MINUTES
WATAUGA COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 5, 2021
The Watauga County Board of Commissioners held a regular meeting, as scheduled, on Tuesday, October 5, 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 5:31 P.M. The following were present:
PRESENT: John Welch, Chairman
Billy Kennedy, Vice-Chairman
Larry Turnbow, Commission
Charlie Wallin, Commissioner
Andrea Capua, County Attorney
Deron Geouque, County Manager
Anita J. Fogle, Clerk to the Board
Chairman Welch stated that Commissioner Pertalion was not able to attend due to the recent loss of her mother. The Chairman shared, for those who may be interested, that memorials could be made to the Watauga Humane Society or The Children’s Playhouse.
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 September 21, 2021, regular meeting and closed session minutes.
Vice-Chairman Kennedy, seconded by Commissioner Wallin, moved to approve the September 21, 2021, regular meeting minutes as presented.
VOTE: Aye-4(Welch, Kennedy, Turnbow, Wallin)
Nay-0
Absent-1(Pertalion)
Vice-Chairman Kennedy, seconded by Commissioner Wallin, moved to approve the September 21, 2021, closed session minutes as presented.
VOTE: Aye-4(Welch, Kennedy, Turnbow, Wallin)
Nay-0
Absent-1(Pertalion)
Approval of Agenda
Chairman Welch called for additions and/or corrections to the October 5, 2021, agenda.
County Manager Geouque requested to add consideration of funding for a graduate assistant to assist with an update of a well study and the acceptance of 911 grant funding.
Vice-Chairman Kennedy, seconded by Commissioner Turnbow, moved to approve the October 5, 2021, agenda as amended.
VOTE: Aye-4(Welch, Kennedy, Turnbow, Wallin)
Nay-0
Absent-1(Pertalion)
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.
Request to Schedule A Public Hearing to Allow Public Comment on Proposed Amendments to the Watauga County Planning & Development Ordinance
Mr. Joe Furman, Planning and Inspections Director, presented proposed amendments to Chapters 7, 8, 9, and 21 of the Planning & Development Ordinance. The proposed amendments were presented to the Planning Board on September 20, 2021, at which time they were discussed. The Planning Board approved the amendments and recommended a public hearing be scheduled by the Board of Commissioners to allow public comment on the proposed amendments to the Watauga County Planning & Development Ordinance.
Mr. Furman stated that the earliest time the hearing could be scheduled, to meet notice requirements, would be November 2, 2021; however, the Valle Crucis Historic Preservation Commission (VCHPC) was scheduled to meet that evening to consider a Certificate of Appropriateness for the new Valle Crucis School. Mr. Furman stated that he would need to attend the VCHPC meeting but was not required to attend the public hearing. The public hearing could be held on November 16, if the Board wished to cancel the November 2 Commissioners’ meeting to attend the VCHPC meeting.
Mr. Furman reviewed the proposed amendments. The Flood Damage Prevention model included some optional provisions that were designed to provide a higher level of protection from flooding events or to reduce flood insurance rates for owners, or both. The Planning Board was recommending some, but not all of these options. As mentioned, the County was not required to fully comply with the Water Supply Watershed model ordinance, other than a few mandatory provisions, but the Planning Board recommended some other components of the model believed to be more user-friendly than the current regulations. Compliance with the Sedimentation and Erosion Control model ordinance was mandatory and the Planning Board was not proposing anything other than the changes incorporated therein. Amendments to Chapter 7, Definitions, were also proposed in order to comply with the model ordinances. The majority of the proposed amendments to the four chapters were mandatory.
Commissioner Wallin, seconded by Commissioner Turnbow, moved to schedule a public hearing on Tuesday, November 16, 2021, at 5:30 P.M. to allow citizen comment on the proposed amendments to the Watauga County Planning & Development Ordinance.
VOTE: Aye-4(Welch, Kennedy, Turnbow, Wallin)
Nay-0
Absent-1(Pertalion)
Vice-Chairman Kennedy, seconded by Commissioner Turnbow, moved to amend the agenda to add, under Miscellaneous Administrative Matters, the consideration of cancelling the November 2, 2021, meeting of the Board of Commissioners.
VOTE: Aye-4(Welch, Kennedy, Turnbow, Wallin)
Nay-0
Absent-1(Pertalion)
County Attorney di Santi shared appreciation for Mr. Joe Furman and his staff for the excellent work performed when recently compiling several ordinances to create the Watauga County Planning & Development Ordinance. The work performed by staff was perfect and saved the County the costs that would have been associated with having a third party perform the task.
Project on Aging Matters
A. Request for Acceptance of the FY 2022 Senior’s Health Insurance Information Program (SHIIP) Grant/Contract
Ms. Angie Boitnotte, Director of Project on Aging (POA), requested the acceptance of the FY 2022 grant/contract for the Senior's Health Insurance Information Program (SHIIP). The grant was in the amount of $5,173 and required no County funds. The funds would be used to provide assistance and outreach to low-income citizens.
Vice-Chairman Kennedy, seconded by Commissioner Turnbow, moved to accept the Senior's Health Insurance Information Program (SHIIP) grant in the amount of $5,173.
VOTE: Aye-4(Welch, Kennedy, Turnbow, Wallin)
Nay-0
Absent-1(Pertalion)
B. Proposed Allocation of Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 Supplemental Nutrition Funding (HDC5)
Ms. Boitnotte requested the Board accept the allocation plan for the Supplemental Nutrition Funding (HDC5), approved at the July 20, 2021 Board meeting, in the amount of $23,592. The proposed allocation was as follows:
|
Service |
Unit Based Allocation |
Non-Unit Based Allocation |
Totals |
|
Congregate Meals |
$10,000 |
$2,000 |
$12,000 |
|
Home Delivered Meals |
$9,592 |
$2,000 |
$11,592 |
|
TOTALS |
$19,592 |
$4,000 |
$23,592 |
No matching funds were required and the funds must be expended by September 30, 2022.
Vice-Chairman Kennedy, seconded by Commissioner Wallin, moved to approve the allocation of Supplemental Nutrition Funding (HDC5) in the total amount of $23,592.
VOTE: Aye-4(Welch, Kennedy, Turnbow, Wallin)
Nay-0
Absent-1(Pertalion)
Emergency Services Matters
A. Request to Purchase Radios
Mr. Will Holt, Emergency Services Director, requested approval for the purchase of seven (7) radios for a total of $40,000. The radios include five (5) APX6000 portables, one (1) APX8500, and one (1) APX Consolette. Adequate funds have been budgeted to cover the expenditure.
Commissioner Turnbow, seconded by Vice-Chairman Kennedy, moved to approve the radio purchase as requested by Mr. Holt.
VOTE: Aye-4(Welch, Kennedy, Turnbow, Wallin)
Nay-0
Absent-1(Pertalion)
B. Proposed 1st Amendment to Communication Facility Easement Agreement with AT&T
Mr. Holt requested approval of a lease extension with AT&T for communications equipment located at Rocky Knob Park. The initial lease was for ten (10) years starting at $500 per month. The new lease would be $580 per month for five (5) years with a 3% escalator. Mr. Holt stated that AT&T requested the shortened term.
Vice-Chairman Kennedy, seconded by Commissioner Turnbow, moved to approve the lease extension with AT&T as presented by Mr. Holt.
VOTE: Aye-4(Welch, Kennedy, Turnbow, Wallin)
Nay-0
Absent-1(Pertalion)
C. Proposed Acceptance of 911 Board Grant Funding
Mr. Holt requested acceptance of a grant awarded by the North Carolina 911 Board, in the amount of $154,130.86, for the purpose of replacing the four consoles in the Communications Center with MCC7500s. The grant would fund the balance, not covered by the 911 Surcharge Fund, for the replacement of the consoles; therefore, netting zero capital cost to the County for the equipment.
Vice-Chairman Kennedy, seconded by Commissioner Wallin, moved to accept the North Carolina 911 Board grant funds in the amount of $154,130.86 as presented by Mr. Holt.
VOTE: Aye-4(Welch, Kennedy, Turnbow, Wallin)
Nay-0
Absent-1(Pertalion)
County Manager shared his appreciation for Mr. Holt who reached to secure these funds; a task which had not been done for the County in the past twenty years.
Miscellaneous Administrative Matters
A. Consideration of Cancelling the November 2, 2021, Board Meeting
Discussion was held regarding the consideration of cancelling the November 2, 2021, due to the schedule conflict with the Valle Crucis Historic Preservation Commission (VCHPC) meeting at which the Certificate of Appropriateness would be heard for the new Valle Crucis School.
The County Manager stated that he had hoped to attend the VCHPC meeting. Chairman Welch stated that it would be beneficial for the County Attorney to attend the VCHPC meeting as well.
Vice-Chairman Kennedy, seconded by Commissioner Turnbow, moved to cancel the November 2, 2021, Board of Commissioners meeting.
VOTE: Aye-4(Welch, Kennedy, Turnbow, Wallin)
Nay-0
Absent-1(Pertalion)
Chairman Welch and Commissioner Wallin also would attend the VCHPC meeting as they were members of the committee planning for the new school. The other three Commissioners would not attend.
B. Announcements
County Manager Geouque announced the following:
· Due to the Commissioners’ Board Room being used as an official polling site during One-Stop Voting and Election Day, the Board of Commissioners meeting scheduled for Tuesday, October 19, 2021, would be held in the Community Room at the Community Recreation Center. The meeting was scheduled to begin at 5:30 P.M.
· The November 2, 2021, meeting of the Board of Commissioners has been cancelled.
· 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.
C. Consideration of Funding for A Graduate Assistant to Assist with an Update of A Well Study
County Manager Geouque stated that a study of wells was compiled in 2010/2011 and was being updated. Funding was being requested, in the amount of $1,500 to $2,000 for a graduate student to assist with the update.
Commissioner Turnbow stated that he and Mr. Joe Furman had been in contact with Ms. Julie Wiggins, Executive Director of High Country Council of Governments, and Dr. Anderson, Appalachian State University Professor, in regards to the study being updated and requested $1,500 be set aside for the update.
Vice-Chairman Kennedy, seconded by Commissioner Turnbow, moved to direct the County Manager to set aside $1,500 for the project of updating the well study.
VOTE: Aye-4(Welch, Kennedy, Turnbow, Wallin)
Nay-0
Absent-1(Pertalion)
Public Comment
There was no public comment; however, Chairman Welch welcomed Appalachian State University students who were in attendance to observe the meeting as part of a class assignment.
Closed Session
At 6:26 P.M., Commissioner Turnbow, seconded by Commissioner Wallin, moved to enter Closed Session to discuss Attorney/Client Matters, per G. S. 143-318.11(a)(3).
VOTE: Aye-4(Welch, Kennedy, Turnbow, Wallin)
Nay-0
Absent-1(Pertalion)
Commissioner Kennedy, seconded by Commissioner Turnbow, moved to resume the open meeting at 7:26 P.M.
VOTE: Aye-4(Welch, Kennedy, Turnbow, Wallin)
Nay-0
Absent-1(Pertalion)
Adjourn
Commissioner Wallin, seconded by Commissioner Turnbow, moved to adjourn the meeting at 7:26 P.M.
VOTE: Aye-4(Welch, Kennedy, Turnbow, Wallin)
Nay-0
Absent-1(Pertalion)
John Welch, Vice-Chairman
ATTEST:
Anita J. Fogle, Clerk to the Board