MINUTES
WATAUGA COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
TUESDAY, APRIL 20, 2021
The Watauga County Board of Commissioners held a regular meeting, as scheduled, on Tuesday, April 20, 2021, at 5:30 P.M. remotely with the meeting originating in the Commissioners’ Board Room located in the Watauga County Administration Building, Boone, North Carolina.
Vice-Chairman Kennedy called the remote electronic meeting to order at 5:36 P.M. The following were present:
PRESENT: Billy Kennedy, Vice-Chairman
Carrington Pertalion, Commissioner
Charlie Wallin, Commissioner
Larry Turnbow, Commissioner
Andrea Capua, 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.
Chairman Welch was not in attendance due to a prior commitment.
Approval of Minutes
Vice-Chairman Kennedy called for additions and/or corrections to the April 6, 2021, regular meeting and closed session minutes.
Vice-Chairman Kennedy did not request a change to the minutes but clarified that he was good with Commissioner Turnbow serving on a Minimum Housing Committee.
Commissioner Turnbow, seconded by Commissioner Pertalion, moved to approve the April 6, 2021, regular meeting minutes as presented.
VOTE: Aye-4(Kennedy, Pertalion, Turnbow, Wallin)
Nay-0
Absent-1(Welch)
Commissioner Turnbow, seconded by Commissioner Pertalion, moved to approve the April 6, 2021, closed session minutes as presented.
VOTE: Aye-4(Kennedy, Pertalion, Turnbow, Wallin)
Nay-0
Absent-1(Welch)
Approval of Agenda
Vice-Chairman Kennedy called for additions and/or corrections to the April 20, 2021, agenda.
Commissioner Wallin, seconded by Commissioner Pertalion, moved to approve the April 20, 2021, agenda as presented.
VOTE: Aye-4(Kennedy, Pertalion, Turnbow, Wallin)
Nay-0
Absent-1(Welch)
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 Planning and Development Ordinance
Mr. Joe Furman presented the proposed Planning and Development Ordinance. A public hearing was held at the April 6, 2021, regular meeting to allow for citizen comment on the Ordinance. No comments were received. No changes were proposed to any of the ordinances being combined into the Planning and Development Ordinance other than those prompted by NCGS 160D. However, there were some choices to be determined as dictated by 160D. Those choices were recommended by the Planning Board and included in the proposed Ordinance. Mr. Furman requested the Ordinance be made effective on April 21, 2021.
Commissioner Turnbow, seconded by Commissioner Pertalion, moved to adopt the Planning and Development Ordinance, to be effective on April 21, 2021, as recommended by the Planning Board and presented by Mr. Furman.
VOTE: Aye-4(Kennedy, Pertalion, Turnbow, Wallin)
Nay-0
Absent-1(Welch)
Sheriff’s Office Patrol Vehicle Equipment Purchase Request
County Manager Geouque stated that the Sheriff’s Office had requested to utilize the North Carolina Sheriff’s Association bid for new equipment and installation for six (6) new patrol vehicles. The North Carolina Sheriff’s Association awarded Dana Safety Supply the bid for equipment and installation. The cost for accessory equipment and installation per vehicle was $4,414.82. Adequate funds were included in the Fiscal Year 2020-2021 budget to cover the expenditure.
Commissioner Pertalion, seconded by Commissioner Wallin, moved to award the bid to Dana Safety Supply in the amount of $26,488.92 for accessory equipment and installation for six (6) new vehicles.
VOTE: Aye-4(Kennedy, Pertalion, Turnbow, Wallin)
Nay-0
Absent-1(Welch)
Tax Matters
A. Monthly Collections Report
Tax Administrator, Mr. Larry Warren, presented the Tax Collections Report for the month of March 2021. 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 March 2021 for Board approval:
TO BE TYPED IN MINUTE BOOK
Commissioner Wallin, seconded by Commissioner Turnbow, moved to approve the Refunds and Releases Report for March 2021 as presented.
VOTE: Aye-4(Kennedy, Pertalion, Turnbow, Wallin)
Nay-0
Absent-1(Welch)
Bid Award Request for Transfer Station Improvements
Mr. Rex Buck, Operations Services Director, presented the following bids for Transfer Station Improvements:
|
Bidder |
Bid Amount – Including Bid Alternate |
|
PADCO Excavating, Inc. |
$163,789.97 |
|
The JW Hampton Company |
$203,169.00 |
|
Simcon Company, LLC |
$273,700.00 |
|
Haren Construction Company, Inc. |
$302,000.00 |
Mr. Buck recommended awarding the bid to PADCO Excavating, Inc., in the amount of $163,789.97, for Transfer Station Improvements. Adequate funds were budgeted to cover the expense.
Commissioner Pertalion, seconded by Commissioner Turnbow, moved to accept the bid from PADCO Excavating Inc. in the amount $163,789.97 for Transfer Station Improvements.
VOTE: Aye-4(Kennedy, Pertalion, Turnbow, Wallin)
Nay-0
Absent-1(Welch)
Communication Tower Repair
Mr. Will Holt, Emergency Services Director, presented a proposed expenditure to Engineered Tower Solutions, PLLC, (ETS) in the amount of $34,722 for needed repairs to the Rich Mountain Communication Tower. Adequate funds were available in the Fiscal Year 2020-2021 budget to cover the expense.
Commissioner Turnbow, seconded by Commissioner Wallin, moved to approve the repair work with ETS in the amount of $34,722.
VOTE: Aye-4(Kennedy, Pertalion, Turnbow, Wallin)
Nay-0
Absent-1(Welch)
Miscellaneous Administrative Matters
A. Boards and Commissions
Workforce Development Board
County Manager Geouque stated that Mr. Keith Deveraux, Director of High Country Council of Governments Workforce Development Board, had requested the reappointment of Ms. Tara Brossa for a two-year term ending on June 30, 2023. This was a first reading.
Commissioner Turnbow, seconded by Commissioner Pertalion, moved to waive the first reading and consider Ms. Brossa for reappointment.
VOTE: Aye-4(Kennedy, Pertalion, Turnbow, Wallin)
Nay-0
Absent-1(Welch)
Commissioner Pertalion, seconded by Commissioner Wallin, moved to reappoint Ms. Tara Brossa as a Watauga County representative on the Workforce Development Board with her term to expire on June 30, 2023.
VOTE: Aye-4(Kennedy, Pertalion, Turnbow, Wallin)
Nay-0
Absent-1(Welch)
B. Announcements
County Manager Geouque announced the following:
· A Ribbon Cutting Ceremony was scheduled for the new Community Recreation Center on April 23, 2021, at 1:30 P.M. Due to COVID restrictions, the Ceremony was by invitation only.
· The Community Recreation Center was scheduled to open on Monday, April 26, 2021.
· The North Carolina Department of Transportation’s (NCDOT) Litter Sweep program was ongoing from April 10-24, 2021. For more information, please click the following link: https://www.ncdot.gov/initiatives-policies/environmental/litter-management/Pages/litter-sweep.aspx
Public Comment
There was no public comment.
Closed Session
At 6:02 P.M., Commissioner Turnbow, seconded by Commissioner Pertalion, moved to enter Closed Session to discuss Attorney/Client Matters, per G. S. 143-318.11(a)(3).
VOTE: Aye-4(Kennedy, Pertalion, Turnbow, Wallin)
Nay-0
Absent-1(Welch)
Commissioner Wallin, seconded by Commissioner Pertalion, moved to resume the open meeting at 6:45 P.M.
VOTE: Aye-4(Kennedy, Pertalion, Turnbow, Wallin)
Nay-0
Absent-1(Welch)
Adjourn
Commissioner Turnbow, seconded by Commissioner Pertalion, moved to adjourn the meeting at 6:45 P.M.
VOTE: Aye-4(Kennedy, Pertalion, Turnbow, Wallin)
Nay-0
Absent-1(Welch)
Billy Kennedy, Vice-Chairman
ATTEST:
Anita J. Fogle, Clerk to the Board