MINUTES
WATAUGA COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2021
The Watauga County Board of Commissioners held a regular meeting, as scheduled, on Tuesday, September 21, 2021, at 5:30 P.M. in the Commissioners’ Board Room located in the Watauga County Administration Building, Boone, North Carolina.
Chairman Welch called the meeting to order at 5:32 P.M. The following were present:
PRESENT: John Welch, Chairman
Billy Kennedy, Vice-Chairman
Carrington Pertalion, Commissioner
Larry Turnbow, Commission
Charlie Wallin, Commissioner
Andrea Capua, County Attorney
Deron Geouque, County Manager
Anita J. Fogle, Clerk to the Board
Commissioner Wallin 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 September 7, 2021, regular meeting and closed session minutes.
Commissioner Turnbow, seconded by Vice-Chairman Kennedy, moved to approve the September 7, 2021, regular meeting minutes as presented.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
Commissioner Turnbow, seconded by Vice-Chairman Kennedy, moved to approve the September 7, 2021, closed session minutes as presented.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
Approval of Agenda
Chairman Welch called for additions and/or corrections to the September 21, 2021, agenda.
Vice-Chairman Kennedy, seconded by Commissioner Wallin, moved to approve the September 21, 2021, agenda 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.
Library Matters
A. Annual Report
Ms. Jane Blackburn, Director of Libraries, Appalachian Regional Library, presented the Appalachian Regional Library Annual Report. The report was for information only and, therefore, no action was required.
B. Proposed Update of Interlocal Agreement for Appalachian Regional Library
Ms. Blackburn presented a revised interlocal agreement with the Appalachian Regional Library. The current agreement was set to expire in 2022. The only proposed amendment would add language to Section III. Board of Trustees (B) Membership that would require ARL members to be selected from each county’s local library advisory boards. This would ensure the ARL Board members were familiar with their local county library. Ashe and Wilkes counties may have additional recommended changes to be made to the agreement.
Vice-Chairman Kennedy, seconded by Commissioner Turnbow, moved to adopt the agreement with the revision included contingent upon further review if Ashe and Wilkes counties make further changes.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
Proposed AppalCART Rural Operating Assistance Program (ROAP) Grant Application
Mr. Craig Hughes, AppalCART Director, gave a brief update on transportation services and then presented the Rural Operating Assistance Program (ROAP) grant application for FY 2022. Mr. Hughes stated that Watauga County was awarded $179,265 which was a decrease of $5,196 from last year’s funding. The decrease was due to extra funding from previous years being included in the FY 2021 grant amount. The grant does not require a local match.
Vice-Chairman Kennedy, seconded by Commissioner Pertalion, moved to approve the Rural Operating Assistance Program (ROAP) grant application for FY 2022 as presented by Mr. Hughes.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
Proposed Appropriations of State Funds for Senior Centers
Ms. Angie Boitnotte, Director, Project on Aging, stated that she had received notification that each of the County’s two senior centers were eligible to receive Senior Center General Purpose funding in the total amount of $14,257. The L. E. Harrill Senior Center, as a Center of Excellence, was eligible to receive $10,693 which required a 25% local match of $3,564. The Western Watauga Community Center was eligible to receive $3,564, which required a 25% local match of $1,188. The required matches were present in the agency’s FY 2022 budget.
Commissioner Pertalion, seconded by Commissioner Wallin, moved to accept the Senior Center General Purpose funding and approve the local match requirements.
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 August 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 August 2021 for Board approval:
TO BE TYPED IN MINUTE BOOK
Vice-Chairman Kennedy, seconded by Commissioner Turnbow, moved to approve the Refunds and Releases Report for August 2021 as presented.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
Budget Amendments
Ms. Misty Watson, Finance Director, reviewed the following budget amendments:
Commissioner Turnbow, seconded by Commissioner Wallin, moved to approve the budget amendments as presented by Ms. Watson.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
Miscellaneous Administrative Matters
A. Proposed Daymark Lease Renewal
County Manager Geouque stated that Daymark Recovery Services’ lease for office space in the County’s Human Services Building has expired. Daymark Recovery Services would like to renew the lease, which included 13,775 square feet of space, with the same terms and conditions as the recently expired lease. Daymark agreed to lease the space at the rate of $10 per square foot ($137,750 per year) in monthly installments of $11,479.17. The new lease term would be July 1, 2021, to June 30, 2024. Also included in the lease, under Section 10, was an additional fee, in the amount of $67,718 per year, to be paid in monthly installments of $5,643. This fee covered utilities and janitorial services. The current lease was drafted and approved by the County Attorney and the proposed lease only changed the dates. The County Manager presented a resolution which would need to be adopted and advertised for ten (10) days, as required by the North Carolina General Statutes. After the advertisement requirement was fulfilled, the lease would be presented to the Board for consideration of approval.
Vice-Chairman Kennedy, seconded by Commissioner Pertalion, moved to adopt the resolution as presented by the County Manager.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
B. Boards and Commissions
County Manager Geouque presented the following for consideration:
Watauga County Public Library
The Watauga County Library Board recommended Ms. Mary Ruthless be appointed to replace Mr. John Abbott, who resigned from the Board.
Vice-Chairman Kennedy, seconded by Commissioner Turnbow, moved to waive the second reading and appoint Ms. Mary Ruthless to the Watauga County Library Board.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
C. Announcements
County Manager Geouque announced the following:
· Safe Harbor High Country Recovery Center for Women invited the Board to attend their Ribbon Cutting Ceremony on September 30, 2021, at 5:00 P.M. at 890 West King Street. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, a reception would not follow the ceremony.
· Due to the Commissioners’ Board Room being used as an official polling site during One-Stop Voting and Election Day, the Board of Commissioners meetings scheduled for Tuesday, October 19 and Tuesday, November 2, 2021, would be held in the Community Room at the Community Recreation Center. Both meetings were scheduled to begin at 5:30 P.M.
· The Watauga County Parks and Recreation Department has scheduled a Trunk or Treat event at the Community Recreation Center (CRC) on Sunday, October 31, 2021, from 6:00 – 8:00 P.M. Contact Parks and Recreation to register your trunk for the event.
Public Comment
Ms. Therese Musewicz and husband, Mr. Frank Hubbard, shared comments in regards to chained and barking dogs near their home.
Vice-Chairman Kennedy stated that the Board regularly reviews ordinances and would ask the Planning Director to do research.
Closed Session
At 6:41 P.M., Commissioner Wallin, seconded by Commissioner Turnbow, moved to enter Closed Session to discuss Attorney/Client Matters, per G. S. 143-318.11(a)(3).
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
Vice-Chairman Kennedy, seconded by Commissioner Wallin, moved to resume the open meeting at 7:26 P.M.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
Adjourn
Commissioner Wallin, seconded by Vice-Chairman Kennedy, moved to adjourn the meeting at 7:26 P.M.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
John Welch, Vice-Chairman
ATTEST:
Anita J. Fogle, Clerk to the Board