoption.
Below are changes recommended to the County’s Fee Schedule:
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Fee Schedule Change Summary |
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Emergency Management/Fire Marshal |
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Illegal Burning Fine (NEW) |
One warning then fine of $100 |
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Explosive materials/blasting permits increase |
Increased to $500/annually or $100/48 hour permit |
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Safety Violations Fine (NEW) |
One warning then fine of $200 |
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Planning and Inspections |
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Remodel Permit |
$75 per trade |
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Sanitation Solid Waste Fees |
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Yard Waste, Animal Carcass, Electronic Waste, and Tire Trailer Rental |
Remove Fee |
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Mixed Recycling Ton (NEW) |
$59 per ton |
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Collection and Delivery Fees (NEW) |
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Boone – Per Lift (Zone – 607): |
Industrial |
$150.00 |
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Commercial |
$34.65 |
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Recycling |
$34.65 |
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Extended 607 – Per Lift (Zone – Linear Mile): |
Industrial |
$187.50 |
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Commercial |
$43.95 |
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Recycling |
$43.95 |
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Ms. Misty Watson, Finance Director, stated that the budget also contained a reclassification for the Sheriff’s Office in the narcotics unit which resulted in a net zero change to the budget.
Chairman Welch stated that this was a conservative budget with increases to public safety and no tax increases. Chairman Welch stated that the County Manager and Finance Director would continue to monitor the budget and would give a Mid-Year Report in January.
Commissioner Turnbow, seconded by Vice-Chairman Kennedy, moved to adopt the FY 2021 Budget as presented with the reclassification for the Sheriff’s Office in the narcotics unit which resulted in a net zero change to the budget.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
MISCELLANEOUS ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS
A. July Meeting Schedule
County Manager Geouque stated that historically, only one meeting was held in July due to all the work which had been done on the budget as well as the July 4th holiday. Also, historically, at the beginning of a new fiscal year there was limited business for the Board’s consideration. Therefore, the Manager recommended cancelling the first meeting in July and holding the second meeting as currently scheduled for the third Tuesday which was July 21, 2020 at 5:30 P.M.
Commissioner Turnbow, seconded by Vice-Chairman Kennedy, moved to cancel the July 7, 2020, regular meeting of the Board of Commissioners.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
B. Announcements
County Manager Geouque announced that the Board of Commissioners canceled the first meeting in July. The next regular meeting was on Tuesday, June 16, 2020, at 5:30 P.M. and the only regular meeting in July would be on July 21, 2020 at 5:30 P.M.
Vice-Chairman Kennedy requested everyone stay patient and kind to one another.
PUBLIC COMMENT
Written comments were received from the following and read by the Chairman during the meeting. The comments were also available through the County Manager’s Office and the County’s website: John Pyle, Laurie Weiner, Bill Maloney, Becky Miller, John White, David Kennedy, Jessica Smith, Beth Carroll, Dave Anthes, Ben Miles, and George Bartholomew.
Vice-Chairman Kennedy stated that the Board had been working hard and taking all COVID-19 related issues into consideration while looking after public health and asked everyone to be civil.
CLOSED SESSION
At 9:34 A.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), Land Acquisition, per G. S. 143-318.11(a)(5)(i), and Personnel Matters, per G. S. 143-318.11(a)(6).
The following lawsuits were included in discussion during closed session: Town of Boone Lawsuit Regarding Sales Tax Distribution
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
Vice-Chairman Kennedy, seconded by Commissioner Yates, moved to resume the open meeting at 10:33 A.M.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
ADJOURN
Commissioner Wallin, seconded by Commissioner Turnbow, moved to adjourn the meeting at 10:33 A.M.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
John Welch, Chairman
ATTEST:
Anita J. Fogle, Clerk to the Board